John J. Keller
Managing Director
Professional Profile
John J. Keller joined ZRG as a Managing Director in 2022, based in the firm’s New York City office. John advises global clients and recruits high-impact CEOs, CFOs, C-suite executives, and Board Directors to scale businesses. With a search career spanning more than two decades, he has led hundreds of successful assignments and served a wide range of companies, including VC- and PE-backed businesses, mid-scale private and public companies, and the Fortune 500. John’s work has afforded him a central role in some of the most successful CEO- and Board-led business transformations of the past 20 years.
Previous Experience
Prior to joining ZRG, John helped drive the growth missions of business leaders and their companies while serving as a senior partner and practice leader for Spencer Stuart, Korn Ferry, CTPartners, and Raines International. His move to executive search came after many years as an award-winning investigative reporter and senior editor, during which he focused on management and boardroom shakeups for The Wall Street Journal, BusinessWeek, and other publications. John covered businesses and leaders during a period of astonishing tech and M&A transformation in mobile communications, digital, internet, software, and eCommerce. His Page 1 and industry reports for The Wall Street Journal drew Pulitzer nominations and major awards from the nation’s top editors. Reporting during this era gave John a unique platform from which to launch a second successful career, focusing on these same sectors as a C-suite and Board search consultant and advisor.
Areas of Expertise
John’s highly confidential work focuses primarily on the Technology, Media, Telecommunications, and Industrial sectors. His search and advisory work includes strategic, operational, financial, sales, marketing, and communications leadership and their direct reports; John finds innovators poised to transform, turn around, and grow businesses and teams. He also helps clients identify innovative and transformative solutions and provides business, cultural, and top leadership intel supporting M&A activity.
Education
John earned a BA in English and Journalism, with a minor in Business, from Baruch College in New York. He regards his diverse career experience – scrutinizing balance sheets, reporting on top business leadership and global technology revolutions, and finding and placing gifted leaders who scale businesses – as his once-in-a-lifetime MBA.
Hobbies and Interests
In his free time, John draws purpose from his family, music, biographical history and the outdoors.
