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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.
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,
The CFO Talent Shortage Is Reaching a Breaking Point
According to global talent advisor ZRG, the shortage of chief financial officers and their finance teams is reaching epic proportions as we head into another busy year of executive recruiting. With market complexity increasing, CFOs are in high demand, yet the supply of qualified candidates is dwindling. This shortage is being driven by a convergence of
Myers McRae Seeks President for Gulf Coast State College
Macon, GA-based Myers McRae Executive Search and Consulting has been enlisted to find the next president for Gulf Coast State College in Panama City, FL. Emily Parker Myers, the search firm’s CEO, is conducting this search with assistance from Jessica Thompson, associate vice president and executive search coordinator. “The college seeks a strategic thinker and lifetime
Kincannon & Reed Recruits CEO for NewLeaf Symbiotics
Executive recruitment firm Kincannon & Reed, which exclusively focuses on food, agribusiness, and the related life sciences, recently placed Brent Smith as the new president and CEO of NewLeaf Symbiotics. Jon Leafstedt, Cassie Edgar, and Crystal Strauss led Kincannon & Reed’s identification, recruitment, and evaluation of a strong slate of well- qualified candidates. “Passionate and
Glider AI Raises $10 Million in Funding
Glider AI, a Cupertino, CA-based skill intelligence platform provider, raised $10 million in series A funding. The round was led by Primera Capital. The company intends to use the funds to continue its expansion in contingent programs and permanent hiring, furthering the development of proprietary technology, and growing its global team. Founded in 2020 by Satish
How Today’s General Counsel Helps Drive Strategies
Today’s general counsel serves as a trusted advisor to the entire company, leading all corporate, strategic, and tactical legal initiatives, while providing management and operating teams with impeccable legal and business judgment. “Great general counsels are great operators and serve cross-functionally across company strategies, with a granular understanding of every piece of the business, maybe
Healthcare Trends That Will Shape 2023
J.P. Morgan recently held its annual healthcare conference in San Francisco, its first in-person since 2020. The energy was palpable, says Spencer Stuart in its recent report on the gathering. In more than 300 conversations with industry board members, CEOs, and C-suite leaders, the search firm explored many key trends playing out in healthcare this
Diversified Search Group | Koya Partners Recruits Chief People Officer for Brooklyn Academy of Music
Executive search firms have been stepping up their efforts to assist companies across the nation to find new chief people officers. Diversified Search Group | Koya Partners recently assisted in the recruitment of Missy Flower as the new chief people officer for the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Chartise Clark and Naree W.S. Viner led the assignment for the recruitment firm.
ON Partners Recruits CEO for New Wave Design and Verification
Baillie Parker of ON Partners recently assisted in the recruitment of Marti Nyman as the new president and CEO of New Wave Design and Verification LLC (New Wave DV), a provider of high-performance digital electronic interface solutions for defense, aerospace, and medical applications. Founder and acting CEO Josh Dirlam will step into the executive chairman role,
SPMB Places CFO for Deepwatch
SPMB Executive Search, which helps find transformative executives throughout Silicon Valley, has assisted in placing Mel Wesley as chief financial officer of Tampa, FL-based Deepwatch, which provides advanced managed detection and response security. The search was led by Sarah Auten, client partner at SPMB. Mr. Wesley is a seasoned finance executive with over 25 years
The Hot M&A Market for Executive Search Expected to Continue
Significantly more U.S. chief executives plan to pursue deals compared with their global chief counterparts, according to the newly-released U.S. CEO Outlook survey from EY. A full 63 percent reported they will pursue an M&A deal in the next 12 months, much higher than the 46 percent of CEOs globally who plan to pursue M&A. This
Hiring Talent Quickly Boosts Performance
It is no secret that the current labor market is challenging for employers. The pandemic, followed by the Great Resignation, led to talent scarcity that remains today. In 2022, resignations by employees in professional services like finance and accounting roles averaged 750,000 per month. This trend has organizations intent on strategies to both attract and
Unemployment Rate Stands at 3.6 Percent as Uncertainty Looms
Employment rose by 311,000 in February as the U.S. unemployment rate stands at 3.6 percent, according to today’s U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report. The number of unemployed persons also decreased to 5.9 million in February. Notable job gains occurred in leisure and hospitality, retail trade, government, and health care. Employment declined in information and in
NorthWind Partners Recruits CEO for Oasis Technology & Engineering
Reston, VA-headquartered executive search firm NorthWind Partners has recruited David Zolet as the new CEO for Oasis Technology & Engineering in Burlington, MA. Tom Colatosti is retiring after 12 years as years in the company’s top spot. Partner Hunter Murray led the assignment. “On behalf of the board of directors, management team, and thousands of Oasis
WorkLLama Secures $50 Million in Funding
WorkLLama, technology provider of an AI-driven, talent marketing, relationship management, and direct sourcing suite, has secured $50 million in investments. With the new funds in place, the company says it expects to continue growing its team, accelerate product enhancements, focus strategic acquisitions over the next 12 months, invest in continued automation, and continue to expand
Bespoke Partners Launches Strategic Resourcing Group to Serve PE Outfits
San Diego, CA-headquartered executive search firm Bespoke Partners has launched a service giving curated access to a comprehensive network of executives for private equity. The Strategic Resourcing Group (SRG) proactively provides vetted slates of actionable executives to private equity firms to accelerate recruiting of leadership talent for their portfolio companies. “You will solve your next executive leadership
Korn Ferry Posts Flat Fiscal Q3 Revenues
Korn Ferry (NYSE:KFY) has posted 2023 third quarter revenue of $680.8 million, essentially flat from the third quarter of last year. Revenue decreased in executive search and professional search mainly due to a decline in demand for the firm’s products and services driven by the global economic factors. This decline in fee revenue was fully offset by
ZRG Partners Recruits Chief Data Scientist for DLA Piper
ZRG Partners, a leading search firm backed by private equity firm RFE Investment Partners, recently assisted in placing Bennett B. Borden as chief data scientist with DLA Piper. Lisa Hooker, ZRG’s managing director and technology practice leader, led the assignment along with Rahul Kapur, managing director and global head of fintech, and Jack Dart, managing
Kevin Chase Executive Search Helps Los Angeles Center for Law & Justice Recruit New Leader
Los Angeles-based Kevin Chase Executive Search Group has assisted in the recruitment of Carmen McDonald as the next executive director for the Los Angeles Center for Law & Justice (LACLJ). Following a national search, the organization decided on an internal candidate. Leading the assignment were Kevin Chase, managing partner, and Catie DiFelice, senior consultant. “Congratulations to Los Angeles Center for Law
Pedersen & Partners Appoints Country Manager for The Netherlands
Dubai-headquartered executive search firm Pedersen & Partners has expanded with the addition of Hans Lodewijks as a client partner and country manager The Netherlands. “We are excited to welcome Hans Lodewijks to our Dutch team, as we continue to consolidate our presence in Europe,” said Guido Bormann, partner at Pedersen & Partners. “His impressive track record of over 30
Building the Best PE and VC Leadership Teams in 2023
In 2022, we saw significant growth and increase in the number of deals by private equity and venture capital firms within the life sciences and healthcare sectors. Additionally, a recent article discussed a newly emerging area of investment for PE in clinical trials and research. Part of the biggest challenge PE and VC firms are
Reasons New Hires Don’t Always Work
While companies are looking for very specific profiles when hiring in the financial services and fintech industry, studies have shown that hard skills are not the main reason that new hires were unsuccessful, according to a report from Right Executive Search (RES)’s Elisa Sheftic. In fact, according to Leadership IQ, 89 percent of people working
ON Partners Recruits Chief Services Officer for StarCompliance
ON Partners have helped to place Michael DiComes as the new chief services officer of StarCompliance. Partner Seth Harris led the assignment. “As we build on our reputation of best-in-class client service, matched with award-winning compliance solutions, it was imperative that we found the right client service executive to take the organization to the next level,” said Jennifer Sun,
Krauthamer & Associates Places CEO for Capital Metro in Austin, TX
Executive recruiting firm Krauthamer & Associates has helped to place Dottie Watkins as president and chief executive officer of Austin, TX-based transportation provider Capital Metro (CapMetro). Ms. Watkins had been serving as interim CEO since last June. The transit agency’s board of directors appointed her after previous leader Randy Clarke stepped down to head the
Blue Rock Search Partners with White Drive North America
Blue Rock Search has been selected to handle recruitment process outsourcing for White Drive North America. “Blue Rock is proud to partner with White Drive as their RPO services provider,” said Ruben Moreno, founder and HR practice leader at Blue Rock Search. “Our approach is designed to make the whole recruiting process, from position opening
The CHRO Trends for 2023
After several years of challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain difficulties, and economic uncertainty, organizations are wondering what to expect in 2023. Unfortunately, there are still adverse remnants of the previous three years. Among others, the war in Ukraine continues, with no end yet in sight. Nor is there any shortage of changes underway in
Effective Questions to Ask in a Job Interview
Okay, so you scored an interview for a new role – congratulations! But what now? Interviewing for a new position can be exciting, intimidating, and anxiety-driven all at the same time. But proper preparation can not only put you at ease and make you more confident going in, but it can also leave a positive-lasting
Caldwell Recruits CFO for Long View
The pressure on chief financial officers during the pandemic has been significant. That has made finding the best ones big business for executive recruiters. Just recently, Toronto-based Caldwell assisted in the recruitment of Rachael Golembuski as the new chief financial officer of Long View Systems. The search led by Les Gombik, Drew Railton, and Maryse Robichaud. Ms. Golembuski has
Frederickson Partners Fills Top HR Post for Academy of Art University
Executive recruiters are in hot pursuit of chief human resource officers and other senior-level HR leaders across the nation. Why such pent-up demand for top flight HR experts? Corporate leaders want HR leaders who are sophisticated, proactive, and strategic-minded, with strong business savvy to drive their people capabilities like they would a P&L, according to
Wilton & Bain Places CIO for Truespeed
Wilton & Bain has placed Robert Purdy as the new chief information officer of Truespeed. Jay Siddiki and Nic DeVito from the firm’s global technology practice led the assignment. “Robert is a fantastic hire for Truespeed,” said Mr. Siddiki. “He will be a brilliant addition to an already brilliant leadership team. As the business continues to go from
Looking in the Rearview Mirror at Solid Year for Executive Search
“Looking in my rear-view mirror, I can make it disappear, I can make it disappear, have no fear,” sang Anthony Kiedis of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. With two months of 2023 behind us, Dan O’Day of McDermott + Bull recently reviewed the past year and made some predictions for 2023. Key areas that he
Pender & Howe Seeks President for Perimed AB
Toronto-based Pender & Howe Executive Search has been enlisted to find the next president for Perimed AB, a Sweden-based medical devices and equipment, and manufacturing company. The company’s U.S. headquarters is in Las Vegas, NV. The assignment is being led by Céline Chabée, a partner with the search firm. Reporting to the global chief executive
Anthem Executive Seeks Provost for Western Oregon University
Executive recruitment firm Anthem Executive has been called in by Western Oregon University to lead its search for a new provost and vice president of academic affairs. Leading the assignment are Michael Ballew, Scott Watson, and Florene Stawowy. The provost will have a career defining opportunity to elevate the university’s position as an accessible institution uniquely tailored to the needs
