Andy Price has been an executive search consultant for 17 years and has completed more than 400 retained executive searches. He spent the first 10 years building management teams for companies in I/T and Internet infrastructure, 7 in energy infrastructure / cleantech and now splits his time between technology and energy to keep him on his toes. He teamed up with Lee Schweichler in 1999, and went to college with close friend and partner Dave Mullarkey, so his roots in the firm run deep.

Schweichler Associates became “Schweichler Price & Partners” in 2004, and since then, has become one of the world's leading mid-sized independent search firms. In 2011, SPMB will complete 120+ searches at the executive level, a record year. And we are growing steadily at 30+ people, from 9 when he joined. Andy was a key architect of this successful run and gets a huge charge by hiring great people and growing the firm. And when Dave Mullarkey and Kevin Barry caught fire, our firm's name proudly became “SPMB” to reflect the many accomplishments of all four Managing Partners. Our firm's Partner dynamic is, in our view, the best in the industry. We're truly a firm and an institution, vs. a “random a collection of search people sharing office space”.

Andy's technology career has included several high profile, billion dollar public company CEO searches (LSI, FEI, etc.). He had a spectacular first decade building great companies all over technology, watching companies grow from startup to several billion, get acquired, go public, etc. But by late 2004 felt he needed a new challenge. Meanwhile, California had serious energy challenges, his fighter pilot brother had been to war twice in the Middle East, and Hurricane Katrina touched off a lot of questions about climate change. Andy started to think that energy was just as foundational to the world as the Internet had been, and in fact more so, because you can't power the Internet without secure energy, and all commerce would stop without it. It's one of the major global problems of this century, without a doubt. So from scratch, Andy built the firm's Energy / Cleantech practice area into a world leader, with more than 200 projects completed in everything from green I/T and efficiency to lighting to clean automotive to biofuels to smart grid to solar/wind. Clients have included Aquion, Amyris (AMRS), Bloom Energy, First Solar (FSLR), Genomatica, KiOR (KIOR), Proterra and SunPower (SPWR), among many others. In a space criticized for the lack of big exits, we've had several in the multi-billion dollar range and a number in the nine figures range. Our clients are making money in the space, while others have flamed out. We believe it's that simple--our clients win in part because we bring in better leadership than our competitors do, and they execute and build killer companies. We have most of the major clean tech venture firms, several well-known PE firms, and several key public companies as clients. The list continues to grow as people find out how uniquely the firm operates in this vast, global industry.

Andy's success is driven by a combination of factors. He has a strong personal and professional network that spans both coasts, Asia and EMEA and crosses everything from digital media to fossil energy to renewables to I/T, software, and semiconductor. He is known for his tremendous energy and drive, builds deep and trusting relationships with clients (entrepreneurs, CEOs, Board members, etc.), and the senior executives he pursues for clients trust his no-BS approach. High “clock speed”, unwavering intensity, and dedication to quality are other factors. He really cares about making a positive impact and working with “A” companies and teams. But ultimately it comes down to “building awesome companies which hire lots of people, grow fast and create wealth“... That is his mission in his professional life.

Andy earned a B.S. from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, and spends his free time with his very patient wife and two adorable daughters. Main hobbies are free-ride mountain biking, skiing and surfing. None of which he has adequate time for.