Johannesburg, South Africa — May 6, 2026 — Cornerstone, the world’s only global talent consulting group with dual headquarters in the U.S. and China, today announced the official opening of its Johannesburg office—a strategic hub to expand its retained executive search and Talent Advisory practice across South Africa and the broader African continent.
This milestone deepens Cornerstone’s footprint in South Africa, reinforcing its commitment to world-class leadership solutions in high-potential markets. Leading the new office is Paul O’Brien, an executive search specialist with over 14 years of experience across South Africa, the UK, Hong Kong, the UAE, and broader Africa. Cornerstone Johannesburg is committed to long-term local partnerships and contributing to the business community through collaboration, media engagement, and thought leadership.
Simon Wan, Chairman and CEO, said: “South Africa is a vital growth frontier where exceptional leadership drives resilience, scalability, and success. Our Johannesburg office marks a key global milestone, blending worldwide talent resources with on-the-ground African market intelligence. With Paul O’Brien leading our local operations, we deliver personalized, quality-driven leadership hiring that creates lasting value across the continent.”
Dan Heiman, Global President, added: “Johannesburg is the economic gateway to Africa, making it the ideal base to expand our regional presence and support our global goal of 100 offices worldwide. This new office cements Cornerstone as a go-to partner for building future-ready leadership teams across Africa.”
Paul O’Brien, Managing Partner of Cornerstone Johannesburg, said: “African businesses need resilient, commercially aligned leaders to thrive in complex, fast-changing markets. Our mission is to connect exceptional talent with ambitious organizations. By combining global reach with local insight, we deliver high-impact talent solutions that create lasting value for clients and candidates alike.” Cornerstone Johannesburg – Executive Search Office – Cornerstone
About Cornerstone International Group
Founded in 1989, Cornerstone is a global talent consulting group with dual headquarters in the U.S. and China. Operating in over 40 countries and 60 cities, Cornerstone offers executive search, leadership development, and Career Transition Services to help organizations navigate complexity and drive sustainable success.
