Jackson Lucas Acquires Affinity HR Advisory Group
June 4, 2026 – New York City-based Jackson Lucas has acquired Affinity HR Advisory Group, led by veteran HR executive Gayle Feinstein. “When we look at the growing firms we partner with, we constantly see founders and COOs getting pulled into the weeds of sensitive employee issues when they should be focusing on scaling their business,” said Anthony Fanzo, founding partner, Jackson Lucas. “Bringing Gayle and the Affinity HR Advisory Group into the Jackson Lucas family changes that dynamic instantly.”
“Gayle is a phenomenal talent whose practical approach to high-stakes human resources perfectly aligns with our advisory philosophy,” Mr. Fanzo said. “This acquisition allows us to offer our clients elite, executive-level HR counsel on a customized, flexible basis, giving them the sophisticated people strategy they need without the full-time C-suite overhead.”
“By embedding Affinity’s tailored services into the Jackson Lucas ecosystem, we are dramatically expanding our HR advisory offerings to give growing firms elite, executive-level human resources capabilities on an on-demand, fractional basis,” Jackson Lucas said in a LinkedIn post.
Ms. Feinstein is a trusted executive consultant with over 20 years of experience advising senior executives and leadership teams across industries. Known for her discretion, sound judgment, and practical approach, she helps organizations strengthen performance, navigate sensitive employee matters, and align people strategies with business goals. She is also a certified executive coach through the iCoach professional coaching program at Baruch College.
Ms. Feinstein has worked with companies ranging from global financial institutions to manufacturing businesses, design studios, and high-growth startups. She partners closely with all levels of the C-suite, including CEOs, CFOs, COOs, CHROs, and GCs, across key functions such as private equity, technology, legal, finance, and operations. Her corporate background includes senior HR roles at Point72 Asset Management, Moore Capital Management, and Bank of America Securities. Her expertise spans employee relations, restructuring, performance management, leadership coaching, and organizational development.
“I am incredibly grateful to Anthony Fanzo and the entire Jackson Lucas team for this opportunity,” Ms. Feinstein said in a LinkedIn post. “This is just the beginning. Exciting things ahead.”
Jackson Lucas is a global organizational consulting firm providing specialized expertise in executive search, compensation consulting, leadership and board advisory, succession planning, and interim executive solutions. Established in 2017 as a spin-off of a 50-year-old talent search firm, JL leverages decades of combined experience and a powerful global network, operating from major business hubs throughout the Americas, Australia and Asia Pacific.
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Chris Papa is one of the founding partners of Jackson Lucas. He advises top real estate executives throughout the U.S., is quoted in numerous industry trade publications, and hosts a widely listened-to industry podcast. Mr. Papa is an active member of NAIOP and ULI, where he serves on the National Council of Affordable and Workforce Housing. Additionally, he is a board member of Loaves & Fishes Family Kitchens, as well as on the fund development committee at HomeRise, and the president of the Montclair State University Real Estate advisory board.
Mr. Fanzo began his executive search career in 1994, specializing in C-level finance and technology leadership. In his over 25 year tenure, he held senior roles within Fortune 500 staffing organizations before co-founding Jackson Lucas in 2017 to deliver a high-touch, executive-level retained search experience. In addition to building and scaling staffing platforms, Mr. Fanzo remains actively involved in executive search with a continued focus on C-suite technology roles. He has led hundreds of CTO and CIO placements across hedge funds, global banks, private equity firms, and technology companies.
New Chief Growth Officer
Jackson Lucas recently appointed Mark Esposito as chief growth officer. He is responsible for driving the firm’s strategic expansion and deepening client relationships across key markets. “Jackson Lucas is excited to welcome Mark Esposito as chief growth officer, said Mr. Fanzo. “Mark is a proven growth leader who understands how to scale organizations and build meaningful client partnerships. As we continue to expand the Jackson Lucas platform, his leadership will help drive our next phase of national growth and position the firm for a stronger international footprint.”
Mr. Esposito has extensive executive search experience across multiple financial services sectors, including global investment banking, asset management, fintech, and information services. He specializes in board and C-suite placements — including CEO, president, CFO, COO, CCO, CDO, CIO, and managing director roles — and is known for building long-term, strategic client partnerships that extend beyond individual mandates.
Mr. Esposito most recently served as a senior partner and founding member of the global financial services practice at Kingsley Gate. Earlier in his career, he served as president, Americas at Sheffield Haworth, where he led the management and strategic development of the North America region and founded the firm’s U.S. corporate officers practice.
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Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
