MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (January 8, 2026) — Reflecting the firm’s enterprise growth and strategic impact priorities, Sean M. Allen, MBA, MS Finance, Ph.D. has been promoted to President of MDA Leadership, effective January 5, 2026, announced Sandra Davis, Ph.D., Founder and Chair.
In this role, Sean will be responsible for ensuring we continue to lead the way in human-centric, science-informed talent solutions for our clients and their leaders. He will set strategic direction, inspire a high-performance culture, and assure operational excellence and financial success. With 30 years of experience advising Fortune 500 executives and global organizations, Sean is recognized for delivering transformative strategies that align leadership capability with business objectives, resulting in measurable growth and competitive advantage.
“Sean’s proven leadership, strategic mindset, business acumen and unwavering commitment to excellence have made a profound impact on our firm,” said Davis. “His integrity and ability to connect with people exemplify the leadership qualities that define our culture. We are thrilled to see Sean step into the role of President and continue shaping the future of MDA Leadership.”
Allen is an executive-level leadership consultant and executive coach with 30 years’ experience, who is highly experienced in strategy consultation, organization development, assessment, and executive services. He is passionate about partnering closely with Boards, C-suite executives and other senior leaders to achieve strategic priorities and drive business results that have a measurable impact on the bottom line.
Allen previously served as Senior Vice President for MDA. He was instrumental in developing MDA’s proprietary Dynamic Succession Framework™, which is the foundation for our new Succession Maturity Audit, a cutting-edge assessment. This powerful tool gives business executives and HR leaders a structured, data-driven view of their organization’s succession planning practices, revealing both strengths and constraints across five critical pillars. “Our succession solution demonstrates Sean’s strategic approach to innovation that will serve MDA so well,” Davis said.
Allen earned his Ph.D. in industrial/organizational psychology and clinical psychology and his M.B.A. and M.S. in Finance from Indiana University. He received his B.A. in psychology from California State University, Northridge. He is a member of the American Psychological Association, the Society for Human Resource Management, and the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology.
About MDA Leadership
MDA Leadership is a premier integrated talent solutions firm that partners with organizations to strengthen their individual, team, and organizational leadership. Core capabilities include CEO & Board services, talent strategy, leadership assessment and development, executive coaching and team development, and succession management. To learn more, visit www.mdaleadership.com.