Merchant selected Partner

Charlotte, N.C. (October 14, 2008) -- Charles E. Lew, partner-managing director of Coleman Lew & Associates, Inc., a national executive search firm, announced the selection of Trent Merchant as Partner.

According to Lew, "Trent has been a creative and talented executive search consultant for our firm. He represents the next generation of strong leadership for our partner team and for our company." Merchant is the tenth partner for Coleman Lew & Associates. As the firm continues to grow in revenues, it has doubled its partner ranks since 2007.

Merchant held leadership roles in both secondary education and non-profit arts organizations before joining Coleman Lew in 2005. "Trent is not your typical executive recruiter," says Lew. "He has an innate ability to read people, matched with determination and an 'out of the box' strategic approach--all reasons why clients hire him for key executive searches."

In addition to recruiting talent for the firm's long-standing retail, distribution, higher education and non-profit practices, Merchant's unique talents have helped Coleman Lew expand its expertise into new sectors including law firms, niche financial services and government categories.

An elected at-large member of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education, Merchant serves on its audit and planning liaison committees. He earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Washington & Lee University and a Master of Arts Degree from Wake Forest University.

Coleman Lew & Associates, Inc., founded in 1979 and headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is a international retained executive search firm that recruits board members, officers, and senior level executives for national and international companies, academic institutions and non-profit organizations. The firm also provides customized leadership development services to organizations seeking to maximize corporate performance. Member, Association of Executive Search Consultants (AESC).