Ginger Finds Appoints President
November 3, 2025 – New York City-headquartered executive search firm Ginger Finds has named Grégoire Martin as its new president. The fresh set of eyes might well be coming in at just the right time as Ginger Puglia, chief executive officer and co-founder, said the luxury industry is only going to continue to change.
“The minute I met Grégoire, I thought, this is it,” Ms. Puglia told Women’s Wear Daily. “Now I’m set. This is what I’ve been looking for. Somebody who’s all about trust and emotion and gets people, and it was instant.” Ms. Puglia hired Mr. Martin the day she met him and is looking for his experience and network to help the search firm expand its global reach.
“We welcome Grégoire to our team at a time when luxury needs stability,” said Ms. Puglia. “His people-driven approach and empathy-led leadership, coupled with his expertise in strategy and organizational growth, will be extremely valuable in our ability to maximize talent acquisition in a volatile landscape.”
“Grégoire joins us at an opportune time where luxury is regaining optimism and momentum,” Ms. Puglia continued. “The next generation of luxury leaders will have non-linear backgrounds. They will rebuild luxury in a redefined ecosystem of emotional intelligence.”
Mr. Martin is a seasoned executive search professional with a wealth of global experience from top-tier organizations. He has worked across the luxury, consumer, and hospitality sectors, advising CEOs, investors, and boards, building and scaling brands and teams, and lecturing at influential educational institutions. Mr. Martin most recently served in the global retail CEO practice at Spencer Stuart.
“We’re going to take people that have backgrounds that combine different attributes – and that will lead to a global package,” Mr. Martin said. “Empathy is a big one. Empathy, the ability to understand your customers and focus on your clients and your client’s experience is going to become critical. We’re going to focus more and more on the client experience and on the product experience. And we’re going to need leaders that understand that and are authentic.”
Ginger Finds is a boutique global executive search firm that focuses on placing leadership talent within trend-intensive industries such as luxury retail and creative brands. The firm emphasizes a retained search model and places a strong emphasis on cultural fit, aesthetic sensibility and strategic alignment.
Leadership Appointments at Search Firms
Top leadership appointments have made headlines in recent months. Here’s a look at several examples taken from the Hunt Scanlon Media archives:
BoardWalk Consulting has named Crystal Stephens as managing director and CEO. She succeeds Sam Pettway, who founded BoardWalk in 2002 and will continue to serve as founding director. Mr. Pettway will remain active in market development, select client engagements, and the continued growth of the firm’s reputation. “For 23 years, BoardWalk’s focus has been simple but absolute: finding leaders that matter for missions that matter,” said Mr. Pettway. “Crystal Stephens has been central to our success for over half that time. Her thoughtful, creative, and collaborative leadership with clients and colleagues alike makes her a sterling example of our vision in action. I’m thrilled she will be guiding our firm to its next level of impact.” Over the past 13 years, Ms. Stephens has led many of the firm’s most complex and high-profile searches, earning the trust of such national organizations as Earthjustice, ACLU, Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, Trust for Public Land, and Year Up United. Her impact in Atlanta is evidenced in the leadership of the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, Gateway Center, and the Betty & Davis Fitzgerald Foundation.
Talent advisory firm DHR Global has appointed Priya Taneja as CEO, effective September 1, 2025. She will succeed Geoff Hoffmann, who will transition to the role of chairman of the board. This milestone marks a historic moment for the firm, as Ms. Taneja becomes the first non-family CEO in DHR’s 36-year history signaling a deliberate step forward as the firm accelerates into the next era of growth. She also becomes the third woman and first of color to run a top 10 executive search firm. Founded in 1989 by the family patriarch David Hoffmann, DHR last saw a leadership transition in 2012 when Geoff succeeded David as CEO. “Priya is a dynamic, trusted, and forward-thinking leader,” said Mr. Hoffmann. “She brings a rare ability to lead a global firm while staying deeply connected to our people, our culture, and our stakeholders. This transition has been thoughtfully considered for some time, and I couldn’t be prouder to see her step into this role. She’s the ideal leader for our next chapter, and I’m confident to know that the firm is in exceptionally capable hands.”
Global hospitality consulting firm HVS Executive Search has appointed Alice Sherman as CEO, beginning January 1, 2026. After more than 35 years in the retained executive search industry—including 12 years as CEO of HVS Executive Search—Court Williams will be retiring from his role. To ensure a seamless leadership transition and continued support for the company’s clients and team, Mr. Williams will remain actively engaged with the firm as chairman emeritus, providing strategic guidance and mentorship over the coming years. “Court has played a pivotal role in shaping HVS Executive Search into the respected global brand it is today,” said Stephen Rushmore, president and CEO of HVS. “His steady leadership and deep client relationships have had a lasting impact on our organization and the broader hospitality industry. We are fortunate to have Alice Sherman step into this leadership role—her energy, experience, and vision position her perfectly to lead the firm into its next chapter.”
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Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
