Noah Hanft, who most recently served as General Counsel, Corporate Secretary and Chief Franchise Officer for MasterCard Worldwide, has joined the advisory and coaching division of BarkerGilmore, a New York-based boutique executive search firm. The newest member of a distinguished team of Fortune 500 General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officers, Hanft adds his considerable financial services and technology sector expertise to the strategic counsel, leadership development, and other services BarkerGilmore advisors provide to legal and compliance departments, CEOs, and boards across the country, including General Counsel recruiting and placement.
In making the announcement, Robert Barker, Managing Partner of BarkerGilmore, said Hanft’s breadth and depth of experience adds another dimension to clients seeking to bring out the best in their people and take their organization to the next level. “Noah Hanft is considered to be one of the most outstanding global corporate legal executives of his generation. He is recognized by his peers for his legal expertise, business judgment, vision, and leadership, all while managing a complex legal team and advising the C-Suite and board of a premier financial services organization. With his proven business expertise and success in creating and delivering enhanced solutions and exceptional results, he will be invaluable to BarkerGilmore by helping clients optimize their organizations and drive revenue.”
After he joined MasterCard in 1984, Hanft held positions of increasing responsibility within the Law Department, including Senior Vice President, U.S. Counsel and Assistant General Counsel, ultimately becoming General Counsel in 2001. He briefly left MasterCard from 1990 to 1993 to become Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel at AT&T Universal Card Services. His career began as a trial attorney with the Criminal Division of the Legal Aid Society in New York City.
Most recently, Hanft was the President and CEO of the International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution (CPR), a non-profit organization created by general counsel with a mission to find the most effective means to prevent and resolve business conflict. Under his leadership, CPR won accolades for innovation and development of best and next practices in dispute prevention and conflict resolution. Recognized globally for his abilities as an independent arbitrator, mediator and advisor to companies on dispute resolution strategies, he has devoted his career to finding the most effective and efficient resolutions for resolving conflict, including litigation.
He serves on the panels of the American Arbitration Association and FINRA and is a member of the CPR Panel of Distinguished Neutrals. Hanft also serves on the Mediation Panels for the Second Circuit, the Southern District of New York, the NYS Supreme Court, Commercial Division, and the EEOC. In addition, he serves on the board of the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
In 2012, the Association of Corporate Counsel named him General Counsel of the Year at the Global Counsel Awards, after reviewing the credentials of 3,500 nominees. Hanft received an LL.M from New York University School of Law in Trade Regulation, a J.D. from Brooklyn Law School, and a B.A. from American University, School of Government and Public Administration.
BarkerGilmore is a boutique firm recognized by CEOs, boards, and executives as best in class legal and compliance executive search consultants, GC & CCO advisors, and leadership coaches. With a network of advisors and recruiters spanning across the United States, BarkerGilmore’s client roster includes leading consumer, energy, financial, healthcare, industrial, and technology companies. For further information visit barkergilmore.com or call 877-571-5047.
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