Executive Search Review
‘2026 Hunt Scanlon Private Equity Recruiting Special Issue’ Newsletter
Executive Search Review has just released its 2026 Private Equity 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:
The Shift to Strategic Partnerships in Executive Recruiting
As private equity firms place greater emphasis on operational execution and long-term value creation, expectations around leadership strategy are rapidly evolving. Search firms are increasingly being asked to move beyond traditional recruiting models and serve as broader talent advisors aligned with investment outcomes. In this environment, the distinction between transactional hiring and strategic partnership is becoming a defining factor across the private equity landscape.
Why PE Organizations Need to Apply Their Own Playbook to Themselves
John Zink and Ed Richards are co-founders of Taurean, a firm purpose-built to help private equity organizations design and build their value creation capabilities. Together, they founded Taurean on a conviction that is becoming impossible to ignore: what PE firms do with the companies they buy has never mattered more. The era of financial engineering and cheap debt producing reliable returns is over. Firms that want to win now need to treat their value creation capability as a real product, integrated into the investment process from day one, not an appendage they bolt on after the deal closes.
How Private Equity Firms Are Modernizing Talent Strategy Through Technology
Max Woolger is head of growth at Ezekia, a provider of software for search firms. The company offers full business development and assignment management tools as well as internal and external reporting, GDPR compliance, and invoicing. Mr. Woolger recently sat down with Hunt Scanlon Media to discuss how PE firms are leveraging talent CRM and ATS platforms to strengthen collaboration between talent and deal teams, improve leadership decision-making, and support value creation across the investment lifecycle.
Hunt Scanlon Releases Latest Recruiter Rankings
Hunt Scanlon Private Equity Recruiting Power 100Hunt Scanlon London 50Hunt Scanlon Technology Top 50Hunt 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 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 AI/Technology Recruiting Special Issue ESR Newsletter2026 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
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
African American Named To Run 10th Largest Recruiter
At Diversified Search, the tenth largest U.S. recruiter has tapped long time industry veteran, Dale E. Jones, to take the helm of the Philadelphia-based search outfit. As president, Mr. Jones becomes the first African American put into position to lead a major American search firm. Chairman and CEO Judith M. von Seldeneck, who founded Diversified
Nosal Sentencing Delayed
Six months ago, David Nosal, chairman & CEO of San Francisco-based Nosal Partners, was convicted of all charges in a six-count indictment by a federal jury that found that Mr. Nosal had conspired to gain unauthorized access to the computer system of his former employer, Korn/Ferry International, and to illegally obtaining its trade secrets in
The Search For A New Chief At Heidrick & Struggles Roll On
Heidrick & Struggles, the world’s fourth largest recruiter and No. 3 in the U.S./Americas as ranked by Hunt Scanlon Media, continues its search for a new leader amid continued defections of some of the firm’s top recruiters. Heidrick’s most important in-house appointment in years is being led by Heidrick veterans Jeff Sanders and Bonnie Gwin, who
Executive Search Industry Grows In U.S.
Executive search trend data compiled by Hunt Scanlon Media shows an industry growing domestically, declining globally and struggling with changing dynamics within its core recruitment service offerings. The Executive Search Review 2013 rankings study released by HSZ Media reports that the top 25 U.S. and Americas search firms grew by nine percent last year; the top
Recruiting Pioneer Discusses Trends For Women In business
Judith M. von Seldeneck is founder, chairman and CEO of Diversified Search, headquartered in Philadelphia. Ms. von Seldeneck has been a pioneer in the search industry for 35 years and a leader in placing qualified women and diversity candidates. She has received numerous industry awards and has been active on a number of corporate boards
Global Search Firm Bets On China As Hiring In Europe Slows
Damien I. O’Brien is focused like a laser beam on China. As chief executive of Egon Zehnder, Mr. O’Brien is now guiding a firm that has dominated Europe for decades through the intricacies of recruiting talent in the world’s largest economy. “Our big focus is China,” he said. Zehnder today has just over five percent
Executive Search Review
Download our most recent ESR newsletter here: 2026 Hunt Scanlon Private Equity Recruiting Special Issue ESR Newsletter
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
African American Named To Run 10th Largest Recruiter
At Diversified Search, the tenth largest U.S. recruiter has tapped long time industry veteran, Dale E. Jones, to take the helm of the Philadelphia-based search outfit. As president, Mr. Jones becomes the first African American put into position to lead a major American search firm. Chairman and CEO Judith M. von Seldeneck, who founded Diversified
Nosal Sentencing Delayed
Six months ago, David Nosal, chairman & CEO of San Francisco-based Nosal Partners, was convicted of all charges in a six-count indictment by a federal jury that found that Mr. Nosal had conspired to gain unauthorized access to the computer system of his former employer, Korn/Ferry International, and to illegally obtaining its trade secrets in
The Search For A New Chief At Heidrick & Struggles Roll On
Heidrick & Struggles, the world’s fourth largest recruiter and No. 3 in the U.S./Americas as ranked by Hunt Scanlon Media, continues its search for a new leader amid continued defections of some of the firm’s top recruiters. Heidrick’s most important in-house appointment in years is being led by Heidrick veterans Jeff Sanders and Bonnie Gwin, who
Executive Search Industry Grows In U.S.
Executive search trend data compiled by Hunt Scanlon Media shows an industry growing domestically, declining globally and struggling with changing dynamics within its core recruitment service offerings. The Executive Search Review 2013 rankings study released by HSZ Media reports that the top 25 U.S. and Americas search firms grew by nine percent last year; the top
Recruiting Pioneer Discusses Trends For Women In business
Judith M. von Seldeneck is founder, chairman and CEO of Diversified Search, headquartered in Philadelphia. Ms. von Seldeneck has been a pioneer in the search industry for 35 years and a leader in placing qualified women and diversity candidates. She has received numerous industry awards and has been active on a number of corporate boards
Global Search Firm Bets On China As Hiring In Europe Slows
Damien I. O’Brien is focused like a laser beam on China. As chief executive of Egon Zehnder, Mr. O’Brien is now guiding a firm that has dominated Europe for decades through the intricacies of recruiting talent in the world’s largest economy. “Our big focus is China,” he said. Zehnder today has just over five percent
