Emma Combe leads the UK Board Practice for Russell Reynolds Associates. She excels at identifying board chairs, CEOs, and executive and non-executive directors for listed, private equity, and family-owned businesses. She also has extensive experience advising clients on board composition and development, as well as CEO succession planning. Based in London, she brings deep expertise in the industrial, infrastructure, and services sectors, both in the UK and internationally. Since 2023, Emma has hosted the Leadership Lounge, a podcast mini-series where she asks Russell Reynolds Associates’ veteran leadership advisors to answer some of the most pressing questions facing leaders today. Emma joined Russell Reynolds Associates when The Zygos Partnership became part of the firm in 2017. Previously, Emma worked for a specialist headhunting firm advising private equity funds on the leadership of their portfolio companies. She began her career as an associate for a boutique executive search firm based in New York. Emma holds an MA, with first-class distinction, in English Literature and French from the University of Edinburgh.