Deborah Sawyer

Managing Director at ZRG Partners

A 25-year veteran of the executive search industry, Deborah Sawyer joined ZRG Partners in June 2016 as part of the firm’s Technology Practice. Prior to ZRG Partners, Deborah led the technology practice for a Dallas (TX) based boutique executive search firm, served as a Managing Director with retained executive search firm’s Singapore office and as a Senior Client Partner with a global retained executive search firm. She has focused her career on helping medium to large public technology and media companies with talent acquisition, succession planning and geographic expansion.

With a well-worn passport and a career full of international experiences, Deborah is a citizen of the world who has led several major global client relationships and worked throughout the Asia-Pacific region, including greater China, Japan, Korea and Singapore. Her international executive search experience also includes assignments in London, Paris, Montreal and Toronto, as well as throughout the United States.

Using a partnership approach built on two-way communication, she begins every engagement by listening to her client’s needs, then merges her specialized industry expertise with an understanding of each client’s business culture to pinpoint ideally qualified candidates. Consistently recognized for understanding the strategic impact of her placements on her client companies’ futures, Deborah is dedicated to supporting her clients and placements long after she completes a search. A trusted advisor to her clients, Deborah specializes in advanced technology, renewables, life sciences and professional services. Prior to entering executive search, she worked in marketing research and statistics.

Deborah earned a master of business administration degree from Georgia State University and a bachelor’s degree in international affairs from Florida State University.

Deborah is active in her community through board responsibilities for an arts organization and a technology association. She is chairman of the board of the Richardson (Texas) Symphony Orchestra, where she also recently served as treasurer and vice president of finance. She serves on the board of directors, as well as the executive committee, of Tech Titans, the largest Technology Association in Texas, where she chairs the annual Tech Titans Awards Gala and also serves on the Programs committee that produces the monthly Tech Industry luncheons. Deborah was named Tech Titans Board Member of the Year for 2015 and 2017. She is a member of Women for Florida State University, and serves on the University’s Mentoring and Recruitment committee. When not serving the community through her various volunteer roles, she spends time with her daughters and her dogs. She enjoys cooking and gardening.