DAILY NEWSWIRE - TOP STORIES
Daily Newswire
AI Reshaping Leadership Hiring in Private Equity
Private equity investors are under increasing pressure to drive value creation quickly, placing greater emphasis on leadership decisions made early in the investment cycle. As deal timelines compress and operating demands intensify, firms are rethinking how they identify and evaluate executives capable of executing complex growth and transformation strategies. In response, new technologies are being
The Talent Studios Recruits President for Beach House Group
The Talent Studios has placed Fadi Sayegh as president at Beach House Group, the parent company of BÉIS luggage & PATTERN Beauty. The search was led by The Talent Studios’ Jeremy Cohen, Serena Smith, and Gretchen Koch. Mr. Sayegh is a seasoned finance and operations executive who recently served as the CFO of MaryRuth’s Organics, where he helped to build the accounting 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,
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
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
JM Search Recruits CFO for Frontline Education
Chief financial officers continue to be in high demand. Finding them is keeping many of the nation’s top recruitment operations busier than ever. In recent months, search firms of all varieties have placed chief financial officers at various companies, especially private equity-backed outfits. Felix Korostin and Charles Egoville of JM Search recently placed Bill O’Shea as the new CFO
Navigating the Road to Diversity
By now, we are all well aware of how diversity in the workplace can help our teams, companies, and society as a whole—not as an act of pinkwashing but actually as a sound and simple business approach to ensure that the people in company match those that you are looking to serve outside of your
PierceGray Seeks Chief Procurement Officer for Cornerstone Chemical
PierceGray has been retained by Cornerstone Chemical to lead its search for a chief procurement officer. Director Vince Sanchez is leading the assignment. To support the professionalization of their procurement function, Cornerstone is seeking to hire a chief procurement officer with global responsibility for $600 million in spend across all external vendor spend and internal procurement
Penrhyn International Adds New Member Firm in Germany
Executive search consultants are seeing an increase in hiring mandates from around the world. To meet 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 Penrhyn International has added expertalis in Germany as its
TurnkeyZRG Assists Big Ten Conference in Recruiting Seventh Commissioner
Following an extensive national search, TurnkeyZRG has assisted in the recruitment of Tony Petitti as the seventh commissioner of the Big Ten Conference. He will begin his tenure on May 15. He replaces Kevin Warren, who is becoming president and CEO of the Chicago Bears. TurnkeyZRG conducted a comprehensive and inclusive recruitment process that delivered a diverse
The Christopher Group Recruits EVP of People, Culture, and Engagement for Myriad360
The Christopher Group (TCG), a boutique HR executive search and business solutions recruiting firm, has placed Monica Mehta as the new executive vice president of people, culture, and engagement of Myriad360, a company that delivers industry-leading technology solutions to transform and secure their clients’ IT strategy, infrastructure, and business partnership. President and managing director Nat Schiffer and managing director
Ivy Group Seeks Executive Director for Altruvest Charitable Services
Toronto-based executive search firm Ivy Group has been enlisted to find an executive director for Altruvest Charitable Services, which matches and trains qualified leaders for critical board positions within local charities. Founding partner Catherine Graham is leading the assignment for the search firm. Working closely with the board, the executive director is responsible for realizing
Russell Reynolds Associates Adds Veteran Search Consultants
Leadership advisory firm Russell Reynolds Associates (RRA) has expanded with the additions of Alison P. Ranney and Theodore Dysart who have joined the firm as managing directors. Both are based in Chicago. Ms. Ranney and Mr. Dysart bring nearly five decades of combined experience advising CEOs and boards and leading director and senior executive searches across the
ChatGPT’s Future in Recruitment
Overall, artificial intelligence chatbot ChatGPT can be a valuable tool for recruiters looking to streamline their recruitment process, find the best candidates for their job openings, and increase their efficiency and effectiveness. Yet it still has its shortcomings. “Right now as a recruiter, the utility of ChatGPT to identify and source potential candidates is very limited
Interpreting Pitchbook’s M&A Report for Human Capital Investing
Despite harsh macroeconomic headwinds that persisted most of last year, above average deal flows persisted in 2022. But, according to the latest research from Pitchbook, it was a marked slowdown in activity from 2021, a record shattering year for M&A. What threw markets off course? According to Jinny Choi, a PE analyst at Pitchbook, staggering inflation
Odgers Berndtson Appoints CEO
Executive search firm Odgers Berndtson has named Kennon Kincaid as its new CEO for its U.S. business, succeeding Steve Potter, who has held the position for the past 12 years. Mr. Potter, who will remain an active board member, has grown the firm to become No. 12 on the Hunt Scanlon Top 50 Recruiters ranking in the U.S.
Academic Search Seeks President for Texas Wesleyan University
Education-focused executive recruiter Academic Search is seeking the 21st president for Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth, TX. The next president will have the opportunity to lead this liberal arts university to its next level of success through a continued commitment to student-centered achievement; academic rigor; diversity, equity, and inclusion; community engagement; financial discipline; and the passionate
Cooper Coleman Seeks Strategic Partnerships Officer for Proteus Fund
Chicago-based Cooper Coleman LLC has been enlisted to find a strategic partnerships officer for the RISE Together Fund (RTF), an initiative of Proteus Fund, a public foundation that works to advance democracy, human rights, and peace, in New York City. The assignment is being led by executive search consultant Paul Towne. “Ongoing violence and discrimination
DHR Global Names Leader of Las Vegas Market
Talent advisory firm DHR Global has named Andrea Bricca as managing partner and leader of the Las Vegas, NV market. The firm notes that her appointment adds another market to its continually growing presence throughout the country and the globe. “We’re excited to continue to grow our reach across more than 50 markets with our latest expansion into Las Vegas,”
Organizations Face Heightened Need for Interim Leadership
Despite slow, sometimes halted, hiring and frequent budget tightening amid global economic uncertainty, an acute need remains for high-end independent talent—also known as on-demand talent with skills to pivot adeptly in today’s increasingly competitive business environment. In its sixth annual High-End Independent Talent Report, Business Talent Group (BTG), a Heidrick & Struggles company and talent marketplace for
AGB Search Assists Ohio University in Finding New President
Washington, D.C.-based AGB Search, which specializes in higher education leadership assignments, has assisted in the recruitment of Lori Stewart Gonzalez as the 23rd president of Ohio University. She replaces Hugh Sherman, who agreed to serve a two-year term with plans to retire at the end of this academic year. Sally Mason, Larry Ladd, and Garry W. Owens led the
ON Partners Recruits CIO for STACK Infrastructure
Seth Harris and Tim Conti of ON Partners recently assisted in the recruitment of experienced data center industry professional Ravi Thota as the new chief information officer for STACK Infrastructure in Denver, CO. “Ravi has a proven history of delivering innovation and leading IT implementation and integration across global IT infrastructure and systems,” said Brian Cox, CEO of STACK Americas.
RevelOne Places Chief Marketing Officer for Incredible Health
Greenwood Village, CO-based executive search firm RevelOne recently assisted in the recruitment of Peter Scherr as the new chief marketing officer for Incredible Health, a hiring platform that connects health systems with job-seeking nurses. He joins the company from Pagaya, a financial technology company, where he oversaw global marketing, design, and public relations functions. The
The Taplow Group Expands to Bulgaria
Global recruiting consortium The Taplow Group has expanded to Sofia, Bulgaria with the addition of Top Skills Recruitment as its newest member firm. The new location further strengthens the firm’s global presence and expands its ability to serve clients in the region. With Eli Stoyneva and Dimitar Kalev as joint managing partners, The Taplow Group, Bulgaria, will
Breaking the Boardroom Glass Ceiling
For far too long, leadership positions have been less accessible for women than their male peers. This has resulted in frustrating gender imbalances across organizations’ top ranks globally—seven percent of the world’s largest companies still have all-male boards, and only 10 percent of Fortune 500 CEOs are women. But despite longstanding barriers, female leadership is
The Evolving Role of the Chief Risk Officer
In the aftermath of the NPA (non-performing asset) blowout, the stress across key financial institutions both in the public and private sector and the potential of a contagion effect, the burning need for stringent risk management practices emerged as a top priority for financial institutions including NBFCs (non-banking financial companies). Therefore, it came as no
