Ed Whipple is a Managing Director and core member of the Financial Officer Practice and Professional & Technology Services Practice at ZRG. In this role, Ed partners closely with dynamic organizations to help align their talent needs with their business strategy. His focus is conducting key recruiting and succession planning assignments across an array of functional disciplines including CFOs, Managing Partners, Partners, Principals, Managing Directors, Chief Accounting Officers, Corporate Controllers, and Division Finance Executives, in addition to CISOs and other professional and technology services leadership mandates.

Ed applies proven techniques throughout the executive search process with a passion for driving results at every stage, from initial strategy development to hands-on candidate selection, execution, and placement. He has an established reputation as a trusted advisor to his clients at the intersection of the financial function and commercial sector, interested in continually finding better ways to deliver value through data and technology.

Prior to joining ZRG, Ed was with Korn Ferry, where he was a leader in the Financial Officers Practice and a frequent collaborator with the Private Equity and Industrial Services practices. His list of clients served includes Fortune 500, private equity/venture capital-backed, and family-owned businesses.

Over his career, Ed has completed over 200 retained search assignments and established a vast network of executives within the Professional & Technology Services, Hardware & Software, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Business Services, Utilities & Infrastructure, and Supply Chain/Logistics/3PL sectors.  

In addition, Ed specializes in partnering with his clients on multiple assignments concurrently, including the build-out of senior executive teams, new service-line offerings, and finance leadership teams (Corporate Controllers, Heads of M&A/Strategy and Corporate Finance, Division Finance Executives, etc.), as well as other technology/operational appointments.

Ed is a graduate of Virginia Tech University’s Pamplin College of Business, where he earned dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Finance, and Management, Entrepreneurship & Innovation.