SolomonEdwards Expands National Search Practice, Appoints Michelle Chen Managing Partner

Latest leadership appointment accelerates growth, diversification of professional search capabilities across key markets

PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SolomonEdwards, a national professional services firm focused on solving critical business challenges for companies undergoing growth, change or compliance-driven events, today announced the appointment of Michelle Chen as managing partner. Her appointment marks a pivotal step in SolomonEdwards’ strategy to expand the scale and national footprint of its Professional Search practice.

Based in Orange County, California, Chen will lead efforts to broaden the firm’s reach beyond its existing Philadelphia and Tri-State markets, while deepening expertise in accounting and finance recruiting to support SolomonEdwards’ growing Office of the CFO (OCFO) and Banking & Financial Services (BFS) business lines.

“Michelle brings extraordinary leadership, vision and operational experience to this role. Her track record of scaling high-performing teams and driving measurable growth speaks for itself,” said John Gulnac, CEO of SolomonEdwards. “Many of the clients we serve today need access to professionals who can become leaders and decision makers of tomorrow. SolomonEdwards is positioned perfectly to identify, attract and evaluate these professionals. Michelle and the Search team will ensure that our clients feel value beyond our consulting solutions.”

Chen is a seasoned executive with nearly 30 years of experience in the staffing and professional services industries. Prior to joining SolomonEdwards, she served as Vice President at Adecco, overseeing the U.S. Search team. Under her leadership, the division increased its headcount sevenfold and achieved a fivefold increase in top-line revenue. Earlier in her career, Chen successfully launched, scaled and sold two multimillion-dollar companies in the staffing and IT managed services sectors.

“I’m excited to join SolomonEdwards at a moment of such strategic growth,” said Chen. “The firm’s commitment to partnership, innovation and integrity perfectly aligns with my own leadership philosophy. Together, we’ll continue to evolve our search practice to help clients identify and empower exceptional talent while supporting the firm’s broader mission of turning complexity into clarity.”

Chen holds an MBA in accounting and finance from UCLA’s Anderson School of Management and serves on the board of directors for Operation Be Kind, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting kindness and community engagement. Her appointment follows a series of recent leadership moves at SolomonEdwards, including the promotion of Carissa Robb to managing partner of the BFS practice and the elevation of recent hire George Kelly to lead the firm’s OCFO offerings. These additions reflect the firm’s continued investment in leadership that drives innovation, capability expansion and long-term client value.

With a client-first approach, top-tier professionals and adaptable delivery models, SolomonEdwards turns complexity into clarity, data into decisions and challenges into opportunities. To learn more, visit SolomonEdwards.com.

About SolomonEdwards

For more than 25 years, SolomonEdwards has empowered organizations to tackle common and complex business challenges through strategic advisory, technical advocacy, and hands-on execution. We partner with leaders across industries to strengthen risk and compliance, leverage data and technology, and keep critical work moving. The result: stronger performance, smarter decisions, and progress that lasts. Discover how SolomonEdwards can advance your business objectives at SolomonEdwards.com.