Sara Najafi

Sara Najafi, based in Stockholm, is a core member of Russell Reynolds Associates’ Global Technology, Private Equity and Industrial Practice. She serves as a trusted advisor to boards and C-suite leaders, specializing in executive search, leadership assessment, and succession planning for the age of resilient leadership, intelligent systems and organisational agility.

Sara’s expertise lies at the intersection of traditional industry and digital transformation. She focuses on building high-performance leadership teams that are equipped to lead companies through their next chapters of expansion and organizational evolution. She is particularly sought after by growth-stage companies and PE/VC-backed scale-ups, helping them build high-performing leadership teams capable of navigating rapid expansion. With an entrepreneurial mindset and deep technical roots, Sara bridges the gap between legacy operations and the agile, tech-driven requirements of modern business.

Sara joined Russell Reynolds from another global executive search firm, where she was part of the Technology & AI and Services Practice. Her professional background is defined by a blend of corporate leadership and entrepreneurial grit; she held senior roles at Equinor, PwC, and Accenture, and co-founded several successful ventures, including a digital advisory firm and a fast-growing "boating-as-a-service" platform.