Cheyenne Group Merges With SRi

January 31, 2017 – There’s been yet another combination among search firm boutiques. The Cheyenne Group and SRi have merged, creating a global recruiting business dedicated to the fast growing media and sports & entertainment sectors. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.

Founded in 1999, The Cheyenne Group provides search and consulting services by assisting management teams and boards with the recruitment and selection of senior executives, corporate directors, and other professional personnel for clients in the media, entertainment, sports, publishing, technology and information services sectors.

“The Cheyenne Group joining forces with SRi will significantly benefit the clients of both organizations in the U.S. and around the world,” said Pat Mastandrea, Cheyenne Group CEO.  “Companies today seek to partner with organizations that can globally deliver world class talent recruitment and consulting solutions seamlessly and consistently. We’re now incredibly well positioned to tap into the best talent globally, while maintaining our premier boutique ethos.”

“I’m thrilled to be able to welcome The Cheyenne Group into the SRi fold,” said Mike Squires, SRi chairman. “Both companies share a similar approach and have built a reputation for having the scope and reach of a larger firm, while maintaining the discretion, attention to detail and expertise of a specialized boutique.” With the addition of Cheyenne Group, SRi will be able to partner with the global media, sports and entertainment communities more effectively than building out the practice on its own.

“This merger is a significant landmark in the history of the firm and gives us a strong platform to grow the business in new markets and sectors,” said SRi CEO Jim Chaplin. “The convergence of media, sports and entertainment continues to move at a rapid pace with an increasing transfer of talent between industries globally. The combination of SRi and The Cheyenne Group allows us to build an even more formidable offering and we can’t wait to get started.”


Overseas Search Firms Look to U.S. for Expansion Opportunities

SRi is not the only overseas search firm specializing in the sports sector to look at expansion opportunities in the U.S. London-headquartered Nolan Partners expanded recently into North America, opening dual offices on both coasts. “The sports industry is global,” said the firm’s managing director for North America, “with two of the largest commercial markets being the U.K. and U.S.” The firm has received an increasing number of requests from clients to see a global candidate pool, and that more than anything seems to be driving growth for this search firm as well as its rivals looking to broaden their reach and capabilities to new geographic markets ….. Here’s some further reading from Hunt Scanlon Media.

Nolan Partners Expands Into North America
London-based search firm London-based search firm Nolan Partners expanded its operations to North America last year. Regional head Chad Biagini represents a range of sports clients, including UFC, WWE, Special Olympics, and U.S. professional sports teams.


Last year, SRi expanded its reach into Canada, then the U.S., broadening its capabilities to two important sports markets. It also acquired Munich-based sporting goods and fashion executive search firm, “heads for brands.”

The sports & entertainment field is one of the most expanding sectors for executive search businesses. Many C-suite focused recruiting firms are now active in it and some specialize only in the sports field itself, but all are dedicated to providing sports-related executive search and leadership advisory services.

They include in addition to SRi, Nolan Partners, CarrSports Consulting, Korn Ferry, Harvard Group International, Prodigy Sports, Marquee Search, DHR International, Hartmann Mason, College Sports Solutions, Egon Zehnder, Heidrick & Struggles, Ascension Sports Partners, Russell Reynolds Associates, Diversified Search, Odgers Berndtson, Eastman & Beaudine, Alden Associates, Turnkey Search, Parker Executive Search, Neinas Sports Services, and Collegiate Sports Associates.

Mergers Continue In Search Sector

There have been a number of mergers among executive search firms in recent months. Some provide national expansion opportunities, others more global reach, while still others allow for additional solutions offerings for clients requesting a full suite of talent management services. Here’s a look at just a few from the Hunt Scanlon Media archives:

  • In October, search firms Wheless Partners and Chandler Group merged. The combined organization brings industry experience to the 25 different industry sectors that both recruiting outfits serve. With offices in New York, Atlanta, Birmingham, Houston, Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver and San Francisco, Wheless Partners has professionals in strategy, assessment, executive selection, leadership development, and executive coaching. Established in 2001, Chandler Group is a Minnesota-based search boutique that serves clients in 28 states. The firm has practice groups include healthcare, non-profit, technology, corporate and board of directors.
  • Executive search firm Indigo Partners merged with national cyber security CyberSN. Veronica Mollica, chief executive officer and founder of Indigo Partners, joined the CyberSN executive team as vice president of business development, responsible for building teams to support national expansion. “I’m excited to work with an experienced individual who is cut from the same cloth of integrity and transparency, who has five-star sales and customer service skills, and who is a team player and believes there can be love in the workforce,” said CyberSN CEO and founder Deidre Diamond. “Veronica is that rare person and I am beyond thrilled that we are uniting.”

Contributed by Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor, Hunt Scanlon Media

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