Michael Milad, Ph.D., J.D., M.B.A., leads Spencer Stuart’s Industrial Practice in North America, overseeing executive search and leadership advisory across the region. A member of both the Industrial and Leadership Advisory Services practices, he advises boards, CEOs and senior leadership teams navigate their most important leadership challenges, including CEO succession, executive transitions, senior team effectiveness, executive development and organizational culture.
Michael’s work brings together executive search and leadership advisory with firsthand operating experience. CEOs, boards and senior leadership teams across multiple sectors frequently seek his counsel during periods of leadership transition, organizational transformation and culture change.
Expert in leadership, psychology and business
- With 30 years of experience as a consultant, operating executive and psychologist, Michael brings a distinctive perspective at the intersection of leadership, psychology and business. He helps clients make consequential leadership decisions that strengthen leadership effectiveness, organizational alignment and business performance.
- Before joining Spencer Stuart, Michael held senior executive leadership roles with Daimler AG/DaimlerChrysler. As a general manager, he held significant P&L responsibility, leading operations at a scale comparable to a Fortune 200 company. He also served as chief of staff to the now-retired CEO of Daimler AG/Mercedes-Benz. His experience as both an operating executive and adviser allows him to connect strategy, leadership and execution in ways that resonate with senior leaders.
- Michael is a frequent speaker on leadership and human capital and contributes regularly to Spencer Stuart’s thought leadership. A licensed psychologist with a dual Ph.D. in industrial/organizational and clinical psychology, he brings deep understanding of leadership dynamics and their impact on business performance. He is also a member of the American Psychological Association’s consulting psychology division.
- Michael has received Spencer Stuart’s prestigious Lou Rieger Quality Award multiple times in recognition of outstanding client impact.
In addition to his doctorate from Alliant University’s California School of Professional Psychology in San Diego, Michael holds a J.D. from the University of Detroit, graduating magna cum laude, and earned his M.B.A. and B.A. from Michigan State University. He has also received awards and honors from Michigan State University’s Business School and the Automotive Hall of Fame.