CHICAGO, Feb 10, 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 Mary Saxon has joined as Partner. She will be part of the Consumer Markets Practice and based in San Francisco.

Saxon comes to Heidrick & Struggles from Herbert Mines Associates. Saxon served as senior client partner at Herbert Mines Associates. Her search portfolio includes senior team and board level work for many of the preeminent specialty retailers in America

"Mary brings deep expertise and a palpable energy to the firm. There is no question - this is an exciting time for the Consumer Markets Practice at Heidrick & Struggles. Mary joining the team only continues this forward momentum," said Guy Cote, Americas Managing Partner of the Consumer Practice.

Prior to Herbert Mines Associates, Saxon worked as a senior client partner with Korn/Ferry International. She focused on the firm's global retail and consumer practice.

Saxon began her passion for retail early in her career starting with her first jobs out of college, joining Abraham & Straus and R.H. Macy. Subsequently, she moved to the wholesale side of the business, launching McFarren Marketing Group, a sales/marketing organization specializing in the Housewares industry. In her last industry position, Saxon was president and CEO for Palms & Pomegranates, a luxury home textiles manufacturer. The company enjoyed national distribution, servicing customers such as Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdales, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Macy's.

Saxon has a masters degree focusing on Leadership Studies from St. Mary's College and resides in Northern California.

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: Wendi Taylor Nations
+1 (312) 496 1810
wtaylornations@heidrick.com