Partner
Les brings a consultative approach to Lumenis Partners’ executive search practice especially in the fields of technology, telecommunications, energy, and small business. He began his consulting career with Management Design Associates, a Denver firm that he helped grow from one to five offices, serving as the centralized Management Advisory Services staff for 125 regional and large local CPA firms throughout the country. He was certified through the Institute of Management Consultants and has consulted for more than 300 organizations. He also served for seven years as the CEO of CyberLYNX Computer Products, a venture capital financed pioneer in smart home networking products. His company was a leading-edge engineering services firm, which won product development contracts with global leaders such as Samsung Electronics, Mitsubishi Electric, Southern California Edison, Duke Energy, Florida Power, BellSouth, Texas Instruments, and others, to develop custom networking hardware and software.
Les is an entrepreneur at heart and founded Larsen Consulting International, a strategic consulting firm in 1979. He began partnering with his spouse and Lumenis Partners founder, Anna Maria Larsen, in 1992 on specific executive searches where his expertise and skills were most valuable. His years of experience enable him to quickly acquire an in-depth understanding of the client’s strategy, business plan, objectives and challenges, and to provide valuable feedback with respect to the role and responsibilities of the individual being recruited. His extensive management and technology leadership experience supports his identification and assessment of candidates who truly match the skill sets and culture necessary to succeed in their respective roles.
Les has been actively engaged in civic activities for decades. With an early passion for education, he was the founder of the Denver Center for Educational Excellence, one of the first community forums to bring together more than 100 education, community, and business leaders to discuss education reform issues at the Denver Public Schools. He was an active participant in Citizens for Quality Schools, the Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce Education Council, and the Colorado Coalition for a Higher Performance Education System. He served on advisory boards at Regis High School and the University of Denver, and on the Board of Governors of the Georgetown University Alumni Association.
Les chaired the Small Business Council of the Denver Chamber of Commerce and served on the Boards of Denver Rotary and the Hope Center. Les was an advisor to the Federal Reserve in Kansas City for six years. In 1990 he was appointed National Chairman, Small Business and Agriculture Advisory Committee to the Federal Reserve Board of Governors in Washington, D.C..
Les holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame and a Bachelor of Science Degree in International Affairs from Georgetown University, School of Foreign Service.