Sal DiFranco serves as Executive Vice President and Global Technology Practice Group Leader, and is based in the firm’s Chicago and San Francisco offices. He has twenty-two years in the search profession and has completed over 500 technology, consumer goods and industrial searches throughout his career.

Prior to joining DHR, Mr. DiFranco served as Partner at a Bay Area global search firm. Mr. DiFranco led the firm’s Technology practice, specializing in Telecommunications, Communications, Professional Services, Information Technology and Software & Emerging Technologies.

He was a key member of the firm’s Executive Sales, Human Resources, and Financial Services Practices, and led the firm’s strategic initiatives within the insurance sector.
Mr. DiFranco has conducted a broad range of C-level assignments, including searches for Chief Technology Officers, Presidents, Chief Executive officers, Chief Operating Officers, Chief Investment Officers, Chief Information Officers, Chief Financial Officers, as well as board members and sales executives.

Previously, Mr. DiFranco spent six years as Global Director of Executive Search and Global Director of Recruiting and Staffing at Lucent Technologies, where he directly managed recruiting for several key business units including Advanced Technology, Supply Chain & Logistics, Professional and Managed Services, Global Sales, Finance, Information Technology, Human Resources, the Federal Government, and subsidiaries around the world. While at Lucent, Mr. DiFranco developed the company’s first in-house executive search business unit. In addition, he was the Director of Worldwide Sales Recruiting, during which time Mr. DiFranco spearheaded searches throughout North America, Europe, and Asia.

Before joining Lucent, Mr. DiFranco founded and served as President of DiFranco & Associates, a Chicago based full-service boutique search firm that specialized in executive sales management and technology sales for Fortune 500 companies. He began his career as a senior recruiter for a Chicago-based boutique firm.

Mr. DiFranco holds a B.S. in Speech and Mass Communications from Illinois State University. He also holds certifications in Negotiations from the University of Notre Dame, Mendoza College of Business.

Mr. DiFranco is an active volunteer in the Chicago suburb where he resides. He also coaches for teams in which his children participate, such as Renegades Baseball.