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Daily Newswire
Modern Executive Solutions Appoints CFO
Atlanta-based talent consultancy Modern Executive Solutions has appointed Apostol Nikolov as its new CFO. “Apostol brings a powerful combination of strategic insight and operating experience,” said Mark Oppenheimer, CEO of Modern Executive Solutions. “His background advising on complex transactions and then leading finance functions within high-growth environments gives him a unique perspective that will be invaluable as
Candidate Confidentiality: Why It Matters
Executive search sits in a uniquely sensitive middle ground: recruiters are asked to represent an employer’s interests while also earning and protecting a candidate’s trust, explained a recent report from ExecSearches. That “in-between” position makes confidentiality more than a professional courtesy. “For the candidate, it can be the difference between a strategic career move and
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.
The Talent Studios Recruits Chief Marketing Officer for Pura Vida Miami
The Talent Studios has recruited Bruno Cardinali as chief marketing officer of Pura Vida Miami, the premium all-day café and lifestyle brand focused on health, wellness and community. The search was led by Katlyn Maloney and Jeremy Cohen. Mr. Cardinali brings more than two decades of marketing leadership across fast casual, foodservice, beverage, and global consumer brands. Most recently, as
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?
JM Search Expands Technology and Financial Services Practices
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
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
Lock Search Group Leading CEO Search for Atlas Sign & Awning
Toronto-headquartered executive recruitment firm Lock Search Group is currently seeking a new CEO for Atlas Sign & Awning. For over 30 years, Atlas Sign & Awning has helped businesses across Canada and the United States stand out through custom commercial signage, awnings, and branded architectural elements. Based in Langley, BC, they’ve built a strong reputation for quality
Anthem Executive Assists the University of Montevallo With President Search
Anthem Executive has assisted in the recruitment of Michelle R. Johnston as the first female president of the University of Montevallo (UM). Michael Ballew, Scott Watson, Mike “JR” Wheless, and Florene Stawowy led the assignment. Dr. Johnston has served as the president of Georgia Southwestern State University since 2024. Prior to her current presidency, she served as president of three other higher education
Mercuri Urval Appoints Non-Executive Director
Stockholm, Sweden-based executive search firm Mercuri Urval (MU) has announced that Jan Sasse, partner at AlterInvest, was named as non-executive director to the MU group board. He will join the current board members Cecilia Strand, Mieke Weijenberg, Cecilia Beer, Richard Moore, and chairman Roger Hagafors. “We are pleased to welcome Jan Sasse as non-executive director of the MU
M&A Becomes a Capability-Driven Acquisition Strategy
EY-Parthenon is forecasting an eight percent increase in U.S. deal volume for transactions exceeding $100 million in 2026, underscoring how central M&A remains to corporate strategy. Yet beneath the headline numbers sits a more important story. The role of acquisitions is evolving. Companies are no longer pursuing deals primarily for scale or market share. Increasingly,
The Hidden Challenges Every First-Time CEO Faces
The corner office has never been more accessible—or more demanding. As boards increasingly turn to a new generation of leaders to navigate disruption, growth, and transformation, first-time CEOs are stepping into roles that require a fundamentally different set of skills than those that propelled them to the top. While many arrive with impressive track records,
Myers McRae Assists Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology with Provost Search
Following a nationwide search, Macon, GA-based Myers McRae Executive Search and Consulting has assisted in the recruitment of Richie Roberts as provost of Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology. Kenny Daugherty and Brianna Douglas led the assignment. Dr. Roberts’ selection was guided by a search committee of OSUIT administrators, faculty, staff and students, which was assisted by national search firm Myers McRae. “The entire
Lancer Group Recruits Chief Technology Officer for Minitab
La Jolla, CA-headquartered search firm Lancer Group has recruited Kevin Gordon as chief technology officer of Minitab. “We’re excited to welcome Kevin Gordon as chief technology officer at Minitab,” the company said. “This is an exciting step forward in the evolution of our technology strategy and will help accelerate innovation across our organization and solutions platform.” “Kevin brings
Friisberg & Partners International Names Managing Partner of its Copenhagen Office
Fribourg, Switzerland-headquartered Friisberg & Partners International has expanded with the addition of Birgitte Olrik as managing partner of its Copenhagen office, strengthening the firm’s presence in the Nordic region and supporting the continued execution of our international growth strategy. “The future of executive search belongs to firms that combine exceptional local expertise with international reach,” said Zoltán Pethő,
Attracting the Right CHRO Starts with the Right Job Description
Hiring a head of HR is one of the most consequential leadership decisions an organization can make, yet many companies struggle to define the role in a way that reflects their actual needs. The most effective job descriptions go beyond qualifications and responsibilities, offering candidates a clear picture of the challenges, priorities, and business objectives
Coulter Partners Recruits Chief Medical Officer for Neumirna Therapeutics
Life sciences recruiting specialist Coulter Partners has placed Ferenc Tracik as chief medical officer of Neumirna Therapeutics. “Neumirna has reached an inflection point: the question is no longer whether the science works, but how quickly we can translate it into an option for patients with urgent unmet need. Ferenc has the experience to get us there,” said Ellen
McCormack + Kristel Seeking CEO for Central New York ON RAMP
McCormack + Kristel is currently seeking a CEO for Central New York ON RAMP. New York State Empire State Development (ESD) recently engaged CenterState Corporation for Economic Opportunity (CenterState CEO), an business leadership and economic development organization, to lead, incubate, and launch the Central New York One Network for Regional Advanced Manufacturing Projects (ON RAMP). The
Bespoke Partners Appoints Leader of People and HR Practice
San Diego, CA-headquartered Bespoke Partners recently named Dani Pfeiffer as a partner leading the people and human resources leader recruiting practice serving both software and industrials sector companies. She will lead dedicated recruiting teams on searches for talent executives for private equity portfolio companies for the software and SaaS clients served by Bespoke Partners and industrial clients served by Industra Talent Partners,
Wilson Forms New Alliance with Poetry to Advance AI capabilities
Global talent solutions provider Wilson has formed a new partnership with Poetry to strengthen its AI-enabled recruitment capabilities. The collaboration supports Wilson’s continued focus on embedding technology into its RPO delivery model through Wilson Workspace, its technology ecosystem. “We’re excited to announce our new partnership with Poetry,” said Charles Faigle, chief delivery officer at Wilson. This
What Executive Candidates Want From Employers Today
The executive talent market today has fundamentally shifted and senior leaders are evaluating employers through a far more demanding lens. They no longer weigh opportunities primarily on compensation or title; they assess the total leadership experience: governance, culture, organizational stability, purpose, autonomy, flexibility and long-term growth, according to a report from Kestria. “To attract and retain
WittKieffer Retained by Roosevelt University for President Search
Oak Brook, IL-based WittKieffer has been retained by Roosevelt University in Chicago to lead in its search for its seventh president. Ali Malekzadeh is retiring after being with the school since 2015. Senior partner Christine Pendleton, consultant Sandra Chu, senior associate Maya Holt-Brockenbrough, and senior advisor Ray Crossman. Roosevelt University seeks a student-centered president who is committed
Buffkin / Baker Acquires HR-Focused Benson Executive Search
Partner-led executive search firm Buffkin / Baker has acquired Boston, MA-based Benson Executive Search, a boutique firm focused on the human resources sector. Financial terms of deal were not disclosed. The acquisition strengthens Buffkin / Baker’s HR functional capabilities and gives the firm a stronger presence in the Northeast. “We’re thrilled to welcome Benson Executive Search to
SPMB Recruits Fills Senior Finance Position for Uber
Steven Popper of SPMB Executive Search has placed Wendy Drummond Craig as senior director, technical accounting, reporting, and M&A at Uber. In her new role, she will oversee teams responsible for technical accounting matters, SEC reporting, and accounting for mergers and acquisitions. “Wendy brings an extraordinary combination of technical accounting expertise, SEC reporting experience, and strategic advisory leadership
True Launches AI Capability Index for Executive Assessment
Global executive talent platform True has launched the True AI Capability Index, a proprietary framework that predicts executive performance in the AI-transformation age. “We are entering a phase where relationship depth and judgment matter more than ever,” said Brad Stadler, co-founder and CEO of True Platform. “The cost of finding names is decreasing. True’s advantage lies in our ability
AI-Native Talent Won’t Fix AI-Foreign Organizations
As artificial intelligence moves from experimentation to enterprise-wide adoption, organizations are grappling with a fundamental question: what does it actually mean to become AI-native? While the term has quickly entered the business lexicon, many leaders are still struggling to define the capabilities, operating models, and cultural shifts required to make that vision a reality. “Some
ZRG Partners Acquires Fortium
ZRG Partners has acquired Fortium, a Dallas-based search firm that provides fractional, interim, and project-based CIO, CTO, and CISO leadership. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. “Companies are making more nuanced decisions about leadership than they did even a few years ago, particularly in technology,” said Mark Viner, leader of interim solutions & project
Lochlin Partners Recruits SVP of HR for the National Association of Corporate Directors
Lochlin Partners has placed Marian Stevens as senior vice president, human resources of the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) in Washington, D.C. “Marian’s deep experience in talent development, organizational effectiveness, and culture will help NACD to continue building the internal capabilities needed to support our growth and deliver on our mission,” said Peter Gleason, president and CEO of
JDG Associates Tapped by Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute to Find New Leader
Rockville, MD-based executive search firm JDG Associates has been retained by the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI) to lead its search for a new president and CEO. The Chicago-based institute, the leading technical institute and trade association for the precast, prestressed concrete industry in North America, seeks a visionary and collaborative executive to succeed its long-serving chief executive,
Spencer Stuart Recruits 16th President for the University of Michigan
Spencer Stuart has recruited Kent Syverud, chancellor and president of Syracuse University, as the 16th president of the University of Michigan. He becomes the first U-M alumnus in nearly a century to be appointed president. Mary Gorman, a partner in the firm’s education and social impact practice, and Alexis Stiles, a University of Michigan alumna and a
How Fear of a Recession Impacts Talent Strategy
As budgets tighten and leaders prepare for a possible recession, recruiters say that investing in the employee experience is still a high priority. Most economists agree that the economy is in an unusual state, leaving them unsure if and when a recession might occur and what it will look like. A new report by Slayton Search
Chartwell Partners Recruits Chief Medical Officer for Frontier Medicines Corp.
Chief medical officers are typically cited as the senior government official designated head of medical services, sometimes at the national level. The post is held by a physician who serves to advise and lead a team of medical experts on matters of public health importance. According to recruiters, the role of the chief medical officer
RH Perry & Associates Seeks CFO for Manhattan College
RH Perry & Associates has been enlisted to find a vice president for finance/chief financial officer for Manhattan College in New York City. Leading the assignment are senior consultants Sue DeWine and Pam Shockley-Zalabak. The new CFO will be expected to “lead the institution to its next level of excellence through management of all financial operations
CIO Partners Retained by Together Credit Union to Fill Senior Position
CIO Partners has been selected by Together Credit Union as its exclusive partner to lead the search for the role of vice president of applications, IT strategy and strategic partnerships. This senior executive is a key influencer in the organization’s innovation maturity and acts as an evangelist for emerging technology and innovation. According to the search
IMD International Search Group Adds New Member Firms in North America
Executive search consultants are seeing an increase in hiring mandates from around the world. To meet the demand, they continue to develop new practices, hire new recruiters, and open new locations. Global recruiting consortiums, meanwhile, are taking advantage of a resurgence in certain geographic areas. Global executive search consortium IMD International Search Group recently expanded in North America
5 Key Traits for Cyber Experts on Corporate Boards
New Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rule changes are expected to require public companies to formally disclose the cybersecurity expertise of board members, as well as the board’s governance practices in overseeing the cybersecurity risk for the company. The added transparency resulting from the new rules will give shareholders a clear understanding of a board’s
Buffkin / Baker Leading President Search for Chowan University
Partner-led executive search firm Buffkin / Baker was recently selected by Chowan University to lead its search for a new president. Kirk Peterson recently stepped down from the role to spend more time with his family. Partner Ken Carrick is leading the assignment. The president serves as the chief executive officer of the university with responsibility for ensuring
Lindauer Places Chief Development Officer for Children’s Hospital of Orange County
Lindauer has helped to place Jessica L. Miley as senior vice president and chief development officer for Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) in California. Ms. Miley, a proven fundraiser in healthcare who has dedicated her career to serving children and families in need, will direct all fundraising and development programs for Orange County’s only pediatric healthcare system. The
HARTZ Search Seeks Chief Medical Officer for Rochester General Hospital
Charlotte, NC-based HARTZ Search was recently called in by Rochester (NY) General Hospital to lead its search for a new chief medical officer. The CMO is responsible for partnering with system and facility leadership teams to implement and deliver the clinical strategy of the integrated care model. This position creates an environment of collaboration, respect, transparency,
ON Partners Appoints Chief Product Officer
ON Partners has expanded its senior leadership team with the addition of Jin Ro as chief product officer. He will be responsible for driving the vision, strategy, and execution of the firm’s product, technology, and data. “Jin has deep experience centered around bridging the inherent gap that exists between technology and business to create actionable insights,
Shaping a Culture of Inclusion
One of the biggest challenges facing leaders is building a culture that will drive superior performance. The precise recipe for success will differ for each organization, but research shows that there is one fundamental ingredient that every culture needs: inclusion. In an inclusive culture, every team member, regardless of their background, finds a profound sense
Choosing Between Temporary and Permanent Staffing
When it comes to hiring employees for your business, you have two choices: temporary and permanent staffing. Both have their advantages and disadvantages, and knowing which one is right can be challenging. In a new report, executive search firm Atlantic Group explored the benefits and drawbacks between the two and which option may best suit
Anthem Executive Seeks CFO for UNLV
Executive recruitment firm Anthem Executive has been enlisted to find the next vice president, business affairs, and chief financial officer for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). Leading the assignment are Scott Watson, Michael Ballew, Mike “JR” Wheless, and Florene Stawowy. The CFO will be expected to provide vision, leadership, and strategic direction and responsibility for
Greenwich Harbor Partners Fills Board Positions for Thrive Scholars Chicago
Greenwich Harbor Partners has assisted in the recruitment of Jared Banner, Teedra Bernard, Sedhu Krishnamurthy, and Talvis Love as new members of the board of directors at Thrive Scholars Chicago. “We are excited to welcome our new board members – each with diverse expertise and experiences from various sectors–to join our effort to strengthen opportunities toward economic mobility for
DHR Global Appoints Leader of Los Angeles Office
Talent advisory firm DHR Global has named John Staines as managing partner of the global human resources practice and leader of its Los Angeles office. “I am pleased to welcome John as our new managing partner of the global human resources practice group,” said Geoff Hoffmann, CEO of DHR Global. “John brings a wealth of knowledge and proven results
How the CFO Position Continues to Evolve
The last few years have challenged the chief financial officer role as navigating often unpredictable economic and geopolitical scenarios while striving to meet the expectations of the CEO, the board, and shareholders amplified its complexity, making this position increasingly multifunctional and strategic. A new report from Egon Zehnder’s Ângela Pêgas and Bruno Carrasco says that
Unemployment Rate Stands at 3.7 Percent
Employment rose by 339,000 in May as the U.S. unemployment rate stands at 3.7 percent, according to today’s U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report. The number of unemployed persons is 6.1 million in May. Job gains occurred in professional and business services, government, healthcare, construction, transportation and warehousing, and social assistance. Among the major worker groups,
TurnkeyZRG Seeks Athletic Director for University of the Pacific
TurnkeyZRG has been retained by University of the Pacific to lead its search for a new athletic director. The firm is seeking a high-energy, entrepreneurial, and innovative leader. Reporting directly to the president, the AD will lead the school’s 17 Division I athletic programs and serve on the president’s cabinet as one of the university’s 10
Renovata & Company Recruits Chief Learning Experience Officer for Babbel
Global executive search and private equity advisory firm Renovata & Company has placed Kathleen Radford as chief learning experience officer of Babbel, a global online language learning platform with more than 10 million subscribers. Partner Thomas Jepsen and consultant Tilanie Salvador led the assignment. “Kathleen has a proven track record leading large product innovation teams, including organizational
TrueBridge Launches in the U.K.
Top experts in talent management and C-suite recruitment agree that interim leaders will likely play a significant and growing role in top grading senior-level positions in a post-pandemic era, where costs and efficiency underpin executive hiring. TrueBridge, True’s interim, fractional, and advisory executive search division, has launched in the U.K. with a network of experienced
A Look at the Importance of Executive Evaluations
We like to pick over the successes and failures of our political leaders, past and present, looking for answers, lessons, a bit of inspiration perhaps—or someone to blame. Politics is especially and immediately unforgiving of real or perceived incompetence; but, by comparison, corporate leadership teams face relatively little day to day external scrutiny. “And when
Coulter Partners Recruits Chief Development Officer for TargED Biopharmaceuticals
Life sciences recruiting specialist Coulter Partners has assisted in the recruitment of Gerben van ‘t Klooster as chief development officer for TargED Biopharmaceuticals in London. “We are thrilled to welcome Gerben to our team at TargED Biopharmaceuticals,” said Kristof Vercruysse, CEO of TargED Biopharmaceuticals. “He brings a wealth of experience and expertise that will be invaluable to our
Shelli Herman and Associates Seeking CEO for YWCA Greater Los Angeles
Los Angeles-based Shelli Herman and Associates has been selected by the YWCA Greater Los Angeles (YWCA GLA) to lead its search for a new CEO. The incoming CEO will join the organization at a formative time in its history, succeeding long-time CEO Faye Washington. Like all human services organizations, the YWCA GLA faced an unparalleled human crisis
FPC of Farmington Hills, MI Opens for Business
F-O-R-T-U-N-E Personnel Consultants (FPC National), a nationwide network of over 60 franchised executive recruitment offices, has launched FPC of Farmington Hills, MI. This new office will be owned and operated by Jim Larsen, a seasoned executive in the automotive industry with a strong background in sales and engineering. FPC of Farmington Hills will specialize in
The Balance Between Artificial Intelligence and Authentic Intelligence
These days, artificial intelligence continues to gain steam on a number of fronts. Consider how it has already changed our everyday lives. It’s omnipresent and it’s no surprise that technology leaders such as Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI lead the way. All three recently released groundbreaking AI-powered chatbots that can code, converse, debate, plan, write… you
7 Career Mistakes To Avoid
“The only one managing your career is you!” You’ve probably heard those words many times from multiple sources. These well-meaning advisors, however, may have neglected to tell you that managing your career is hard! You spent the formative years of your life and education following a prescribed plan with a mapped-out path to success. But
Peña Search Recruits Chief Development Officer for Healthy Futures of Texas
Virtually every industry needs top-drawer chief development officers. CDOs play a key role in planning, coordinating, and administering capital campaigns, corporate giving, and galvanizing new donors while keeping previous funders content. Implementing funding strategies that “keep the lights on,” according to recruiters specializing in the function, is job one. Recruiters continue to report that CDOs
MalinHughes Recruits EVP of People and Culture for Kootenai Health
Chicago-based executive search firm MalinHughes recently assisted in the recruitment of Cyndy Donato as executive vice president of people and culture at Kootenai Health. “We were grateful to work with the leadership team at Kootenai Health on an executive search to place their EVP of people and culture, Dr. Cyndy Donato,” said MalinHughes. “David Jones recently led
Artico Search Fills Position for RTP Global
Mercedes Chatfield-Taylor of Artico Search recently assisted in the recruitment of Andrea Funsten as a partner with RTP Global. She will be located in San Francisco. Ms. Funsten becomes a partner on the U.S. investment team where her focus is on early stage investments in B2B SaaS and infrastructure. She favors categories like fintech, manufacturing, supply chain,
How Accessibility Drives Diversity & Inclusion
Despite ongoing efforts, bills, laws, and regulations, organizations still have a long way to go when it comes to diversity. Diversity became an integral part of business strategies worldwide in fits and starts. But despite the best of intentions, the results lagged. Enter “inclusion.” Where diversity is about the composition of one’s workforce, inclusion is about
The Impact of Technology and the Recruitment Process
The recruitment cycle has undergone a significant transformation in recent years, with technology playing a central role in the process. While it has undoubtedly made recruitment more efficient and streamlined, there are concerns that the increasing reliance on technology may be affecting the human interface and potentially leading to a decline in good leadership in
