AltoPartners, an international alliance of independent executive search firms and leadership consultants, has added Russian executive search and leadership consulting firm Excelion Partners International as its newest member firm.

Yevgeny Merkel, Excelion’s senior partner with more than 15 years of experience in executive search, will become AltoPartners’ Russia country manager.

“Russia plays a significant strategic role for many of our international partners and clients and we are confident that the addition of Excelion Partners will elevate the international business reach and focus within our alliance,” Stephen Dallamore, AltoPartners’ global chairman, said. “We are following an aggressive growth strategy to ensure that our international alliance has highly regarded partners in the right locations, which benefit our clients, candidates and partners.”

“Russia, with all its economic ups and downs, nevertheless remains one of the biggest economies in Europe and is hard to ignore for any international business looking for growth opportunities,” Merkel said. “Our recent survey of more than 220 international companies currently operating in Russia showed that 62% of respondents continue to see Russia as a long-term strategic market, which presents tremendous opportunities for our industry. We are proud to join the global alliance of AltoPartners and look forward to engaging with all our colleagues in the network to help navigate in Russia as well as support our Russian clients to expand globally.”

AltoPartners’ alliance now has 55 offices in 35 countries. AltoPartners also added Budapest-based executive search firm AP Accord Group ECE Hungary as a member firm. Accord Group Hungary offers executive search services and expertise across a number of industries, including information & communications; technology / telecommunications (including industrial automation); manufacturing (automotive, electronics); media; as well as banking and financial services.