Executive Search Review
‘2026 Hunt Scanlon AI/Technology Recruiting Special Issue’ Newsletter
Executive Search Review has just released its 2026 AI/Technology Recruiting Special Issue Newsletter! We invite you to take a look at our latest issue by downloading the Free Newsletter PDF file. Here is a sampling of just some of what you’ll find when you open up this latest issue of ESR:
AI Redefining Search — Without Replacing Human Judgment
Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping executive recruiting,
speeding up how firms identify, evaluate, and engage leadership
talent. As AI tools automate research and administrative work,
search teams can move faster and surface stronger insights—
changing what “best candidate” discovery looks like in practice.
Domain-Specific AI Transforming Executive Search
Mark Jacobson is the GM, executive search with Findem.ai, an AI-powered talent intelligence and recruiting platform used by companies to find, engage, and hire candidates more efficiently. Mr. Jacobson recently sat down with Hunt Scanlon Media to discuss how Findem’s foundation of context-rich, longitudinal talent data is changing executive search, allowing AI to move beyond keywords and résumés to support faster, more transparent, and insight-driven talent decisions.
The Evolution of Tech Leadership in Europe: 40 Years of Transformation
Since its creation in 1985, Hightech Partners has been at the forefront of identifying and developing technology leaders across Europe. From the early days of IT infrastructure and operational excellence to today’s era of artificial intelligence and digital ecosystems, the firm has witnessed—and guided—the profound evolution of what it means to lead in Technology.
Raffaele Jacovelli, managing director at Hightech Partners, recently sat down with Hunt Scanlon Media to discuss the key trends shaping the tech leadership landscape and the executive search industry today.
Hunt Scanlon Releases Latest Recruiter Rankings
Hunt Scanlon Top 50 Hunt Scanlon Global 40 Hunt Scanlon Big Five Global Search FirmsHunt Scanlon Legal Recruiting Power 100Hunt Scanlon Non-Profit Top 70Hunt Scanlon Private Equity Recruiting Power 100Hunt Scanlon London 50Hunt Scanlon Healthcare Top 50Hunt Scanlon Life Sciences Top 50Hunt Scanlon Canadian Top 60Hunt Scanlon New York Power 60Hunt Scanlon Financial 60 Recruiter RankingHunt Scanlon HR/Diversity Power 70Hunt Scanlon Cyber/Technology Top 45Hunt Scanlon Private Equity Recruiting Power 100Hunt Scanlon London 50Hunt Scanlon Top 50 Higher Education RecruitersHunt Scanlon Top 40 Sports, Media & Entertainment
Hunt Scanlon EMEA Top 40Hunt Scanlon Cleantech/ESG Top 25
Hunt Scanlon Past ESR Issues
2026 Hunt Scanlon Annual Recruiter Rankings Special Issue ESR Newsletter2026 Hunt Scanlon Legal Recruiting Special Issue ESR Newsletter2025 Hunt Scanlon Non-Profit Recruiting Special Issue ESR Newsletter2025 Hunt Scanlon Corporate Culture Special Issue ESR Newsletter2025 Hunt Scanlon Private Equity Executive Recruiting Special Issue ESR Newsletter2025 Hunt Scanlon Healthcare/Life Sciences Executive Recruiting Special Issue ESR Newsletter2025 Hunt Scanlon Annual Executive Recruiter Rankings Special Issue ESR Newsletter2025 Hunt Scanlon Canada Executive Recruiting ESR Newsletter2025 Hunt Scanlon Financial Services Executive Recruiting ESR Newsletter2025 Hunt Scanlon Executive Recruiting Trends ESR Newsletter2024 Hunt Scanlon HR/Diversity Executive Recruiting ESR Newsletter2024 Hunt Scanlon PE/VC Executive Recruiting ESR Newsletter2024 Hunt Scanlon Cyber Technology Executive Recruiting ESR Newsletter2024 Hunt Scanlon Non-Profit Executive Recruiting ESR Newsletter2024 Hunt Scanlon Corporate Culture ESR Newsletter2024 Hunt Scanlon Private Equity Executive Recruiting ESR Newsletter2024 Hunt Scanlon Higher Education Recruiting Special Issue2024 Hunt Scanlon Recruiter Ranking Special Issue2024 Hunt Scanlon Healthcare & Life Sciences Recruiting Special Issue2024 Hunt Scanlon Canada Recruiting Special Issue2023 Hunt Scanlon HR/Diversity Executive Recruiting Special Issue2023 Hunt Scanlon M&A in Executive Recruiting ESR Newsletter 2023 Hunt Scanlon Financial Services Recruiting ESR Newsletter2023 Hunt Scanlon Non Profit Recruiting ESR Newsletter 2023 Hunt Scanlon Higher Education Recruiting Special Issue2023 Hunt Scanlon Private Equity Recruiting Special Issue 2023 Hunt Scanlon Recruiter Ranking Special Issue2023 Hunt Scanlon Healthcare & Life Sciences Recruiting Special Issue2023 Hunt Scanlon Corporate Culture Special Issue 2023 Hunt Scanlon Canada Recruiting Special Issue2023 Hunt Scanlon Europe Recruiting Special Issue 2023 Hunt Scanlon Cybersecurity Recruiting Special Issue2022 Hunt Scanlon M&A in Executive Recruiting Special Issue 2022 Hunt Scanlon HR/Diversity, Equity + Inclusion Recruiting Special Issue2022 Hunt Scanlon Financial Services Recruiting Special Issue2022 Hunt Scanlon Non Profit Recruiting Special Issue 2022 Hunt Scanlon Higher Education Recruiting Special Issue 2022 Hunt Scanlon Private Equity Recruiting Special Issue 2022 Hunt Scanlon Cybersecurity/Technology Recruiting Special Issue 2022 Hunt Scanlon Recruiter Ranking Special Issue 2022 Hunt Scanlon Culture Recruiting Special Issue2022 Hunt Scanlon Canada Recruiting Special Issue2022 Hunt Scanlon Healthcare & Life Sciences Special Issue2021 Hunt Scanlon HR/Diversity Recruiting Special Issue2021 Hunt Scanlon Private Equity Recruiting Special Issue2021 Hunt Scanlon Financial Services Recruiting Special Issue2021 Hunt Scanlon Retail Recruiting Special Issue2021 Hunt Scanlon Non-Profit Recruiting Special Issue2021 Hunt Scanlon Higher Education Recruiting Special Issue2021 Hunt Scanlon Cleantech/ESG Special Issue2021 Hunt Scanlon Recruiter Ranking Special Issue2021 Hunt Scanlon Healthcare/Life Sciences Recruiting Special Issue2021 Hunt Scanlon HR/Diversity Recruiting Special Issue2021 Hunt Scanlon Canada Recruiting Special Issue2020 Hunt Scanlon Non-Profit Special Issue2020 Hunt Scanlon Cyber/Tech Recruiting Special Issue2020 Hunt Scanlon London Recruiting Special Issue2020 Hunt Scanlon New York Recruiting Special Issue2020 Hunt Scanlon Financial Services Recruiting Special Issue2020 Hunt Scanlon Higher Education Recruiting Special Issue 2020 Hunt Scanlon Private Equity Recruiting Special Issue2020 Hunt Scanlon Recruiting Ranking Special Issue 2020 Hunt Scanlon Healthcare & Life Sciences Recruiting Special Issue2019 Hunt Scanlon Culture & Engagement Recruiting Special Issue2019 Hunt Scanlon Private Equity Recruiting Special Issue
2019 Hunt Scanlon Recruiter Ranking Special Issue
2019 Hunt Scanlon CHRO Recruiting Special Issue
2018 Hunt Scanlon Diversity Recruiting Special Issue
2018 Hunt Scanlon Recruiter Ranking Special Issue
2018 Hunt Scanlon Millennial Recruiting Special Issue
2018 Hunt Scanlon Sports and Media/Entertainment Special Issue
2017 Hunt Scanlon Paradigm Shift Special Issue
2017 Hunt Scanlon Rankings Issue
2017 Hunt Scanlon Life Sciences and Healthcare Recruiting Special Issue
2017 Hunt Scanlon Non-Profit/Higher Education Recruiting Special Issue
2016 Hunt Scanlon Rankings Issue
2016 Hunt Scanlon Cybersecurity Recruiting Special Issue
Past Articles From The Archives
PE Firms Seek ‘Holy Grail’ Leadership
Based on the explosive growth and future expansion possibilities within the life sciences and healthcare fields, venture capital and private equity firms are putting investment capital to work. What’s caught their eye, say recruiters, are two things: disruption and innovation. Both shifts require people and senior leaders to oversee them. As new companies are formed
Advancement Trailblazers: Recruiting Mission and Purpose Driven Leaders
An extension of development and fundraising in academic and non-profit organizations, ‘advancement’ leadership represents not only a change in the wording, but also in the skill set that is now required at the highest levels of these leading institutions. In recent years, both sectors have shifted toward more integrated models of collaboration between communications, marketing,
Seeking Passionate, Consensus-Building Talent
Jim Zaniello is president and founder of Vetted Solutions, a Washington, D.C.- based executive search firm specializing in serving the leadership needs of associations, non-profit organizations, hospitality and destination marketing industries. The firm focuses on recruiting board directors, CEOs and senior staff positions, providing personalized solutions tailored to each client’s needs and employer brand. In
Why Recruiters Fixate On Fundraising Skills
Nearly two million non-profit organizations employ approximately 10.7 million people and produce revenue in excess of $1.9 trillion. That figure elevates non-profits as the third-largest employer. “One in 10 jobs in America is a non-profit job. It’s a really significant economic contributor as a sector,” said BoardWalk Consulting managing director Kathy Bremer, whose clients include
Purpose-Driven Focus Fuels Calibre One
Purpose-driven search firms specializing in placing senior-level executives offer up candidates who can foster innovation with meaningful impact. It is a relatively new recruiting specialty that is now in hot demand. Venesa Klein, one of 11 partners at Calibre One, an international search firm with offices in San Francisco, Menlo Park, London, Singapore, Sydney and
Why Charitable Organizations Often Turn to Hybrid Leaders
According to recruiters, chief development officers are in demand as fundraising acumen and having an ability to drive growth are essential skills required to run non-profit and charitable enterprises. When executive search firm Lochlin Partners placed Anthony Sciacca as chief development officer for Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) recently, the incoming leader was charged with designing
Recruitment of Academia Presidents On Rise
Reduced state funding, rising tuition costs, soaring student debt and decreased federal research funding have all contributed to a dramatic rise in the role search firms are playing in the recruitment of university presidents and chancellors. Recruiters are adept at managing a process that can be fraught with political and financial intrigue as well as
Why Korn Ferry’s CEO Thinks We All Need to Adapt to Change
In a Harvard Business Review article, Korn Ferry’s chief executive Gary D. Burnison once compared a search firm to a hospital emergency room, writing that people only go to the ER – and an executive recruitment firm – in an emergency. “In medicine, big businesses are built around wellness and prevention,” he wrote. “I wanted
The Financial 50: Shifting Focus to Strategic Hiring and Specialization
Recruiting in the financial services sector is once again at a crossroads. As financial institutions emerged from the great meltdown eight years ago, heady times existed for search firms focused on any number of specialized areas within the field. But in the last year to 18 months signs have been emerging of slowing activity, and
Scrambling for Cybersecurity Leaders is Big Business for Recruiters
In the mid-1990s, when Joyce Brocaglia took on her first assignment to help build an information security operation for Citibank, it was a very different world. No one knew how much the Internet would grow and ultimately transform society. Technology was more primitive. Data was less accessible. And the massive connectivity we now taken for
Cybersecurity Recruiting Pioneer Looks Back, and Ahead
Alta Associates has risen over the past 30 years to become the most prominent boutique search firm specializing in the cybersecurity function. Founding CEO Joyce Brocaglia is a highly sought-after strategic advisor to her clients in the areas of information security, risk management and privacy. In the following interview, she discusses the evolution of the
Risk Management Starts with Pinpointing Vulnerabilities
Benchmark Executive Search, based in Reston, VA, is making its mark as a sought-after recruiter for both federal market and commercial companies in search of cyber talent. Jeremy King, the firm’s founder, has worked extensively with VC/PE backed firms that serve the government, building strong ties with leaders in intelligence, defense, and national security. Benchmark’s
How JBK Associates is Setting a New Path for Boutique Firms
Increasingly, specialist boutiques are coming into the viewfinder of major companies who are looking at options outside of the large, generalist players to recruit top talent. No firm epitomizes this trend more than Englewood Cliffs, NJ-based JBK Associates, which serves industry disciplines including healthcare, consumer/ retail & luxury, financial services, not-for-profit and life sciences. In
Hiring Times Continue to Rise Globally as Recruitment Screening Methods Multiply
Hiring times in the U.S., Canada, and in many major European markets and Australia are mushrooming, according to several new research reports. Adding time to the hiring clock is putting hiring plans in disarray, setting talent acquisition professionals off to conduct more of their own search work in an effort to reduce hiring cycle times.
Boutique Firms Lead Recruiting Industry Surge
Anyone taking the pulse of the headhunting industry today should look no further than the boutique bracket firms that make up this year’s “Hunt Scanlon Top 50 U.S./Americas Search Firm” rankings. A surge in growth among these players seems to support the notion that the senior talent industry’s sweet spot can be found in the middle
Korn Ferry Enters Billion Dollar Club as “Big Five” Report Strong Growth
Collectively, the five largest global talent leadership providers enjoyed a healthy nine percent revenue rise in 2014, powered by double digit growth rates at Spencer Stuart and Russell Reynolds Associates. Together, the Big Five brought in $3.384 billion in global consulting fees for the year. But bragging rights clearly belong to the industry’s leader, Korn
The New York Power 60: Recruiting Epicenter Diversifies and Expands
No matter how much business activity is taking place in London, Hong Kong, or Dubai, New York City rules as the world center of commerce and deal making. From Wall Street and its stock exchanges to the bustling world of retail, fashion and high tech, millions of people and billions of dollars come in and
Setting A New Course
Increasingly, top consultants at large search firms are breaking ranks and setting out to build and develop new brands in unique ways by embracing cutting-edge strategies to best serve a demanding client base. Once partners with Top Five search firm, Heidrick & Struggles, Brad Stadler and Joe Riggione, who co-founded True in 2012, are leading a
Investment Capital to Flow as Recruiters Expand Business
When private investor Austin Marxe recently ponied up a $5 million lifeline to help CTPartners stave off its short term cash flow needs, he likely wasn’t looking for a long term place to park his money. In the span of less than a month, Mr. Marxe and his colleagues at AWM Investment Co. doubled their
Chartwell Partners: Building An Effective Brand
With its 2014 merger with Chicago-based Cavoure Partners, itself a high-end and established recruiter, Chartwell Partners seems poised to push its agenda forward within an executive search industry that is both expanding rapidly and changing almost exponentially. In the following interview, firm co-founder, R. Stuart Bush, discusses the many issues and challenges facing the industry
What Makes Search Firms A Good Investment
Timothy McHugh is a partner and global services analyst for Chicago-based William Blair & Co., where he specializes in the consulting, HR technology, information services, and staffing sectors. He joined Blair in 2002 and was involved in bringing CTPartners public in December 2010. Previously, Mr. McHugh was a senior research analyst at the Federal Reserve
Inside the Legendary Career of Gerry Roche
He is the ultimate Kingmaker. Gerry Roche, clearly one of the most recognizable names in the long history of executive search, has placed hundreds of top CEOs, board members and other senior executives over his long career. He has also changed business history. His 1983 recruitment of John Sculley from PepsiCo to the CEO post
Jack On Gerry: “It’s All About The Chemistry”
As CEO of GE from 1981 to 2001, Jack Welch set new standards on how CEOs lead and manage, and along the way he revolutionized the company. One of his greatest achievements was identifying and developing great talent, and many who worked for GE during his tenure blossomed professionally. One result was that GE became
As Life Sciences Expands – Bench International Sits at the Epicenter
According to the Coalition of Bioscience Institutes’ Life Sciences Workforce Trends Report 2014, national employment in the U.S. life sciences industry totaled 1.62 million last year spanning over 73,000 companies. Life sciences, which comprises the fields of science that involve the scientific study of living organisms as well as related considerations like bioethics, is flourishing
Women In Search: The New Corporate Gatekeepers
The last 25 years have brought significant advancement for women in the talent management profession. The unprecedented numbers of those coming into the field, taking on leadership roles, starting their own firms, and winning prestigious assignments has transformed the recruiting business. It is at such a point, in fact, that many female recruiters feel confident
As Lester Korn Retires, Succession Plan Set In Motion
Twenty-three years ago when the article below first appeared in Executive Search Review (May 1991), the executive recruiting business was truly a cottage industry. Korn Ferry’s global revenues topped just $100 million back then; in 2014 the firm will likely exceed $1billion in generated fees. Then, like now, Korn Ferry was ranked No. 1 in the talent
The Importance Of Recruiting The Right CFO
The challenge of identifying the most qualified CFO has traditionally fallen to executive search consultants who scour global talent markets for the professional with the best fit. Sitting at the apex of this group is recruiting firm Crist|Kolder Associates. Based in Hinsdale, Illinois, Crist|Kolder has recruited some of the most influential CFOs for organizations including:
Recruiting Business Up Nine Percent
For the third year in a row the top recruiting firms in the U.S./Americas region posted a nine percent growth rate, accounting for the bulk of the worldwide talent acquisition market. So flush is business in the U.S., this year’s Hunt Scanlon Media ranking was expanded from 25 to 40 search firms. “We benefited heavily from
The Emergence of In-House Recruiting
With retained executive search fees still holding at a steady one-third of estimated first year compensation and with major companies trimming large sums from their recruitment budgets, there is a growing trend by scores of public and private companies in the U.S. to turn inward and hand the recruitment reins over to in-house search professionals
Korn Ferry Nears $1 Billion In Revenue; Zehnder Sees Part European ‘Crisis’
With a stunning year of growth under its belt, Korn Ferry is now poised to be the first executive search firm to break the billion dollar mark. It has been an impressive transformation-in-the-making at the world’s largest publicly-traded talent provider in recent years – whose core business now encompasses C-suite and middle management recruiting, leadership
Chicagoland Top 40: Recruiting Market Is Booming
Next to New York and London, Chicago and its surrounding environs – commonly referred to as “Chicagoland” – has thrived for decades as one of the most important global recruiting hubs in the talent acquisition field. But an unusual and fairly recent confluence of factors is making it a true standout in the ever-expanding race
Heidrick Signals Shift In Strategy With Outside Pick As CEO
Heidrick & Struggles’ unlikely choice of ex-Goldman Sachs veteran Tracy R. Wolstencroft as its next president and CEO could signal the firm’s intention to makeover – but not reverse – its strategy as a public company. Mr. Wolstencroft is a distinct outsider to the headhunting industry, having cut his teeth in the professional services environment
Sustainability Sector Sees Growing Need For Talent
As the world moves toward a cleaner and greener existence, sustainability companies that serve this business discipline are increasingly focused on bringing on new generations of senior talent to lead them through the next phase of their continued growth. Sustainability encompasses clean and green technology, renewable energy and other environmental-based initiatives. Today, this multi-billion dollar
The Nuances Of Not-for-Profit Search
The not-for-profit industry is like no other: it is a special sector that promotes a wide range of institutions for the betterment of society. According to the National Center for Charitable Statistics (NCCS), more than 1.5 million not-for-profit organizations are registered in the U.S. This number includes public charities, private foundations, and other types of
The Importance Of Being A Recruiting Specialist
Being a true market master in executive search is critical to the success of any firm whose consultants must understand the complicated landscape in which they work. Top professionals must possess a full working knowledge of specific industries or functional disciplines which allow them to work as effectively as possible with their corporate counterparts to
Executive Search Review
Download our most recent ESR newsletter here: 2026 Hunt Scanlon AI/Technology Recruiting Special Issue ESR Newsletter
PE Firms Seek ‘Holy Grail’ Leadership
Based on the explosive growth and future expansion possibilities within the life sciences and healthcare fields, venture capital and private equity firms are putting investment capital to work. What’s caught their eye, say recruiters, are two things: disruption and innovation. Both shifts require people and senior leaders to oversee them. As new companies are formed
Advancement Trailblazers: Recruiting Mission and Purpose Driven Leaders
An extension of development and fundraising in academic and non-profit organizations, ‘advancement’ leadership represents not only a change in the wording, but also in the skill set that is now required at the highest levels of these leading institutions. In recent years, both sectors have shifted toward more integrated models of collaboration between communications, marketing,
Seeking Passionate, Consensus-Building Talent
Jim Zaniello is president and founder of Vetted Solutions, a Washington, D.C.- based executive search firm specializing in serving the leadership needs of associations, non-profit organizations, hospitality and destination marketing industries. The firm focuses on recruiting board directors, CEOs and senior staff positions, providing personalized solutions tailored to each client’s needs and employer brand. In
Why Recruiters Fixate On Fundraising Skills
Nearly two million non-profit organizations employ approximately 10.7 million people and produce revenue in excess of $1.9 trillion. That figure elevates non-profits as the third-largest employer. “One in 10 jobs in America is a non-profit job. It’s a really significant economic contributor as a sector,” said BoardWalk Consulting managing director Kathy Bremer, whose clients include
Purpose-Driven Focus Fuels Calibre One
Purpose-driven search firms specializing in placing senior-level executives offer up candidates who can foster innovation with meaningful impact. It is a relatively new recruiting specialty that is now in hot demand. Venesa Klein, one of 11 partners at Calibre One, an international search firm with offices in San Francisco, Menlo Park, London, Singapore, Sydney and
Why Charitable Organizations Often Turn to Hybrid Leaders
According to recruiters, chief development officers are in demand as fundraising acumen and having an ability to drive growth are essential skills required to run non-profit and charitable enterprises. When executive search firm Lochlin Partners placed Anthony Sciacca as chief development officer for Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) recently, the incoming leader was charged with designing
Recruitment of Academia Presidents On Rise
Reduced state funding, rising tuition costs, soaring student debt and decreased federal research funding have all contributed to a dramatic rise in the role search firms are playing in the recruitment of university presidents and chancellors. Recruiters are adept at managing a process that can be fraught with political and financial intrigue as well as
Why Korn Ferry’s CEO Thinks We All Need to Adapt to Change
In a Harvard Business Review article, Korn Ferry’s chief executive Gary D. Burnison once compared a search firm to a hospital emergency room, writing that people only go to the ER – and an executive recruitment firm – in an emergency. “In medicine, big businesses are built around wellness and prevention,” he wrote. “I wanted
The Financial 50: Shifting Focus to Strategic Hiring and Specialization
Recruiting in the financial services sector is once again at a crossroads. As financial institutions emerged from the great meltdown eight years ago, heady times existed for search firms focused on any number of specialized areas within the field. But in the last year to 18 months signs have been emerging of slowing activity, and
Scrambling for Cybersecurity Leaders is Big Business for Recruiters
In the mid-1990s, when Joyce Brocaglia took on her first assignment to help build an information security operation for Citibank, it was a very different world. No one knew how much the Internet would grow and ultimately transform society. Technology was more primitive. Data was less accessible. And the massive connectivity we now taken for
Cybersecurity Recruiting Pioneer Looks Back, and Ahead
Alta Associates has risen over the past 30 years to become the most prominent boutique search firm specializing in the cybersecurity function. Founding CEO Joyce Brocaglia is a highly sought-after strategic advisor to her clients in the areas of information security, risk management and privacy. In the following interview, she discusses the evolution of the
Risk Management Starts with Pinpointing Vulnerabilities
Benchmark Executive Search, based in Reston, VA, is making its mark as a sought-after recruiter for both federal market and commercial companies in search of cyber talent. Jeremy King, the firm’s founder, has worked extensively with VC/PE backed firms that serve the government, building strong ties with leaders in intelligence, defense, and national security. Benchmark’s
How JBK Associates is Setting a New Path for Boutique Firms
Increasingly, specialist boutiques are coming into the viewfinder of major companies who are looking at options outside of the large, generalist players to recruit top talent. No firm epitomizes this trend more than Englewood Cliffs, NJ-based JBK Associates, which serves industry disciplines including healthcare, consumer/ retail & luxury, financial services, not-for-profit and life sciences. In
Hiring Times Continue to Rise Globally as Recruitment Screening Methods Multiply
Hiring times in the U.S., Canada, and in many major European markets and Australia are mushrooming, according to several new research reports. Adding time to the hiring clock is putting hiring plans in disarray, setting talent acquisition professionals off to conduct more of their own search work in an effort to reduce hiring cycle times.
Boutique Firms Lead Recruiting Industry Surge
Anyone taking the pulse of the headhunting industry today should look no further than the boutique bracket firms that make up this year’s “Hunt Scanlon Top 50 U.S./Americas Search Firm” rankings. A surge in growth among these players seems to support the notion that the senior talent industry’s sweet spot can be found in the middle
Korn Ferry Enters Billion Dollar Club as “Big Five” Report Strong Growth
Collectively, the five largest global talent leadership providers enjoyed a healthy nine percent revenue rise in 2014, powered by double digit growth rates at Spencer Stuart and Russell Reynolds Associates. Together, the Big Five brought in $3.384 billion in global consulting fees for the year. But bragging rights clearly belong to the industry’s leader, Korn
The New York Power 60: Recruiting Epicenter Diversifies and Expands
No matter how much business activity is taking place in London, Hong Kong, or Dubai, New York City rules as the world center of commerce and deal making. From Wall Street and its stock exchanges to the bustling world of retail, fashion and high tech, millions of people and billions of dollars come in and
Setting A New Course
Increasingly, top consultants at large search firms are breaking ranks and setting out to build and develop new brands in unique ways by embracing cutting-edge strategies to best serve a demanding client base. Once partners with Top Five search firm, Heidrick & Struggles, Brad Stadler and Joe Riggione, who co-founded True in 2012, are leading a
Investment Capital to Flow as Recruiters Expand Business
When private investor Austin Marxe recently ponied up a $5 million lifeline to help CTPartners stave off its short term cash flow needs, he likely wasn’t looking for a long term place to park his money. In the span of less than a month, Mr. Marxe and his colleagues at AWM Investment Co. doubled their
Chartwell Partners: Building An Effective Brand
With its 2014 merger with Chicago-based Cavoure Partners, itself a high-end and established recruiter, Chartwell Partners seems poised to push its agenda forward within an executive search industry that is both expanding rapidly and changing almost exponentially. In the following interview, firm co-founder, R. Stuart Bush, discusses the many issues and challenges facing the industry
What Makes Search Firms A Good Investment
Timothy McHugh is a partner and global services analyst for Chicago-based William Blair & Co., where he specializes in the consulting, HR technology, information services, and staffing sectors. He joined Blair in 2002 and was involved in bringing CTPartners public in December 2010. Previously, Mr. McHugh was a senior research analyst at the Federal Reserve
Inside the Legendary Career of Gerry Roche
He is the ultimate Kingmaker. Gerry Roche, clearly one of the most recognizable names in the long history of executive search, has placed hundreds of top CEOs, board members and other senior executives over his long career. He has also changed business history. His 1983 recruitment of John Sculley from PepsiCo to the CEO post
Jack On Gerry: “It’s All About The Chemistry”
As CEO of GE from 1981 to 2001, Jack Welch set new standards on how CEOs lead and manage, and along the way he revolutionized the company. One of his greatest achievements was identifying and developing great talent, and many who worked for GE during his tenure blossomed professionally. One result was that GE became
As Life Sciences Expands – Bench International Sits at the Epicenter
According to the Coalition of Bioscience Institutes’ Life Sciences Workforce Trends Report 2014, national employment in the U.S. life sciences industry totaled 1.62 million last year spanning over 73,000 companies. Life sciences, which comprises the fields of science that involve the scientific study of living organisms as well as related considerations like bioethics, is flourishing
Women In Search: The New Corporate Gatekeepers
The last 25 years have brought significant advancement for women in the talent management profession. The unprecedented numbers of those coming into the field, taking on leadership roles, starting their own firms, and winning prestigious assignments has transformed the recruiting business. It is at such a point, in fact, that many female recruiters feel confident
As Lester Korn Retires, Succession Plan Set In Motion
Twenty-three years ago when the article below first appeared in Executive Search Review (May 1991), the executive recruiting business was truly a cottage industry. Korn Ferry’s global revenues topped just $100 million back then; in 2014 the firm will likely exceed $1billion in generated fees. Then, like now, Korn Ferry was ranked No. 1 in the talent
The Importance Of Recruiting The Right CFO
The challenge of identifying the most qualified CFO has traditionally fallen to executive search consultants who scour global talent markets for the professional with the best fit. Sitting at the apex of this group is recruiting firm Crist|Kolder Associates. Based in Hinsdale, Illinois, Crist|Kolder has recruited some of the most influential CFOs for organizations including:
Recruiting Business Up Nine Percent
For the third year in a row the top recruiting firms in the U.S./Americas region posted a nine percent growth rate, accounting for the bulk of the worldwide talent acquisition market. So flush is business in the U.S., this year’s Hunt Scanlon Media ranking was expanded from 25 to 40 search firms. “We benefited heavily from
The Emergence of In-House Recruiting
With retained executive search fees still holding at a steady one-third of estimated first year compensation and with major companies trimming large sums from their recruitment budgets, there is a growing trend by scores of public and private companies in the U.S. to turn inward and hand the recruitment reins over to in-house search professionals
Korn Ferry Nears $1 Billion In Revenue; Zehnder Sees Part European ‘Crisis’
With a stunning year of growth under its belt, Korn Ferry is now poised to be the first executive search firm to break the billion dollar mark. It has been an impressive transformation-in-the-making at the world’s largest publicly-traded talent provider in recent years – whose core business now encompasses C-suite and middle management recruiting, leadership
Chicagoland Top 40: Recruiting Market Is Booming
Next to New York and London, Chicago and its surrounding environs – commonly referred to as “Chicagoland” – has thrived for decades as one of the most important global recruiting hubs in the talent acquisition field. But an unusual and fairly recent confluence of factors is making it a true standout in the ever-expanding race
Heidrick Signals Shift In Strategy With Outside Pick As CEO
Heidrick & Struggles’ unlikely choice of ex-Goldman Sachs veteran Tracy R. Wolstencroft as its next president and CEO could signal the firm’s intention to makeover – but not reverse – its strategy as a public company. Mr. Wolstencroft is a distinct outsider to the headhunting industry, having cut his teeth in the professional services environment
Sustainability Sector Sees Growing Need For Talent
As the world moves toward a cleaner and greener existence, sustainability companies that serve this business discipline are increasingly focused on bringing on new generations of senior talent to lead them through the next phase of their continued growth. Sustainability encompasses clean and green technology, renewable energy and other environmental-based initiatives. Today, this multi-billion dollar
The Nuances Of Not-for-Profit Search
The not-for-profit industry is like no other: it is a special sector that promotes a wide range of institutions for the betterment of society. According to the National Center for Charitable Statistics (NCCS), more than 1.5 million not-for-profit organizations are registered in the U.S. This number includes public charities, private foundations, and other types of
The Importance Of Being A Recruiting Specialist
Being a true market master in executive search is critical to the success of any firm whose consultants must understand the complicated landscape in which they work. Top professionals must possess a full working knowledge of specific industries or functional disciplines which allow them to work as effectively as possible with their corporate counterparts to
