DAILY NEWSWIRE - TOP STORIES
Daily Newswire
Accenture Signals the Rise of the ‘Agentic Deal’
Accenture’s latest report, The Dawn of the Agentic Deal, points to a clear turning point in M&A. Over the past decade, technology has largely been used to improve speed and efficiency, enhancing diligence, financial modeling, and integration planning. That advantage, however, is quickly becoming table stakes. What’s emerging now is structurally different. AI is no longer
Why Your Most Difficult Hire Isn’t the One You Think
Headline employment data and hiring activity paint an incomplete picture of today’s workforce landscape. Beneath the surface, shifting candidate expectations and constrained talent pipelines are creating challenges that aren’t immediately visible. If you lead talent strategy in the insurance sector, you are navigating one of the most deceptive hiring markets in recent memory, according to
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.
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,
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?
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,
IIC Partners Adds New Member Firm in New Zealand
IIC Partners Executive Search Worldwide has added Auckland, New Zealand-based Infinitas as its newest member firm expanding its capabilities across the Asia-Pacific region. “I am thrilled to welcome Infinitas to IIC Partners,” said Christine Hayward, executive director of IIC Partners. Their people-first philosophy, tech-enabled search processes, and talent advisory capabilities deeply align with our mission to transform
Hiring for the Culture You Don’t Yet Have
For much of the past decade, organizations have invested heavily in strategy, technology and operational efficiency to navigate an increasingly complex business environment. Yet despite these investments, many transformation initiatives continue to fall short of expectations. The differentiator is rarely the strategy itself. More often, success depends on whether leadership teams have the right people
BoardWalk Consulting Leading CEO Search for Downtown Atlanta Inc.
BoardWalk Consulting has been tapped by Downtown Atlanta Inc. (DAI) to lead in its search for a CEO. The search is being led by Sam Pettway, Crystal Stephens, and Patti Kish. The organization is seeking a leader who can help define what the next generation of Downtown Atlanta will become. This is a leadership opportunity of unusual scale and
Peña Search Assists To Be Like Me with the Recruitment of Executive Director
Peña Search recently assisted in the recruitment of Lauren Rowe as the new executive for To Be Like Me (TBLM) in Dallas, TX. Travis Hillier, Carlos González Peña, and Thaise Pereira led the assignment. She replaces To Be Like Me founder Hollis Owens, who has served as executive director since 2018 and initiated the search for her replacement last
BroadView Talent Partners Tapped by Baltimore Community Lending for President/CEO Search
BroadView Talent Partners was recently retained by Baltimore Community Lending, Inc. (BCL) to lead in its search for a new president and CEO. Tracy McMillan, Robyn Quinn, and Donna Young are leading the assignment. The CEO is the strategic, operational, and external leader of Baltimore Community Lending, responsible for driving the organization’s next era of growth and
Allen Austin Launches Evidence-Based Leadership Assessment VantagePoint
Houston, TX-based search firm Allen Austin launch of VantagePoint, an evidence-based leadership assessment that helps organizations identify and develop high-potential leaders with greater clarity and confidence. VantagePoint is grounded in three decades of leadership advisory work and original research by Allen Austin chairman and CEO Rob Andrews. Over two years, Mr. Andrews interviewed more than 100 CEOs,
The CHRO’s New Mandate
Across industries, the organizational design structure has shifted from a traditional pyramid to an hourglass model. This is not a recent development, explained Slayton Search Partners’ John Doyle in a recent report. “Organizational efficiencies, increased technology and the first wave of Baby Boomer retirements began this transition nearly two decades ago,” he said. “Experienced leaders have been retiring. Internal pipelines have
AGB Search Recruits 11th President for Lewis University
Washington, D.C.-based recruitment firm AGB Search, which specializes in higher education leadership assignments, has helped to recruit Christopher Sindt as the 11th president of Lewis University. The Lewis University board of trustees recently announced that president David Livingston, will retire at the conclusion of the 2025–26 academic year. Melissa K. Trotta, Matthew J. Kilcoyne, and John Cech led the assignment. “After
Kincannon & Reed Assists CCI Prime with CFO Search
Kincannon & Reed (K&R), which exclusively focuses on food, agribusiness, and the related life sciences, has assisted in the recruitment of Jamie Broad as CFO of CCI Prime, bringing on a seasoned finance leader to support the company’s next phase of growth. “Jamie’s ability to connect financial insights to operational realities makes her an exceptional
EQU Advisors Seeking Senior Leader for Sarah Lawrence College
Executive search firm EQU Advisors was recently retained by Sarah Lawrence College to lead in its search for an associate vice president of enrollment. This executive will serve as a key member of the senior enrollment leadership team and a collaborative partner across the institution. This role is designed to strengthen coordination, elevate shared strategy, and support
Egon Zehnder Forms Alliance with IMD
Global leadership advisory firm Egon Zehnder and IMD, a leading business school in global executive education, have formed a strategic partnership to facilitate board directors’ personal growth and elevate board performance. The partnership combines IMD’s academic rigor and deep connections to global boards with Egon Zehnder’s expertise in leadership and board effectiveness. Together, they will co-create tailored
Why Boards Are Betting on New CEOs and How to Set Them Up to Win
A growing number of companies are entrusting the corner office to leaders stepping into the CEO role for the first time. As succession strategies evolve and executive talent markets tighten, boards are increasingly prioritizing leadership potential, adaptability, and strategic vision over prior CEO experience. Boards now face a new question: which qualities make a first-time CEO succeed,
The Leadership Reset: What AI is Exposing About Today’s Executives
For decades, leadership success was largely measured by experience, team size, and the ability to manage complex organizations. Today, artificial intelligence is changing that equation, and it is reshaping how boards, investors, and hiring executives evaluate leadership talent. As AI transforms how work gets done, organizations are discovering that competitive advantage is no longer determined
Greenwood Asher & Associates Recruits Provost for the University of Cincinnati
Miramar Beach, FL-based executive recruitment firm Greenwood Asher & Associates has assisted the University of Cincinnati (UC) in the recruitment of Rudolph Buchheit as executive vice president for academic affairs and provost. Andriel Dees and Julie Schrodt led the assignment for the search firm. His selection follows a national search led by a dedicated search committee that was informed by
HARTZ Search Assists Geisinger with Recruitment of CIO
Charlotte, NC-based HARTZ Search has helped to recruit Bill Bellando as executive vice president and chief information officer of Geisinger. He joins Geisinger after serving as senior vice president and chief information officer at Georgia-based Wellstar Health System from 2022 to 2026. In this role, Mr. Bellando oversaw information technology and digital initiatives across the health system.
Six Steps to Sharpen Leadership Focus and Protect Performance in 2026
The start of a new year often tempts senior leaders to move straight from results to resolution, skipping the quieter work of reflection. Yet without pausing to examine how leadership is experienced—not just measured—patterns of strain, growth, and resilience remain invisible, quietly shaping the year ahead. What follows is a structured way to slow the
Leadership Traits That Matter in Times of Crisis
What a difference context makes in our perceptions of leadership. After 9/11, Jose J. Ruiz, chief executive officer of executive search firm Alder Koten, asked a group of friends from New York what they thought of Rudolph Giuliani. They unanimously replied that he was a great leader – decisive, assertive, and determined, with the ability
DRiWaterstone Human Capital Leads CFO Search for the Academy of Management
Arlington, VA-based DRiWaterstone Human Capital has been selected by the Academy of Management to lead its search for a new chief financial officer. The position is responsible for strategic leadership and broad financial stewardship of all aspects of the Academy of Management’s finance and accounting functions to ensure the association’s financial health and the fulfillment of
Hightech Partners Boosts European Presence
Digital-focused executive search firm Hightech Partners (HTP) recently expanded with the addition of international human resources executive Roberta De Ponti as a partner. “International reach, passion for technology, and top-quality HR services are the DNA of Hightech Partners,” said Raffaele Jacovelli and Bert Vermeiren, managing directors of HTP. “Roberta has all of those and is therefore a wonderful
Private Equity Sector Demand for Talent Reaching Record Pace
Historically, priorities for hiring senior leadership were strongly focused on an individual’s technical (hard) skills, as well as focusing on candidates with direct industry and functional experience. This formula proved to be successful for many executive hires, but certainly not all, according to Russell Boyle, a partner and co-head of the U.S. financial officers practice
How PE and VC Firms Can Develop a Go-to-Market Recruitment Strategy
Private equity and venture capital firms are closing more and more deals particularly. As a result, competition for talent among start-ups, emerging technologies and portfolio companies has never been more competitive, according to a report from Chapel Hill Solutions’ Julian Rives. “Typically, most PE and VC firms approach recruiting and talent acquisition reactively – or hiring when a
NorthWind Partners Recruits CEO for DMI
Reston, VA-headquartered executive search firm NorthWind Partners has assisted in the recruitment of Rocky Thurston as the new CEO of DMI, a global digital transformation solutions company. Partner Hunter Murray led the assignment. He succeeds Sunny Bajaj, the company’s founder, who served as CEO since 2002 and will remain on DMI’s board of directors. “It has been
ON Partners Recruits Chief Medical Officer for Sangamo Therapeutics
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 has evolved in recent
JM Search Names Co-Practice Leader for Media, Entertainment, Martech & Communications Practice
JM Search has expanded with the addition of Laurie Rosenfield as partner and co-practice leader for the firm’s media, entertainment, martech & communications team. She will work alongside partner and co-practice leader, John Warrack to further expand the firm’s team dedicated to identifying and recruiting transformative leadership for companies sitting at the intersection of content, audience reach
Why Agility is the Key to Success Today
We’d just about got used to being in a VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, ambiguous) world when a new acronym popped up – BANI (brittle, anxious, nonlinear and incomprehensible) to describe the current macro environment. A global pandemic, new ways of working, war, and recessionary pressures have combined to challenge how businesses not just survive, but
The Search for Private Equity Senior Executives
Recruiting new executive talent for private equity portfolio companies is a growing business for many executive search firms. Whether as part of the due diligence leading up to an acquisition or once the deal is closed, PE firms must identify and hire the right talent to drive their investment forward, according to a recent report
WittKieffer Seeks CEO for March of Dimes
Oak Brook-IL-based WittKieffer has been selected to find the next president and chief executive officer for the non-profit March of Dimes, which supports the health of mothers and babies. Leading the assignment are consultants Jim King, Donna Padilla, Christine Pendleton, and John Fazekas. Last November, the non-profit’s former leader, Stacey D. Stewart, announced that she was
Arts Consulting Group Seeking New Leader for the New England Museum Association
Boston-based search firm Arts Consulting Group (ACG) has been enlisted to find the next executive director for the New England Museum Association (NEMA). Wyona Lynch-McWhite, senior vice president, and Geoff Chang, vice president, are leading the assignment for the search firm. Reporting to the board of directors, the executive director of NEMA will be responsible for supervising all aspects
BrainWorks Appoints Practice Leader – Go-To-Market Search, Private Equity/Insurance and Financial Services
Warren, NJ-based executive search firm BrainWorks expanded with the addition of Liam Garrity as the national practice leader – go-to-market search, private equity/insurance and financial services. “We welcome Liam Garrity to our BrainWorks team,” the search firm said. “Liam joins as the national practice leader – go-to-market search, private equity/insurance and financial services. He is
Executive Hiring Starts the Year on the Rise
After a precipitous drop in executive hiring to close out 2022, the market—overall—seems to have found stability, according to a newly released report from executive recruiting software provider Thrive. Opened searches increased nearly 12.5 percent quarter over quarter in the first quarter of 2023, the largest quarterly growth the company says it has seen in
Artico Search Recruits Chief Marketing Officer for BigPanda
As organizations becomes more complex and power shifts from producers of goods and services to consumers, the chief marketing officer’s job of planning and coordinating marketing activities has become more challenging — and much more influential. Mercedes Chatfield-Taylor of Artico Search recently assisted in the recruitment of Sun Lee as the new chief marketing officer of BigPanda, Inc.,
Bryant Group Seeking President and CEO, University Advancement for the Montana State University Alumni Foundation
Dallas-based executive search and talent development firm Bryant Group has been retained to recruit the next president and CEO/vice president, university advancement of the Montana State University Alumni Foundation. Chris Bingley, president of Bryant Group, is leading the assignment. “Montana State University has been fortunate to thrive under the leadership of its president, Dr. Waded
Riviera Partners Adds New Senior Leaders
San Francisco-based Riviera Partners, a recruitment provider specializing in C-level engineering, product, and design leader placements, has appointed Megan Martin as vice president of marketing, and Jeff Crowell and Kara Landon as senior directors of partnerships and business development. Ms. Martin will oversee Riviera’s global marketing strategy and implementation of marketing programs. Mr. Crowell and Ms.
ZRG Partners Appoints Leader of EMEA Human Capital Practice
ZRG Partners has expanded with the addition of Malcolm Kemp as managing director and leader of the human capital practice. In his new role, he is accountable for profitability, client engagement, and overall growth of the firm’s EMEA human capital practice. “Malcolm is a demonstrated leader of people and talent and was the top biller
The Market for Senior Roles Heating Up at Private Equity Firms
Recruiting the right people to put in senior roles at PE portfolio companies and developing executive leadership teams to drive growth is hotter than ever. The most direct way a search partner can help PE/VC firms looking to build out management teams is obviously to identify, attract, and introduce strong talent. But, the true value
GeniusMesh Helping PE and VC Firms Find Talent Using AI
The fundamental strategy of private equity and venture capital firms is to unlock the intrinsic but unrealized value in the mature companies that they add to their portfolios. The keys to success are the professionals from the PE and VC firm who take an active role in implementing revised strategies, according to new report from
A Look at the Private Equity Sector in Canada
Like in many other regions, the private equity sector in Canada is expressing a mixed forecast for the rest of this year. While some firms are experiencing healthy fund raising and deal activity, others are curtailing targets and managing LP liquidity concerns, given the 20-year low in equity financings to date in 2023, according to Bill
JM Search Assists Summit Plastics with CEO Search
Hayden Tewell and Eric Stenholm of JM Search recently assisted in the placement of Joseph Piccione as the new CEO of Summit Plastics, Inc., a LongueVue Capital portfolio company and manufacturer of custom packaging solutions. “The appointment of Joe is an excellent development in Summit’s growth,” said Paul Ebbert, specialty packaging operating partner of LongueVue Capital. “Joe’s strong reputation, skill set, and experience
Bespoke Partners Recruits Chief Commercial Officer for Billtrust
Tess Fischer and Alexandra Bossetta of San Diego, CA-headquartered executive search firm Bespoke Partners have placed Scott Collins as the chief commercial officer for Billtrust, a B2B order-to-cash software and digital payments market leader. “Scott brings a wealth of experience to the role, and I am excited to welcome him to Billtrust,” said Sunil Rajasekar, CEO. “At this key time
Help Wanted: Why RPO Is Tailor Made For Explosive, Near Term Growth
Recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) streamlines the hiring process by removing administrative bloat and enabling scalability in times of growth. In a new report, Technavio unpacks how this will lead to 15.2 percent CAGR between now and 2027 when global RPO is set to hit $22 billion in market size. Off-loading the recruitment process to an RPO provider
SourceLab Search Continues Aggressive Growth
Just over one year ago, The Bachrach Group’s digital division branched off from its parent company to form its own entity, SourceLab Search. In that time, senior vice presidents James Schindler and Max Siegman has grown and strengthened its services. “I am beyond thrilled about the success and growth of SourceLab in its first year,”
Lochlin Partners Recruits CFO for American Chemical Society
Executive search firm Lochlin Partners recently assisted in the recruitment of Emily Kunchala as the new treasurer and CFO for the American Chemical Society (ACS) in Washington, D.C. She succeeds Albert G. Horvath, who recently moved into the CEO position. “We are very pleased that Emily has agreed to join ACS,” said Mr. Horvath. “She brings with her
Education Executives Seeks President for The Ohio State University
Santa Barbara, CA-based Education Executives has been chosen to find the next president of The Ohio State University (OSU) in Columbus. Former president Kristina Johnson announced in November that she would be stepping down from the role at the end of the academic year, in May. She later said that her resignation was fueled by
WilsonHCG Integrates Recent Acquisitions
Global talent solutions provider Wilson Human Capital Group (WilsonHCG) has announced that two of its brands, Profile Search & Selection (Profile) and Personify, are being fully integrated into WilsonHCG in the coming weeks. The integration follows the acquisitions of Profile and Personify, which closed in 2020 and 2023, respectively. Profile is an executive search firm with offices
The Trends and Changing Market for C-Level Executives
Today, companies are looking for leaders who are not only capable of driving growth but also have the skills to navigate the changing business landscape. The C-level job market is likely to continue to evolve rapidly in response to changes in the economy, technology, and society. The leaders who are most successful in this environment will be
DHR Global Recruits Men’s Head Basketball Coach for University of New Hampshire
Talent advisory firm DHR Global recently assisted in the recruitment of Nathan Davis as the new men’s head basketball coach for the University of New Hampshire (UNH). DHR’s managing partner and global sports practice leader Glenn Sugiyama headed the assignment. Mr. Davis replaces Bill Herrion, who served as coach for the past 18 years. “Nathan’s ability to recruit talented
The Millard Group Recruits Chief Digital Product Officer for Evolv Technology
The Millard Group, which focuses on building executive teams for venture capital and private equity backed growth stage technology companies, has assisted in the recruitment of Parag Vaish as chief digital product officer of Evolv Technology, a Waltham, MA-based provider of AI-based weapons detection security screening products. Craig Millard and Nancy Nash led the assignment. “We
