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The New Engine of Executive Search: How Hunt Scanlon Is Powering a Productivity Revolution
As the executive search industry confronts growing pressure to deliver consistent, high-level performance, recruiting firms are rethinking how their consultants are trained and developed. To that end, Hunt Scanlon and its HSiQ talent intelligence advisory unit last week began rolling out a new Recruiter Performance Training Program designed to bring greater structure, rigor, and scalability
What the Top 25 Percent of Search Firms Do Differently — And Why It’s Not About Sourcing
The performance gap between the highest-grossing executive search and recruiting firms and their peers is not primarily explained by market access, brand reputation, or the size of their candidate networks. According to new operational research from Recruiterflow — drawing on data from over 2,100 retained, contingent, and executive search firms — it comes down to
Executive Recruiters Pull Off Another Remarkable Year, Remain Bullish for 2023
Hunt Scanlon Media has released its annual rankings of leading executive recruiters. In the U.S. and globally, billions of dollars poured into the high-end recruiting sector in 2022, a result of continued pentup demand for senior-level leaders and their key reports.
Bespoke Partners Appoints Leader of People and HR Practice
San Diego, CA-headquartered Bespoke Partners recently named Dani Pfeiffer as a partner leading the people and human resources leader recruiting practice serving both software and industrials sector companies. She will lead dedicated recruiting teams on searches for talent executives for private equity portfolio companies for the software and SaaS clients served by Bespoke Partners and industrial clients served by Industra Talent Partners,
GDPR – The Perfect Time to Refresh Your Database
As executive search firms grapple with the complexities of GDPR, many are concerned that the new regulation will mean deleting thousands of records built up over many years. Surely there must be an alternative?
Wilson Forms New Alliance with Poetry to Advance AI capabilities
Global talent solutions provider Wilson has formed a new partnership with Poetry to strengthen its AI-enabled recruitment capabilities. The collaboration supports Wilson’s continued focus on embedding technology into its RPO delivery model through Wilson Workspace, its technology ecosystem. “We’re excited to announce our new partnership with Poetry,” said Charles Faigle, chief delivery officer at Wilson. This
What Executive Candidates Want From Employers Today
The executive talent market today has fundamentally shifted and senior leaders are evaluating employers through a far more demanding lens. They no longer weigh opportunities primarily on compensation or title; they assess the total leadership experience: governance, culture, organizational stability, purpose, autonomy, flexibility and long-term growth, according to a report from Kestria. “To attract and retain
WittKieffer Retained by Roosevelt University for President Search
Oak Brook, IL-based WittKieffer has been retained by Roosevelt University in Chicago to lead in its search for its seventh president. Ali Malekzadeh is retiring after being with the school since 2015. Senior partner Christine Pendleton, consultant Sandra Chu, senior associate Maya Holt-Brockenbrough, and senior advisor Ray Crossman. Roosevelt University seeks a student-centered president who is committed
Buffkin / Baker Acquires HR-Focused Benson Executive Search
Partner-led executive search firm Buffkin / Baker has acquired Boston, MA-based Benson Executive Search, a boutique firm focused on the human resources sector. Financial terms of deal were not disclosed. The acquisition strengthens Buffkin / Baker’s HR functional capabilities and gives the firm a stronger presence in the Northeast. “We’re thrilled to welcome Benson Executive Search to
SPMB Recruits Fills Senior Finance Position for Uber
Steven Popper of SPMB Executive Search has placed Wendy Drummond Craig as senior director, technical accounting, reporting, and M&A at Uber. In her new role, she will oversee teams responsible for technical accounting matters, SEC reporting, and accounting for mergers and acquisitions. “Wendy brings an extraordinary combination of technical accounting expertise, SEC reporting experience, and strategic advisory leadership
True Launches AI Capability Index for Executive Assessment
Global executive talent platform True has launched the True AI Capability Index, a proprietary framework that predicts executive performance in the AI-transformation age. “We are entering a phase where relationship depth and judgment matter more than ever,” said Brad Stadler, co-founder and CEO of True Platform. “The cost of finding names is decreasing. True’s advantage lies in our ability
AI-Native Talent Won’t Fix AI-Foreign Organizations
As artificial intelligence moves from experimentation to enterprise-wide adoption, organizations are grappling with a fundamental question: what does it actually mean to become AI-native? While the term has quickly entered the business lexicon, many leaders are still struggling to define the capabilities, operating models, and cultural shifts required to make that vision a reality. “Some
ZRG Partners Acquires Fortium
ZRG Partners has acquired Fortium, a Dallas-based search firm that provides fractional, interim, and project-based CIO, CTO, and CISO leadership. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. “Companies are making more nuanced decisions about leadership than they did even a few years ago, particularly in technology,” said Mark Viner, leader of interim solutions & project
Lochlin Partners Recruits SVP of HR for the National Association of Corporate Directors
Lochlin Partners has placed Marian Stevens as senior vice president, human resources of the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) in Washington, D.C. “Marian’s deep experience in talent development, organizational effectiveness, and culture will help NACD to continue building the internal capabilities needed to support our growth and deliver on our mission,” said Peter Gleason, president and CEO of
JDG Associates Tapped by Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute to Find New Leader
Rockville, MD-based executive search firm JDG Associates has been retained by the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI) to lead its search for a new president and CEO. The Chicago-based institute, the leading technical institute and trade association for the precast, prestressed concrete industry in North America, seeks a visionary and collaborative executive to succeed its long-serving chief executive,
IIC Partners Adds New Member Firm in New Zealand
IIC Partners Executive Search Worldwide has added Auckland, New Zealand-based Infinitas as its newest member firm expanding its capabilities across the Asia-Pacific region. “I am thrilled to welcome Infinitas to IIC Partners,” said Christine Hayward, executive director of IIC Partners. Their people-first philosophy, tech-enabled search processes, and talent advisory capabilities deeply align with our mission to transform
Hiring for the Culture You Don’t Yet Have
For much of the past decade, organizations have invested heavily in strategy, technology and operational efficiency to navigate an increasingly complex business environment. Yet despite these investments, many transformation initiatives continue to fall short of expectations. The differentiator is rarely the strategy itself. More often, success depends on whether leadership teams have the right people
BoardWalk Consulting Leading CEO Search for Downtown Atlanta Inc.
BoardWalk Consulting has been tapped by Downtown Atlanta Inc. (DAI) to lead in its search for a CEO. The search is being led by Sam Pettway, Crystal Stephens, and Patti Kish. The organization is seeking a leader who can help define what the next generation of Downtown Atlanta will become. This is a leadership opportunity of unusual scale and
Peña Search Assists To Be Like Me with the Recruitment of Executive Director
Peña Search recently assisted in the recruitment of Lauren Rowe as the new executive for To Be Like Me (TBLM) in Dallas, TX. Travis Hillier, Carlos González Peña, and Thaise Pereira led the assignment. She replaces To Be Like Me founder Hollis Owens, who has served as executive director since 2018 and initiated the search for her replacement last
BroadView Talent Partners Tapped by Baltimore Community Lending for President/CEO Search
BroadView Talent Partners was recently retained by Baltimore Community Lending, Inc. (BCL) to lead in its search for a new president and CEO. Tracy McMillan, Robyn Quinn, and Donna Young are leading the assignment. The CEO is the strategic, operational, and external leader of Baltimore Community Lending, responsible for driving the organization’s next era of growth and
Allen Austin Launches Evidence-Based Leadership Assessment VantagePoint
Houston, TX-based search firm Allen Austin launch of VantagePoint, an evidence-based leadership assessment that helps organizations identify and develop high-potential leaders with greater clarity and confidence. VantagePoint is grounded in three decades of leadership advisory work and original research by Allen Austin chairman and CEO Rob Andrews. Over two years, Mr. Andrews interviewed more than 100 CEOs,
The CHRO’s New Mandate
Across industries, the organizational design structure has shifted from a traditional pyramid to an hourglass model. This is not a recent development, explained Slayton Search Partners’ John Doyle in a recent report. “Organizational efficiencies, increased technology and the first wave of Baby Boomer retirements began this transition nearly two decades ago,” he said. “Experienced leaders have been retiring. Internal pipelines have
AGB Search Recruits 11th President for Lewis University
Washington, D.C.-based recruitment firm AGB Search, which specializes in higher education leadership assignments, has helped to recruit Christopher Sindt as the 11th president of Lewis University. The Lewis University board of trustees recently announced that president David Livingston, will retire at the conclusion of the 2025–26 academic year. Melissa K. Trotta, Matthew J. Kilcoyne, and John Cech led the assignment. “After
Kincannon & Reed Assists CCI Prime with CFO Search
Kincannon & Reed (K&R), which exclusively focuses on food, agribusiness, and the related life sciences, has assisted in the recruitment of Jamie Broad as CFO of CCI Prime, bringing on a seasoned finance leader to support the company’s next phase of growth. “Jamie’s ability to connect financial insights to operational realities makes her an exceptional
EQU Advisors Seeking Senior Leader for Sarah Lawrence College
Executive search firm EQU Advisors was recently retained by Sarah Lawrence College to lead in its search for an associate vice president of enrollment. This executive will serve as a key member of the senior enrollment leadership team and a collaborative partner across the institution. This role is designed to strengthen coordination, elevate shared strategy, and support
Egon Zehnder Forms Alliance with IMD
Global leadership advisory firm Egon Zehnder and IMD, a leading business school in global executive education, have formed a strategic partnership to facilitate board directors’ personal growth and elevate board performance. The partnership combines IMD’s academic rigor and deep connections to global boards with Egon Zehnder’s expertise in leadership and board effectiveness. Together, they will co-create tailored
Why Boards Are Betting on New CEOs and How to Set Them Up to Win
A growing number of companies are entrusting the corner office to leaders stepping into the CEO role for the first time. As succession strategies evolve and executive talent markets tighten, boards are increasingly prioritizing leadership potential, adaptability, and strategic vision over prior CEO experience. Boards now face a new question: which qualities make a first-time CEO succeed,
The Leadership Reset: What AI is Exposing About Today’s Executives
For decades, leadership success was largely measured by experience, team size, and the ability to manage complex organizations. Today, artificial intelligence is changing that equation, and it is reshaping how boards, investors, and hiring executives evaluate leadership talent. As AI transforms how work gets done, organizations are discovering that competitive advantage is no longer determined
Greenwood Asher & Associates Recruits Provost for the University of Cincinnati
Miramar Beach, FL-based executive recruitment firm Greenwood Asher & Associates has assisted the University of Cincinnati (UC) in the recruitment of Rudolph Buchheit as executive vice president for academic affairs and provost. Andriel Dees and Julie Schrodt led the assignment for the search firm. His selection follows a national search led by a dedicated search committee that was informed by
HARTZ Search Assists Geisinger with Recruitment of CIO
Charlotte, NC-based HARTZ Search has helped to recruit Bill Bellando as executive vice president and chief information officer of Geisinger. He joins Geisinger after serving as senior vice president and chief information officer at Georgia-based Wellstar Health System from 2022 to 2026. In this role, Mr. Bellando oversaw information technology and digital initiatives across the health system.
Hunt Scanlon’s Top 10 Recruiting Stories of 2025
In 2025, the recruiting and executive search industry entered a pivotal transformation driven by the rapid integration of AI and data intelligence. As firms navigated uneven hiring demand and ongoing consolidation, recruiters increasingly turned to AI-powered platforms, advanced analytics, and leadership science to deliver sharper insight, faster outcomes, and measurable value for clients. Investor activity
Artico Search Recruits General Partner of USVP
Mercedes Chatfield-Taylor of Artico Search recently assisted in the recruitment of Matt Garratt as general partner of U.S. Venture Partners (USVP), a Silicon Valley venture capital firm with a focus on cybersecurity, enterprise software, consumer, and healthcare. “We are thrilled to welcome Matt Garratt to the USVP team,” said Dafina Toncheva, general partner, USVP. “Matt brings a
Greenwich Harbor Partners Fills Five Board Positions for Teach for America-New York
Greenwich Harbor Partners assisted in the recruitment of Laurent Desmangles, Julian Gonzalez, Mike Henry, Toretha McGuire, and Anthony Ross as new members of the board of director for Teach for America-New York. Mr. Desmangles is a senior C-suite advisor with a global perspective and deep experience helping large organizations chart growth strategy, execute large scale transformation,
Herbert Mines Appoints Vice President
New York-based retail and consumer focused executive search firm Herbert Mines Associates has expanded with the addition of Lindsay Alexander as vice president. In her new position, she will focus senior-level searches within the beauty and consumer brands. Ms. Alexander brings over 16 years of experience in finance, operations, and strategy leadership roles at consumer-facing brands including beauty,
The Current State of Leadership Hiring
Throughout 2022, recruiters witnessed a rapid decline in leadership hiring–dropping 43 percent in the fourth quarter compared to the first quarter. In total, leadership hiring was down 14 percent vs. 2021, despite starting the year at an all-time high, according to a just released report from Thrive. “Tough public and private market conditions directly impacted
ON Partners Acquires Olympus Search Partners
ON Partners has acquired Olympus Search Partners and added its founder, Ashley Estes, as senior partner to further expand its market growth in both PE-backed health and wellness, and TMT. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. “Ashley brings in over 14 years of executive search experience to our team in the areas of
DHR Global Places SVP for DePaul University’s Division of Advancement and External Relations.
Talent advisory firm DHR Global has helped to place Katie Fraumann as senior vice president for the Division of Advancement and External Relations at DePaul University in Chicago. A well-rounded fundraiser, Ms. Fraumann has more than 20 years of experience building large-scale international capital campaigns for academic and athletic programs in complex higher education institutions. DHR’s
The Moran Company Seeks New Leader for No Barriers
The Moran Company, an executive recruitment firm that specializes in the non-profit sector, has been enlisted to help find the next executive director for No Barriers in Fort Collins, CO. Senior search consultant Mike English is leading the assignment The non-profit is poised for a post-COVID “re-boot” and is looking for a new executive director to
Koya Partners/Diversified Search Group Names Leader of Chicago Office
Diversified Search Group | Koya Partners has appointed Marissa Delgado as leader and managing director of its Chicago office. “Continuing to grow our impact nationally and globally requires exemplary leadership,” said Aileen K. Alexander, CEO of Diversified Search Group. “We are thrilled that Marissa will lead our Chicago office, which has more than tripled in size over the
An Inside Look at the World of Sports Recruiting
Given the search industry’s knack for finding a need and filling it, it was only natural that recruitment firms would soon step to the fore in the sports sector, which has become a growth area for executive search businesses. Many C-suite-focused recruiting firms are now active in the sector and some specialize only in the
Harris Search Associates Recruits CISO for the University at Buffalo
Following an extensive national search, Dublin, OH-based executive recruitment firm Harris Search Associates has recruited Joseph Grupp as assistant vice president and chief information security officer at the University at Buffalo (UB). Mr. Grupp began his career with UBIT in 2011 as a programmer for HUB, later becoming technical coordinator. He joined UB’s dental school in 2017
Altair Executive Search Launches
Veteran executive search consultant Shawn Woessner has launched Altair Executive Search in Minneapolis, MN. Altair was founded to cater to small- and mid-market organizations as they look to find top-quality talent to drive significant enterprise value. “The global firms have largely ignored serving our targeted clients,” said Mr. Woessner. “Our white-glove, customized search approach combined
True’s Climate Tech Practice Grows Leadership Team
Global talent provider True has named Paul Gilkerson to co-head of its climate tech practice and added Wrendon Hunt to lead climate tech’s industrial and manufacturing sector. “Paul and Wrendon exemplify the innovative leaders that make True the world’s best talent partner to clients taking advantage of the investment opportunities of today,” said Andy Towne, co-head of the climate tech practice. “Paul’s experience
PFM Executive Search Seeks CFO for BC Children’s Hospital Foundation
PFM Executive Search has been chosen to find the next vice president and chief financial officer for the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation (BCCHF) in Vancouver, British Columbia. The non-profit raises funds on behalf of BC Children’s Hospital, the sole hospital in the province devoted exclusively to the care of children. Associate partner Jennifer Madden and senior
Developing Sustainability-Focused Leaders
Sustainability is one of the most pressing issues on the CEO agenda today. Employees, investors, customers, and communities are looking for business leaders to pivot their organizations to a more sustainable future. Yet, as Clarke Murphy, veteran leadership advisor at Russell Reynolds Associates, outlines in his new book: there’s just one problem: Many are struggling
Buffkin / Baker Recruits Sixth President for Christopher Newport University
Executive search firm Buffkin / Baker has recruited Rear Admiral William G. Kelly as the sixth president of Christopher Newport University (CNU). Leading the assignment were Martin M. Baker, managing partner and Chelsie Whitelock, principal. Mr. Kelly was selected after a year-long rigorous, inclusive nationwide search. The board was unanimous in its decision, noting that Mr. Kelly’s life of public
BoardWalk Consulting Places New CEO for Louisiana Children’s Museum
BoardWalk Consulting has assisted in the recruitment of Tifferney M. White as the new CEO of the Louisiana Children’s Museum (LCM) in New Orleans. John Sparrow, senior director, and Lysondra Somerville, senior research associate, spearheaded the assignment. An experienced and nationally recognized leader in the children’s museum field, Ms. White will officially begin her new
Slone Partners Appoints Chief Business Officer
Life sciences-focused search firm Slone Partners has expanded with the addition of Bridget K. Burke as chief business officer. This is a new position that reflects the firm’s commitment to long-term business planning and growth. “Bridget Burke is a tremendously talented, driven, and accomplished business leader with a wide range of experience over more than 20 years in
Saxton Bampfylde Recruits CEO for the Royal Albert Hall
U.K.-based executive recruiter Saxton Bampfylde has placed James Ainscough as the new CEO of the Royal Albert Hall in London. Craig Hassall stepped down from the role in December. Dan Freeman, Royal Albert Hall’s chief operating officer, will continue to act as interim CEO until Mr. Ainscough starts in the late spring. Mr. Ainscough joins the Royal Albert Hall from Help Musicians,
Keys for Attracting and Retaining Top Talent in the Cannabis Industry
Attracting and keeping talented cannabis employees that fit your company culture is top priority for all human resources departments in the industry. One market, the legal cannabis industry, has over 420,000 full-time employees. However, the revolving door of the space is an issue every cannabis business must deal with, like any other industry, according to
Egon Zehnder Recruits CEO for Primedia Group
After an intensive executive search, leadership advisory firm Egon Zehnder has recruited Bongumusa Makhathini as the new CEO of Primedia Group in Johannesburg, South Africa. He takes over from Dave Roberts who now serves as chairman of Primedia Outdoor and also heads up mergers and acquisitions at Primedia Group. “Last year I shared the Primedia Group’s Vision
Knightsbridge Robertson Surrette Seeks CEO for New Brunswick Medical Society
Nova Scotia-headquartered executive search firm Knightsbridge Robertson Surrette (KBRS) has been enlisted to find the next chief executive officer for the New Brunswick Medical Society (NBMS) in Fredericton, New Brunswick. The CEO will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the NBMS and the general management of the society while representing New Brunswick physicians and
ON Partners Recruits Chief Information and Technology Officer for ClearCaptions
Demand for top technology executives continues to gain momentum and executive search firms have been there to meet this demand. Andy Hickman and Tim Conti of ON Partners recently assisted in the recruitment of Sanjay Singam as the new chief information and technology officer of ClearCaptions and Vimient in Roseville, CA. He will report directly to the companies’ CEO, Robert Rae.
Furst Group Appoints Vice President
Executive recruitment firm Furst Group, which serves the healthcare and insurance industries, has named Paul Esselman as vice president. “We are excited and honored to welcome Paul Esselman to the Furst Group community of leaders,” the search firm said. “With more than 35 years of experience leading healthcare executive searches and providing client consultation focused on physician leaders and
Executive Search Firms Continue to Adapt to Economic Conditions
Beyond the health crisis it created, COVID-19 in many ways changed the world. In business and our work lives, the pandemic sparked and accelerated shifts that had already been stirring, driving them to the forefront, from the rise of technology and remote work to a greater emphasis on work-life balance. Concern about supply chains, meanwhile,
Choosing a CEO in Financial Services
Boards—especially within a financial services environment—play a critical role in providing direction on organizational strategy and performance while operating with shareholders, consumers, and key stakeholders top of mind. While the scope and oversight of boards have grown exponentially in recent years, there are two critical responsibilities that are especially pertinent for directors. These include approving
N2Growth Recruits President for Hiffman
N2Growth, a Philadelphia-based management consulting and executive search firm, has assisted in the recruitment of John Heiberger as president of Hiffman. This includes NAI Hiffman, an independent commercial real estate company in the Midwest, and Hiffman National, a project management, property accounting and lease administration services company. The assignment was led by senior director Tom Dunn. “With John’s vast
RevelOne Recruits Top Marketing Executive for Sézane
As business becomes more complex and power shifts from producers of goods and services to consumers, the chief marketing officer’s job of planning and coordinating marketing activities has become more challenging — and much more influential. Greenwood Village, CO-based executive search firm RevelOne recently assisted in the recruitment of Kelsie Lo-Pelletier as vice president of marketing,
Agilium Worldwide Names New Chairperson
Global executive search consortium Agilium Worldwide has appointed Matthias Rode as chairman. He succeeds Olivier Bouhoulle. “I would like to thank Olivier for leading the group successfully during the past three years,” said Dr. Rode. “Despite difficult times adapting to the COVID pandemic Olivier kept the group together and provided us with positivism and stability.” Dr.
How to Attract the Best Cybersecurity Talent
Recruiting a chief information security officer (CISO) is crucial for any organization looking to protect itself from cyber threats executive recruiters say. The CISO is responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy, as well as overseeing a team of security professionals. Finding the right CISO for your organization, however, can take time and
Griffith Group Seeks New President for Acadia University
Toronto-based executive recruitment firm Griffith Group has been called in by Acadia University to lead its search for a new president and vice chancellor. Jane Griffith, managing partner and founder, and Sam Walton, partner, are spearheading the assignment. “Reporting to the board of governors, and working with engaged and committed faculty, staff, students, and alumni
DRiWaterstone Human Capital Seeks Executive Director for Justice at Work
Arlington, VA-based DRiWaterstone Human Capital has been enlisted to find the next executive director for Justice at Work (JAW), a Philadelphia-based legal non-profit that supports organizations of workers in low-paying jobs. The executive director leads JAW in the day-to-day pursuit of its mission. The individual appears on behalf of the organization and the movement it
