Russell Reynolds Associates, an executive search firm, announced that Clarke Murphy will succeed Matthew Wright as the firm’s next president and CEO when Wright steps down on April 2.

Murphy has more than 24 years of executive search and assessment experience, having joined Russell Reynolds Associates in 1988. He served on the firm’s elected executive committee from 1999 to 2002. In 2007, Murphy was appointed global leader of the CEO/board practice.

“Having the right leader and leadership team remains a critical issue for organizations around the world and Clarke is among the foremost ambassadors of this message, having led our firm’s global CEO/board practice for the past five years,” said Wright.