ANN ARBOR—The University of Michigan Board of Regents has hired the global management consulting firm A. T. Kearney Executive Search of Chicago to assist in its presidential search.

Founded in 1926, A. T. Kearney Executive Search is one of the oldest firms of its type in the nation, with 29 offices in the Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe, and clients in 90 nations. It has assisted in presidential searches at Dartmouth College, Duke University, Georgetown University, University of Massachusetts system, University of North Carolina system and the University of Washington. At the U-M, A.T. Kearney Executive Search worked on searches resulting in the appointments of former Provost Nancy Cantor in 1997, College of Literature, Science, and the Arts Dean Shirley Neuman in 1999, U-M-Flint Chancellor Juan Mestas in 1999 and Business School Dean Robert Dolan in May.

A.T. Kearney Executive Search’s professional fees are one-third of the total first year’s cash compensation for the person hired plus expenses such as travel, advertising and express mail.

The Regents outlined their presidential search process at their Nov. 15 meeting. The eight-member board has formed a committee of the whole to serve as the Presidential Search Committee, with Regent Laurence B. Deitch as chair and Regent Daniel D. Horning as vice chair.

The Regents will be assisted by a Presidential Search Advisory Committee chaired by Earl Lewis, dean of the Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies, vice provost for academic affairs-graduate studies, and professor of history and of Afro-American and African studies.

In addition to Lewis, the search advisory committee will be made up of seven faculty members, two staff members, two students, two alumni, and one representative each from the Flint and Dearborn campuses. The board will announce the complete membership of the search advisory committee by early December and call its first meeting shortly after that time.

The Regents hope to conclude the search within six to nine months.

Board of RegentsProvostLaurence B. DeitchEarl LewisDearborn