Former Visa Inc. chief corporate counsel and senior vice president Tracey Heaton took up the reins of the legal department at executive search and consulting firm Heidrick & Struggles in the midst of a talent war, the great resignation and drastically altered workplace dynamics as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

When the Chicago-based organization announced Heaton’s appointment on Nov. 15, she said in a news release that Heidrick & Struggles was “in the midst of an exciting transformation journey as it seeks to grow the scale and impact of its search, leadership advisory and on-demand talent businesses.”