Marika Akers is the Senior Partner and Managing Director at Silvester & Company, where she has been a driving force for over 18 years. Since joining the firm in 2008, Marika has led hundreds of senior-level searches, progressing from Executive Recruiter to Partner and eventually to her current leadership role. She is known for her "high-touch" approach to recruitment, prioritizing personal outreach and creative engagement over automated tools to attract high-potential leaders. Her placement expertise spans a diverse range of functions, including Presidents, General Managers, and Chief Human Resources Officers, with a particular focus on solving critical leadership gaps in complex industries like aerospace and defense. Prior to her career in executive search, Marika spent eight years at The Regence Group in sales and service. She is an alumna of Portland State University and holds an Advanced Certificate in Executive Search and Leadership Consulting from the Cornell University ILR School.