Julie Kanak serves as Executive Vice President in the firm’s Chicago office. Additionally, she is a member of DHR’s Financial Services and Life Sciences Technology Practice Groups. Prior to joining DHR International, Ms. Kanak was Managing Director with the Washington D.C. based agribusiness and life sciences boutique search firm, Kincannon & Reed. Ms. Kanak has conducted senior level searches in financial services, plant biotechnology and animal health and nutrition. With 22 years in the global banking arena, Ms. Kanak brings extensive expertise in corporate and investment banking. The majority of Ms. Kanak’s career was spent with Calyon and its predecessor, Credit Lyonnais as Director and Head of the AgriFoods Group. In this role, Ms. Kanak was responsible for its strategic development and generating corporate finance solutions and delivering resources to provide clients with debt and equity capital financing as well as strategic advice. In addition to her service withCalyon/ Credit Lyonnais, Ms. Kanak initiated and managed the U.S. corporate banking, credit and corporate finance activities of State Bank of South Australia working with all levels of debt financing ranging from senior to subordinated to mezzanine. Having worked closely with members of the Fortune 500, middle market and early stage companies across a broad spectrum of industries operating around the world, Ms. Kanak offers a rich understanding and appreciation for industry and market dynamics and cultural nuances. For the last decade, her clients have been primarily involved in agribusiness, the life sciences and food. Other highlights include financial services, consumer goods, engineering, telecommunications, transportation and retail. Ms. Kanak holds a MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management and a BBA. from the University of Iowa.