Charles Aris Appoints Senior Practice Leader
November 4, 2026 – Greensboro, NC-based executive search firm Charles Aris Executive Search has expanded with the recent addition of Scott Kennedy as senior practice leader. He will lead CFO and senior finance executive searches for growth-oriented and sponsor-backed companies, with a particular focus on software, technology and TMT.
Over more than a decade in executive search, Mr. Kennedy has worked on more than 100 financial officer searches, primarily for privately held businesses backed by venture capital, growth equity and private equity investors. His work spans CFO, VP/head of finance, FP&A, controllership and other critical financial leadership roles, partnering with CEOs, boards and investors at important inflection points—including periods of rapid growth, professionalization, transformation, M&A and preparation for an exit.
Before joining Charles Aris, Mr. Kennedy spent 10 years at SPMB Executive Search. He began his career there working on marketing, product and digital commerce leadership searches before moving into the firm’s financial officers practice, where he ultimately served as a senior director and worked in tandem with the practice leader across nearly every aspect of search execution. His progression at SPMB took him from analyst to associate to director, while his search work evolved from consumer and technology-oriented roles into predominantly CFO and other senior finance mandates.
“I’ll be working with Diane DeRosa-Fedor and Derek Gracey to help expand the firm’s finance & corporate development practice,” Mr. Kennedy said in a LinkedIn post. “In this role, I’ll continue to focus on CFO and other senior finance executive searches with clients and investors across software, IT, and TMT, particularly at inflection points where getting the right financial leadership in place can have an outsized impact on the business.”
“At Charles Aris, I bring a decade of executive search experience to a platform with deep expertise across private equity and its portfolio companies,” he continued. “In addition to senior executive search, the broader Charles Aris platform allows me to help clients address finance and accounting talent needs across levels and stages of growth.”
Established nearly 50 years ago, Charles Aris is a search industry pioneer focused on senior-level assignments within the strategy and business development, private equity, consumer/ retail, finance and accounting, sales and marketing, education, executive leadership, engineering and operations, chemicals, and agribusiness sectors.
New Interim Practice
Charles Aris also recently launched Charles Aris Interim Solutions, a new division dedicated to connecting organizations with experienced independent talent for interim leadership, fractional, advisory and consulting roles. Elaine Leff will lead Charles Aris Interim Solutions as managing director, overseeing the development of the division and its services.
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“We are incredibly excited by the launch of Charles Aris Interim Solutions,” said Chad Oakley, CEO of Charles Aris Inc. “By connecting clients with experienced interim leaders, we can provide flexible, high-impact support when it matters most.
“It also creates new opportunities for talented professionals to make a meaningful difference across a broader range of companies,” he added.
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“By expanding into the interim search arena, we are broadening our ability to serve clients beyond traditional executive search, helping them address immediate leadership needs while navigating critical periods of transition and growth,” said Allen Oakley, COO and president of Charles Aris Inc. “Most importantly, it reinforces our commitment to being a trusted talent partner to our clients and candidates throughout every stage of their journey.”
Charles Aris Interim Solutions will expand the firm’s services beyond traditional executive search, providing private equity and corporate clients with access to experienced independent talent for a wide range of roles.
With a particular focus on private equity-backed businesses, the division will help sponsors and portfolio company leadership teams access specialized expertise to support value creation initiatives, leadership transitions, acquisitions, integrations and operational transformations.
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Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor — Hunt Scanlon Media
