Bonnie W. Gwin Selected as Make-A-Wish Foundation of America Board Chair

PHOENIX, October 30, 2009 — Bonnie W. Gwin, a leading CEO and board recruitment executive, has been named chair of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America (wish.org) Board of Directors.

Gwin succeeds Robert J. Bigler, who completed two one-year terms as chair of the world’s largest wish-granting charity Saturday.

A partner with international executive-search and leadership consulting firm Heidrick & Struggles, Gwin joined the Make-A-Wish® national board in 2005. She became chair of the Governance Committee in 2006 and was chosen as chair-elect in April. Gwin has also been a volunteer leader at the chapter level for the Foundation, serving on the Northeast regional board of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Greater Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana.

“It’s an honor for me to lead the board of such an incredible organization,” Gwin said. “The Make-A-Wish Foundation brings joy to more than 13,000 children with life-threatening medical conditions each year, and we have ambitious goals to expand our wish-granting efforts to even more children across the country.”

During her more than 11 years with Heidrick & Struggles, Gwin has held a number of leadership positions, including president of the Americas. In addition, she has served as global managing partner for the technology practice and managing partner of its North America Quality Council.

Earlier this month, she was named managing partner of Heidrick & Struggles North American board practice, which assists clients with board of director searches across a wide range of industries.

Prior to joining Heidrick & Struggles, Gwin spent nearly 13 years with the IBM Corporation, where she held a variety of sales, marketing and senior-level management positions.

Gwin has been active in a number of other nonprofit organizations, including JumpStart Inc. and the National First Ladies’ Library Site Committee.

“Bonnie's credentials and passion for the Foundation are outstanding,” said David Williams, Make-A-Wish Foundation of America president and chief executive officer. “She has excelled in so many roles within the Foundation already and helped strengthen the organization’s governance model from top to bottom. I am looking forward to working with her in her new position as board chair.”