Lonergan has named Kirsten Settle and Michael Cunningham as Managing Partners as the executive search firm expands its leadership following 25 years in business.
Settle and Cunningham have nearly two decades of combined experience with the firm and have completed more than 250 senior executive searches. They will succeed founder Mark Lonergan in leading the firm into its next phase, while Mark Lonergan will continue as Chairman.
Founded in 2001, Lonergan specializes in executive search for deep technology companies, including board, CEO, and other senior leadership positions. The firm said approximately one-quarter of its placements are CEOs across areas including semiconductors, AI infrastructure, networking, robotics, and quantum computing, with the remainder spanning board and other senior executive roles.
The leadership transition follows a period of expansion for the firm. Lonergan opened an Austin office in 2024 to extend its presence beyond Silicon Valley as technology and deep-tech companies increasingly build operations across Texas, Arizona, and other parts of the U.S. and Canada.
The company has also introduced a new website, logo, and broader brand identity as it enters its next stage of development. Lonergan said the changes are intended to reflect its focus on leadership, growth, and long-term relationships with technology companies.
Settle highlighted the changing leadership demands facing boards as companies adapt to AI transformation, cybersecurity challenges, and sustainability priorities. She also pointed to Lonergan’s proprietary F18 process, which is designed to deepen engagement between boards and CEO candidates before a hire is completed.
Alongside the leadership appointments, Lonergan recently published the 2026 edition of the Lonergan Silicon Valley 150, its annual ranking of the region’s largest public technology companies. According to the firm, companies on the list generated a record $2.3 trillion in aggregate 2025 revenue and $608 billion in net income, representing a 41% increase.
Combined market capitalization for the companies reached $20 trillion at the end of the first quarter of 2026, up 33.9%, while a record 42 Silicon Valley companies were included in the S&P 500. Lonergan said it has worked with 51 companies appearing on the LSV150 since 2010.
The firm is headquartered in Burlingame, California, with an additional office in Austin, Texas.
KEY QUOTES:
“Kirsten and Michael have been running our most consequential searches for years. This appointment formalizes what our clients already experience. Our firm set out to build something more deliberate than bigger executive search companies: pairing the rigor, discipline, and resources of the world’s largest search organizations with personal accountability and precision, acting as a neighbor, not a distant advisor. Kirsten and Michael deliver this experience to clients every day.”
Mark Lonergan, Founder And Chairman Of Lonergan
“Boards are hiring against a business leadership and technology roadmap that did not exist three years ago with the rise of new challenges around AI transformation, security and sustainability. Michael and I are passionate about finding the right talent against these challenges. Our F18 proprietary process helps deepen engagement between Boards and CEO candidates ahead of a hire to ensure alignment and set the foundation for a smooth, successful transition. We believe this disciplined approach is what separates a good C-level hire from a lasting one.”
Kirsten Settle, Managing Partner Of Lonergan
“Deep tech is no longer only a Silicon Valley story. Our Austin office exists because the companies building chips and compute infrastructure are hiring across Texas, Arizona and throughout the US and Canada, and boards want an advisor who is present in those markets.”
Michael Cunningham, Managing Partner Of Lonergan
