Diversified Search Group

Executive Search Review

Past Articles From The Archives

Canadian Executive Search Market Shifts to Meet New Demands

Throughout 2023, executive search consultants have told Hunt Scanlon Media that the Canadian executive recruiting market experienced shifts in response to the evolving demands of a rapidly changing business environment across the country. Amidst the ongoing transformations in executive recruiting, the Canadian business landscape has become increasingly competitive, requiring a strategic approach to talent acquisition.

A Look into the Canadian Executive Search Landscape

Michael, explain Massey Henry’s approach to filling senior positions. As specialists in financial services executive search for organizations across North America, our approach is guided by our nuanced understanding of the industry, as well as the deep network and functional expertise we have established for key senior level mandates at the VP, C-suite, and board

HR Leaders and Diversity Chiefs Continue to Push for Inclusion

HR leaders and executive recruiters alike say that promoting diversity and belonging in the workplace is not just a buzzword. It’s a crucial aspect of modern businesses. Companies that foster diversity and belonging have been proven to have better financial performance, increased innovation, and a more engaged workforce. However, a recent report from The Christopher

Achieving Diversity for Non-Profits

How important is top leadership at non-profits in driving diversity and inclusion? Top leaders are absolutely vital to driving diversity and inclusion at nonprofits. On an operational level, leaders establish policies and practices that frame and activate a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and embed it into the fibers of the organization. On a

The Uncertain Future of Diversity and Hiring

Diversity has had it rough lately. First, there were cutbacks due to the economy and then came the Supreme Court’s ruling against affirmative action. That was followed by a cohort of Republican attorneys general issuing a letter to Fortune 100 CEOs questioning the legality of some DEI efforts. The main issue for the moment centers

Psychological Safety: A Foundation for an Inclusive Workplace

“When talking about diversity, something that often gets missed is being inclusive of it,” said Saul Gomez, director of IDEA at TI Verbatim Consulting. “If we’re not being inclusive of our diversity, then how are we leveraging it? How are we capitalizing on it? It’s worth asking, ‘Are we maximizing what our talent pool has

Will the Surging M&A Market for Executive Search Firms Continue?

Over the past decade, a wave of consolidation activity across the executive search sector has profoundly changed the recruiting sector as we know it. And in the last five years, the role of executive search firms has fundamentally changed the look and feel of the sector even more. The industry has moved from simply identifying

Spotlight: Managing Complex M&A: Strategies For Success In A Changing Landscape

Cody Crook, managing director and head of investment strategy of M&A advisory firm Hunt Scanlon Ventures, offers up good reasons to be optimistic. In his role at Hunt Scanlon, Mr. Crook is responsible for co-managing the investment portfolio, which includes executive search, talent acquisition, private equity, and investment firms. Leading the investment team, he spearheads

AI’s Impact on Growth Strategies in a Shifting M&A Landscape

As blockbuster M&A deals have slowed, firms are turning to AI to make up the difference. In a newly-released report, Korn Ferry explores the state of M&A markets, and how firms are adapting to pursue growth. The first half of this year saw M&A activity in the U.S. experience a significant decline in dollar value,

The Hot M&A Market for Executive Search Expected to Continue

Acquisitions made big news in the recruiting industry this past year, and for good reason. Outside investors caught on to the sector’s expansion potential and long growth runway ahead. Top search leaders also found ways to maximize profit (cutting back on office space helped every search firm achieve a better bottom line in 2023). That

Executive Recruiters Scramble to Find Financial Services Executives

The financial services industry is in a near-constant state of change. From embracing digital banking in the 2000s, to the rise of fintech, banking-as-a-service, and all of the new options available to consumers today, institutions have almost always been facing an ever growing need to evolve. Today is no different. Financial services firms must strategically

Spotlight: What is Impacting Recruiting for Senior Finance Executives Today

With a focus on helping PE and VC backed healthcare organizations, Tim Russell, managing partner of The Tolan Group, oversees the business development and recruitment activities for private equity and venture capital clients. Mr. Russell recently shared his views on the current state of recruiting within the financial services sector with Hunt Scanlon Media. Tim,

A Look at the High Demand for Top CFOs for Private Equity Firms

In times of volatility, financial stability becomes an understated hallmark of business success. Private equity firms have, appropriately, responded to the severe macroeconomic challenges of recent years with caution, making unprecedented pullbacks in investment and reaching record levels of dry powder, according to a new report from Slayton Search Partners’ Dan Dunn. “Today’s firms are

Filling New Roles With New Kinds of Leaders in Financial Services

Financial services, like most industries, has been in a period of significant innovation post-COVID-19 affecting business operations. Many firms are now seeing growth opportunities in markets that have been reshaped in large part by the increased pace of the shift to digital as well as changing consumer preferences, according to a report from Heidrick &

Demand Intensifies From Non-Profits Seeking Senior Talent

Non-profit organizations in 2023 are facing inflation, declining donations, increased demand for services, workforce shortages, and more. A recent non-profit trends report by Forbes says that the changing workforce is presenting challenges for both for-profit and non-profit leaders. Being ready to consider alternative staffing options would put many of them ahead of the shifting landscape,

Spotlight: Veteran Search Consultant Shares Views on Non-Profit Sector

Sam Pettway, a 30-year search veteran, launched BoardWalk Consulting in 2002. Over his career in executive search, he has worked with hundreds of board members and leadership teams with entities ranging from start-ups to mature multinationals in both the corporate and non-profit sectors. Mr. Pettway has served clients as varied as international relief agencies, national

Spotlight: A Look Inside the Rewarding Work Serving a Non-Profit

Created through a recent merger between DRi and Waterstone Human Capital, DRiWaterstone Human Capital is a culture-centric executive search, leadership advisory, and human capital firm focused on helping mission and purpose-driven organizations across the U.S. build high performance teams and cultures. Jennifer Dunlap is co-founder, president, and CEO of DRiWaterstone. After spending decades as a

Spotlight: A Fresh Perspective on Recruiting for Non-profit Organizations and Associations

Vetted Solutions specializes in helping purpose-driven organizations in all aspects of leadership – from defining their leadership needs and requirements, to developing entire teams of loyal, dedicated high-performers, and everything in between. Jim Zaniello is president and founder of the Washington, D.C.-based firm which focuses on serving the leadership needs of associations, non-profit organizations, hospitality

7 Key Trends Impacting Non-Profits

Having arrived at the halfway point of the year, the non-profit and social impact practice at Koya Partners | Diversified Search Group, recently pulled together some key trends they have been seeing. In a new report, managing directors Michelle Bonoan and Marissa Delgado and managing associate Tiara Muse identified seven key themes: 1.  Continued Focus

In Changing Times, Higher Education Sector Seeks New Types of Leaders

Recruiting senior leaders in the higher education sector has become a dynamic and evolving process. As universities face numerous challenges, including financial constraints, enrollment declines, and the need to prioritize diversity and inclusion, the demand for visionary and transformational leaders has never been higher. In recent years, the higher education sector has witnessed a significant

Spotlight: Leadership Changes Underway at Many Leading Universities

Faith Montgomery brings over 25 years of deep experience, passion, and expertise in both the non-profit and for-profit sectors to Lindauer. She serves as vice president and managing director at the firm and has completed major executive level searches for institutions such as Howard University, Princeton University, Stanford University, Harvard University, University of Minnesota Foundation,

Spotlight: How Executive Search Firms Are Currently Filling Top Higher Education Positions

For over four decades, Academic Search has been a leader in designing and implementing search processes for leaders of colleges and universities across the country. The firm has completed hundreds of executive searches for higher education institutions and related organizations, for roles ranging from presidents to provosts to deans. Dr. Jay Lemons became president of

The Inclusive Way to Hire an Athletic Director

A few decades ago, collegiate athletic directors – unlike other university administrators – were often hired through back-room conversations that excluded the general campus community. Oftentimes, if the head football or men’s basketball coach expressed interest, they were often tabbed as the next AD without much consideration of other potential candidates. “Today, as the athletic

Opportunities and Challenges in Private Equity Recruiting

Private equity firms are saying that talent is the most important factor in driving growth. While financial engineering, inorganic growth, and market expansion remain important tools in the private equity toolbox, talent continues to emerge as key to growing companies and achieving the investment thesis, according to a report from Bespoke Partners. Yet unlike strategic

Spotlight: Delivering Exceptional Talent to Private Equity

Smooch Repovich Rosenberg is the founder and CEO of Smooch Unplugged. She brings strategic investor relations officer search consulting focus to the PE arena as a means to helping firms realize their portfolio company valuations as these entities contemplate entering the public markets. Her 30-plus year collaborating with pre-IPO companies across industry sectors is one

Spotlight: Why Talent Matters Most During Uncertain Times

Bespoke Partners is an executive search and leadership advisory firm dedicated to partnering with top private equity firms, including Francisco Partners, Clearlake Capital, WCAS, Insight Partners, GI Partners, General Atlantic, CVC Capital Partners, and TA Associates, among many others, to recruit software talent and assess and evaluate teams at every stage of the investment lifecycle,

Spotlight: How PE/VC Outfits Are Keeping Recruiters Busy

PierceGray is a specialized, retained executive search firm focused on building leadership teams in investor-back environments. The firm is functionally-focused, hiring executives and building teams in the following disciplines: operations and supply chain, sales and marketing, finance and transformation, and general management. PierceGray’s clients include private equity firms and portfolio companies as well as publicly-held

Spotlight: Seeking Life Sciences/Healthcare Leaders in the PE Space

With a focus on helping PE and VC backed healthcare organizations, Tim Russell, managing partner of The Tolan Group, oversees the business development and recruitment activities for private equity and venture capital clients. Mr. Russell recently shared his views on the current state of recruiting for PE outfits in the life sciences / healthcare sector

How the Private Equity CIO Drives Value and Transformation

The demand for superior chief information officers in private equity backed organizations has increased in recent years due to the need for strong technical leadership to help drive value creation and transformation. Management teams and fund partners view CIOs as an integral part of their C-suites today and are recruiting these strategic executives at a

A Look at the Private Equity Sector in Canada

Like in many other regions, the private equity sector in Canada is expressing a mixed forecast for the rest of this year. While some firms are experiencing healthy fund raising and deal activity, others are curtailing targets and managing LP liquidity concerns, given the 20-year low in equity financings to date in 2023, according to

Executive Recruiters Pull Off Another Remarkable Year, Remain Bullish for 2023

Hunt Scanlon Media has released its annual rankings of leading executive recruiters. In the U.S. and globally, billions of dollars poured into the high-end recruiting sector in 2022, a result of continued pentup demand for senior-level leaders and their key reports. Despite market turbulence and a softening economy in the second half, executive recruiters pulled

Spotlight: Growing Your Search Firm During Challenging Times

Larry Hartmann is the CEO of ZRG Partners, a leading search firm backed by private equity firm RFE Investment Partners. He is a results-driven leader with a broad business background in executive search as well as in industry. As CEO, Mr. Hartmann is responsible for driving overall growth, client engagement and profitability of the firm.

Spotlight: A Look at Current Trends in the Executive Search Industry

Umesh Ramakrishnan is the CEO of Crescent Cove Advisors-backed Kingsley Gate Partners. He is responsible for executing the firm’s global expansion plans. Mr. Ramakrishnan has held several positions like vice chairman, chief innovation officer, president, and chief operating officer in the technology and service industries that have given him both strategic planning and operating experience.

Recruiting Firms Leverage Technology To Fuel Growth

In the midst of a rapidly evolving economy, industry analysis from Staffing Industry Analysts, a global advisor on staffing and workforce solutions, says the recruiting industry grew more than 11 percent in 2022, and many firms made the most of the opportunities in front of them. What did the top performers do differently to beat

As Investors Retreat, Healthcare/Life Sciences Sector Stays Resilient

Healthcare and life science organizations are facing an increasingly complex landscape, with rapid technological advancements, changing regulatory environments, and heightened public scrutiny. As a result, these companies have been turning to executive search firms more than ever to acquire world-class leadership. The most pressing challenge has been finding high-impact, innovative leaders who can navigate this

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Executive Search Review

Canadian Executive Search Market Shifts to Meet New Demands

Throughout 2023, executive search consultants have told Hunt Scanlon Media that the Canadian executive recruiting market experienced shifts in response to the evolving demands of a rapidly changing business environment across the country. Amidst the ongoing transformations in executive recruiting, the Canadian business landscape has become increasingly competitive, requiring a strategic approach to talent acquisition.

A Look into the Canadian Executive Search Landscape

Michael, explain Massey Henry’s approach to filling senior positions. As specialists in financial services executive search for organizations across North America, our approach is guided by our nuanced understanding of the industry, as well as the deep network and functional expertise we have established for key senior level mandates at the VP, C-suite, and board

HR Leaders and Diversity Chiefs Continue to Push for Inclusion

HR leaders and executive recruiters alike say that promoting diversity and belonging in the workplace is not just a buzzword. It’s a crucial aspect of modern businesses. Companies that foster diversity and belonging have been proven to have better financial performance, increased innovation, and a more engaged workforce. However, a recent report from The Christopher

Achieving Diversity for Non-Profits

How important is top leadership at non-profits in driving diversity and inclusion? Top leaders are absolutely vital to driving diversity and inclusion at nonprofits. On an operational level, leaders establish policies and practices that frame and activate a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and embed it into the fibers of the organization. On a

The Uncertain Future of Diversity and Hiring

Diversity has had it rough lately. First, there were cutbacks due to the economy and then came the Supreme Court’s ruling against affirmative action. That was followed by a cohort of Republican attorneys general issuing a letter to Fortune 100 CEOs questioning the legality of some DEI efforts. The main issue for the moment centers

Psychological Safety: A Foundation for an Inclusive Workplace

“When talking about diversity, something that often gets missed is being inclusive of it,” said Saul Gomez, director of IDEA at TI Verbatim Consulting. “If we’re not being inclusive of our diversity, then how are we leveraging it? How are we capitalizing on it? It’s worth asking, ‘Are we maximizing what our talent pool has

Will the Surging M&A Market for Executive Search Firms Continue?

Over the past decade, a wave of consolidation activity across the executive search sector has profoundly changed the recruiting sector as we know it. And in the last five years, the role of executive search firms has fundamentally changed the look and feel of the sector even more. The industry has moved from simply identifying

Spotlight: Managing Complex M&A: Strategies For Success In A Changing Landscape

Cody Crook, managing director and head of investment strategy of M&A advisory firm Hunt Scanlon Ventures, offers up good reasons to be optimistic. In his role at Hunt Scanlon, Mr. Crook is responsible for co-managing the investment portfolio, which includes executive search, talent acquisition, private equity, and investment firms. Leading the investment team, he spearheads

AI’s Impact on Growth Strategies in a Shifting M&A Landscape

As blockbuster M&A deals have slowed, firms are turning to AI to make up the difference. In a newly-released report, Korn Ferry explores the state of M&A markets, and how firms are adapting to pursue growth. The first half of this year saw M&A activity in the U.S. experience a significant decline in dollar value,

The Hot M&A Market for Executive Search Expected to Continue

Acquisitions made big news in the recruiting industry this past year, and for good reason. Outside investors caught on to the sector’s expansion potential and long growth runway ahead. Top search leaders also found ways to maximize profit (cutting back on office space helped every search firm achieve a better bottom line in 2023). That

Executive Recruiters Scramble to Find Financial Services Executives

The financial services industry is in a near-constant state of change. From embracing digital banking in the 2000s, to the rise of fintech, banking-as-a-service, and all of the new options available to consumers today, institutions have almost always been facing an ever growing need to evolve. Today is no different. Financial services firms must strategically

Spotlight: What is Impacting Recruiting for Senior Finance Executives Today

With a focus on helping PE and VC backed healthcare organizations, Tim Russell, managing partner of The Tolan Group, oversees the business development and recruitment activities for private equity and venture capital clients. Mr. Russell recently shared his views on the current state of recruiting within the financial services sector with Hunt Scanlon Media. Tim,

A Look at the High Demand for Top CFOs for Private Equity Firms

In times of volatility, financial stability becomes an understated hallmark of business success. Private equity firms have, appropriately, responded to the severe macroeconomic challenges of recent years with caution, making unprecedented pullbacks in investment and reaching record levels of dry powder, according to a new report from Slayton Search Partners’ Dan Dunn. “Today’s firms are

Filling New Roles With New Kinds of Leaders in Financial Services

Financial services, like most industries, has been in a period of significant innovation post-COVID-19 affecting business operations. Many firms are now seeing growth opportunities in markets that have been reshaped in large part by the increased pace of the shift to digital as well as changing consumer preferences, according to a report from Heidrick &

Demand Intensifies From Non-Profits Seeking Senior Talent

Non-profit organizations in 2023 are facing inflation, declining donations, increased demand for services, workforce shortages, and more. A recent non-profit trends report by Forbes says that the changing workforce is presenting challenges for both for-profit and non-profit leaders. Being ready to consider alternative staffing options would put many of them ahead of the shifting landscape,

Spotlight: Veteran Search Consultant Shares Views on Non-Profit Sector

Sam Pettway, a 30-year search veteran, launched BoardWalk Consulting in 2002. Over his career in executive search, he has worked with hundreds of board members and leadership teams with entities ranging from start-ups to mature multinationals in both the corporate and non-profit sectors. Mr. Pettway has served clients as varied as international relief agencies, national

Spotlight: A Look Inside the Rewarding Work Serving a Non-Profit

Created through a recent merger between DRi and Waterstone Human Capital, DRiWaterstone Human Capital is a culture-centric executive search, leadership advisory, and human capital firm focused on helping mission and purpose-driven organizations across the U.S. build high performance teams and cultures. Jennifer Dunlap is co-founder, president, and CEO of DRiWaterstone. After spending decades as a

Spotlight: A Fresh Perspective on Recruiting for Non-profit Organizations and Associations

Vetted Solutions specializes in helping purpose-driven organizations in all aspects of leadership – from defining their leadership needs and requirements, to developing entire teams of loyal, dedicated high-performers, and everything in between. Jim Zaniello is president and founder of the Washington, D.C.-based firm which focuses on serving the leadership needs of associations, non-profit organizations, hospitality

7 Key Trends Impacting Non-Profits

Having arrived at the halfway point of the year, the non-profit and social impact practice at Koya Partners | Diversified Search Group, recently pulled together some key trends they have been seeing. In a new report, managing directors Michelle Bonoan and Marissa Delgado and managing associate Tiara Muse identified seven key themes: 1.  Continued Focus

In Changing Times, Higher Education Sector Seeks New Types of Leaders

Recruiting senior leaders in the higher education sector has become a dynamic and evolving process. As universities face numerous challenges, including financial constraints, enrollment declines, and the need to prioritize diversity and inclusion, the demand for visionary and transformational leaders has never been higher. In recent years, the higher education sector has witnessed a significant

Spotlight: Leadership Changes Underway at Many Leading Universities

Faith Montgomery brings over 25 years of deep experience, passion, and expertise in both the non-profit and for-profit sectors to Lindauer. She serves as vice president and managing director at the firm and has completed major executive level searches for institutions such as Howard University, Princeton University, Stanford University, Harvard University, University of Minnesota Foundation,

Spotlight: How Executive Search Firms Are Currently Filling Top Higher Education Positions

For over four decades, Academic Search has been a leader in designing and implementing search processes for leaders of colleges and universities across the country. The firm has completed hundreds of executive searches for higher education institutions and related organizations, for roles ranging from presidents to provosts to deans. Dr. Jay Lemons became president of

The Inclusive Way to Hire an Athletic Director

A few decades ago, collegiate athletic directors – unlike other university administrators – were often hired through back-room conversations that excluded the general campus community. Oftentimes, if the head football or men’s basketball coach expressed interest, they were often tabbed as the next AD without much consideration of other potential candidates. “Today, as the athletic

Opportunities and Challenges in Private Equity Recruiting

Private equity firms are saying that talent is the most important factor in driving growth. While financial engineering, inorganic growth, and market expansion remain important tools in the private equity toolbox, talent continues to emerge as key to growing companies and achieving the investment thesis, according to a report from Bespoke Partners. Yet unlike strategic

Spotlight: Delivering Exceptional Talent to Private Equity

Smooch Repovich Rosenberg is the founder and CEO of Smooch Unplugged. She brings strategic investor relations officer search consulting focus to the PE arena as a means to helping firms realize their portfolio company valuations as these entities contemplate entering the public markets. Her 30-plus year collaborating with pre-IPO companies across industry sectors is one

Spotlight: Why Talent Matters Most During Uncertain Times

Bespoke Partners is an executive search and leadership advisory firm dedicated to partnering with top private equity firms, including Francisco Partners, Clearlake Capital, WCAS, Insight Partners, GI Partners, General Atlantic, CVC Capital Partners, and TA Associates, among many others, to recruit software talent and assess and evaluate teams at every stage of the investment lifecycle,

Spotlight: How PE/VC Outfits Are Keeping Recruiters Busy

PierceGray is a specialized, retained executive search firm focused on building leadership teams in investor-back environments. The firm is functionally-focused, hiring executives and building teams in the following disciplines: operations and supply chain, sales and marketing, finance and transformation, and general management. PierceGray’s clients include private equity firms and portfolio companies as well as publicly-held

Spotlight: Seeking Life Sciences/Healthcare Leaders in the PE Space

With a focus on helping PE and VC backed healthcare organizations, Tim Russell, managing partner of The Tolan Group, oversees the business development and recruitment activities for private equity and venture capital clients. Mr. Russell recently shared his views on the current state of recruiting for PE outfits in the life sciences / healthcare sector

How the Private Equity CIO Drives Value and Transformation

The demand for superior chief information officers in private equity backed organizations has increased in recent years due to the need for strong technical leadership to help drive value creation and transformation. Management teams and fund partners view CIOs as an integral part of their C-suites today and are recruiting these strategic executives at a

A Look at the Private Equity Sector in Canada

Like in many other regions, the private equity sector in Canada is expressing a mixed forecast for the rest of this year. While some firms are experiencing healthy fund raising and deal activity, others are curtailing targets and managing LP liquidity concerns, given the 20-year low in equity financings to date in 2023, according to

Executive Recruiters Pull Off Another Remarkable Year, Remain Bullish for 2023

Hunt Scanlon Media has released its annual rankings of leading executive recruiters. In the U.S. and globally, billions of dollars poured into the high-end recruiting sector in 2022, a result of continued pentup demand for senior-level leaders and their key reports. Despite market turbulence and a softening economy in the second half, executive recruiters pulled

Spotlight: Growing Your Search Firm During Challenging Times

Larry Hartmann is the CEO of ZRG Partners, a leading search firm backed by private equity firm RFE Investment Partners. He is a results-driven leader with a broad business background in executive search as well as in industry. As CEO, Mr. Hartmann is responsible for driving overall growth, client engagement and profitability of the firm.

Spotlight: A Look at Current Trends in the Executive Search Industry

Umesh Ramakrishnan is the CEO of Crescent Cove Advisors-backed Kingsley Gate Partners. He is responsible for executing the firm’s global expansion plans. Mr. Ramakrishnan has held several positions like vice chairman, chief innovation officer, president, and chief operating officer in the technology and service industries that have given him both strategic planning and operating experience.

Recruiting Firms Leverage Technology To Fuel Growth

In the midst of a rapidly evolving economy, industry analysis from Staffing Industry Analysts, a global advisor on staffing and workforce solutions, says the recruiting industry grew more than 11 percent in 2022, and many firms made the most of the opportunities in front of them. What did the top performers do differently to beat

As Investors Retreat, Healthcare/Life Sciences Sector Stays Resilient

Healthcare and life science organizations are facing an increasingly complex landscape, with rapid technological advancements, changing regulatory environments, and heightened public scrutiny. As a result, these companies have been turning to executive search firms more than ever to acquire world-class leadership. The most pressing challenge has been finding high-impact, innovative leaders who can navigate this