Simon Kingston is Head of the firm’s Nonprofit sector and leads the Global Development Practice. He has a particular interest in higher education, development and public policy. He serves clients in a range of countries, conducting searches, among other things for university vice-chancellors, chief executives and senior leaders of major global development organizations and directors of government departments. His recent engagements include supporting the world’s largest emergency relief organization in the appointment of its Secretary-General and advising on the most senior appointments of a regional development bank. Simon has longstanding relationships with leaders in public-private partnerships in global public health where he advises and supports them on leadership appointments.

Previous Experience

Simon joined Russell Reynolds Associates in 2007. He is a veteran international executive search consultant. Prior to this, he was an academic.

Additional Professional Activities

Simon was a member of the world's first rowing expedition along 1,000km of the Upper Zambezi, from the Angolan border with Zambia to the Victoria Falls. 

Simon is Vice-Chairman of the British Irish Association (BIA). The BIA works to promote mutual understanding between the peoples of Britain and Ireland, to identify emerging issues, to support positive change, and to look to the future. He has published pieces on Irish and British politics and history and occasionally writes about related subjects.

He established a History Festival in West Cork, Ireland that took place for the first time in July 2017.

Education

Simon received his B.A. in history from Trinity College Dublin. He received his D.Phil. in history from the University of Oxford. He was subsequently a post-doctoral scholar at the University and a tutor and retained lecturer at a number of its colleges. ​