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Wray Executive Search Names VP of Recruiting
Wray Executive Search, a provider of executive search and advisory services in the restaurant, foodservice, retail, and franchise industries, has expanded with the addition of Jonathan Kelley as vice president of recruiting. “Jonathan’s energy, responsiveness, and consultative approach align perfectly with how we serve our clients,” said Kevin Stockslager and Ray Kelley, managing partners. “He understands
Rising Demand for Data Expertise Forces Shift in Talent Strategy
In recent years, data has become business’s most valuable resource. Data analytics is no longer just an IT function, according to a recent report from 180 Engineering. It has become critical to a company’s ability to innovate, optimize operations, and respond to shifting market demands. “However, as business leaders become increasingly aware of the importance of
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,
Vardis Finds PE CEOs Under Pressure, But Optimistic
The Private Equity CEO Report from Vardis, based on a survey of 1,200 chief executives of PE-backed companies, paints a picture of resilience paired with constraint. Seventy percent of CEOs say company performance is “as expected” or better, yet exit activity remains muted, with 2025 tracking as the slowest year for PE exits since 2017, despite a
Klein Hersh Recruits CFO for Apogee Therapeutics
Horsham, PA-based Klein Hersh International, an executive search firm focused on the life sciences and healthcare industries, has placed Jane Pritchett Henderson as chief financial officer of biotechnology company Apogee Therapeutics, which provides therapies for immunological and inflammatory disorders. Ms. Henderson has an extensive track record in financial and corporate strategy leadership, including financing private
Jensen Partners Opens New Office in Miami
Jensen Partners, a women-owned executive search and corporate advisory firm that enables data-driven talent solutions for the asset management industry, has continued its expansion with the opening of a new office in Miami. “As Miami grows into a major global financial center, it is important for our firm to be strategically located to serve our growing
How to Address Quiet Quitting
Quiet quitting. What began as a viral video has become one of the most talked about (and written about) topics this year. Is it a valid phenomenon, or is it nothing more than catchy clickbait? To a certain degree, the answer to that question does not matter, says executive search firm Prestige Scientific in a
The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation Selects Spencer Stuart for CEO Search
The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation has retained Spencer Stuart to lead in its search for a new president and chief executive officer. Wendy Guillies recently retired after leading the Kansas City, MO-based organization for eights years of her 22-year career with the foundation. Trustee Susan Chambers will continue in her interim role as president and CEO,
Greenwich Harbor Partners Recruits Board Members for Soho Rep
Greenwich Harbor Partners assisted in the recruitment of Sidney Madison Prescott, Aretha Marshall and Anne O’Grady as new members of the board of directors with Soho Rep, an off-Broadway theater company in New York City. “This moment of growth for Soho Rep and systemic change in the American theater presents an ideal time for us to
Eastward Partners Names Head of Deal Advisory Practice
New York-based Eastward Partners has appointed Lindsey Webb as associate partner and head of the deal advisory practice signaling expansion plans for the firm across the private equity human capital market. “Lindsey’s addition to our leadership team is a major milestone for our firm,” said Joe Carbone, founder and CEO. “It demonstrates our dedication to expanding
RefAssured Secures Funding
Recruiting software start-up RefAssured has secured pre-seed funding led by Bullhorn Ventures, along with several other recruiting industry entrepreneurs. RefAssured’s mission is to show recruiting and talent agencies how to maximize the value reference checking while building new client and talent relationships. “Bullhorn Ventures is so excited to be an early investor in RefAssured, not only
Demand for Top Talent in the Private Equity Sector Continues
While financial engineering, inorganic growth, and market expansion remain important tools in the private equity toolbox, talent has emerged as key to growing companies and achieving the investment thesis, according to a newly released report from Bespoke Partners. Yet unlike strategic assets, intellectual property, or other resources that fuel growth, talent can be notoriously difficult
What to Expect in 2023
2022 was another trend-setting year in the workplace, and there’s still a lot in motion as we begin the new one. Derek Gracey of search firm Charles Aris has highlighted four key talent trends the firm expects in 2023 in a just released report. “It might seem hard to believe, but candidate compensation expectations continue to rise,
The Lapham Group Places SVP of HR for New Jersey Resources
The Lapham Group has placed Lori DelGiudice as senior vice president of human resources for New Jersey Resources (NJR), an energy services company. Ms. DelGiudice, a career HR professional with more than 20 years of experience, is responsible for designing, implementing, and overseeing NJR’s human capital management strategies and programs. Her responsibilities will include labor
ON Partners Recruits CEO for ETQ
ON Partners’ Lenny Vairo recently helped recruit Vick Vaishnavi as chief executive officer of ETQ, a provider of quality, EHS, and compliance management software in Burlington, MA. He succeeds former CEO Rob Gremley who led the company through an era of private-equity backed growth and SaaS-driven modernization, ultimately leading to ETQ’s acquisition by Hexagon AB last April. “I’ve had
Solomon Page Expands Accounting and Finance Division
New York City headquartered executive search firm Solomon Page has expanded its accounting and finance division with the addition of Daniel Clark as vice president. Based in Orlando, FL, he will focus on growing the firm’s footprint throughout Central Florida. Reporting to managing director Howard Hecht, Mr. Clark will be working with clients on direct hire placements
The Importance of CISOs in the Boardroom
In a new report that anticipates the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) finalizing new rules for boardroom cybersecurity accountability and expertise, DHR Global is raising concerns about the lack of such protections at public companies of all sizes. “Where entire boards have cyber oversight, it’s a nightmare as directors struggle to learn the evolving cyber
Sustainability’s Impact on Talent Teams
The demand for sustainability in business is driven by broad awareness of the danger of climate change. But also, corporate decision-makers are beginning to recognize the business benefits sustainability practices can provide. Leadership teams now have a responsibility to prioritize sustainability in their sourcing, operations, and partnerships. This is driven by customer expectations, a changing
Russell Reynolds Associates Seeks Lab Director for Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Russell Reynolds Associates has been enlisted to find the next lab director of Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in east Tennessee. Last July, Thomas Zacharia announced his retirement after more than five years in the role and 35 years with ORNL. Jeff Smith, who was ORNL’s chief operating officer from 2000 to 2021, has been
ZRG Partners Recruits Chief People Officer for Digital Turbine
Talent acquisition strategies at many large companies have become as complex as their balance sheets. And while chief human resources officers play a vital role in overseeing an organization’s broad-based workforce, the chief people officer typically goes beyond overseeing its people policies. The focus instead is on building talent as a key competitive advantage, with
Talentor International Adds New Member Firm in Australia
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. Executive search consortium Talentor International recently expanded its presence in Australia with the addition
How to Onboard Senior Executives
You’ve invested significant time and resources to find and hire the executive expected to deliver impactful results to your business. But your work is not done when they show up on their first day. In fact, some of your most important work is still to be done to help make them a successful hire, according
How Gratitude Makes for Better Leaders
Negativity and fearfulness can be paralyzing for anyone, but especially for those in positions of leadership. When we are not grateful in the present moment, it is highly unlikely that we will be able to view the future with hope and excitement. Approaching our work from a place of gratitude, however, enables us to be
Caldwell Recruits CEO for Dr.Evidence
Jim Bethmann and John Blank of Toronto-based Caldwell has placed Rose Higgins as the new chief executive officer of Dr.Evidence, a medical intelligence platform for life sciences companies. She will take over from co-founder and CEO Bob Battista. Mr. Battista has led the company since its founding in 2004 and will remain on the board
Cooper Coleman Recruits COO for AIDS United
Following a national search, Chicago-based Cooper Coleman LLC has recruited Brad Kiley as vice president and chief operating officer of Washington, D.C.-based AIDS United. Johnny Cooper, founder and CEO of the firm, led the assignment. “We are thrilled to have Brad join AIDS United as our next chief operating officer,” said Jesse Milan, CEO. “He is
Amrop Expands in the U.K.
Amrop, a global leadership advisory and executive search partnership, has expanded with the addition of Tim Hammett as a partner in the U.K. “Tim Hammett is joining us during an exciting period of diversification and growth,” said Adam Saunders, managing partner Amrop U.K. “His experience in the executive search market enables us to deepen our
A Varied Outlook for the Year Ahead
The executive search industry has been extremely strong over the last two years. After the initial shock of the pandemic, organizations looked to grow and recover, and they needed executive talent with new skills to lead the way. This led to a heightened war for talent, with salaries increasing dramatically. We are now approaching a
2023 Business, Leadership, and Executive Search Outlook
In many ways, 2022 was a year of extremes. War dramatically escalated in Europe with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February. Inflation is still rampant in many geographies, and is showing few signs of abating, despite central banks trying to rein in escalating consumer prices and living costs. At the same time, the unemployment rate
Kincannon & Reed Finds CEO for SyAqua Group
Executive recruitment firm Kincannon & Reed, which exclusively focuses on food, agribusiness, and the related life sciences, recently placed Fred H. Kao as chief executive officer of SyAqua Group, a leader is applying genetics and biotechnology to shrimp breeding. The assignment was led by managing partners Michael Whitney and Phillip Osborne. With a 20-year history in the
ZRG Partners Recruits Chief Technology Officer for Kantata
ZRG Partners, a leading search firm backed by private equity firm RFE Investment Partners, recently assisted in placing Ken Ringdahl as the new chief technology officer for Kantata, a global supplier of purpose-built technology for professional services. Lisa Hooker, ZRG’s managing director and technology practice leader, led the assignment along with Kevin Anderson, managing director. “Ken’s
Jobplex Appoints Partners
Jobplex, the Chicago-based partner company of DHR Global, has named Jeff Mercer and John McDonald as its newest partners. Mr. Mercer becomes a partner in the industrial practice group. He is based out of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He brings 20 years of experience in operations, sales, business development, and managerial roles. Mr. Mercer focuses on
With Job Cuts Underway, Korn Ferry to Acquire Third Interim Business
Korn Ferry will cut jobs and eliminate underutilized office space as part of a cost reduction plan. The firm said the job cuts will affect less than five percent of its workforce, which was 10,779 as of April 30, 2022, according to its latest annual report. At the same time, the top-ranked executive recruitment firm is showing no signs of easing
The Road From Pure Search to Premier Human Capital Solutions
SpenglerFox is a search firm on the go, boosting headcount, creating capabilities and capacities around the world, and earning a spot among Hunt Scanlon Media’s top 40 global talent providers. The Eschborn, Germany-headquartered firm was established in May 2003 as the executive search arm of the Ireland headquartered Grafton Employment Group. Its earlier beginnings saw
True Search Recruits President and Chief Commercial Officer for Mojix
Peterson Loftin, Matt Engel, and Isabel Klatt of executive recruiting firm True Search assisted in the recruitment of Chris Cassidy as president and chief commercial officer of Peak Rock Capital-backed Mojix in Boca Rotan, FL. “Chris joins Mojix with more than 20 years of executive leadership in various supply chain management roles and brings deep domain expertise
Nolan Partners Recruits CEO for the Chicago Bears
Executive search firm Nolan Partners, an Excel Sports Management company, has assisted in the recruitment of Kevin Warren as president and chief executive officer of the Chicago Bears professional football team. Most recently, Mr. Warren was commissioner of the Big Ten Conference, the oldest Division I collegiate athletic conference. He succeeds Ted Phillips, who is
