Canfield Joins 20/20 Foresight
Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-Chief
20/20 Foresight Managing Director Merritt Canfield
Merritt Canfield has joined 20/20 Foresight Executive Search as Managing Director in the company’s Chicago headquarters. Canfield brings more than 20 years of executive search experience to her new role, including placing C-suite and executive-level positions in Fortune 500 companies, railroads, and rail equipment, finance, manufacturing and legal firms. Her specialized expertise will help to expand 20/20 Foresight’s service specialties to include a focus on the rail industry, the company said.
In 2013, Canfield joined Edna Rice Executive Recruiters, a global firm specializing in multiple disciplines in passenger and freight rail. There she served as a rail industry executive search leader and advisor, working with Fortune 500, investors and investment firms, private equity firms, boards of directors, and other public and private companies in all specialties in the industry. In 2019, with a surge of activity in short line and regional railroads mergers and acquisitions, Canfield placed multiple C-suite and executive roles for numerous investment and private equity firms.
“Canfield’s contributions to her clients’ success extend beyond recruitment,” 20/20 Foresight said. “She has marketed, gained and expanded business, as well as advised and directed full lifecycle recruitment, executive compensation, succession planning, legal, compliance and regulatory talent matters, workforce strategy, and diversity and inclusion initiatives while training, mentoring and developing internal individuals in executive search and recruitment.”
Canfield has been a featured speaker at the 2018 American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association Finance & Administration and General Counsel Symposium and Railway Age’s Rail Insights 2019 conference.
“As the rail industry experiences history-making changes this year, recruitment partners need to evolve to meet the needs of the current marketplace,” said 20/20 Foresight Founder and Managing Principal Bob Cavoto. “20/20 Foresight is staying true to our mission of hiring knowledgeable, innovative specialists who are also industry leaders. Merritt’s extensive experience, invaluable industry insights and long-lasting client relationships are essential components of our company’s future growth.”
“My top priority is providing a powerful partnership to companies that guarantees they will acquire the best talent to progress their organizations, especially during times of transition and transformation,” Canfield said. “I am thrilled to enter this next chapter of my executive search career, where I am able to apply my unique skill set to 20/20 Foresight’s expanding recruiting initiatives. The company’s proven proprietary process, industry-leading technological capabilities, and dedicated and driven team will truly allow my abilities to expand and broaden.”
20/20 Foresight Executive Search, founded in 1994, describes itself as “providing an unparalleled recruitment experience. The company’s team is comprised of career consultants who are experts in a range of industries, providing an inherent understanding of their clients’ hiring needs and company goals. 20/20 Foresight leverages a proven recruitment process, proprietary tools and techniques, and the industry’s best database, resulting in a 95% success rate in placements. 20/20 Foresight Executive Search was ranked #15 by Forbes on its list of America’s Best Executive Recruiting Firms 2020.”
