We Don’t Just Put Leaders on Top. We Help Keep Them There.

Our stories start with defining talent, but that’s not where they end. Whether for a board or executive search or executive assessment, we personally conduct every assignment and execute each stage of the process from start to finish to ensure long-term success. In partnership with our clients, we accomplish amazing things together.

Alan Kaplan

Founder + CEO

Alan is a national expert in leadership succession, corporate governance, and talent management across the financial services, private equity, and middle-market sectors. He has over thirty years of talent assessment and executive search experience, after an initial career in corporate banking with two leading Philadelphia institutions. He has successfully led hundreds of CEO-succession projects and financial officer assignments, as well as hundreds of C-level consulting, assessment, and executive search assignments.

Alan holds an Economics degree from The Pennsylvania State University, and an MBA in Finance from Temple University. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. Alan is a Board Leadership Fellow of the National Association of Corporate Directors, and sits on the Board of Directors of NACD Philadelphia. He recently served as a Global Board Member of the Association of Executive Search and Leadership Consultants, the industry’s leading education and advocacy organization, and as an Advisory Director of Penn Liberty Bank prior to its sale to WSFS Bank. Alan is also known for his 16 years as a weekly business commentator on talent management and career issues for KYW News Radio 1060 in Philadelphia, and for serving as regular columnist for Bank Director and SmartCEO Magazine. He is a frequent speaker and author for business and financial services organizations nationwide.

Karen Kane

Managing Director

Karen has over two decades of C-level search experience, from early-stage growth businesses to Fortune 500 companies across the banking and finance, manufacturing, healthcare, information technology, and telecommunications sectors. She works closely with executive management and boards, specializing in the validation of candidate leadership skills in highly complex markets. Her personal investment in the search process—and deep integration into client culture and the project team—result in an extremely high level of repeat client engagement.

Karen earned a B.A. in Business Administration from DeSales University. She is currently a member of the Association of Executive Search Consultants and Bank on Women.

Dara Klein

Managing Director

Dara is consistently recognized for her expertise in executive search, board advisory, and talent assessment for the financial services and growth-company sectors. She leverages her keen understanding of multifaceted cultures and complex board dynamics to promote diverse leadership and drive growth, strategy, and business transformation. Dara is known as a confidant to CEOs, delivering honest, actionable feedback that consistently results in highly effective, culturally in-sync organizational success.

Dara earned a B.S. in Marketing from The Pennsylvania State University. She currently serves as Co-Chair of the Advisory Council for the Women Business Collaborative (WBC) and is a member of the Forum of Executive Women, where she serves on the Women in Leadership and Women on Boards committees. Dara is a national speaker on board and CEO succession and was recognized in March 2021 by Women’s Leadership Magazine USA as one of 104 top women business leaders. She is an advocate for the advancement of women and people of color and a committed mentor to the next generation of leaders.

Nick Demedio

Principal

Nick has more than 20 years of experience in executive search, talent management, and human resources, including leadership roles in community banking and HR consulting. He has successfully led CEO and C-suite searches, working directly with boards and executive management teams in senior recruitment and succession planning. Nick has managed both strategic and hands-on HR initiatives, including the design and administration of executive and staff compensation infrastructure, employee benefit programs, and executive on-boarding.

Nick holds a B.A. in Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resources Management from Temple University, as well as the Senior Professional of Human Resources (SPHR) certification from the Society of Human Resources Management.

Daria Placitella

Principal

Daria has over 25 years of experience in the financial services industry including wealth management, commercial real estate and asset recovery.  Daria was the Managing Executive for PNC Wealth Management’s Eastern Region, leading the activities of over 1000 employees and 35 teams with AUM of over $20 Billion.  Daria also served as PNC’s Regional President of the New Jersey market. Most recently, Daria combined her entrepreneurial spirit and passion as co-founder of Hope Trust, a fintech company helping special needs families plan for the future via innovative technology-driven solutions.

Daria holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Delaware and is dedicated to making a difference in her community.  She remains an active board member of Hope Trust, as well as Robert Wood Johnson Somerset and The Independent College Fund.  Daria has also received the New Jersey Best 50 Women in Business Award, the Women Turning the Century Award for Outstanding Achievement in Banking and Finance, and was honored by the Jewish Federation for her dedication to that organization.

 

Having been both a client and a candidate of Kaplan Partners for over 25 years, I’ve had an insider’s view of how their robust process differentiates them. Their domain expertise, as well as their understanding of the culture of all parties, ensures the right fit for everyone. In business, talent is everything, and Kaplan Partners consistently delivers.

Jim Deutsch
Managing Partner, Patriot Financial Partners, L.P.