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| Mike Sipple Jr. |
Centennial Executive Search announces the promotion of Marcus Gardner from Chief Growth Officer to President.
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Gardner joined Centennial earlier in 2021 at Chief Growth Officer and has repeatedly proven his strategic prowess and strong discernment for business growth and vision. He joined Centennial with a lengthy history of delivering results by caring for and empowering people to do their best. These traits continue to be pillars of his leadership, which make him an obvious choice for assuming the role of President at Centennial.
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| Marcus Gardner is the new President of Centennial Executive Search. |
Centennial is a family business, established in 1975, and owned by Mike and Susan Sipple and Mike Sipple Jr. Together, the Sipples have been on a succession journey to ensure the on-going success of their executive search business. This journey really got started in 2008, when Mike Sr. and Mike Jr. enrolled in the Goering Center’s program, Next Generation Institute. Through this incredible and thorough succession program Mike Jr. and Mike Sr. were able to evaluate their future and determine what was best for the business AND their families.
The Sipples recognize and fully embrace the fact that you need great support and resources to have a healthy succession. Mike Sipple Jr. states it plainly, “Going at it alone is not the recipe for success.” The Sipples have seen the results of good successions and very poor successions. There was no doubt that a program like the one the Goering Center offers was the only way to come through the process without creating great pain for the family and business.
Along with the Goering Center, many Centennial team members have played a huge role in the support and forward momentum of this succession. Many employees have stepped into greater leadership roles and new people were added to secure an outstanding team that is unified in their vision for the future.
A clear strategic plan is key to finding the right people to lead your organization. The Sipples have been very intentional about finding the right leaders to reach their company’s long-term objectives. This is the same philosophy that drives their executive search activity. Not just anyone will take your organization where you want to go. The right people are necessary for future success.
When Marcus Gardner was introduced to Centennial, his emotional intelligence and expertise were clear marks of a leader that Centennial needed, to execute the vision. As business owners, the Sipples had a vision, but they recognize that it takes the right team to execute that vision.
Mike Jr. shares his confidence.
“We’ve allowed the plan to unfold while finding the right leaders to reach our long-term objectives. Seeing the plan being executed is very exciting. Our current team is extraordinary, and we’re poised to add extra talent and leadership to achieve our vision.”
Serving their clients has been a driving force for being proactive in the Sipples succession plan. Their desire to continue Centennial’s high level of excellence and treat everyone with care is something they did not want to lose during the leadership transition. Gardner has the character they were looking for.
Mike Sipple Sr. and Mike Sipple Jr. expressed optimism in the announcement and promotion of Gardner.
“Marcus has the heart for the work we do as well as the desire and experience to grow and scale. He will do this in a manner that will honor our strengths and build on our growth opportunities.”