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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

CEO Succession in Healthcare

The stakes of a chief executive officer transition are always high, but the risks of succession are increasing as healthcare systems grow in size and complexity and operate in increasingly dynamic conditions. Based on current trends, a new Spencer Stuart report says that it is expected that more than 80 percent of hospital CEOs will

AMN Healthcare CEO Named to Global Power 150 Women in Staffing Ranking

Susan Salka, president and CEO of AMN Healthcare, has been named to the 2021 Global Power 150 – Women in Staffing ranking by Staffing Industry Analysts for the seventh consecutive year. “On behalf of AMN Healthcare and all of the women throughout our organization, it is an honor to receive this recognition,” said Ms. Salka.

Super Trends Shifting the Market for Healthcare Leaders

The healthcare industry is being buffeted by change, and by forces that go well beyond the global pandemic. There are a few key “Super Trends” that are shaping the way that organizations hire, and retain, top leadership. As a principal in WittKieffer’s interim leadership practice, Adam Burns sees interim executives as one key solution to

Top HR Leaders and Diversity Chiefs Cutting New Path Forward

More and more, CEOs have recognized the strategic role the human resources function plays in the core strategic issues their companies face, including growth strategy, mergers and acquisitions, restructuring, increased board oversight, and evolving governance and reporting. HR can also ensure that clear changes are made to recruitment and capability-building processes by determining the characteristics

Spotlight: Shaping the Future: The Meaning and Importance of DE&I

Val Lopez, Ashley Schiele, Lisa Butkus and Mayank Parikh are partners with Hanold Associates HR & Diversity Executive, a boutique executive search firm focused on HR and diversity and inclusion officers. Its client list is diverse across industries, geographies and business scenarios, and culture is at the core of everything the firm does. Its clients

Spotlight: HR’s Evolving Role in the C-Suite

Kenneth Roldan is the founder and chief executive officer of WB&B Executive Search, a Hispanic-owned minority business enterprise with a focus on diversity and inclusion. The firm concentrates on finding talent for academia, not-for-profit organizations, corporate America and government agencies. Among its long client roster: Unum, Microban, Akron Children’s Hospital, Thrivent, The Wendy’s Co., Bell

Odgers Berndtson Appoints Head of Diversity

Odgers Berndtson has named Ryna Young as partner and head of diversity. “We are proud to be a leader in our industry as we appoint Ryna Young as head of diversity,” said Carl Lovas, chair and chief executive officer of Odgers Berndtson Canada. “We are deeply committed to creating an equitable client and colleague experience.

Are Today’s HR Leaders Ready for Tomorrow’s Challenges?

The future of work will be different from the past. But the extent to which the future of work relies on HR leaders has also never been clearer, according to a new report by Russell Reynolds Associates’ Anna Penfold, Harsonal Sachar and Alix Stuart. The pandemic has accelerated a move to a distributed workforce, redefining

August Leadership Adds Diversity Search And Leadership Consulting Practice

August Leadership recently expanded its scope by adding a diversity, equity & inclusion search and leadership consulting practice to its portfolio. “Our diversity, equity and inclusion search and consulting practice provides clients with a holistic approach to this space in addition to our direct support to boards, CEOs and CHROs with the overall understanding of

Emerging From the Pandemic, Private Equity Recruiting Takes Off

Private equity firms have been pulling strongly in a direction all their own, not only bucking the challenges impacting other businesses but clearly passing key inflection points for growth. According to Dominic Lévesque, president of Tatum: “We’re seeing huge reserves of dry powder on tap, and along with it, sky-high valuations,” he said. “Small wonder,

Spotlight: The Current Need for Private Equity Leaders

Lynda Robey, Jeff Hocking and Ballie Parker are partners with ON Partners. With a primary focus on technology, consumer, industrial and the life science sectors, ON Partners recruits C-level and board talent for public and private companies, as well as venture capital and private equity firms. ON Partners was also named of the one fastest

Spotlight: Using AI to Find the Right Executive Talent

Matt Chambers is the co-founder and CEO of Loxo, a global provider of artificial intelligence recruitment automation software. The company helps 125,000-plus recruiters identify, engage and hire the very best possible candidates for every job while eliminating 80 percent of the work over traditional recruitment methods. Mr. Chambers recently sat down with Hunt Scanlon to

The Rise of the Private Equity Chief Talent Officer

While drawing down on committed funds and having capital “at work” is most people’s core understanding of what the modern private equity firm does, having the right human capital in place to maximize return-on-assets and marshal the firm’s capital adequately is of equal critical importance. Against this backdrop, it is perhaps a logical development to

Recruiting Entrepreneur Makes Seven-Figure Investment in ZRG

ZRG, a leading search firm backed by private equity firm RFE Investment Partners, has elected Hamilton Bradshaw CEO James Caan to its board of directors. Mr. Caan has made a personal seven-figure investment in the company. “We are thrilled to add James Caan to our board of directors,” said CEO Larry Hartmann. “He brings a

How PE Firms Can Attract the Best Portfolio Leadership

The global private equity sector is more than three times bigger than it was just 10 years ago. How can PE firms ensure that they are attracting the best talent to lead their portfolio companies? Despite a COVID-induced 22 percent downturn in private equity fundraising and deal volume in 2020, the broader multi-year trend is

As Retail Sector Pivots, Investment in Talent is New Priority

Retailers are facing major shifts in their businesses that call for “unprecedented responses” by CEOs who can effectively lead through change, intuitively and analytically understand the evolving consumer, and respond to ambiguity, according to search consultants. Developed markets, excess retail capacity, rising prices, the shift to omni-channel retail and the unpredictable pace of change in

Spotlight: Evolution & Acceleration of Trends in the Consumer Goods/Retail Sector

Doug Ehrenkranz is the North America regional practice co-leader – consumer goods and retail practice at Boyden. His focus is on the consumer goods, CPG, retail, and industrial sectors, including oilfield and industrial services, chemical, and food ingredients, mainstream food and beverage, durables and health and beauty products, as well as natural and organic. Mr.

Spotlight: Challenges Finding Senior Leaders in the Retail Sector

Pamela Ruebusch is the founder and owner of TSI Group. When she started the business over two decades ago, her goal was to create a firm that delivered the best available talent and executive search services primarily to the supply chain industry throughout North America. Her entrepreneurial drive and strategic vision has enabled her to

Five Top Characteristics of Top Cannabis Executives

The cannabis industry has seen extraordinary growth of late due to increasing decriminalization and legalization across many states. In 2020, cannabis sales hit a record $17.5 billion, which was a 46 percent increase from 2019. Market analysts project that the cannabis industry could skyrocket to $100 billion in the U.S. by 2030. Cannabis is legal

Hanold Associates Launches Retail and Luxury Goods Practice

Chicago-based Hanold Associates HR & Diversity Executive Search has launched a retail and luxury goods practice and named Lisa Butkus as the practice leader. Hanold Associates has led numerous high-profile searches for members of this industry, including finding HR, diversity and other leaders for brands like Abercrombie & Fitch, Beautycounter, Dick’s Sporting Goods, JC Penney,

Is the Chief Commercial Officer the New Star of Retail Financial Services?

The world of retail financial services is changing constantly, according to recruiters focused on the sector. Thanks to the ever-evolving regulatory environment, digital banking becoming native, and the rise of challenger banks and disruptors in the credit and payment space, the range of skills needed in the C-suite are broader than ever. Not to mention

Disruption in Financial Services Presents Big Opportunities for Recruiters

The profile of modern financial services leaders continues to change amid the sector’s renewed focus on customers for revenue growth, service digitalization, a renewed focus on risk management, and increasing investor and regulatory scrutiny, according to executive recruiters. The COVID-19 crisis has only heightened the need for top talent that has the ability to pivot and

Spotlight: Recruiting Investment Executives and Adjusting to New Business Climate

Michael Goodman began his career in executive search in 1993 and he’s been recruiting for the alternative investment industry ever since. In April of 2004 , he launched Long Ridge Partners with then colleague Adam L’Esperance. Mr. Goodman has an expertise in recruiting for a number of different disciplines including portfolio management, trading, research, risk management, marketing,

Spotlight: Adaptation is Now Key When Recruiting Top Finance Executives

Jeanne Branthover is managing partner of the global financial services practice and North American executive committee member at DHR International. She closely partners with her global clients on senior level searches personally managing each assignment. Known for her hands-on approach she consults with her clients on succession planning, organizational change, precision hiring and talent management. Ms.

Pandemic Fallout: Sudden Surge In CFO Exits

The pressure on chief financial officers during the pandemic has been significant: Rewriting corporate budgets seemingly daily. Bargaining with banks over broken loan covenants. Answering constant calls from investors and board directors. And, in extreme cases, figuring out how to make payroll. All while working with no colleagues around. A new Korn Ferry report, authored

A Better Path to Boosting Diversity in Financial Services

In many ways, the racial awakenings of 2020 opened the eyes of banking executives and their boards to a reality that diverse employees have known and experienced for decades: Getting to the C-suite is tougher for women and underrepresented minorities throughout financial services than for their white and male counterparts, according to a report by

JM Search Expands CFO/Financial Officers Practice

JM Search, a senior-level talent provider serving private equity investors, portfolio companies and Fortune 1000s, recently added Stephen Thompson and Ryan Tomei to the firm’s CFO / financial officers practice. “We are thrilled to add Stephen and Ryan to our team,” said Drew Pressmen, who leads the practice. “I’m proud of the exceptional talent we are

Non-Profit Sector Heats Up for Executive Recruiters

Nowhere are leaders and talent more deeply passionate about what they do than in the mission-driven sector. Non-profit, philanthropy, and social enterprises are evolving at a rapid pace. According to Korn Ferry, leaders are challenged with doing more with less as they navigate increasing demand. The opportunity to create more meaningful and wider impact is

Spotlight: Recruiting the Next Generation of Non-Profit Leaders

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

Spotlight: Matching Leaders With Mission

DRi is an executive search and strategic consulting firm committed to helping non-profits select the best talent. For over 15 years, the firm has served more than 350 of the most innovative and respected non-profit institutions operating at the local, national and international levels. DRi has placed hundreds of executive leaders and worked side by

DHR International to Lead New Initiative to Support Non-Profit Organizations

DHR International has named James Abruzzo, the long-time global head of the search firm’s non-profit recruiting practice, to lead an initiative to support non-profit organizations with their succession planning needs. The need for succession planning in non-profit organizations is underscored by Mr. Abruzzo’s research of the activities of non-profit board members and CEOs. In 2020,

Critical Mandates in CEO Recruiting

The non-profit sector has seen its resources — especially those derived from traditional fundraising sources — grow increasingly scarce, according to a report by Spencer Stuart. “We are also seeing a shift to partnerships between international donors, partner governments, the private sector and beyond that move money in new and different ways,” the firm said.

Universities Facing Growing Demand, and Big Challenges, Recruiting New Leaders

Executive search for higher education and academia is undergoing a tremendous transformation. Technology is having a big impact. Diversity is also making its effects felt. Even certain roles are not the same as they were just a short time ago. Talk about a sector in transition. One result: Academic institutions continue to pump big fees

Adaptable Leaders Needed to Drive Fundraising, DE&I and Technology Initiatives

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. L. Jay Lemons became president

DHR Forms Alliance with Harvard Business School Latino Alumni Association

Chicago-based executive search firm DHR International has partnered with the Harvard Business School Latino Alumni Association (HBSLAA) to create “21 in ’21” – a program aimed at placing 21 Latinx executives in board roles before the end of this year. DHR will engage its Latino Diversity Network of board-ready executives and its clients to bring

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