Karlis is a Director and Head of Research in Cook Associates’ Chicago office, having rejoined the firm in 2011. He executes senior-level search assignments across a diverse range of practice groups and geographies, with a particular emphasis in industrial markets. Karlis is a “hands on” director – he applies proven techniques throughout the executive search process to drive results at every stage, including research, search strategy, candidate identification and development, search execution and placement.
Prior to joining Cook Associates, Karlis spent several years with DHR International in various roles of increasing significance. Most recently he served as a Senior Associate in the firm’s Toronto, Canada office, executing search assignments in a diverse range of practice areas throughout North America. Prior to that, he served as Vice President of Talent Acquisition & Operations APAC, based in the company’s Asia Pacific headquarters in Hong Kong. In that role, he was responsible for building the organization throughout Asia, India and Australia via targeted talent acquisition/internal recruiting strategies. While there, he opened two new offices in six months – Beijing, China and establishing the Australia & New Zealand division with an office in Sydney, Australia. Before gaining experience in the Asia Pacific market, Karlis served as a Senior Associate in DHR’s Denver Colorado office; focusing on search execution for global, senior-level search projects.
Karlis began his search career with Cook Associates as a Research Associate and Project Leader and was responsible for managing all research and search execution functions across the Retail, Life Science, Industrial and Technology Practices.
Karlis began his career with a start-up renewable energy company shortly after earning his bachelor’s degree.
Karlis received a bachelor of science in environmental science and management from the University of Rhode Island, while playing four years of Division I, scholarship tennis for the university’s team. He studied abroad at the Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, Australia.
As part of his heritage, Karlis is fluent in Latvian and well-versed in the culture’s traditions. He previously served as the Chairman & President of the American Latvian Youth Association and dedicates much of his spare time to the preservation and cultivation of his heritage abroad. He currently serves as a founding board member to the Latvian Chamber of Commerce in the Americas.