The Newport Group Appoints IT Practice Leader

May 9, 2017 – Demand for top technology executives continues to gain momentum. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, CTO hiring is predicted to grow by 18 percent by 2022. This has led executive search firms to add recruiters that specialize in the evolving technology sector. Among the latest, The Newport Group, based in Encinitas, CA, has named Nicki Gordon as its information technology practice leader.

Ms. Gordon will focus on executive management positions, including chief technology and information officer placements. In her new role, she will also hire and train recruiters who specialize in all areas of executive search, including sourcing, recruiting and client consultation.

Previously, Ms. Gordon was with Lucas Group where she managed the firm’s IT team. Before that, she served as a manager at Kelly IT Resources and as a director in the permanent placement division of Robert Half. Earlier in her career she ran her own firm, Nick Gordon Consulting.

The Newport Group’s information technology practice specialties include: information technology management, big data, infrastructure and networking, information technology (infrastructure and professional services), and software development. Its clients range from startups to Fortune 100 companies specializing in IT, software sales and marketing and creative roles.

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Established in 1995, the firm specializes in the recruitment and placement of senior and technical management positions within the oil and gas, life sciences, real estate development, construction, environmental engineering and asset management industries. Current search activity includes C-level executives, vice president, director and general management level positions as well as other key contributor roles.

Recruiting Technology Leaders

Recruiting information technology teams for companies has been on the rise for the better part of the last three to five years, say recruiters specializing in the field. Nearly a quarter (22 percent) of U.S. CIOs plan to expand their IT teams, according to a recent Robert Half Technology ‘IT Hiring Forecast Trend Report.’ It represents a three-point rise from the beginning of last year and an eight percentage point jump from one year ago.

The importance of having a good CIO onboard has also risen. More CIOs report directly to the CEO (34 percent) than at any time in the past decade, according to the Harvey Nash/KPMG CIO Survey. The findings highlight how CIO priorities continue to shift, revealing the CEO now focuses on IT projects that make money (almost two thirds, 63 percent), compared to those that save money (37 percent).

Search firms of all sizes have been expanding or launching new technology practices in recent months:

Lucas Group recently expanded with the addition of Marc Wilder as a managing partner and leader for the firm’s information technology division in New York City. Mr. Wilder joins Lucas Group with more than a decade of sales, recruiting and leadership experience. Most recently, he held the position of director of business development / principal recruiter at Harvey Nash USA.

Handler & Associates added global IT executive Lee Panosian to its staff as a partner to launch and lead its technology practice. Mr. Panosian’s career encompasses 33 years of executive leadership at multinational technology companies, including expertise in global sales management, IT strategy, go-to-market initiatives, change management and enterprise information management.

Odgers Berndtson expanded its technology practice in the U.S. with the addition of two new executive search specialists, Kathryn Ullrich and Rod Keller. Based in Silicon Valley, Ms. Ullrich focuses on senior executive searches for major corporations and venture-capital-backed companies in software, systems and services. An accomplished C-level executive, Mr. Keller has more than 30 years of leadership experience in multinational corporations – including Siemens, Dell, Cisco and Toshiba.

Allen Austin recently added Paul Moran as managing partner and global technology practice leader. Mr. Moran has over 25 years of experience in executive search and leadership solutions servicing clients on a variety of projects across functions, including board selection, general management, professional services, sales, marketing, finance and engineering.

Kensington International named David Shpiz as an executive vice president within its executive search division. Based in Chicago, he leads the firm’s technology practice, focusing on private equity-backed companies.