The Cypress Group is a group of executive search consultants bringing agility and expertise to the complexities of wine industry executive search. Our collective knowledge and skill serves to bring world-class talent, the 'A's, to all our client placements.
Jim Anderson - Founder
Jim has been a managing partner at The Cypress Group since its inception in 1989. Prior to his tenure as an executive search consultant, Jim was Vice President Sales for the $100 million division at Businessland, Inc. Earlier in his career, Jim founded and operated a successful retail consumer electronics company. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Sociology and Business Administration from Cal State University, Chico.
Courtney Andrain - Partner
Courtney has been a managing partner for The Cypress Group for over 12 years. Prior to executive search, Courtney earned top recognition in senior sales and marketing positions with Prudential Insurance Company of America and Blue Shield of California's large group insurance operations. Courtney holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of Southern California.
Cristine Salzner – Search Associate
Cristine moved to the Napa Valley from Vienna, Austria in December 2008. She comes from 10 years of Executive Search experience, working as Senior Associate at Spencer Stuart where she specialized in cross-border searches in the Consumer Goods and Financial Service industrial practices as well as the Financial Officer functional practice. She also worked as Research Director at Korn/Ferry International.
Prior to Vienna, Cristine was Catering Manager at The Watergate Hotel in Washington, D.C. She is fluent in Tagalog, English and German. Cristine studied Fine Arts at the College of the Holy Spirit in the Philippines and Business Administration at the University of Guam.
Margot Van Riper – Search Associate
As an executive search consultant with The Cypress Group for over 10 years, Margot brings over 20 years recruiting experience in research for retained executive search and small business ownership. Raised abroad and fluent in English, French and Italian, she adds global perspective and communications to our team's expertise. Margot earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University, San Francisco.
