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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.
Brettschneider Executive Search Seeking Inaugural SVP of Advancement for Wilmington University
New York City-based Brettschneider Executive Search has been retained by Wilmington University (WilmU) to lead in its search for an inaugural senior vice president of advancement to lead the University’s next phase of philanthropic growth. Reporting to WilmU president LaVerne Harmon, the SVP will partner closely with the president, board and University leaders to advance the University’s strategic
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?
August Leadership Expands in London
August Leadership has expanded with the addition of Honor Pollok as a partner in London. Ms. Pollok brings over 20 years of executive search and leadership experience. She has led numerous high-profile placements in chair, non-executive director, CEO and the full spectrum of C-suite roles. Her search expertise spans key commercial, financial, creative, human resource, functional,
Hunt Scanlon and HSiQ Spotlight New Approach to Recruiter Training
As the executive search industry faces mounting pressure to improve performance and consistency, firms are increasingly reevaluating how recruiters are trained and developed. Hunt Scanlon and its HSiQ talent intelligence advisory unit recently launched a new Recruiter Performance Training Program designed to bring greater structure, commercial rigor, and scalability to recruiter development in an industry long driven by
Building Team Alignment in an Era of Continuous Change
Ask any team to describe its top strategic priorities and you will often get as many answers as there are people in the room. The problem is not that the strategy hasn’t been communicated, according to recent report from AIIR Consulting. “The problem is that it was communicated into an environment that has since shifted
Isaacson, Miller Helps Recruit 28th President for Texas A&M
Boston-based Isaacson, Miller has assisted in the recruitment of Susan Ballabina as the 28th president of Texas A&M. Andy Lee and Julie Filizetti, led search with Raul Bernal and Luciano Zuniga, and Madeline Fitzpatrick. The members of the Board of Regents conducted a national search that produced a strong pool of candidates. Dr. Ballabina emerged through that process based on her experience, her understanding of
BarkerGilmore Recruits General Counsel for American Credit Acceptance
Boutique search firm BarkerGilmore, which specializes in building corporate legal and compliance teams, has placed Debra Noll as general counsel at American Credit Acceptance. The search was led by Stephen Bell and Alison Waters. “Deb is exceptionally well-positioned to support American Credit Acceptance as it continues to grow and adapt in a complex environment,” BarkerGilmore said in a LinkedIn
Kincannon & Reed Appoints VP of Marketing and Business Development
Kincannon & Reed (K&R), which exclusively focuses on food, agribusiness, and the related life sciences, has expanded with the addition of Dan Evans as vice president of marketing and business development. “Dan brings a strong background in building brands, driving growth, and connecting strategy to execution,” said Stephanie Liska, president of Kincannon & Reed. “Throughout his career,
Women Founders Gain Ground in Human Capital M&A
A meaningful shift has been unfolding across the executive search industry. Over the past decade, a growing number of highly specialized boutiques have been founded and led by women, many of whom built successful careers within larger firms before launching businesses of their own. What is becoming increasingly clear is that investors are paying attention.
Private Equity Recruiting – Return on Investment: Creating Value with Talent
Talent has become a defining driver of performance in private equity, shaping how firms manage risk, execute strategy, and deliver sustained returns. As deal cycles tighten and value creation depends increasingly on operational excellence, leadership quality and organizational design are no longer secondary considerations — they are central to how firms source, underwrite, and scale
AGB Search Seeking Chief Information Technology Officer for Slippery Rock University
Washington, D.C.-based recruitment firm AGB Search, which specializes in higher education leadership assignments, has been retained by Slippery Rock University to lead in its search for a chief information technology officer (CITO). Kimberly Templeton, Margaret Plympton, and Anne Hoffman are leading the assignment. This leader serves as the University’s senior technology executive, providing strategic vision, leadership, and executive
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
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,
Hunt Scanlon Launches HSiQ Talent Intelligence Advisory Unit
HSiQ, a data-driven, AI-enabled talent intelligence platform that delivers real-time competitive intelligence, deep people analytics, and strategic leadership insights to enterprises across financial services, private equity, multinationals, and executive search. With HSiQ, organizations will have access to a powerful new engine that combines proprietary data, original research, and market-wide benchmarking to inform strategic hiring, leadership
Vetted Solutions Recruits CEO for National Association of Personal Financial Advisors
Washington, D.C.- based Vetted Solutions has assisted in the recruitment of Kathryn A. Dattomo as the next chief executive officer for the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA), a Chicago-based association dedicated to fee-only financial planning. Leslie M. Stokes, vice president of the search firm, who has worked for various associations throughout her career, served
Anthem Executive Seeks CMO for Tax Firm Ryan
Executive recruitment firm Anthem Executive has been called in by Ryan, a leading global tax services and software provider, to find a senior vice president and chief marketing officer. Leading the assignment are Scott Watson, Michael Ballew, Florene Stawowy, and Mike “JR” Wheless. The senior vice president and chief marketing officer is responsible for overseeing the development, implementation,
Flatiron Search Partners Acquires Bigfoot Search
Flatiron Search Partners (FSP) has acquired technology-focused search firm Bigfoot Search. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Bigfoot Search was founded in 2019 by Jeff Bruce, who previously spent a decade partnering with founders and executive leadership teams of emerging and growth-stage businesses backed by top-tier venture capital and private equity firms. A
Heidrick & Struggles Posts 13.7 Percent Q1 Revenue Decrease
Executive search, leadership consulting, and culture shaping services provider Heidrick & Struggles / (NASDAQ:HSII) has posted first quarter revenues of $239.3 million, a decrease of 13.7 percent, compared to the first quarter of last year. The Chicago-headquartered recruiter — the fifth largest global firm as ranked by Hunt Scanlon Media — reported net income of $15.6 million and diluted earnings per share was $0.76; this
HARTZ Search Recruits Chief Wellness Officer for Louisiana Children’s Medical Center Health
In these unprecedented times, comprehensive well-being (mental, emotional, physical, financial, and professional) in the workplace is important. How we support ourselves, and how we support others within our businesses – such as business partners, clients, and contacts – is crucial, according to a recent report by Forbes. The good news is that companies are progressively
SearchWide Global Appoints Vice President
Executive recruitment firm SearchWide Global has grown its staff with the appointment of Andrea Christopherson as vice president. She will assist with SearchWide Global’s director and C-level searches and business development initiatives in the experiential event marketing segment along with the tradeshow and convention industries. “Andrea is an excellent addition to our team. With her experience
ThinkingAhead Executive Search Seeks New Leader for Creative Discovery Museum
Creative Discovery Museum (CDM) in Chattanooga, TN, has selected ThinkingAhead Executive Search to lead its search for a new president and chief executive officer. Henry Schulson will retire this fall after leading the museum for 26 years. The search firm’s Kay Linder is serving the partner in charge of the assignment. “I am so thrilled and
Buffkin / Baker Adds to Higher Education Practice
Partner-led executive search firm Buffkin / Baker has expanded with the addition of Ann Yates as a partner in its higher education practice area. “We are delighted to welcome Ann to the Buffkin / Baker team. Her demonstrated success in recruiting diverse and talented candidates will bring substantial value to our clients across the country,” said
Advice for Today’s Senior Executives Looking for New Positions
One of the duties of an executive recruiter is having the opportunity to help talented executives plot the next step in their career. As a retained search firm, Spencer Stuart works on behalf of its clients to find the right candidates. However, the firm’s results depend on them having access to the best talent and
ON Partners Recruits CEO for Welocalize
Baillie Parker of ON Partners recently assisted in the recruitment of Paul Carr as the new CEO of Welocalize Inc. in New York City. He succeeds founder Smith Yewell, who has served as the company’s CEO since 1997. Todd Solow, partner at Norwest Equity Partners (NEP), a middle market investment firm that acquired Welocalize in 2015, said: “Like
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
