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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 100 Hunt Scanlon London 50 Hunt Scanlon Technology Top 50 Hunt Scanlon Top 50 Hunt Scanlon Global 40 Hunt Scanlon Big Five Global Search Firms Hunt Scanlon Legal Recruiting Power 100 Hunt Scanlon Non-Profit Top 70 Hunt Scanlon Healthcare Top 50 Hunt Scanlon Life Sciences Top 50 Hunt Scanlon Canadian Top 60 Hunt Scanlon New York Power 60 Hunt Scanlon Financial 60 Recruiter Ranking Hunt Scanlon HR/Diversity Power 70 Hunt Scanlon Cyber/Technology Top 45 Hunt Scanlon Private Equity Recruiting Power 100 Hunt Scanlon London 50 Hunt Scanlon Top 50 Higher Education Recruiters Hunt Scanlon Top 40 Sports, Media & Entertainment
Hunt Scanlon EMEA Top 40 Hunt Scanlon Cleantech/ESG Top 25

Past Articles From The Archives

The Strategic Architects Driving Diversity, Inclusion, and Business Success

The role of HR leaders has expanded significantly, in the last decade, making them vital architects of organizational culture and strategy. The best HR professionals are not only adept at managing talent but also serve as strategic partners who align HR initiatives with broader business objectives, executive recruiters tell Hunt Scanlon Media. These leaders possess

Achieving True Diversity: The Power of Inclusion and Evidence-Based Recruitment Strategies

How is diversity successfully achieved? At Mercuri Urval, we believe that true diversity is achieved through inclusion. When all organizations practice genuine inclusion, diversity naturally follows. To ensure true inclusion, it’s essential to avoid stereotyping and subjectivity in our actions and behaviors. Achieving diversity requires a combination of strategies and efforts at both organizational and

A Shifting Market is Keeping AI and Cybersecurity Recruiters on Standby

The landscape of AI and cybersecurity recruiting is dynamic and constantly evolving. Executive recruiters say that there is a significant demand for skilled professionals in AI, including machine learning engineers, data scientists, and AI researchers. Companies across various industries are actively seeking talent to leverage AI for innovation, efficiency, and competitive advantage. Meanwhile, with the

A Look at the Growing Need for Cybersecurity Executives

Jason, can you give us an overview of the market for cybersecurity recruiting? The cybersecurity recruiting landscape is undergoing an unprecedented surge, fueled by a wave of activity across various sectors in both enterprise and cybersecurity domains. This growth, driven by venture-backed and strong private equity investments, creates a dynamic ecosystem rich with opportunities at

Navigating the Evolving Market for Cybersecurity Executives

Radley, explain to us the market for cybersecurity executives. I’d split this into two categories: cybersecurity companies and functional security searches. The cybersecurity companies continue to be highly active in the recruiting market, specifically hiring CRO, CMO, COO, CEO, and president roles. This is in line with broader recruiting themes no matter the industry. Companies

Non-Profits Seek New Kinds of Leaders with Help from Search Firms

Executive search for the non-profit sector often mirrors broader hiring trends, with a distinct focus on leadership, strategic vision, and organizational impact. Recruiters say that non-profits, generally, are increasingly seeking executives and management teams who can provide strong leadership, articulate a compelling vision, and inspire stakeholders. Like most sectors, there is a growing emphasis on

A Mission-Driven Recruiting Career in the Non-Profit Sector

What led you to a career in executive search for non-profits? I began my professional life at the Shedd Aquarium, one of Chicago’s most beloved cultural institutions, with a dream job. Together with my team, I was responsible for the care, well-being, enrichment, and training of the Shedd’s marine mammals and penguins. As part of

Seeking High Performance Talent Who Make an Impact

Jennifer, what do you see happening in your search for senior executives for non-profits right now? At DRiWaterstone, we have the pleasure of helping some of the best non-profit and social impact organizations in North America find mission and purpose-driven candidates to fill leadership roles within their organization and on their boards. There is an

Recruiting Purpose-Driven Leaders with an Eye on the Bottom Line

Johnny, what are some challenges facing non-profits today? Financial challenges and their cascading consequences within the non-profit sector are nothing new. Apart from those with significant endowments, organizations are exceedingly dependent on charitable giving and private and government grants. Not all organizations benefit equally from thriving financial markets; in fact, many without considerable investments or

Corporate Culture & Talent: Navigating the New Norms

The keys to unlocking a successful corporate culture are predicated upon how leaders in organizations perceive culture as a top priority. Most senior leaders agree that a healthy company culture is a basic component of any successful organization. It lays the groundwork for strong employee engagement, retention, and performance. In today’s rapidly evolving professional landscape,

How to Implement a Positive Corporate Culture

Christine, much has been said about the benefits of good corporate culture, but how does a company know if their culture is not a good one? The first step is to evaluate your company culture. You can do this by conducting an audit of your organization’s current culture as well as monitoring and reporting on

A Look at What is Driving Winning Cultures Today

Can you provide the big picture right now for culture today? Organizations and leaders across the globe are facing ongoing and increasing pressure from external factors that directly impact their businesses. Economic and geopolitical instability, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, and rampant misinformation are creating more risk and uncertainty than ever before. Heidrick & Struggles recently

A New Talent Strategy for Private Equity

The private equity landscape has never been more tumultuous. The narrative that once revolved solely around deal volume and value has fundamentally shifted to one where talent is emerging as the key lever for value creation. Last year, PE firms grappled with a contradictory environment. On one hand, deal volumes remained relatively high, indicating a

Value of Strong Portfolio Leadership During the Holding Period

Tim, one of the topics we frequently hear about at Hunt Scanlon is hiring remote executives to lead portfolio companies. What have you seen on the hiring front on how PE firms approach this new way of leading portcos with remote leadership? Tolan: A really good question and a topic that is constantly being discussed

The Imperative of Women in Private Equity

As with many sectors, the urgency of diversity and gender equality is taking center stage in the world of private equity (PE). But why is having diversity in leadership roles, particularly women, so vital in private equity and PE organizations’ portfolio companies? The answer lies not just in numbers – although the metrics do speak

Colleges and Universities Rely on Search Firms to Find Leaders in Polarizing Times

Academic institutions continue to pump big fees into executive search firms nationwide. Many academic recruiting specialists say business, in fact, has never been better despite some sectors of executive search slowing over the past year. Even smaller recruiting outfits have multiple assignments running concurrently, all at the senior levels, and if there’s any slowdown coming

Finding Senior Leaders for Higher Education Institutions

What are some challenges facing university presidents today? It’s clear that over the last decade, university presidents have had to address a slew of growing internal challenges—things like shrinking budgets, declining enrollment, and faculty and graduate student unionization drives—that are connected to the operations and the unique structures of higher education systems. Presidents today need

How to Engage Candidates in an Evolving Higher Education Landscape

Jennifer, what are some of the challenges facing executive search firms today within the higher education sector? There are a number of challenges occurring simultaneously. High turnover equates to more opportunities. Candidates have numerous options and can be discerning in their job search. Most often, they are also in multiple searches. The frequent turnover (retirement/job

Executive Recruiters Look to Diversification and Human Capital Tailwinds for Growth

Executive Recruiters Look to Diversification and Human Capital Tailwinds for Growth Hunt Scanlon Media has released its annual productivity report of leading executive recruiters globally, billions of dollars poured into the high-end recruiting sector in 2023, but at a slower rate than in previous years. Executive recruiters pulled through a challenging year in 2023. Market

Adapting to Today’s Evolving Search Market

Celeste, give us a sense for how 2023 went for the firm and how it is doing today. In 2023, our firm navigated the challenges of the market with resilience, maintaining our revenue levels in comparison to 2022. Our commitment to adapt and innovate has been the cornerstone of our success, ensuring that we remain

Reimaging Executive Search in the Age of AI

Nada, since NU Advisory opened its doors, how has the firm approached the use of artificial intelligence? As we’ve been building NU Advisory Partners, it’s always seemed an apt omen that we were born the year that artificial intelligence (AI) hit the mainstream consciousness. After all, one reason we set out on this adventure is

Growing a Global Search Firm in a Turbulent Market

Umesh, how was 2023 for your firm and how are things looking now as we are well into 2024? Last year proved to be a transformational year for Kingsley Gate, with us unlocking significant growth vis-à-vis 2022 thanks, in part, to several key partner hires and two significant acquisitions: The Omerta Group in January and

Evolving Life Sciences/Healthcare Sector Busier Than Ever for Recruiters

Search consultants continue to say that there is an unprecedented opportunity for visionary healthcare/life sciences leaders to redefine the future of the industry. A shifting economic climate and the rapid pace of innovation have fueled many changes in the healthcare industry through acquisitions, divestitures, and new company formations. The pandemic accelerated the adoption of technologies

Challenges in Finding Senior Healthcare Talent

The healthcare industry is undergoing significant transformations driven by advancements in technology and evolving consumer preferences. What major trends are reshaping the landscape? Beach: Artificial Intelligence: Historically, healthcare has been slow to embrace technological change, but industry leaders have rapidly recognized the need to adopt AI solutions. AI offers a number of benefits such as

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

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