Naree W.S. Viner is a Managing Director at Koya Partners, part of Diversified Search Group. Based in the New York metro area, she has deep experience in executive recruiting, with an exclusive focus on mission-driven clients.

For more than two decades, Viner has placed seasoned executives as well as next-generation leaders in critical roles for a variety of clients. She has partnered closely with board members at prominent public and private organizations to identify, develop, and evaluate executive talent, recruiting chief executives and senior team members at regional, national, and international art, education, and social service organizations.

Widely regarded as one of the leading search consultants in the field and possessing particular expertise working with art and history museums and other cultural institutions, Viner has placed many accomplished museum leaders across the U.S. Her clients include: the American Folk Art Museum; the Clark Art Institute; the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum; Harvard Art Museums; Huntington Library, Art Museum & Botanical Gardens; International African American Museum; J. Paul Getty Museum; Lucas Museum of Narrative Art; the Menil Collection; the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; the Phillips Collection; the Smithsonian Institution’s Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, National Museum of American History, and National Portrait Gallery; the Whitney Museum; and Yale University Art Gallery.

Prior to joining Koya Partners, Viner worked at global search firms Korn Ferry and Heidrick & Struggles. She started in search at a boutique generalist firm in Pasadena, co-leading the firm’s education and nonprofit practice.

Viner began her career at the J. Paul Getty Trust, where she was a principal developer of one of the first websites featuring art images and associated educational materials for K-12 teachers. She then spent time in the dot-com arena, as producer for the parent channel of a K-12 education web portal and manager of instructional design at an executive education company. Later, she was a senior project manager at Crystal Stairs, a nonprofit organization offering childcare services, research, and advocacy, supporting families in South Los Angeles.

Viner is a past member of the Williams College Alumni Association Executive Committee; she has been class agent for over thirty years. She is a member of the Westport (CT) Young Woman’s League, where she previously served on the board and chaired the Grants Committee.

Education

MA, Art History
University of Washington

BA, Art History
Williams College