CHICAGO, Jan 10, 2011 (GlobeNewswire via COMTEX) --

Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc. (Nasdaq:HSII), the leadership advisory firm providing executive search and leadership consulting services worldwide, today announced that Richard D. Spitzer is joining the firm as the global automotive managing partner in the Industrial Practice. Spitzer will be based out of the Houston and Chicago offices.

Spitzer comes to Heidrick & Struggles from Accenture, where he was the global managing partner of the Automotive and Industrial Equipment Industries. Spitzer developed "High Performing Business" research and improvement imperatives for several global automotive and industrial industries. Additionally, he brings worldwide automotive expertise and has worked extensively with leading manufactures in the United States, China, India, Japan, Korea, Germany, Italy, and France.

"Richard will be a tremendous asset to Heidrick & Struggles," said Jonathan Graham, Managing Partner, Industrial Practice, Americas. "His high-energy, deep automotive experience and collaborative client approach will strengthen our Industrial team up for continued success."

Previously, Spitzer was vice president of the Automotive Practice at A.T. Kearney. While there, he led and counseled several regional and global projects for clients in North America, Latin America, Europe, and Asia Pacific. Projects included acquisition planning and implementation, structural cost reduction, business process off-shoring, as well as direct and indirect material cost reduction.

Prior experience includes principal of the Operations Management Group at Booz Allen & Hamilton, where he also co-authored a book entitled, "Creating the High Performance International Petroleum Company."

Throughout his career, Spitzer has been published in various business magazines on the topics of globalization, operations management, and technology and is a frequent media contributor, having appeared on several TV and radio outlets discussing the state of the automotive industry. In 2005, he was asked to moderate the World Economic Forum Automotive Roundtable in Beijing, China.

Spitzer holds a bachelor of science with honors, in mechanical engineering from the University of Mississippi, as well as an MBA with valedictorian honors from Southern Methodist University.

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.

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SOURCE: Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc.

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