NEWTOWN SQUARE (Pennsylvania): Project Management Institute (PMI), the world's leading professional membership organization for project managers, today announced the selection of Korn/Ferry International to assist in recruiting its next President and CEO. A thorough and global review of internal and external candidates for the position will be undertaken. This follows the April announcement by current President and CEO Gregory Balestrero, that he will retire effective 15 January 2011 after more than eight years of service to the organization.

Such a process, along with Mr. Balestrero's ongoing commitment to PMI, ensures a smooth transition to the next President and CEO and continues the Institute's mission of advocacy for the profession, its members and credential holders. PMI's Board of Directors will be responsible for selecting the final candidate to succeed Mr. Balestrero. Interested parties should email resume suggestions and questions to PMI@Kornferry.com.

During his tenure, Mr. Balestrero has presided over remarkable growth while serving as a tireless advocate for the profession. PMI has become one of the largest professional membership associations in the world, serving over half a million members and credential holders in more than 180 countries.

"Gregory Balestrero has been not only the leading advocate for project management and project managers, he has been a guiding force in making PMI a globally recognized organization committed to excellence," said Eugene Bounds, PMP and Chair, PMI Board of Directors. "While we respect and support Mr. Balestrero's decision to retire, replacing someone of his capacity is a challenge we want to make sure is approached diligently and with all possible consideration. Most importantly, Mr. Balestrero's continued passion for PMI and the profession sets a positive tone for the work ahead."

About Korn/Ferry International: Korn/Ferry International, with a presence throughout the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, is a premier global provider of talent management solutions. Based in Los Angeles, the firm delivers an array of solutions that help clients to attract, develop, retain and sustain their talent. Visit http://www.kornferry.com for more information on the Korn/Ferry International family of companies, and http://www.kornferryinstitute.com for thought leadership, intellectual property and research.

About Project Management Institute (PMI): The world's leading project management professional membership organization, PMI shares knowledge with more than one half million members and credential holders in over 180 countries. Since 1969, PMI has impacted more than one million practitioners, businesses, governments, students and training organizations. Today, PMI's products and services range from world-class standards for project, program and portfolio management to five professional credentials, including the gold standard Project Management Professional (PMP)(R). PMI's exclusive Global Corporate Council and European Corporate Networking Group engage large multinationals and government organizations in endorsing the value of project management. The only project management association with an established academic research program, PMI has invested more than US$14 million in support of dozens of research projects since 1997.