JM Search Expands Technology and Financial Services Practices
June 24, 2026 – JM Search, a senior-level talent provider serving private equity investors, portfolio companies, and Fortune 1000s, has expanded with the additions of Wes Chisholm as partner and Laura Bennstrom and Charles Telep as principals within its technology and financial services practices. Mr. Chisholm and Mr. Telep join the firm’s technology practice while Ms. Bennstrom joins both the financial services and technology practices. Collectively, they bring experience spanning executive search, commercial leadership, in-house talent strategy, and organizational change.
“The appointments come as clients across private equity, banking, and technology face increasingly complex leadership decisions tied to growth, transformation, and operational scale,” the firm said.
Mr. Chisholm joins JM Search as a partner focused on senior go-to-market and commercial executive search for high-growth B2B software and services companies. He has more than a decade of sales leadership and executive search experience, including prior roles as practice lead, sales and revenue at Hunt Club and partner in the go-to-market practice at True Search.
Mr. Telep supports private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies, as well as privately held and public companies on senior technology, digital, product, go-to-market, and human resources searches. His career spans more than two decades of executive search, talent acquisition, and in-house leadership experience, including prior roles at Wayfair, LogMeIn, athenahealth, Indigo, Forrester Research, and Cooke & White.
The firmed noted that these additions further strengthen a technology practice that continues to gain momentum across the market. JM Search was recently name to Hunt Scanlon’s Technology Top 50, recognizing leading executive search firms serving the technology sector.
“Wes and Charles have built their careers in areas where technology companies are making some of their most consequential leadership decisions,” said Tom Figueroa, managing partner of JM Search’s technology practice. “We’re excited to welcome them and look forward to the perspective, judgment, and momentum they’ll bring to our clients.”
Ms. Bennstrom joins JM Search as a principal and member of the firm’s financial services and technology practices. She brings more than 25 years of experience across enterprise recruiting, executive search, and workforce strategy, with prior leadership roles at U.S. Bank, Wells Fargo, Janus Henderson Investors, and Spectrum Enterprise, among other global organizations.
“Laura brings firsthand talent leadership experience that’s hard to replicate,” said Bill Borkovitz, partner and leader of the financial services team. “Her practical view of leadership decisions inside complex organizations gives clients a perspective they increasingly need, and we’re thrilled to welcome her to JM Search.”
Related: JM Search Names Co-Practice Leader for Media, Entertainment, Martech & Communications Practice
JM Search is an advisor to CEOs, investors, and boards of directors in recruiting, assessing, and delivering high performance leaders and transformational leadership teams. Its clients include private equity firms and portfolio companies, venture capital-backed businesses, and publicly held companies across North America. Founded in 1980, the JM Search recruiting team brings together former operating and financial executives, investors and experienced search professionals with deep industry specialization, functional expertise, and proven access to talent spanning multiple industry sectors.
Recent Additions
JM Search recently added Ellen Travers, Shane McMahon, and Dave Cochran to the firm, strengthening its healthcare and life sciences and technology practices. “These new additions enhance the firm’s expertise in executive recruitment across both sectors,” JM Search said.
Ms. Travers joins as a partner and brings over 25 years of experience in executive search and talent acquisition within the life sciences sector to JM Search. She specializes in recruiting C-suite executives and board members for biotech and pharmaceutical companies undergoing significant growth and transformation. Before joining JM Search, Ms. Travers was previously a partner at Chartwell Partners in their life sciences practice.
Mr. McMahon joins JM Search as a partner within the firm’s technology practice and as a key member of the go-to-market and commercial leaders team. Prior to joining the firm, he was a partner at Onstott Group and True Search and previously held finance and operating roles within high-growth organizations, including CarGurus, where he supported the company through multiple stages of growth leading to a successful IPO.
Mr. Cochran also joins JM Search as a partner within the firm’s technology practice. He brings more than 25 years of experience advising private equity and venture investors, and their portfolio companies, on C-suite executive recruitment across technology, services, and investment management. He will serve as a leader on HR/talent engagements while also helping expand on our financial services focus. Prior to joining JM Search, Mr. Cochran served as a partner at several global executive search firms, including True Search, and held senior HR and talent leadership roles at Nuveen Investments.
Related: JM Search Appoints Partners
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
