Hogan Lovells confirms Miguel Zaldivar as new CEO

Partners at Hogan Lovells have voted to confirm current Asia Pacific and Middle East regional chief executive Miguel Zaldivar as their new global CEO from July 1, 2020. Current head of the Litigation Arbitration and Employment practice, Michael Davison will be deputy CEO from the same date. Both will serve initial four year terms.

Miguel Zaldivar’s appointment will make him the only current Amlaw 50 law firm leader of Hispanic American origin.

The two will replace the current CEO Steve Immelt and Deputy CEO David Hudd, who will both have served six years in their roles since 1 July 2014. During that time revenues at the firm rose from USD1,717m in 2013 to USD2,119m in 2018 with profits per equity partner rising from USD1.2m in 2013 to USD1.38m in 2018.

Miguel Zaldivar was recommended to partners in November to be the new CEO by the firm’s 12-partner Board following an internal appointment process which began in August. The recommendation was subject to a partner vote which closed in December.

Commenting on the confirmation, Hogan Lovells’ chair, Leopold von Gerlach said, “Miguel and Michael are an excellent choice. They possess all the attributes necessary to drive a firm with our global reach. I’d like to thank all of those candidates who put themselves forward for the CEO role. We had extremely qualified and motivated candidates and it is a reflection of the strength of the talent within firm that the Board was faced with high quality choices when it came to recommending our next CEO.”

According to Miguel Zaldivar: “I see my priorities as focusing on client service, investment in our key markets, incentivising collaboration across the partnership, managing our profitability and supporting diversity & inclusion.”

“I am extremely passionate about the firm and its success and that starts with its clients and ensuring the service we deliver to them is consistently of the highest quality. We are in a unique position with the depth of our practices worldwide to be the adviser of choice for clients who need their lawyers to be tuned into the financial, commercial, regulatory and political dynamics of their industries and markets.”