Neal Wolin to become Vice Chairman focusing on senior client relationships Tom Burns to succeed Helen James as Chief Operating Officer
February 7, 2024 – Brunswick Group announces that Henry Timms will become Chief Executive Officer, based in New York. He will succeed Neal Wolin, who has been Chief Executive Officer since 2018.
Neal will continue in his current role until the summer of 2024. He will then transition to the role of Vice Chairman, in which capacity he will focus on developing and strengthening senior client relationships globally, based in Washington.
Henry is currently the President and CEO of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York, one of the world's leading cultural institutions. At Lincoln Center, he has overseen a period of significant transformation and commercial and creative success, engaging business leaders and partners across industries to set up an iconic global institution for the future. Henry is the creator and co-founder of the Giving Tuesday philanthropic movement, which has raised over $13 billion worldwide since launching in 2012, and the co-author of international best-selling book New Power. He brings a wealth of experience in transforming market-leading organizations, fostering innovation, managing diverse teams and advising CEOs and Boards on the critical issues facing leaders today.
Sir Alan Parker, Chairman, said: “I am tremendously pleased that Henry is joining us after leading a transformational period at Lincoln Center, making an iconic organization a remarkable commercial and creative success story. Brunswick has built a culture and market position that enable us to be the leading advisory firm for business critical issues. With Henry’s talent and innovation I believe we will become better and stronger in how we can support the companies and organizations that we are fortunate enough to work with around the world. Along with the Board and our 229 Partners I know he will be warmly welcomed to Brunswick.”
“Neal has made a tremendous contribution to Brunswick in his six years as CEO. Most importantly he has played a big part in elevating the firm and our standing in the world. His natural integrity and judgement have been incredibly valuable and take Brunswick to the next level as the leading critical issues firm in the world. We have an enormous amount to thank him for and we are delighted he is taking on the role of Vice Chairman at a time so many of our clients are facing more complex and wide-ranging critical issues.”
Neal Wolin said: “It has been a great privilege to lead Brunswick during a period of significant transformation for the firm. I am proud that we are now more capable than ever of delivering outstanding advice and expertise to our clients on a wide range of issues that truly matter to them. I am delighted that Henry will take over as CEO; he brings terrific experience that will be invaluable as Brunswick continues to progress. As Vice Chairman of Brunswick, I look forward to dedicating more time to helping clients across sectors and geographies navigate their most important issues.”
Henry Timms said: “It is a real honor to have the opportunity to lead Brunswick. The extraordinary caliber of the firm’s people and clients, all connected by a distinct culture, is an incredibly powerful combination that creates a truly special firm. Under Neal and Helen’s leadership the Brunswick team has taken things to the next level, and I would like to thank them for everything they have done. Now, we want to expand our ambition, building on strong foundations to set up the next generation of Brunswick. I am excited to contribute to the firm’s next chapter and to help clients thrive in an ever-changing world.”
Tom Burns, currently UK Managing Partner, will become Chief Operating Officer, succeeding Helen James who has been in the role since 2018. Helen has decided to leave the firm after six successful years and following a handover period over the coming months to Tom Burns.
Sir Alan Parker, Chairman, said: “Helen has also had a very significant impact on the way we work. She has helped build up our core services and operations around the world and also managed a lot of the day-to-day issues of the firm with great professionalism and good humor. The firm has grown significantly and very successfully over the last six years and I would like to thank Helen for her leadership.”
Tom has been with Brunswick since 2004 and a Partner since 2009, and has served in a number of global leadership roles. He has been UK Managing Partner since 2021, successfully leading one of Brunswick’s largest offices. Tom has been a member of Brunswick’s management committee since 2021, working to advance the firm’s growth strategy. He was formerly Co-Lead of the firm’s global Financial Institutions Group and has advised clients on high-profile and sensitive situations, including transactions, crises and litigation. This combination of senior client and management roles gives him a deep understanding of how Brunswick can continue to evolve to best support clients.
Tom is succeeded as UK Managing Partner by Sarah West, who has been a Partner in London specializing in the TMT sector since 2006 advising clients and Boards at moments of change including crisis, M&A, IPO and leadership renewal.
About Henry Timms
Since 2019, Henry Timms has been the President and CEO of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, one of the world's leading cultural institutions. At Lincoln Center, he oversaw a period of significant transformation, reimagining the campus and its programming to make the arts more accessible to diverse audiences. Henry championed initiatives to engage new generations of artists and audiences while also emphasizing the importance of digital technology in the arts.
During his tenure he led the acceleration and completion of fundraising for the $550m David Geffen Hall project in New York which created over 6,000 jobs and over half a billion dollars of economic activity. He is deeply committed to diversity and inclusion and significantly improved representation of leadership, as well as transforming the center’s programming to showcase different backgrounds and perspectives.
Previously, Henry gained wide-spread recognition as the President and CEO of the 92nd Street Y, a renowned cultural and community center in Manhattan. Under his leadership, the 92nd Street Y experienced a revitalization, embracing digital innovation and expanding its reach to a global audience.
Henry is the creator and co-founder of the Giving Tuesday global philanthropic movement that has raised over $13 billion since its launch in 2012, and the co-author of the internationally best-selling book New Power. He is also a visiting fellow at the Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford Centre for Corporate Reputation.
About Brunswick Group
Brunswick is a strategic advisory firm focused on critical issues and critical stakeholders. Our purpose is to help our clients play their role in the world successfully. We advise on critical issues and critical stakeholders at the center of business, politics and society, and help our clients – the leaders of large, complex organizations – understand and navigate these interconnected worlds. Brunswick is one firm globally, operating as a single profit center. This allows us to respond seamlessly and effectively to clients’ needs wherever they are in the world.
Contact: Tim Danaher, [email protected]