About Us

Richard & Maude Ferry

Richard and Maude Ferry are one of many couples who have lived what is often called the “American Dream”. They attribute their success to the graces that God has bestowed on their marriage and family. Richard and Maude were high school sweethearts, and both hailed from families of modest economic means. They started life together in their hometown of Kent, Ohio, and then migrated to Phoenix, Arizona. Subsequently they relocated to Los Angeles, where they spent 35 years before retiring to the Seattle area. Richard and Maude feel that they have walked a blessed and rewarding journey together, from their beginnings in a small, Midwestern college town, to community leaders in Los Angeles and entrepreneurs in a global business.
Richard co-founded Korn Ferry International in 1969, and for more than three decades was instrumental in establishing the firm as the world’s premier provider of executive human capital solutions. Today, Korn Ferry has more than 100 offices around the world and is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange. Korn Ferry provided Richard and Maude with abundant opportunities for travel, leadership and professional development, and global recognition from their success in helping to build the largest and most respected company within its industry. Richard now holds the title Founder Chairman. In addition to his leadership of Korn Ferry, Richard has served on several corporate boards, including Centex Corporation, Avery Dennison, Pacific Life Insurance, and Dole Foods. Richard continues to be involved with a privately held real estate company and other family investments and businesses.

Maude was Richard’s silent partner, goodwill ambassador and corporate wife, but was foremost a dedicated mother to their children and was actively engaged in their education and after-school activities. She contributed generously of her time to many volunteer positions throughout the years. When their youngest child left for boarding school, Maude returned to the business world to become a real estate agent in San Marino, California where she was quite successful and often a top producer in her office. She spent her leisure time playing tennis and studying pottery, art and music. When she later discovered golf, she and Richard advanced their skills on many courses across the world. Maude and Richard have been married for 62 years and are the proud parents of six wonderful children, as well as twelve cherished grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Throughout the years, Richard and Maude have been passionately engaged in their community and have supported numerous civic and charitable causes, with a particular focus on the Catholic Church, education and health care. They are both members of the Order of Malta, the Order of St. Gregory and the Crozier Society of the Archdiocese of Seattle. They pray that the Richard and Maude Ferry Foundation will carry on their tradition of philanthropy through the compassionate and charitable acts of the beloved generations to follow.

Directors & Officers

Richard M. Ferry, Chairman and CEO

David W. Ferry, Treasurer and Director

Margaret Ferry Orem, Secretary and Director

Fr. Raphael Mary Salzillo, O.P., Director

Quentin S. Orem, Executive Director

BUILDING A LEGACY OF GRATITUDE