DHR Global Grows Sports Practice with Jobplex’s Acquisition of Ascension Sports Partners
September 25, 2026 – Jobplex, the Chicago-based partner company of DHR Global, has acquired Ascension Sports Partners, an executive search and talent advisory firm specializing in sports, entertainment, and collegiate athletics. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Ascension founder and president Dan Rossetti joins Jobplex as a partner, working alongside DHR’s sports practice. “This acquisition marks an important expansion of our sports practice,” said Glenn Sugiyama, managing partner and global practice leader at DHR. “Dan has built a substantial search business with an impressive track record of serving the emerging leaders’ market for sports organizations, and he’ll work closely with my team to create new and innovative ways to take Jobplex Sports to the same world class leadership position as DHR Sports.”
“Dan adds meaningful depth to the sports search capabilities Glenn and the team have already built,” said Justin Hirsch, CEO and HR practice group leader at Jobplex. “His track record across professional sports, racing, and collegiate athletics complements the strength of DHR’s sports practice, and having him at Jobplex means we can support an even broader range of client needs together.”
Mr. Rossetti brings more than 20 years of executive search experience across professional sports, racing, and collegiate athletics. Throughout his career, he’s advised organizations including Chip Ganassi Racing, Cleveland Browns, Columbus Blue Jackets, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, NASCAR, Nashville Predators, Nashville SC.
Mr. Rossetti founded Ascension Sports Partners in 2008, following a senior role at a sports-focused executive search firm, and has led the firm through two ownership transitions since, continuing to build its client relationships until Jobplex’s acquisition.
“I’m excited to join Jobplex and work alongside Glenn and the sports practice team,” Mr. Rossetti said. “Sports has become an increasingly complex business, and the talent demands have grown along with it. I’m looking forward to bringing what we’ve built at Ascension into that work together, and helping clients address those demands. Joining the DHR platform also gives me a broader set of tools to bring to clients, leadership consulting among them, as their needs go beyond a single search.”
Past Acquisition
This follows Jobplex’s recent acquisition of Her Scout, a boutique recruiting firm that specialized in early and growth-stage technology startups, and named its founder, Amy York, a partner in the firm’s advanced technology practice. The acquisition expanded Jobplex’s capabilities in emerging technology and founder-led businesses, particularly among small, scaling companies that build leadership teams during early stages of growth.
Related: Jobplex Launches Sports Practice Group
“Adding Amy strengthens our ability to support companies at an earlier stage, where leadership decisions carry significant weight,” said Mr. Hirsch. “She’s adept at building teams from the ground up and brings a clear, practical approach to helping founders make the right hires as they grow.”
“I’ve focused my work on helping founders build teams with intention – bringing clarity to who they need and when they need them,” Ms. York said. “I’m excited to expand that work with Jobplex while continuing to partner closely with the companies and leaders I know best.”
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Based in Austin, TX, Ms. York brings 18 years of recruiting and talent advisory experience spanning agency, in-house, and entrepreneurial leadership roles. She began her career in agency recruiting, focusing on technical talent, before moving into in-house roles at high-growth technology companies, where she led talent acquisition and supported hiring during periods of rapid scale.
Jobplex, founded in 1996, is a global talent acquisition solutions company that serves a diverse client base. With three integrated talent solutions, Jobplex helps clients identify, hire, and coach leaders who drive change and lead through complexity. The firm was created to meet the needs of the next generation recruiting market, complementing the senior-level retained executive search services provided by DHR International. In partnership, the two companies are designed to provide a total recruitment solution.
Related: Jobplex Appoints CEO and HR Practice Group Leader
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
