William D. Rowe II is Chairman and CEO of Rowe Global, a retained executive search firm that recruits senior leadership for companies across a range of industries, with particular depth serving private equity clients for more than 18 years. Since graduating from SMU in 1991, he has built his career around the view that executive search is a consulting discipline that applies broadly across industries and business functions, giving him a generalist background spanning consumer products, manufacturing, technology, healthcare, and financial services.
Rowe has positioned his firm around what he calls a "human capital partner" approach, weighing cultural fit alongside technical qualifications when matching candidates to companies. Rather than optimizing for the volume of placements, his team focuses on long-term client relationships, with the large majority of the firm's annual assignments coming from repeat clients, some going back 20 years or more.
He describes the firm's methodology as insisting that senior consultants engage directly with both clients and candidates rather than delegating that work to junior staff, which he believes leads to a deeper understanding of organizational culture and candidate fit. Looking ahead, Rowe has said he wants to expand the firm internationally and grow its board director recruitment practice, particularly within the private equity community.
