Tom Friel retired as Chairman of Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc. in 2007. Heidrick & Struggles is one of the world’s leading executive search and leadership consulting firms with offices in over 30 countries. It is a publicly traded firm listed on NASDAQ (HSII). Mr. Friel joined Heidrick & Struggles in 1979 and played an important role in developing the firm's leadership position in key markets. He established the firm's Silicon Valley presence, served as Managing Partner of the Menlo Park, California, office for its first five years. He was cofounder and then later assumed the responsibility of managing the firm's Global Technology Practice, which he led from 1987 to 1995.