Founder Aubrey Daniels Devotes Time to New Institute, Passes Chairmanship to Darnell Lattal; Tom Spencer Becomes President & CEO
Aubrey Daniels International (ADI), a leading workplace consultancy, announced a series of transitions within its senior leadership that will support continued growth and innovation. The new appointments take effect today.
Aubrey Daniels, Ph.D., who founded ADI in 1978, has transferred his responsibilities as chairman of the board to Darnell Lattal, Ph.D., who has served as president and CEO for 14 years. At the same time, Tom Spencer, Ph.D., who was chief operating officer for 5 years, has assumed the role of President and CEO.
Daniels will continue working closely with ADI’s team and clients. The shift in his position, however, will enable him to devote more time to the recently launched Aubrey Daniels Institute, a unique resource dedicated to advancing the use of the science of behavior, or behavior analysis, in the workplace.
“My personal and professional mission has always been to help change the way the world works,” states Daniels. “While I will continue to support ADI, there is no better time than now to devote to extending this mission through the work of the Institute.”
In her tenure as CEO, Lattal led ADI through significant growth and an expansion of services. She has been instrumental in initiating opportunities that have extended ADI’s influence and the science of behavior around the world, including building solid international alliances in Japan, Singapore, and China. In her new role as Board Chair, Lattal will continue to develop these alliances while collaborating with other board members to define ADI’s strategic direction and to support the Institute.
“For our clients, it will be business as usual,” Lattal said. “The timing is perfect for such a transition, and I am ever more committed to continuing to support Aubrey Daniels International and to build on our strong record of expanding organizations’ ability to understand and apply the science of behavior to improve performance.”
Spencer will assume day-to-day responsibilities as President and CEO and will build on the consultancy’s growth trajectory and work to integrate employee expertise in ways that translate to superior client care. As ADI’s COO, he has worked both internally and with clients to successfully guide process improvement and strategy integration and implementation.
“Aubrey Daniels pioneered the use of applied behavior analysis in the workplace, and that tradition will continue,” Spencer said. “While the basic principles of the science don’t change, ADI will continue to innovate to help organizations use the science to improve their management and growth. We are passionate about the science and its potential for positive change. Rapid advancements in technology are creating exciting opportunities to extend our reach and to help organizations and individuals build safe, healthy, profitable habits.”
Spencer, who frequently publishes articles and blog posts, previously served as chief learning officer of online learning provider KeepSmart, Inc. (now operating as SmartPros). He holds a doctorate in psychology (behavior analysis) from West Virginia University.
About Aubrey Daniels International
Founded in 1978 and headquartered in Atlanta, Aubrey Daniels International (ADI) works globally with a diverse spectrum of clients including many of the Fortune 500. It helps accelerate the business and safety performance of companies worldwide by using positive, practical approaches grounded in the science of behavior and engineered to ensure long-term sustainability. ADI supports its clients in accelerating strategy execution while fostering employee engagement and positive accountability at all levels of an organization.
