Lisa Buckingham Joins Ellig Group as President

Lisa Buckingham

President

As President of Ellig Group, Lisa is committed to the firm’s legacy purpose-driven mission of driving diversity in our core offerings of executive search, board advisory and leadership development and furthering our range of services designed for senior-level executives and board leaders. Lisa brings over 25 years of experience helping leadership teams transform cultures, companies and individuals’ lives through innovative talent strategies, DEI initiatives, career development, and coaching.

In addition to her expertise in recruiting outstanding leaders for the C-suite and boards, she is passionate about assessing and developing talent, organizational effectiveness, and total rewards. Lisa’s depth and breadth of expertise will further increase Ellig Group’s focus on leadership advisory services and assessments, enabling our clients to enhance their cultures, build rewarding careers and drive strong business results. 

Most recently, Lisa spent over 10 years at Lincoln Financial Group as their Chief People, Place, and Brand Officer. In this capacity, she led human resources, corporate marketing, enterprise communications, corporate social responsibility, the foundation, facilities, aviation, and corporate strategic real estate. She was a member of the Senior Management Committee, reporting directly to the President and Chief Executive Officer.

Before Lincoln, Lisa held several executive roles in human resources and organizational development at Thomson Reuters, including CHRO of Thomson Learning. She has played key leadership roles in several company digital technology transformations and offshoring initiatives to drive global efficiencies to streamline operations, and improve client and employee experience. 

Lisa will continue as a Board advisor for several HR technology-driven start-up organizations and is a Limited Partner in and Operating Advisor to The 98. With a deep passion for philanthropy, Lisa serves on The Eagles Charitable Foundation as a board member, and responsible for the Investment Committee, and is a Board of Trustee for the Academy of Music and Philadelphia Orchestra. 

Lisa has received several notable recognitions, including being elected a fellow of the National Academy of Human Resources (NAHR) in 2018, one of the Top 25 Global CHROs by N2Growth and Stanford Graduate School of Business in 2020, and named one of the 50 Boldly Inspirational Leaders by Employ Humanity. She was named HR Executive of the year in 2017 by Human Resources Executive Publication, and in 2021, she received the distinguished HR Executive Award with the co-founders of People + Work Connect. She serves as Chair of the HR Policy Institute at Questrom School, Boston University. Lisa has a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University.

Lisa is a mentor to many, helping to transform their lives, and enriches her life by being grounded as a dedicated mom, wife, and friend. She resides between Gladwyne, Pa, and NYC with her husband Phil, son, and two English Cream Golden Retrievers. In addition to her professional endeavors, she enjoys paddleboarding, boating, country music and cooking with her family. 

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Ellig Group in the Media

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Vox

Women are running for office in record numbers. In corporate America, they’re losing ground.

CNBC

Boardroom diversity should include ‘four and more’: Chadick Ellig’s Janice Reals Ellig

Forbes

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Janice Ellig team image

Janice Reals Ellig

Chief Executive Officer

As the head of the Ellig Group, Janice is dedicated to increasing the placement of women and diverse candidates on corporate boards and in C-suites by 2025. Janice joined the legacy firm in 2000 and became Co-Chief Executive Officer in its transition to Chadick Ellig in 2007; she assumed sole ownership of the company as the Ellig Group in 2017 with a new focus on Reimagining Search. Prior to her career in executive search, Janice spent 20 years in corporate America at Pfizer, Citi and Ambac Financial Group, an IPO from Citibank, where she was responsible for Marketing, Human Resources, and Administration.

Heralded by Bloomberg Businessweek as one of “The World’s Most Influential Headhunters,” Janice is often consulted for her expertise and her commitment to gender parity, inclusion, and diversity. She frequently appears at speaking engagements and as a media guest, and she has penned multiple articles for outlets such as Directors & Boards, Directorship, Corporate Director, The Huffington Post, and Forbes.com. Janice also co-authored two books: Driving The Career Highway and What Every Successful Woman Knows, acknowledged by Bloomberg Businessweek as “the best of its genre.”

A tirelessly active member of the industry and champion of her causes, Janice is Founder of the Women’s Forum of New York’s Corporate Board Initiative and its signature event, Breakfast of Corporate Champions. Since 2011, Janice continues to spearhead this event to honor companies committed to board diversity and to encourage CEOs to sponsor board-ready women for the Women’s Forum database. (LINK: www.womensforumny.org).

Janice is personally committed to several NFP organizations: Board Director of the National YMCA and Past Chair of the YMCA Board of Greater New York; Trustee of the Actors Fund and Committee For Economic Development (CED); Incoming Chair, University of Iowa Foundation; Women’s Forum of New York Past President and Chair of the Corporate Board Initiative; member of the Steering Committee, US 30% Club and The Economic Club of New York.

In recognition for her many philanthropic activities, Janice received the University of Iowa Distinguished Alumni Award in 2011 and the Association of Executive Search Consultants (AESC) Eleanor Raynolds Award for Volunteerism in 2008. Named one of the “21 Leaders for the 21st Century” by Women’s eNews, she was also a recipient of the Channel 21 Award In Excellence for her contribution to “Excellence in the Economic Development for Women.”

“Listening to our clients’ needs, learning their business and understanding their culture is how we present the best talent and provide  a competitive advantage. We place candidates with the character, competencies, commitment, (intellectual) curiosity and courage to make a difference. Our goal is always to go beyond the expected and deliver valuable advice, measurable results and great talent!”

– Janice Reals Ellig

  • Champion of gender parity, diversity, and inclusion
  • Industry expert, speaker, and author
  • Founder of the Women’s Forum of New York’s Corporate Board Initiative
  • Committed board and committee member and philanthropist

T: (212) 688-8671 ext. 226
E: Janice@ElligGroup.com