Portrait of Brian McMahon, leadership advisor at Russell Reynolds Associates

Brian McMahon, Ph.D.

Brian leverages deep people insights to assess and develop leaders, enabling organizations to navigate their most complex challenges.

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Brian McMahon, Ph.D. is a member of Russell Reynolds Associates Leadership Consulting Practice and is based in San Diego. He advises boards and senior executives on leadership effectiveness, team performance, and how to navigate critical moments of change, with a focus on leadership assessment, executive development, and succession. As an executive advisor and coach, he specializes in communication, influence, executive presence, and emotional intelligence.

Brian brings a collaborative approach to his advisory work, engaging deeply with the complexities of each client’s circumstances, and partnering with them to diagnose challenges and develop practical, tailored solutions. His approach is objective, supportive, and grounded in careful judgment. Clients value him for balancing empathy with candor and offering clear perspectives that enable them to take meaningful action.

He has extensive experience working with senior and high-potential leaders in complex, high-performance environments, including financial services, law, technology, and real estate, among others.

Prior to joining Russell Reynolds Associates, Brian worked at a global leadership advisory firm and led his own assessment and development practice. He holds a Ph.D. and an M.S. in industrial-organizational psychology from the Georgia Institute of Technology, and a BA from California State University, San Marcos.
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Portrait of Brian McMahon, leadership advisor at Russell Reynolds Associates Portrait of Brian McMahon, leadership advisor at Russell Reynolds Associates Portrait of Brian McMahon, leadership advisor at Russell Reynolds Associates

Areas of Expertise

Assessment and Benchmarking Board and CEO Advisory CEO Succession C-Suite Succession Development and Transition Financial Services Team Performance Technology

Get In Touch with Brian
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