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Daily Newswire
Spencer Stuart Names Chief Communications Officer
Spencer Stuart has appointed Bill Launder as chief communications officer, a newly created position with the firm. “We are delighted to welcome Bill to Spencer Stuart in this important role at a pivotal time for our firm,” said Jordan Brugg, chief executive officer of Spencer Stuart. “We operate at the intersection of talent and strategy, and
Executive Search: Why It Matters and When to Use It
Leadership decisions at the senior level shape an organization’s trajectory in ways that are both visible and structural. Individuals appointed to board and C-suite positions influence capital allocation, operational priorities, governance standards, and organizational culture. Their judgment impacts not only performance, but also the confidence of investors, employees, and partners. Against that backdrop, executive hiring
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,
Managing Strategic Risk and Talent Search in 2026
In 2026, return-to-office mandates have evolved from a temporary “reset” into a defining talent-market force—one that’s reshaping executive mobility, employment risk, and the true cost of leadership retention. What looks like a straightforward policy decision on paper is increasingly a high-stakes tradeoff in practice, where culture goals collide with contractual realities and a limited supply
Herbert Mines Associates Places Chief Marketing Officer for Kravet Inc.
New York-based retail and consumer focused executive search firm Herbert Mines Associates has helped to place Suzanne Cohen as the new chief marketing officer for home furnishings company Kravet Inc. As the newest member of the executive team, Ms. Cohen will report to Cary Kravet, president and CEO. With two decades of experience, she will lead
DHR Global Names Managing Partner of North American Non-Profit Practice
Talent advisory firm DHR Global has named Sara Lundberg as managing partner, North America non-profit practice. The firm notes that her leadership has been key to the non-profit practice group’s success, which has become of the fastest-growing areas for DHR. “We are grateful that Sara will be leading the team as managing partner, North America,” said James Abruzzo, managing partner, global
Leathwaite Names Leader of Strategy, Consulting, and Transformation Practice in Asia
London-based executive search firm Leathwaite has named Gavin Ng as leader of its strategy, consulting, and transformation practice in Asia. He will also help steer and accelerate the firm’s growth with private equity, venture capital, and high growth start-up clients. “I am absolutely thrilled that Gavin has chosen to join Leathwaite,” said James Lawrence-Brown, partner
Integrating AI Into Your Business and the Leadership Talent You Need to Make it Happen
As companies across all sectors become aware that the use of AI can drive meaningful efficiencies and create a significant business impact, SPMB Executive Search’s Mike Doonan and Natalie Ryan have helped guide their clients integrating AI into their digital transformation efforts and overall business by placing leaders to drive this adoption and integration. The
Coulter Partners Recruits Chief Scientific Officer for Sonata Therapeutics
Life sciences recruiting specialist Coulter Partners has assisted in the recruitment of Francesco Marincola as chief scientific officer of Sonata Therapeutics Inc., a biotechnology company in Boston. “Throughout his successful career across academia and industry over the last few decades, Franco has stood at the forefront of discovery and drug development,” said Volker Herrmann, president and CEO of
BroadView Talent Partners Recruits CEO for Pillsbury United Communities
BroadView Talent Partners has assisted in the placement of Cinnamon Pelly as the new president and CEO for Pillsbury United Communities (PUC) in Minnesota. “I’m so pleased to have Cinnamon join Pillsbury United,” said Brenna Brelie, interim CEO. “Her breadth of experience, coupled with her commitment to strengthening communities and racial equity are a beautiful combination of
Bespoke Partners Adds Leaders for New Private Equity Client Services Program
San Diego, CA-headquartered executive search firm Bespoke Partners has brought aboard Jessica Larson and Matt Sommi to lead the firm’s new private equity client services program. These new leaders will be expected to partner with clients to tailor Bespoke’s service offerings in talent advisory, executive search, curated network access, and leadership advisory to achieve the clients’
Artico Search Names Leader of Global Product and Engineering Practice
Artico Search has expanded with the addition of Alex Klein, a partner and leader of the firm’s global product and engineering practice. “We are thrilled to announce that Alex has joined the team as partner, leading our global product and engineering practice,” said Mercedes Chatfield-Taylor, co-founder and CEO. “We are confident that Alex’s expertise and unwavering
Growing Canadian Search Market Continues to Help Reshape Business
The executive search industry in Canada is a highly competitive and rapidly evolving sector that has experienced significant changes in recent years. With the Canadian job market becoming increasingly competitive, companies are relying more heavily on executive search firms to find top talent for their most senior positions. As a result, executive search firms have
True Search Places CFO for ZwitterCo
Global talent provider True has assisted in the recruitment of Christopher Ling as chief financial officer of advanced membrane technology company ZwitterCo. Mr. Ling most recently served as CFO for Veo Robotics Inc., where he led finance, operations, IT, and other support functions across the company. Partners Dan Cremins and Chris Clements and senior associate Shelby Chan
Steven John & Associates Recruits New Leader for the Center for Independence of Individuals with Disabilities
Executive search firm Steven John & Associates has assisted in the recruitment of Patrick Carbullido as the new executive director of the Center for Independence of Individuals with Disabilities (CID) in San Matteo, CA. “The first time I spoke to Pat and saw his resume and credentials, I thought he was the perfect fit for CID,”
Salveson Stetson Group Recruits CEO for PPR Capital Management
Radnor, PA-based executive search firm Salveson Stetson Group has assisted in the recruitment of Stephen Meyer as the new CEO for PPR Capital Management in Berwyn, PA. He will succeed co-founder Dave Van Horn and assume all CEO related responsibilities immediately. Mr. Van Horn will be continuing on with the firm as executive chairman of the board, as
Amrop UK Names Equity Partner
Amrop, a global leadership advisory and executive search partnership, has announced that Lucie Shaw has been named managing partner at Amrop UK, joining the three founding managing partners in equity ownership of the company as the U.K. business continues its growth trajectory. “Lucie has earned a strong reputation throughout her career for delivering top-tier executive
How CHROs and CPOs Can Become CEOs
Today, organizations are arguably more people-centric than they have ever been. Recruiters are saying that company culture and employee well-being are now fundamental gauges of company health. Inflation, economic uncertainty, and the pandemic presented a medley of challenges to organizations, not least the ones that involved the employee base: health and safety standards, hybrid work,
Is it Finally Adieu for the Noncompete Clause?
Earlier this year, Shelli Herman of Shelli Herman and Associates jumped for joy when she read about the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) proposed rule to ban noncompetes. “Over the course of my 26-year career in executive search, these mostly unenforceable and highly precarious documents have caused me more than a few sleepless nights,” she said. “These
Academic Career & Executive Search Spearheads Efforts to Find an Inclusion and Belonging Leader for Boise State University
Academic Career & Executive Search (ACES) has been selected by Boise State University to lead its search for a vice provost for inclusion and belonging. This executive serves as a senior official charged with leading and coordinating the efforts in academic affairs to support a richly diverse, inclusive, and welcoming environment for all students, staff, and
COORS Leadership Capital Seeks CFO for Northeast Montana Health Services
Given the speed at which market conditions, business strategies, and operational structures have changed in recent years, businesses are more aware than ever of the crucial role the chief financial officer plays in shaping and driving a company’s strategic direction. Charlotte, NC-based COORS Leadership Capital was recently selected by Northeast Montana Health Services to lead
Solomon Page Partners with Shatterproof
New York City headquartered executive search firm Solomon Page recently partnered with the Shatterproof, a national organization committed to ending addiction through advocacy and educational resources, conducting a fundraiser in January and February. The search firm also interviewed Lauren Lawson-Zilai, senior director, media and public relations for Norwalk, CT-based Shatterproof, to learn more about the non-profit’s
A Look at What is Driving Female Leaders
Women leaders are leaving their roles at the highest rate ever. Given that women are already drastically underrepresented at the leadership level, this mass departure is cause for significant concern, according to a recent report from Russell Reynolds Associates’ Margot McShane, Leah Christianson, and Joy Tan. For decades, much has been written about the gender
What Recruiters Should Look for in Chief Sustainability Officers
Sustainability has been a growing business concern for years. Recently, it has become even more of a strategic priority. “Investors are demanding information about sustainability activities… and customers and affected communities are becoming more aware [of] the power that they have to affect corporate behavior on this issue,” International Finance Corporation (IFC) said in their Focus
The Tolan Group Recruits CEO for Riverside Oral Surgery
The Tolan Group (TTG) recently assisted in the placement of Butch Marino as the new CEO of Riverside Oral Surgery in River Edge, NJ. Rachel Gauthier, managing partner, and Mallory Schmidt, senior search consultant, led the assignment. Mr. Marino is an entrepreneurial and relational executive with over three decades of healthcare experience, including corporate development and senior
Korn Ferry Places CEO of Institute of Management Accountants
Korn Ferry has helped to place Mike DePrisco, the former chief operating officer of PMI (Project Management Institute), as president and chief executive officer of IMA (Institute of Management Accountants), the association of accountants and financial professionals in business. Mr. DePrisco succeeds Jeff Thomson, who served in the role for nearly 15 years. Mr. DePrisco brings
Crenshaw Associates Adds Former PE Veteran as Executive Advisor
New York City-headquartered executive leadership advisory firm Crenshaw Associates has expanded with the addition of Erica Meyers Rivera as managing partner and executive advisor. In her new position, she will help lead and guide the firm’s focus on strategic growth initiatives that expand its service offerings in private equity and global Fortune businesses. “Erica joins us
Avoiding Bad Hires for Private Equity Portfolio Companies
Making the wrong C-suite hire is the biggest risk facing any portfolio company. Besides wasting compensation, a mis-hire in the C-suite can result in strategy mistakes, broken processes, and poor employee morale. But even worse for a private equity portfolio company, a bad C-suite hire consumes precious execution runway, the time that the company should be
Blue Rock Search Seeks Provost for Linfield University
Blue Rock Search has been selected by Linfield University to lead its search for a new provost. The provost serves as the chief academic officer for the university, including its three colleges, and provides academic leadership, guidance, resources, and bridges between the academic and student affairs units on campus to create an integrated student experience.
McCormack+Kristel Tapped to Find Chief People Officer for Los Angeles LGBT Center
Executive search firm McCormack+Kristel has been enlisted to find a chief people officer for the Los Angeles LGBT Center, which fights to advance civil rights and freedoms for LGBTQ people domestically and internationally through education, advocacy, and community organizing. Managing partner Michelle Kristel is spearheading the assignment. The new chief people officer will be expected to modernize
ZRG Partners Recruits Chief Risk Officer for Mascoma Bank
ZRG Partners, a leading search firm backed by private equity firm RFE Investment Partners, recently recruited Anne Chapin as the new chief risk officer for Mascoma Bank in Lebanon, NH. Managing directors Scott Kyle, Patrick Prout, and Jerry Bratkovich led the assignment. Ms. Chapin is a corporate risk transformation executive with 20-plus years of progressive experience
Claro Analytics Names VP of Partnerships
Claro Analytics, a WilsonHCG company and global labor market intelligence provider, has appointed Marc Mapes as vice president of partnerships. “We’re delighted Marc has joined the Claro team,” said Michael Beygelman, founder of Claro and now EVP of product at WilsonHCG. “Demand for real-time labor market intelligence is growing rapidly because it gives companies the ability to forecast
The Christopher Group Acquired by Managing Partners
The Christopher Group (TCG), a boutique HR executive search and business solutions recruiting firm, has been acquired by a group of managing partners led by Nat Schiffer on March 31st, 2023. The acquisition allows the firm to continue its growth trajectory while ensuring a smooth ownership transition. “The acquisition of The Christopher Group by its managing partners
How Women Leaders Reached the CEO Suite
Women are still finding it challenging to secure senior executive or CEO roles. Currently, just one in five top executives are female, according to Glassdoor. While this does represent progress, there’s still a lot of work to be done. So, how can more women get opportunities to lead enterprise organizations? To answer that question, Korn
Caldwell Posts 46 Percent Decline in Revenues
Toronto-based Caldwell posted Q2 revenues of $21.6 million (Canadian), a 46 percent decrease from a year ago. The firm noted stabilization in overall hiring demand but at lower levels than the prior-year period. Caldwell reported $2.3million (Canadian) in restructuring expenses from staffing reductions at IQTalent. It also reported $266,000 (Canadian) in restructuring expenses in lease costs
