Ruth Cochran advises boards, CEOs, and executive search firms on CEO and C-suite succession, executive assessment, and the integration of newly appointed leaders.

Ruth has spent more than 25 years in executive search and leadership advisory, including senior roles at Egon Zehnder, Heidrick & Struggles, and Korn Ferry. Through those roles and her independent practice, she has helped organizations evaluate senior executives, make selection and succession decisions, and prepare leaders to step into broader responsibilities.

Also a Licensed Professional Counselor and practicing psychotherapist, Ruth works with C-suite executives as they navigate changes in their roles and relationships, weigh consequential decisions, and manage the competing demands of leadership and life outside work. That experience deepens her understanding of what motivates leaders, how they relate to others, and how they respond under pressure.

Ruth brings that perspective to CEO and C-suite assessments, evaluating how an executive’s experience, judgment, and leadership style fit what the business needs. She also coaches newly appointed executives as they align on priorities, build relationships with key stakeholders, and establish themselves in the role.

Ruth holds graduate degrees from the University of California, Berkeley, and Georgia State University, with an undergraduate degree from the University of California, Irvine. Her interdisciplinary background in counseling and the humanities informs how she advises boards and works with senior executives.