Mercedes LeGrand Appointed Head of Global Aerospace & Defense Practice at Odgers Berndtson

Mercedes has over 20 years’ experience consulting and recruiting in the Aerospace, Defense, Intelligence, and Security sectors, and has been a Partner in Odgers Berndtson’s Aerospace & Defense practice for the past year. Prior to joining Odgers Berndtson, Mercedes ran the global Aviation, Aerospace, & Defense Practice at a top 5 global executive search firm. Her background marries technology and defense, and she has helped to transform the leadership teams of many of the world’s largest Aerospace & Defense companies. In addition to consulting with companies in this industry, Mercedes has deep experience consulting with technology companies that partner with government customers, and she has been recognized by ExecutiveBiz as a Top 10 GovCon Recruiter. 

Mercedes has an MBA from both Columbia Business School and London Business School. She received a B.A. in Government and International Politics from George Mason University. Outside of her work at Odgers Berndtson, Mercedes is also a Court Appointed Special Advocate for Children in the cities of Alexandria and Arlington, Virginia.

Mercedes succeeds Jon Barney, who has led Odgers Berndtson’s Aerospace, Defense, & Security Practice since 2019. Odgers Berndtson regularly advises clients on effective succession planning and we follow the same practices internally; this transfer of leadership between Jon and Mercedes has been in the works for some time, and its seamlessness is a testament to their partnership and our collaborative culture. 

Says Mercedes, “I am thrilled to be taking the helm of Odgers’ Aerospace, Defense, & Security Practice, and excited to bring my background in technology and leadership transformation consulting to our clients. Outperformers in the aerospace industry today are ones that are embracing technology to solve complex manufacturing and supply chain challenges, and this team is well-poised to help them achieve success.” 

She continued, “Jon Barney has done a tremendous job of building the Aerospace, Defense, & Security Practice at Odgers Berndtson and setting the standard for global and industry-level collaboration. As a result, our team is truly comprised of the world’s experts in executive recruitment for this industry. We have the largest dedicated A&D Practice of any executive search firm on the globe and, in my estimation, the best team as well. Companies with global operations or aspirations will be well served by our network, which is incredibly strong in all key defense markets. I look forward to deepening and enriching our relationships and giving our talented team further opportunities to grow their careers and expertise in this industry.”

Says Jon Barney, former Head of Aerospace & Defense and now Head of the firm’s Industrial Practice, “I am very excited to have Mercedes stepping into this role as Head of our Aerospace & Defense Practice, and I can’t wait for our clients to experience the power of her background, expertise, and leadership. The fact that Mercedes comes from the industry side, having worked directly for companies in this space, means she is deeply knowledgeable when it comes to the challenges our Aerospace & Defense clients face every day. She understands the context in which talent will need to make a marked difference for our clients, and that is a huge win for our firm and the organizations we serve.”

Clare Glackin, Industrial Practice Leader for EMEA said, “We are pleased to share the news that Mercedes LeGrand will be taking over from Jon Barney as Head of our Global Aerospace, Defense, & Security Practice. The growth of the practice in recent years has demonstrated the power of global collaboration and we are all delighted Mercedes will be leading this in the future.” 

“Aerospace & Defense and dual-use technologies are at an inflection point. The U.S. and its allies are aligned – commercially and economically - as never before, and technological dominance is the name of the game to protect our nations in today’s great power competition. Public and private sector investment are joining forces to ensure our world’s democracies are kept safe. From AI and Machine Learning to robotics, 3D printing, and even outer space, A&D is an industry that must stay on the forefront as a matter of national and global security,” said Kennon Kincaid, CEO of Odgers Berndtson US. “I am thrilled to announce Mercedes will be leading our A&D practice going forward, building on the strong foundation Jon Barney laid over the past few years. Mercedes is an expert and passionate about bringing diverse thinking and candidates to our clients. Diversity is particularly important to the growth of this industry and it’s at the top of our clients’ lists of priorities. Mercedes has a demonstrated track record of helping clients achieve their technology and talent goals to excel in this highly competitive space, and I look forward to the impact she’ll make in our practice, for our clients, and in the industry.”