Meet The Team
Diane R Beir
Diane Beir joined Fischer Group International in 2002. She was Chief Operating Officer for five years before assuming the position as President in February 2018.
Diane focuses on senior level placements across a variety of industries. She has successfully completed assignments for portfolio companies of private equity firms and for manufacturers and distributors in multiple business sectors including aerospace, wire & cable, medical devices, metals, chemicals, electronics, packaging, engineered products, tires, and capital goods. In addition, she has been retained to recruit in healthcare, food franchising, logistics, consumer goods and for professional organizations. Diane recruits for all senior level functions across an organization including C-suite, General Management, Sales, Marketing, Operations, Supply Chain, Finance, Human Resources, IT, R&D, and Engineering. Her global clients range in size from $40 million to $50+ billion in revenue.
Prior to joining the firm, Diane spent eight years with Bank of America (formerly Connecticut National Bank). After earning a BA in Economics from Trinity College in Hartford, CT, she entered the bank’s credit training program and became a Credit Analyst for the Commercial Banking division. Diane then served on a loan review team to ensure the quality of the bank’s commercial loan portfolio. Following this assignment, she advanced to the Private Banking division where she earned her Certified Financial Planner designation. As a loan officer she managed and grew a loan portfolio for 150 high net worth clients with over $50 million in personal loans as well as advised and assisted clients with trust and investment services.
860-404-7700 x101 dianeb@fischergroupintl.com
James J Pappas
With more than twenty years’ experience in fields of engineering, technology, manufacturing, distribution, biotechnology and construction, Jim provides a depth of knowledge for his clients seeking to expand their business or enhance their senior management talent.
Jim has a diverse background in providing key management to several internal and external customers across the United States and internationally. Jim has conducted searches in Canada, China, Singapore, India, England, France, Germany, Brazil, Mexico, and Thailand. The key to his success in search has been constant communication between the client and candidate.
Prior to joining the firm, Jim has had a successful career in human resources and executive search with Barnes Group Inc., and Motorola.
Jim received his BS degree in Business from Illinois Wesleyan University and his MS degree in Human Resources & Industrial Relations from Loyola University.
Jim has been a guest speaker at several international human resources conferences and is active in local community events.
860-404-7700 x102 jimp@fischergroupintl.com
Robert (Bob) P Lobban
With more than 35 years’ experience in executive management and management consulting, Bob provides a depth of knowledge for his clients seeking to improve their business results or enhance their senior management talent. Bob’s focus is on general management and financial roles for both private equity portfolio and public companies.
Bob’s background includes roles as CFO, COO/CFO, Managing Director and member of the Board of Directors for public, private, and private equity portfolio companies. He has also served as a Principal for Gemini Consulting and as a Vice President for the George Group, a leader in Lean Six Sigma consulting. His industry experience is primarily in manufacturing, but includes telecommunications, high technology, energy, chemicals, aerospace and defense, business services and the automotive industries.
Bob received his BS in Industrial Engineering from Northeastern University and his MBA from The Harvard Graduate School of Business.
Prior to joining the firm Bob served as the Chief Financial Officer and Interim President and CEO for Brook and Whittle, LTD, a portfolio company of RFE Investment Partners, and previously as the President of Newfound Consulting.
Jerome P Kane
With over thirty-eight years’ experience in power, petrochemical, water treatment, manufacturing and engineering/construction, Jerry brings a wealth of knowledge to clients seeking to expand their business or augment their senior management team.
Kane has a broad background in power generation – both conventional and alternative energy. He has been responsible for the construction of combined cycle, combustion turbine plants. He has managed the operation and decommissioning of the Shenandoah Solar Center for Georgia Power, a joint project between EPRI and Southern Company. Jerry’s recent interest in wind farm development gives him a thorough understanding of conventional (coal, gas, nuclear) and green (solar, wind, biomass) power generation approaches. Kane’s international experience spans new power plant design, project management, field services and sales of engineered equipment in the Pacific Rim, Canada, Mexico and Europe.
Kane has served as President and CEO, MYRpower, Inc., Vice President and Director, Stone & Webster, Inc., President and CEO, ACandS, Inc., and President and CEO, UE&C Nuclear, Inc. Earlier in his career, Jerry was the General Manager, Engineering and Licensing at Georgia Power, Company and General Manager, Engineering at Energy Northwest. Upon receiving a BS degree in Materials Engineering from the University of South Florida, he began his career in manufacturing engineered equipment for power plants with Westinghouse Electric Company.
Jerry has served on the Board of Directors of the Nuclear Energy Institute and several Advisory Committees. He also served as Chairman of the Supplier Advisory Committee for the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO). He is a current member of the Project Management Institute, the American Society for Metals, and the American Nuclear Society.
Sunit Mehra - Partner
Sunit is a Partner of Hunt Partners, a leading Board Advisory and Leadership Capital firm. Sunit has worked with a large number of corporate boards and is an advisor to several Indian business houses on Corporate Governance. He has co-authored the India Board Report, India’s foremost research paper on Corporate Governance in conjunction with the CII.
Sunit also founded Third Sector Partners (TSP), India’s largest not for profit Executive Search firm for the development sector. TSP in turn spawned Katalyst, a program which strives to propel academically bright underprivileged girls into the C-suite of Corporate India. Sunit is current Chairman of United Way of India. In the past, he has been Vice Chairman – American Chamber of Commerce, Mumbai and Treasurer of the Wharton Alumni Association of India.
Sunit received a business degree in marketing management from the Wharton School, and also a degree in engineering from the University of Pennsylvania.
Suresh Raina - Partner
Suresh Raina is a Partner at the firm, having joined in 2010 with two decades of cross-functional experience in various Indian and Multinational companies. Suresh has held leadership positions and gained experience in managing and growing businesses, working in different geographies including South Asia, Middle East & Africa and North America.
At Hunt, Suresh leads the Industrial & Infrastructure practices and has successfully delivered on various C-suite mandates. In addition Suresh also co-leads the Board practice.
Most recently, Suresh held the position of Managing Director for North America & Caribbean, for De La Rue Cash Processing Solutions. Earlier Suresh started and established operations for De La Rue in South Asia, Middle East & Africa. Earlier Suresh has worked with several global corporations including HCL, Invensys, Bristol Myers Squibb and Prudential Financial. He has also been an entrepreneur having led start-ups in the Manufacturing & Technology sectors.
Suresh has a B.TEch from National Institute of Technology, Srinagar, and an MBA in Finance & Marketing from the Rutgers Graduate School of Management, USA. He has also attended several Executive Management programs at Harvard, Stanford and Kellogg Business schools in Leadership, Change Management and Strategy.
Suresh has a deep interest in management and leadership principals with a focus on leadership talent - strategy & practice. He is an avid runner and regularly participates in Marathons. He also volunteers with Non-Profit organizations in his personal capacity.