Mary McFarren Saxon

Joining the firm in 2004, Mary is Herbert Mines Associates first Senior Client Partner on the West Coast. Based in San Francisco, Mary brings us an intimate knowledge of the West Coast talent pool and enhances our accessibility and service to clients that are West Coast based. Mary's search portfolio includes senior team and board level work for many of the preeminent specialty retailers in America. Her breadth of experience includes all key functional areas of expertise related to the business.

Prior to joining Herbert Mines Associates, Mary was a Senior Client Partner with Korn/Ferry International in their San Francisco office, and a member of the firm's global retail/ consumer practice. Mary was the Executive Director of Helstrom Turner & Associates' San Francisco office, until the company was acquired by Korn/Ferry International in 1999.

A veteran of the retail and consumer products industries, Ms. Saxon began her 24-year industry career with Federated Department Stores, joining Abraham & Straus directly out of college. Later she moved to the R.H. Macy organization, where she held a variety of merchandising positions in both the East and West Coast divisions.

Subsequently, she moved to the wholesale side of the business, launching McFarren Marketing Group, a sales and marketing organization in the Housewares industry. In her last industry position, Mary was President and Chief Executive Officer for Palms & Pomegranates, a luxury home textiles manufacturer. In this role, she oversaw all functional areas of the business, including design and product development, production, marketing, finance, inventory management and operations.

A native of the Northeast, and passionate student of the retail business, Mary received her degree in Retail Merchandising from the Laboratory Institute of Merchandising in New York.

Currently, Mary lives in northern California with her husband.