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How The Tolan Group Navigated the Downturn and Remained Focused
For many executive search firms, 2024 and 2025 tested resilience in ways few could have predicted. At The Tolan Group (TTG), they experienced the same pressures felt across the industry. Slower decision cycles, delayed starts, and a noticeable dip in portfolio company hiring activity. Yet through that uncertainty, one thing remained constant: our commitment to
Korn Ferry Reports Seven Percent Q4 and Full-Year Revenue Growth, Led by Double-Digit Gains in Professional Search & Interim
Korn Ferry (NYSE:KFY) has posted Q4 fiscal-year revenues of $759.8 million, a year-over-year increase of seven percent and five percent at constant currency. This was led by Professional Search & Interim up 14 percent, followed by Executive Search and Consulting, both up seven percent and RPO up five percent. During the fourth quarter, revenues rose by
Executive Recruiters Pull Off Another Remarkable Year, Remain Bullish for 2023
Hunt Scanlon Media has released its annual rankings of leading executive recruiters. In the U.S. and globally, billions of dollars poured into the high-end recruiting sector in 2022, a result of continued pentup demand for senior-level leaders and their key reports.
Academic Search Seeking Provost for James Madison University
Education-focused executive recruitment firm Academic Search has been selected by James Madison University to lead in its search for a new provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. Senior consultant Ann Die Hasselmo, consultant Christopher Butler, and associate consultant Kate Cusimano are leading the assignment. The school seeks an innovative and responsive leader to serve as its next provost and senior
GDPR – The Perfect Time to Refresh Your Database
As executive search firms grapple with the complexities of GDPR, many are concerned that the new regulation will mean deleting thousands of records built up over many years. Surely there must be an alternative?
ForceBrands Appoints Head of Executive Search
ForceBrands, a hiring and talent solutions partner for the consumer industry, has strengthened its executive search practice with the addition of Brian Waivada. He will lead the team and oversee the practice’s continued expansion. “This appointment builds on the strength and momentum of our executive search practice,” said Rob Ganjon, CEO of ForceBrands. “We’ve spent
Potential vs. Performance: Rethinking the Leadership Pipeline
Being a successful business leader has always been associated with a fast-paced management style, but today more than ever, leaders must constantly adapt and be prepared to navigate rapid change. Leadership roles across organizations of all types have become increasingly complex, requiring the ability to balance competing priorities at the same time. In this environment,
DHR Global Grows Sports Practice with Jobplex’s Acquisition of Ascension Sports Partners
Jobplex, the Chicago-based partner company of DHR Global, has acquired Ascension Sports Partners, an executive search and talent advisory firm specializing in sports, entertainment, and collegiate athletics. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Ascension founder and president Dan Rossetti joins Jobplex as a partner, working alongside DHR’s sports practice. “This acquisition marks an important expansion of
Russell Reynolds Associates Tapped by the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization to Lead CEO Search
Global leadership advisory firm Russell Reynolds Associates has been retained by the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO) to lead in its search for a new president and chief executive officer. Andrew Kriegler, its inaugural president and CEO, has informed the board of directors that he will not be seeking a further term. The board has commenced the
The Moran Company Recruits CEO for The Arc of New Mexico
The Moran Company, an executive recruitment firm that specializes in the non-profit sector, has placed Tracie Fletcher as the new executive director of The Arc of New Mexico. Senior search consultant Bruce Scott led the assignment. “Tracie brings a 25-year track record of leadership in non-profit, government, and community organizations,” The Arc of New Mexico said in a
Solomon Page Launches AI Retained Executive Search Practice
New York City headquartered executive search firm Solomon Page has launched a retained executive search practice dedicated to artificial intelligence leadership. The practice is led by managing director Ryan Kellner. The practice partners with organizations in financial services, healthcare, life sciences, and venture-backed technology to place chief AI officers, heads of AI, heads of data science, and
Ema Raises $77 Million in Funding
Enterprise adoption of artificial intelligence is moving beyond experimentation as companies look for tools that can deliver measurable outcomes across core business functions. As organizations seek to automate more complex workflows in areas such as HR, IT, and finance, investors are increasingly backing platforms designed to operate at enterprise scale rather than remain stuck in
The Counteroffer Dilemma: What Candidates Need to Know Before Resigning
Landing the job offer of your dreams should be the culmination of a successful search process. But for many professionals, one of the most difficult parts comes after the offer is accepted: telling a current employer they are leaving. A recent report from The Bridger Group examines how companies respond when valued employees resign and
True Launches Boutique Search Practice for Venture-Backed Companies
Global executive talent platform True has launched True Venture Studios, a boutique executive search practice serving founders and venture-backed companies across AI infrastructure, HardTech, SpaceTech, DefenseTech, Fintech, healthcare, and life sciences, among others. “True Venture Studios is our way of reasserting our roots, giving founders a dedicated team that moves at their speed and fights for the
Vetted Solutions Recruits CEO for GO2 for Lung Cancer
Washington, D.C.-based Vetted Solutions has placed David Benson as the new CEO of GO2 for Lung Cancer. “David is an exceptional leader with a deep commitment to improving the lives of people affected by cancer,” said GO2 board president Rick Sherlock. “His collaborative leadership style, strategic vision, and ability to build meaningful partnerships make him the right
TalentRise Assists Grassroots Gardens of WNY with Executive Director Search
TalentRise has assisted in the recruitment of Megan Kelly as the new executive director of Grassroots Gardens of WNY. “We’re thrilled to announce Meg Kelly as the new executive director of Grassroots Gardens WNY,” the organization said. “Meg brings experience to our garden network from her work with the region’s business and entrepreneurship community, and enters
Private Equity Firms Rethink Executive Hiring for Future Growth
PE investors routinely underwrite businesses based on their future state. For example, an investment thesis may assume a restaurant company will double its unit count, accelerate franchising, expand geographically, complete acquisitions, improve margins, or become significantly more institutionalized during the hold period. Executive hiring, however, often remains anchored to the present, according to a new
ON Partners Recruits CFO for Fortera
Partners Josh Nathanson and Chris Clements along with principal Alexis Rohe of ON Partners have placed Albert Luu as the new CFO of cement manufacturer Fortera in San Jose, CA. “Fortera is at a stage where the work we’ve done to prove the technology now has to be matched by our ability to finance and execute at scale,”
BoardWalk Consulting Assists Downtown Atlanta with CEO Search
BoardWalk Consulting has recruited Kyle Waide as the new CEO of Downtown Atlanta Inc. (DAI) to lead in its search for a CEO. The search was led by Sam Pettway, Crystal Stephens, and Patti Kish. The search committee began its work in April of 2026 under the leadership of Egbert Perry, CEO, Integral Group; longtime member of CAP and
SearchWide Global Recruits President and CEO for Visit California
SearchWide Global has helped to recruit Julie Coker as the new president and CEO of Visit California. She succeeds longtime leader Caroline Beteta, who announced her retirement earlier this year. The assignment was led by Mike Gamble, chairman, CEO, and co-founder of SearchWide. The appointment is the culmination of a comprehensive global search conducted in partnership
JM Search Expands Search Team
JM Search, a senior-level talent provider serving private equity investors, portfolio companies, and Fortune 1000s, has expanded with the additions of Amber Shockey as partner within its legal practice and Curtis Walker as principal within its media & telecommunications team. “Continued private equity investment across legal services, legal-adjacent businesses, and professional sports is elevating the importance of
Interim or Executive Search? Choosing the Right Leadership Solution
Interim leadership has moved well beyond being a stopgap solution for unexpected vacancies. As organizations face greater complexity, faster strategic shifts, and mounting pressure to deliver results, boards and CEOs are increasingly turning to experienced interim leaders as a flexible way to maintain momentum and address critical business needs. For executive search firms, that shift
Funk Associates Assists the University of North Florida with the Recruitment of Eighth President
Funk Associates has assisted in the recruitment of Michael P. Shannon as the eighth president of the University of North Florida (UNF). Past president Moez Limayem stepped down from his position in early 2026. “Mike Shannon is the leader who can build on UNF’s strong momentum and continue to elevate the University’s incredible impact across our
DHR Global Recruits President of Business Operations for the Pittsburgh Penguins
Talent advisory firm DHR Global has placed Marcel Braithwaite as president of business operations for the Pittsburgh Penguins. This search was led by Mike Gagliardi and Glenn Sugiyama of DHR’s sports practice. “Marcel is going to be a transformational hire for one of the NHL’s premier teams,” said Mr. Sugiyama, managing partner of DHR’s sports practice. “I had the
Mercuri Urval Expands International Public and ESG Expert Practice
Stockholm, Sweden-based executive search firm Mercuri Urval (MU) has expanded with the addition of former Danish government minister Astrid Krag to its international public and ESG expert practice. “With Astrid’s extensive experience in international public affairs, strong commitment to ESG and sustainability, and deep understanding of life sciences, she brings a valuable combination of expertise and
ZRG Partners Acquires N2Growth’s Spain Business
ZRG Partners has entered the Spanish market through the acquisition of the business formerly known as Blacksmith that had been doing business since 2023 under the umbrella of N2Growth. Through this integration, ZRG enters the Spanish market with an established local team and the goal of offering Spanish and international clients agile, high-touch advisory backed by
Family Offices Move Into Human Capital M&A
Altss’ latest ranking, The 50 Largest Family Offices in the World (2026), illustrates the scale family capital has reached. The 50 largest offices collectively manage an estimated $2.4 trillion, with the top 10 controlling more than $1.5 trillion. Twenty-eight of the top 50 are headquartered in North America, while private equity represents their largest average portfolio allocation
The Leadership Pipeline Crisis: AI’s Hidden Cost
Companies everywhere are celebrating leaner teams, faster execution, and higher productivity thanks to AI, according to HIRECLOUT. From a business perspective, the logic is easy to understand, according to Avetis Antaplyan, founder and CEO of HIRECLOUT. “Investors reward efficiency,” Mr. Antaplyan said. “Leaders are under pressure to do more with less. Automation is eliminating repetitive
Klein Hersh Recruits CFO for Sparrow Pharmaceuticals
Klein Hersh, a search firm focused on the life sciences and healthcare industries, has recruited George Eldridge as the new CFO of Sparrow Pharmaceuticals, a targeted cardiometabolic therapeutics company. “We are thrilled to welcome George to Sparrow at such an important time for our company,” said Robert Jacks, president and CEO of Sparrow Pharmaceuticals. “George
McCormack + Kristel Seeking Executive Director for NEXT Harm Reduction
McCormack + Kristel has been retained by NEXT Harm Reduction (NEXT Distro) to lead in its search for an executive director. This is a rare opportunity for a visionary leader and skilled fundraiser to take a nationally recognized organization with an urgent mandate and grow it to the scale the moment demands. Reporting to the board
HelloSky Bringing AI Into the Core Workflows of Executive Search Firms
Artificial intelligence is entering executive search at a time when the pace and expectations of the work are already shifting. For many firms, the introduction of new tools naturally raises questions about how established workflows and practices will evolve. Search has traditionally relied on a blend of experience, process, and individual approach, which can make
What CHROs Need to Know About DEI Moving Forward
What obstacles stand in the way of promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within the companies of today and tomorrow? What approaches can leaders adopt to drive the necessary changes? And what comes next for chief human resources officers in the context of DEI? These are some of the pressing topics that CHROs explored in a
The Tolan Group Assists Max Surgical Specialty Management with CFO Search
Chief financial officers continue to be in high demand. Finding them is keeping many of the nation’s top recruitment operations busier than ever. In recent months, search firms of all varieties have placed chief financial officers at various companies, especially private equity-backed outfits. The Tolan Group (TTG) recently assisted in the placement of Paul Olson as the
Kincannon & Reed Places Two Top Leaders for AgReliant Genetics
Executive recruitment firm Kincannon & Reed, which exclusively focuses on food, agribusiness, and the related life sciences, recently helped to fill two key leadership roles for AgReliant Genetics in Westfield, IN. Brian Barker is the new chief executive officer and president of the biotechnology research company, and David Pugh, who was hired a few weeks earlier, is
Artico Search Recruits Sales Leader for Mitek Systems
Mercedes Chatfield-Taylor, Sarah Scheer, and Todd Daniel of Artico Search recently assisted in the recruitment of Jason Kontos as vice president of sales for NASDAQ-traded Mitek Systems Inc. in San Francisco. Mr. Kontos previously spent over 10 years with OneSpan, where he most recently served as vice president of North American sales. Prior to that, he spent a brief time
Leathwaite Appoints Co-Managing Partners
London-based executive search firm Leathwaite has named Martha Harvey-Jones and Tom Pemberton as new co-managing partners. Co-founder Andrew Wallace, who has served as managing partner since 2017, will step into the chair role as successor to Martin Leuw. All four founders, Martin Phillips, James Rust, Neil Ejje, and Andrew Wallace, will continue to be key members of the team at Leathwaite, central to the firm’s growth strategy
Why Businesses Should Embrace the Imperfect CEO
Imperfection isn’t failure. Yet when it comes to CEO succession, businesses today often expect candidates to be the full embodiment of excellence and success—to be perfect. They expect CEOs to avoid any missteps as they set the direction and strategy of the company, lead and develop the executive team, build and maintain relationships, make decisions,
ON Partners Recruits Chief Product Officer for SOCi
Daniel Bolger and Jake Espenlaub of ON Partners recently assisted in the recruitment of Falk Gottlob as chief product officer of SOCi Inc., a co-marketing cloud for multi-location enterprises, located in San Diego, CA. “We are thrilled to have Falk join us at this critical juncture in our journey, as we continue to evolve our platform and define
Campbell & Company Seeks CEO for the Friendly Center
Campbell & Company has been enlisted to find the next president and chief executive officer for the Friendly Center, a non-profit that provides free programs and services for low-income families and individuals in Orange County, CA. Leading the assignment are Dan Nevez, vice president, executive search, and Kole Farrise, associate consultant, executive search. After 25
TurnkeyZRG Adds Senior Leader to Drive International Expansion
TurnkeyZRG has expanded with the addition of George Williams as managing director, U.K. and Europe. In addition to serving as a driving force in TurnkeyZRG international expansion into the European market, Mr. Williams will collaborate closely with ZRG’s Sucherman division to further support its growth within the region as well. “TurnkeyZRG is excited to welcome
Bullhorn Ventures Makes Investment in Staffing Engine
Bullhorn Ventures has made a strategic investment in Boulder, CO-based Staffing Engine. Financial terms of the funding was not disclosed. The investment aims to accelerate the adoption of the next generation of conversational and generative AI within Bullhorn’s customer base, transforming the recruiting experience, and heralding a new era of efficiency and innovation. “We are
AI’s Impact on Growth Strategies in a Shifting M&A Landscape
The first half of this year saw M&A activity in the U.S. experience a significant decline in dollar value, falling by 41 percent compared to the same period last year. However, the number of deals decreased by only five percent, according to Korn Ferry’s recent report, “What Happened to Big Deals?” This trend reflects the
CarterBaldwin Recruits Fourth President of Charleston Southern University
CarterBaldwin Executive Search has assisted in the recruitment of B. Keith Faulkner as the fourth president of Charleston Southern University (CSU). The selection followed an extensive nationwide search led by CarterBaldwin, the same executive search firm that landed outgoing president Dondi Costin at CSU five years prior. Chaired by Jerry Williams, a former trustee board chair, and
AGB Search Seeks New President for University of Dubuque
Washington, D.C.-based AGB Search, which specializes in higher education leadership assignments, has been selected to find the next president for the University of Dubuque (UD) in Iowa. Senior executive search consultant Sally Mason and executive search consultant Larry Ladd are spearheading the assignment. Earlier this year, Rev. Jeffrey Bullock announced he would be stepping down from
Diversified Search Group Appoints Senior Leader
Diversified Search Group (DSG), a leading search firm backed by private equity firm ShoreView Industries, has named Megan Shattuck as global managing partner of its corporate business. Drawing on over 25 years of experience in media, journalism, and advising Fortune 500 public and private company CEOs and boards, she will lead Diversified Search Group’s global corporate business across
The SR Group Launches Keller West to Help Secure Senior IT Talent
Global search company The SR Group has launched a specialist IT consultancy, Keller West, to drive the acquisition of senior IT talent. The new brand will initially focus on the DACH region, coming at a critical time for the German economy and the future development of its IT sector. Plans are already underway to further deploy
Retaining and Promoting Talent for Hedge Funds
Sandy Gross formed Pinetum Partners LLC in 2004 as a retained executive search and executive coaching firm; it has since been recognized as one of the top 50 executive search firms in the U.S. in financial services. In her coaching work, Ms. Gross partners with managers and leaders across a range of industries, including hedge funds.
Royal Family Taps Search Firm to Find CEO
Kensington Palace has engaged Odgers Berndtson to find a CEO to lead the household reporting directly to the Prince and Princess of Wales. It has released a job description which stresses the unique nature of the role. Prince William and Catherine are said by sources to have led this decision to hire a search firm
Comhar Partners Seeks CFO for DHR Health
Executive search firm Comhar Partners has been enlisted to find a chief financial officer for DHR Health, a physician-owned health system in Edinburg, TX. Leading the assignment are managing director Marion Spears Karr and director Morgan Layton. “Reporting to the president, the chief financial officer will examine how to enhance growth, profitability, and value creation
Peña Search Seeks New Leader for Human Rights Initiative of North Texas
Peña Search has been retained by the Human Rights Initiative of North Texas (HRI) to head its search for a new executive director. Bill Holston is stepping down from his role after 11 years at the helm. Travis Hillier and Cindy Maloney are leading the assignment. HRI is seeking a dynamic successor to compassionately lead a committed team
Heyman Associates Appoints New CEO
New York City-based executive search firm Heyman Associates has appointed Jessamyn Katz as its new chief executive officer. Founder and CEO Bill Heyman, who established the firm in 1989, will be retiring at the end of the year. Ms. Katz has served as president since 2019. Mr. Heyman will remain as an advisor to the
Building A PE-Value Creation Team for the Future
A growing number of private equity firms are adding value creation teams to their organization. But many are finding that designing the structure of these teams has its difficulties, says JM Search’s Andrew Henry in a new report. “With many variations present in the market, building a strategy that fits the fund size and investment
ON Partners Recruits Chief Sales and Marketing Officer for Searchspring
Daniel Bolger and Jake Espenlaub of ON Partners have helped to recruit Rebecca Grimes as chief sales and marketing officer of Searchspring in San Antonio, TX. “We are thrilled to welcome Rebecca to our leadership team,” said Alex Kombos, CEO of Searchspring. “She is an experienced revenue leader with a strong track record of driving revenue growth and
Paving the Way to Rehire a High Performing Employee
So, your high performer just resigned. You’re feeling frustrated and let down. That doesn’t make you a bad leader. It makes you human. In fact, if you’re taking it personally, it’s most likely because you exerted significant effort into mentoring and helping this employee grow. “While these feelings are perfectly natural, how you react to
Artico Search Recruits VP of Enterprise Sales for CharterUP
Mercedes Chatfield-Taylor, Sarah Scheer, and Todd Daniel of Artico Search recently assisted in the recruitment of David House as vice president of enterprise sales of CharterUP. “A special thanks to Armir Harris, CEO, and Howard Bornstein, president, for their remarkable partnership,” Artico Search said. “We look forward to the next chapter of growth with David and the rest of
The Taplow Group Adds McDonald Search Group in Canada
Global recruiting consortium The Taplow Group has expanded in Canada with the addition of the MacDonald Search Group as its newest member firm. Led by Bruce MacDonald, founder and managing partner, their Canadian operation spans from the east to west coast with a presence in seven cities including Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Moncton, Ottawa, and Toronto. “We were
Global Hiring Outlook and How Hiring Continues to Rely More On AI
Employers anticipate closing out 2023 with a calculated approach to hiring, according to the latest ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey of nearly 39,000 employers in 41 countries. The net employment outlook for Q4 is +30 percent, up one percent from Q4 2022, and a two percent increase from last quarter. “The data for Q4 reveals employers
The Loring Group Recruits CIO for Diamonds International
San Francisco-headquartered executive search firm The Loring Group recently placed Duke del Prado as the new chief information officer for Diamonds International. The search was led by senior partner Rich Kampmann. Mr. del Prado joins Diamonds with over 25 years of information technology leadership experience working in a variety of industries including consumer goods, retail, manufacturing, professional
Slone Partners Finds Chief Medical Officer for X4 Pharmaceuticals
Life sciences-focused search firm Slone Partners has placed Christophe Arbet-Engels as chief medical officer at X4 Pharmaceuticals Inc., a public biopharmaceutical company. The enterprise is developing novel small molecule therapeutics to benefit patients with diseases of the immune system. Dr. Arbet-Engels previously served as CMO at several life science companies, including Neurogastrx, Millendo Therapeutics, and Poxel Pharmaceuticals,
BarkerGilmore Expands Team
Boutique search firm BarkerGilmore, which specializes in building corporate legal and compliance teams, has expanded with the addition of Laura J. Schumacher as a senior advisor. In this position, Ms. Schumacher will provide guidance and professional development to general counsels and other executives. She brings expertise in the healthcare industry to the firm’s healthcare and life
Beecher Reagan Appoints Co-Leader Advisory/Middle-Market and Investor-Backed CFO practices
Houston, TX-headquartered executive search firm Beecher Reagan has strengthened its search staff with the appointment of Brad Pierce as managing director and co-leader the advisory and middle-market practices, as well as the investor-backed CFO practice. “As Beecher Reagan targets strategic growth in middle-market consulting and doubles-down on our commitment to serve private equity clients, we look for
A Look at Leveraging Success for AI Recruiting
Great talent has always been integral to developing cutting-edge artificial intelligence solutions. Since its founding, True Search has done work with AI-enabled companies and platforms, accounting for 12 percent of True’s placements over the past five years. While this work has remained constant, it’s clear something about AI hiring has changed: There has been an exponential
