Leadership Insights
5 min read
Succession Challenges: When the Next Generation Declines the Opportunity
24/5/2025
Catherine Bass Black
Head of Industrial, USA
catherine.black@odgers.com
Locations
| Atlanta | +1 (888) 422-5950 |
Languages
| English |
Catherine Bass Black is the Head of Industrial, USA at Odgers, where she leads the firm’s Industrial Practice nationally. She also continues to play an active role in the Consumer, Board and Leadership Practices and leads the US Family and Private Company Advisory Group.
Catherine serves as a trusted advisor to Boards, CEOs, and multi-generation family leadership teams, helping them navigate pivotal moments of leadership change and organizational growth. She brings a nuanced understanding of family enterprise dynamics and corporate governance, partnering with clients to shape enduring leadership strategies. Her work is grounded in deep relationships, thoughtful insight, and a commitment to building sustainable leadership pipelines at the highest levels. As Head of Industrial, USA, Catherine partners with clients across manufacturing, automotive, process industries, and related sectors to help them build exceptional leadership teams.
Prior to joining Odgers, Catherine served as Head of Talent Acquisition and Director of Community Affairs at Bass Pro Shops Group, overseeing national recruitment and corporate affairs across the company’s diversified businesses, including retail, e-commerce, manufacturing, and hospitality. Earlier in her career, she was a Consultant at Korn Ferry, where she worked predominantly within the Industrial and Technology practices.
An active community leader, Catherine was recognized with the Springfield Business Journal 40 Under 40 Award in 2018 and Atlanta’s Power 30 Under 30 Award in 2009. She has been selected to serve on numerous nonprofit and community boards for her reputation as an authentic, thoughtful leader, strategist, and problem solver. In 2021, she was honored as Distinguished Young Alumnus by Sewanee.
Catherine earned an MBA from Emory University’s Goizueta Business School and a BA from Sewanee, The University of the South, where she graduated cum laude.
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