CHICAGO, Jul 28, 2011 (GlobeNewswire via COMTEX) --

Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc. (Nasdaq:HSII), the leadership advisory firm providing executive search and leadership consulting services worldwide, announced today that Kathy Vrabeck joined the firm as Partner within the Consumer and Technology practices. She will be based out of Los Angeles, California.

A seasoned executive in the digital entertainment industry, Vrabeck will focus on the Media, Entertainment and Digital sector for the firm.

She comes to Heidrick & Struggles from Legendary Pictures where she served as President, Legendary Digital, and was responsible for the creation, management and delivery of digital entertainment, with a focus on video games, across current and next-generation platforms.

"Kathy has an unmatched grasp on the consumer landscape, be it her vast consumer packaged goods experience or her invaluable digital consumer background. Kathy's deep knowledge offers a truly rare combination that enhances our strong team," said Guy Cote, Regional Managing Partner of the Americas' Consumer Markets Practice. "Her keen understanding of the entertainment and media space will expand our offering, while leveraging our leadership advisory expertise that is uniquely tailored to our clients."

Prior to Legendary Pictures, Vrabeck worked with some of the largest video game makers including Activision and Electronic Arts. She served as President of Casual Entertainment at Electronic Arts (EA), and led their efforts in the fastest growing segments of the videogame market: mobile, online, social networking, and family gaming.

Vrabeck also served as executive vice president of Global Brand Management and then of Global Publishing at Activision. Four years after joining the company, she became president of Activision Publishing and led development of many hit franchises, including Call of Duty, Spiderman 2, Shrek 2, and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater.

Early in her career she held various marketing, sales, and finance positions with the Pillsbury Company, Quaker Oats, and Eli Lilly & Company. She also was senior vice president and general manager of ConAgra's Snack Food Division.

Vrabeck was recognized by The Hollywood Reporter as one of the 100 Most Powerful Women in Entertainment and was also profiled by Business Week as one of "25 Up and Coming Media Executives" in March, 2005.

Vrabeck holds a bachelor of arts degree from DePauw University, with Phi Beta Kappa honors, and an MBA from Indiana University. She currently serves on the Board of Trustees at DePauw University, the Board of Directors for Zeebo, Inc, a 3G-connected digital entertainment and education system, and GeekChicDaily, a leading opt-in popular culture newsletter and publisher.

About Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc.

Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc., (Nasdaq:HSII) is the leadership advisory firm providing senior-level executive search and leadership consulting services, including succession planning, executive assessment and development, talent retention management, transition consulting for newly appointed executives, and M&A human capital integration consulting. For almost 60 years, we have focused on quality service and built strong leadership teams through our relationships with clients and individuals worldwide. Today, Heidrick & Struggles' leadership experts operate from principal business centers in North America, Latin America, Europe, and Asia Pacific. For more information about Heidrick & Struggles, please visit www.heidrick.com.

This news release was distributed by GlobeNewswire, www.globenewswire.com

SOURCE: Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc.

CONTACT: Jennifer Nelson
+1 (404) 682.7373
jnelson@heidrick.com