Stanton Chase, a top-ranked global retained executive search and leadership advisory firm, has appointed Wassim Karkabi, Managing Partner for the Middle East, as Global Head of Executive Assessment Solutions. The promotion marks a consolidation of leadership across Stanton Chase's assessment practice, which operates through more than 70 offices in 45 countries. Under Karkabi's direction, the firm will integrate executive assessment capabilities more tightly within its core executive search practice, positioning assessment as a strategic differentiator in client engagements.
Karkabi's appointment reflects Stanton Chase's strategic pivot toward assessment-led talent advisory. The role extends his current responsibilities as Regional Head of Board and Executive Assessment in the Middle East into a global remit, overseeing the deployment of psychometric, cognitive, and cultural assessment tools across all regions. The move signals the firm's conviction that assessment expertise should sit at the centre of executive search methodology rather than as an ancillary service. Stanton Chase's executive assessment suite is positioned to help organizations define leadership requirements in alignment with strategic goals and evaluate how existing executive teams measure against desired competencies.
Karkabi brings nearly three decades of leadership development experience to the role. Since 1997, he has worked with multinational and regional organisations across the Middle East, Gulf states, and Asia on executive search, assessment, and coaching assignments. He began his career as founder of Lebanon's first retained executive search firm before relocating to Dubai in 2005. In May 2007, he joined Stanton Chase as a Middle East partner, building the region's leadership advisory practice. Beyond Stanton Chase, Karkabi serves as founder or managing partner of multiple ventures including Global Board Institute, The Culture Factor, Board Nominate, and Fluent XP, alongside chairman and director positions at Data Slot and Hofstede Insights MENA. He holds an Executive MBA from Hult International Business School and a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from the University of La Verne, California, with certifications in executive coaching, business coaching, and organisational culture assessment.
Stanton Chase was established in 1990 and has grown to encompass over 350 specialised consultants across 45 countries. The firm provides retained executive search, executive assessment, board services, succession planning, and executive onboarding services across sectors including technology, healthcare, financial services, energy, consumer goods, and life sciences. In 2024, the firm registered a proprietary Search+ methodology with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Stanton Chase is a member of the Association of Executive Search Consultants, which sets ethical and practice standards for the industry, and participates in diversity initiatives including membership in the 30% Club.
Karkabi's elevation reflects broader market trends toward integrated talent solutions. The consulting and leadership advisory sector has seen sustained demand for assessment capabilities, particularly as organisations face heightened complexity in succession planning and executive onboarding. By consolidating assessment leadership globally, Stanton Chase appears to be positioning itself to offer clients more cohesive advisory spanning candidate identification, evaluation, and integration. Karkabi's track record building assessment practices in a fragmented Middle East market, where governance standards and leadership maturity vary significantly, may provide insights applicable to Stanton Chase's global client base. The appointment also suggests the firm views assessment integration as a competitive advantage in a market where traditional retained search has become increasingly commoditised.
