Leadership team

Bob Van Olst - President 

Bob entered executive search in 1981 and managed assignments with New York City based search firms in Advertising, Aerospace, Pharmaceuticals . He founded RVO Search in 1984 serving clients in Medical Devices, Biotech, Financial Services, Advertising and Electronics. He holds an MA in Human Resources from The New School for Social Research and an AB from Lafayette College. Bob is married and has 2 children and 2 grandchildren. He is active in the pro democracy movement and has served as a liaison to the editorial board of The New York Times.  

Susan Martin  - Partner 

Susan joined RVO in 1985. She manages our recruiting assignments in the marketing and sales arena and oversees the firms finances . Susan has seven years of prior experience as a commodities broker. Active in local government affairs, Susan is married and the mother of a daughter who chairs her town Conservation Committee and a son who manages a ski resort. She holds a BA from Brooklyn College.  

Bonnie Kantor - Partner

Partner since 2021, Bonnie is a former Managing Director at Deloitte’s Financial Services Industry practice where she led global client relationships and DE&I initiatives. She specializes in senior-level searches across finance, technology, operations, higher education, healthcare, and mission-driven organizations. Bonnie is an ICF-certified leadership coach and completed programs at Georgetown ITL and Brown ACT. She holds a BA in Political Science & Economics from Brooklyn College and an MBA in Finance from the New York Institute of Technology. 

Barbara Guertin - Senior Advisor 

Barbara is a former Executive Recruiter at UMass Chan Medical School with experience in higher education, healthcare, and corporate environments. She is certified by Wharton in Executive Compensation, HCI in Strategic Talent Acquisition, and is a Predictive Index practitioner. Barbara holds a BA from Rutgers University and an MBA in Human Resource Management from Fitchburg State University and serves on several cultural boards in Massachusetts. .

Robert Contri - Senior Advisor 

Robert is a retired Deloitte Partner with over 30 years of experience, including serving as US and Global Financial Services Leader. He advises on senior-level searches across financial services, technology, and global industries. Robert is a public member of the Quinnipiac University Board of Trustees and holds a BA in Business from Gettysburg College and an MBA from Rutgers University.