Where in the World Is Mary? A Look Back at a Year on the Road

If 2024 could be summed up in one phrase at Merrimac International, it might be this: Where in the world is Mary?

Over the past year, our Founder and CEO, Mary McIntyre, logged more miles than ever before traveling across the U.S. and internationally to connect with clients, industry leaders, and partners face to face. From boardrooms to conferences, site visits to strategy sessions, 2024 was a year defined by movement, momentum, and meaningful conversations.

Travel has always been central to how we do business at Merrimac. Executive search is personal by nature, and there is no substitute for being in the room—listening, learning, and building trust. In 2024, Mary’s travel underscored that commitment, ensuring our clients received hands-on leadership and market insight wherever they were located.

More Than Miles Logged

Each destination represented more than a pin on the map. Mary’s travels were driven by purpose: strengthening partnerships, deepening market intelligence, and staying closely aligned with the evolving needs of organizations across industries. Whether attending leadership forums, meeting with nonprofit and public-sector clients, or engaging with private-sector partners, every trip reinforced Merrimac’s people-first approach.

These travels also gave us a front-row seat to regional trends shaping executive leadership today from shifting talent expectations to governance priorities and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Being present allowed us to bring those insights directly back into our search strategy, delivering stronger outcomes for our clients.

Staying Connected, Coast to Coast and Beyond

As the year unfolded, one thing became clear: our work is increasingly global, but our approach remains deeply personal. Traveling allowed Mary to foster real connections and maintain long-standing relationships, while also opening doors to new ones.

It also meant representing Merrimac International in a wide range of leadership communities listening to challenges faced by executives, understanding how organizations are navigating change, and ensuring our search methodology continues to reflect real-world needs.

Looking Ahead to 2025

While 2024 kept us guessing about Mary’s location, it also reaffirmed why proximity matters in executive search. As we head into 2025, that same spirit of connection and curiosity continues.

New destinations are already on the horizon and with them, new conversations, partnerships, and opportunities to support organizations in finding exceptional leadership. Wherever the next journey leads, our focus remains unchanged: delivering thoughtful, values-driven executive search with a global perspective and a personal touch.

Stay tuned to see where the road takes us next.