NEW YORK, Sept. 8, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Board Recruiting, a service of The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:NDAQ), announced today it has created a strategic alliance with leading executive search firm Heidrick & Struggles to provide companies with enhanced services in board recruiting. The new offering will integrate the leadership assessment expertise of Heidrick & Struggles with Board Recruiting's online matching system to provide clients with a broader array of choices in how they identify and recruit director candidates.
Using the current online self-service model of Board Recruiting, companies can search the Board Recruiting database with complete control of their recruiting process. Heidrick & Struggles' involvement brings two additional benefits: it creates a deeper pool of candidates and, when companies prefer more hands-on expertise, they can offer support services such as helping to create job specifications, handling third-party phone and video interviews, and delivering candidate assessments.
Board Recruiting's online service, BoardRecruiting.com, allows companies to direct their recruiting process with quick, easy access to a diverse pool of 3,000 candidates with broad ranging expertise.
Heidrick's candidates will have the opportunity to participate online in the Board Recruiting system, further broadening the available network of individuals in Board Recruiting and increasing its diversity.
"Heidrick & Struggles is joining us to provide public and private companies with an innovative and efficient way to recruit directors, one that is well suited to the needs of modern boards. New demands from shareholders, regulators and investors are driving a significant transition for the role of board members and we are providing a flexible service in response," said Magnus Bocker, President of NASDAQ OMX.
Mr. Bocker continued, "By partnering with Heidrick & Struggles to create this strategic alliance, we are able to offer companies the ability to tailor how they manage the director search process. We invested in building a deep candidate pool and enhancing our technology, and through this alliance we can deliver a truly well-rounded offering."
Kevin Kelly, CEO of Heidrick & Struggles added, "NASDAQ OMX is unique among exchanges in anticipating the deeper needs of boards. As we keep challenging the old search conventions, they are a natural partner that understands the role of smart technology in delivering the greatest business advantage.
"Together we have created a unique offer for companies building out their boards, whether it is in preparation for a public offering or part of an effort to expand the expertise of the board," continued Mr. Kelly. "Whatever the driver, we want to help organizations find the right people in order to balance experience with innovation in today's competitive global marketplace."
Board Recruiting operations are based out of New York City and Maynard, Massachusetts. Heidrick and Struggles is based in Chicago, with offices around the globe.
ABOUT NASDAQ OMX GROUP
The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. is the world's largest exchange company. It delivers trading, exchange technology and public company services across six continents, and with over 3,900 companies, it is number one in worldwide listings among major markets. NASDAQ OMX offers multiple capital raising solutions to companies around the globe, including its U.S. listings market; the OMX Nordic Exchange, including First North; and the 144A PORTAL Market. The company offers trading across multiple asset classes including equities, derivatives, debt, commodities, structured products and ETFs. NASDAQ OMX technology supports the operations of over 70 exchanges, clearing organizations and central securities depositories in more than 50 countries. OMX Nordic Exchange is not a legal entity but describes the common offering from NASDAQ OMX Group exchanges in Helsinki, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Iceland, Tallinn, Riga, and Vilnius. For more information about NASDAQ OMX, visit www.nasdaqomx.com.
ABOUT HEIDRICK & STRUGGLES
Founded in 1953, Heidrick & Struggles (Nasdaq:HSII) is recognized as one of the world's leading executive search firms. With more than 60 offices in 33 countries, it helps its clients to address strategic issues that have human capital solutions in times of growth, turnaround, acquisition, integration, expansion into new markets, and when responding to economic flux.
With its executive search, leadership services and interim management capabilities, Heidrick & Struggles can seamlessly integrate a bespoke program to meet the diverse leadership challenges facing its client organizations. The organization prides itself on its relationships with, and immediate access to, some of the world's most talented people.
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