John M. Thornton is an Executive Vice President and the Managing Director in the firm’s Cleveland office. He has more than 20 years experience as an executive search consultant, previously serving as a Principal with the StratfordGroup. Additionally, he is a member of DHR’s Healthcare & Life Sciences Practice Group. DHR International is the fifth largest retained executive search firm with a wide variety of practices ranging from technology, healthcare, non-profit, education, consumer, sports and entertainment, financial services and industrial.

John has focused his search practice on healthcare and higher education, with primary emphasis on Medical Schools, Hospitals and Hospital Systems, Physician Practices and Universities. Functionally, he has successfully completed assignments for CEO, COO, CFO, Executive Director, Dean, Department Chairs in a variety of medical specialties, Vice Presidents and Center Directors across the nation. Total searches managed by John throughout his career exceed 300.

John has also successfully completed a number of non-healthcare senior level assignments with various organizations throughout the Midwest.

Prior to entering executive search, John was a Group Vice President at Cardinal American, a Cleveland based, diversified manufacturer, turning around two of its under-performing divisions from negative to over 10% profit margins. He previously served as VP Finance of Rollins Environmental Systems and Senior Engagement Manager with the consulting firm, McKinsey & Company, Inc. At McKinsey he worked principally with government, private industry and higher education clients.

John received his BA degree from Princeton University and his MBA degree from Harvard Business School.

John and his wife, Julia, have three children.