Philadelphia-based Diversified Search has placed Brandon Guzzone as the new CHRO of Population Services International (PSI) in Washington, D.C. Judy Boreham, co-leader of the firm’s human resources practice, led the assignment. Mr. Guzzone has a track record in translating business strategies into effective communications plans that engage and influence employees. Previously, he was chief human capital officer of Millennium

Growing geopolitical uncertainty, including U.S. trade policy and foreign retaliation, and slowing global economic growth, are among the reasons that CEO plans have waned, according to the newly released Business Roundtable “CEO Economic Outlook Survey.” The study is a composite of CEO plans for capital spending and hiring and expectations for sales over the next six months.

With the new academic year underway, a number of colleges and universities across the country are opening searches that, if all goes to plan, will provide high-profile leaders to take them into a new era of fundraising, digitalization, sports and, increasingly the case, globalization. This has made searching for academic leadership comparable to searching for

M&A activity, with the support of private equity firms, continues unabated in the executive search industry. In the latest deal, Diversified Search has acquired Grant Cooper, a St. Louis-based healthcare-focused executive search firm. Financial terms of the deal were undisclosed. Judith M. von Seldeneck, founder and chair of Diversified, said: “The acquisition of Grant Cooper