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Alexander Hughes Appoints Managing Partner U.K and Ireland
Alexander Hughes has expanded with the addition of Richard Ingram as managing partner U.K. and Ireland. In his new position, he will lead the firm’s activities across the U.K. and Ireland, supporting strategic growth and strengthening client partnerships across key sectors. With over three decades of international executive search experience, Mr. Ingram has built a track
Hunt Scanlon Launches Training Program for Executive Recruiters
The executive search industry has a training problem. For decades, recruiting firms have relied on apprenticeship models, learning by osmosis, informal coaching, and individual manager styles. It works for a few. But it does not scale. In a market now defined by AI, speed, precision, and commercial pressure, inconsistency in recruiter performance is no longer
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.
Five Shifts That Influenced CEO Leadership in 2025
Organizations entered 2025 confronting a level of volatility that demanded more than short-term adjustments—it required a fundamental rethinking of how leaders grow and respond. As the pace of change accelerated, CEOs increasingly recognized that their ability to evolve strategically and personally would define their effectiveness. In 2025, CEOs operated in a world defined by continuous
Renovata & Company Recruits CEO for Boost.ai
Global executive search and private equity advisory firm Renovata & Company has placed Jerry Haywood as chief executive officer for Boost.ai, a global leader in conversational artificial intelligence for Fortune 1000 companies. He will succeed founder and current CEO Lars Ropeid Selsås, who will give greater focus to product development and innovation. “Jerry has more than
Today’s General Counsel is Helping Drive Strategy, and More
Given the environment that businesses operate in today, the general counsel role has become a critical, and invaluable, member of leadership teams everywhere, with no end in sight for the demand for these leaders. With that said, lawyerly advice is hardly this senior executive’s most important contribution. With their insights into virtually every aspect of
Talent’s Role in Shifting to the Cloud
Everyone is talking about the journey to the cloud. Before the pandemic, 88 percent of all organizations had begun the transition, although most are only a short way into that journey. Most enterprises are only at 20 percent of full cloud integration, says one study, by IBM and McKinsey. The reason most companies are still
Caldwell Recruits Chief Customer Experience Officer for Western Financial Group Insurance Solutions
Customers matter. It sounds simple. But these days, companies are coming to better accept and understand that concept and weave it into their strategic vision. So it is that businesses of all kinds are increasingly bringing aboard chief customer officers (CCO), the most effective of whom wield influence across an organization and into the C-suite.
ON Partners Recruits Chief Commercial Officer for Vivodyne
Andy Hickman and Alex Pelak of ON Partners recently assisted in the recruitment of Susan Billings as chief commercial officer of Philadelphia-based biotechnology company Vivodyne. “Dr. Billings brings an exceptionally rare combination of world-class experience in commercial strategy, strong character, and deep scientific expertise to Vivodyne,” said Andrei Georgescu, CEO. “I cannot overstate how thrilled we
The Barton Partnership Appoints Executive Chair
The Barton Partnership, a U.K.-based executive search firm, has appointed Tara Ricks as its executive chair. “Securing Tara as executive chair is a coup for the company,” said Nicholas Barton, founder. “Her track record, extensive experience, and industry credentials speak for themselves, and I have no doubt she will add tremendous value to our growth
Talent Management in a Hot Market and What CEOs are Thinking
Talent management – the strategy behind recruiting, developing, and maintaining employees, especially top-performers – has been important to companies for decades. But since COVID upended workforce norms, talent management has become priority No. 1. With personnel in the driver’s seat, it’s a hot market, say executive recruiters. As the pandemic edged toward an endemic, people
The McCormick Group Recruits New Leader for the Aplastic Anemia and MDS International Foundation
The McCormick Group, an Arlington, VA-based executive recruitment firm, has assisted in the recruitment of Brad Wong as the new chief executive officer and executive director of the Aplastic Anemia and MDS International Foundation (AAMDSIF). He succeeds outgoing interim CEO, Janice Frey-Angel, who led the foundation for the past two years and has fulfilled her
Steven John & Associates Recruits General Counsel for Save the Redwoods League
Executive search firm Steven John & Associates has helped to place Jeffrey Hoelsken as the new general counsel for Save the Redwoods League, a non-profit organization based in San Francisco. Mr. Hoelsken was formerly senior counsel for Paragon Legal, a legal services firm that provides interim in-house counsel to corporate legal departments, also in San Francisco.
Bespoke Partners Appoints Chief Marketing Officer
San Diego, CA-headquartered executive search firm Bespoke Partners continues its recent growth with the addition of Adam Boone as chief marketing officer. “We’re thrilled to have a marketing leader of Boone’s caliber join our team to shape our go-to-market initiatives and growth strategies,” said Eric Walczykowski, CEO of Bespoke. “Boone brings key insights and experience to grow our
Heidrick & Struggles Names Leader of Mexico City Office
Chicago-headquartered executive search, leadership consulting, and culture shaping services provider Heidrick & Struggles has appointed Carlos Vázquez as the new partner in charge of its Mexico City office. The appointment of Mr. Vázquez, a veteran executive recruiter, signals Heidrick & Struggles’ intention to continue to expand strategically in Latin America. “We are excited that Carlos
The Role of CEOs in Mergers and Acquisitions
Despite all the challenges this year, there are signs of an improving economy. Unemployment numbers are decreasing after a substantial increase earlier this year. Many companies are increasing output. And mergers and acquisitions are bouncing back – perhaps not surprisingly, given the number of companies which have become attractive targets as a result of a
DHR Global Acquires Boyden, Calgary
DHR Global has acquired the Prairies offices (Calgary and Saskatoon) of executive search firm Boyden. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. This move strengthens DHR’s presence in Canada, adding 12 partner, associate, and administrative professionals to the DHR Calgary office and expanding its expertise across functions and key industries. DHR’s Calgary office is a
Lonergan Partners Recruits Chief Product Officer for Lucata Systems
Today’s chief product officer is responsible for all product-related matters, and the role is growing in demand, according to executive recruiters who place them. The position typically includes product conception and development, production, innovation, and project and product management. In many IT/ telecommunications companies, the position includes release management and production. Chief product officers generally work on
AGB Search Recruits President for Princeton Theological Seminary
Washington, D.C.-based AGB Search, which specializes in higher education leadership assignments, recently placed Jonathan Lee Walton as the eight president of Princeton Theological Seminary. He succeeds M. Craig Barnes, who has served as Princeton Seminary’s president since January 2013. Consultants Loren Anderson and Shannon McCambridge spearheaded the assignment. Princeton Seminary community members involved in the search speak of Dr. Walton’s appointment
Unemployment Rate Remains Unchanged in November
Employment rose by 263,000 in November as the U.S. unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.7 percent, according to the most recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report. Notable job gains occurred in leisure and hospitality, healthcare, and government. Employment declined in retail trade and in transportation and warehousing. Among the major worker groups, the unemployment
Executive Recruiters Upping Their Efforts to Help Organizations Achieve Diversity Goals
Anyone who works in executive search right now has seen, and will continue to see, a push for more lists of diverse candidates for open roles. “We are also seeing organizations start to mandate diversity numbers as a benchmark for DEI success, and seeing an influx of diverse candidates at the executive level as a
Recruiting the Right CIO for a Non-Profit
Chief information officers are an indispensable tool for helping organizations fulfill their mission for the social or demographic they serve. A major investment in differentiating a non-profit, a quality CIO requires a unique set of technical and cultural skills. So how does one identify the right CIO for their non-profit? A new report from DHR
WittKieffer Tapped by the United States Naval Academy to Find New Provost
The United States Naval Academy (USNA) in Annapolis, MD, has retained Oak Brook, IL-based search firm WittKieffer to lead in its search for a new provost. This leader will succeed Andrew Phillips, who has served in the role since 2009. Senior partner John K. Thornburgh and principal Melody Rose are spearheading the assignment for the search firm. The academic dean
Artico Search Recruits VP of People for CM Group
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
True Expands Into Latin America
Executive recruiting firm True Search expanded to Latin America with the addition of Juan Dominguez who will serve as partner and head of LATAM. “True offers clients a people-focused and tech-forward partnership to solve their talent needs,” said Jon Mackey, True co-GM, Americas. “Juan is a natural connector of people and the perfect architect to build
Riviera Partners Receives Investment from Insight Partners
San Francisco-based Riviera Partners, a recruitment provider specializing in C-level engineering, product and design leader placements, has received an investment from global software investor Insight Partners. Privately backed since 2019, this investment allows Rivera Partners to forge additional opportunities for its recruiters and employees to scale into new markets and geographies. Riviera Partners will continue to
ZRG Partners Acquires Hub Recruiting
ZRG Partners has acquired Hub Recruiting, LLC., a boutique recruiting process outsourcing firm. “Increasingly, our clients have asked for support for volume hiring in complex sales, engineering, and technical roles, but we did not have that capability,” said Larry Hartmann, CEO of ZRG. “Hub adds that capability, enabling us to support recruiting for project-based, volume
Hunt Club Secures $40 Million in Funding
Chicago-headquartered referral recruiting service Hunt Club has raised $40 million Series B round co-led by WestCap and Sator Grove. The investment round follows Hunt Club’s $10 million Series A financing in October 2021, and will fuel the company’s national expansion, technology platform enhancements, and broaden its community of over 20,000 business leaders who help connect the
Korn Ferry Posts 14 Percent Revenue Increase
Korn Ferry (NYSE:KFY) has posted 2023 second quarter revenue of $727.8 million, an increase of 14 percent from the second quarter of last year. Revenue increased in all lines of business except executive search which was down about seven percent compared to the same period a year ago. The acquisitions of Lucas Group, Patina and Infinity
BoardWalk Consulting Recruits New Leader for the Sierra Club
Executive recruitment firm BoardWalk Consulting has assisted in the recruitment of experienced civil rights leader, community organizer, and coalition builder Ben Jealous as the new executive director of the Sierra Club in Oakland, CA. Mr. Jealous will be the seventh executive director since the position was created in 1952 and the first person of color to serve in
Kristie Nova to Lead Bespoke Partners’ CEO Practice
San Diego, CA-headquartered executive search firm Bespoke Partners has just announced that founding partner Kristie Nova will lead the firm’s dedicated practice placing high-impact chief executive officers in private equity portfolio companies. “I’m thrilled to return to my roots and lead our search practice to bring exceptional CEOs to our clients. The CEO plays the most
ON Partners Recruits Chief Marketing Officer for Nutrient Survival
As business becomes more global and 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, recruiters say. Yet executive search firms are seeing no shortage of assignments for this important C-level position. Fast-growing executive search firm ON Partners recently
Salveson Stetson Group Recruits Top HR Executive for Colorcon
Radnor, PA-based executive search firm Salveson Stetson Group has assisted in the recruitment of Valerie Nizard as global human resources leader of Colorcon in Harleysville, PA. “We recently had the honor of partnering with Colorcon in an executive search to find their new global human resources leader, and we are pleased to share that Valerie Nizard will be joining their
Kingsley Gate Partners Expands in London
Private equity-backed Kingsley Gate Partners has expanded in London with the addition of Amanda Pitt as a partner. “We are truly excited to welcome Amanda into the team,” said Francesca d’Arcangeli, global chief operating officer for Kingsley Gate Partners. “Amanda builds on our strength in technology and digital, bringing a wealth of experience in multiplatform marketing
Coulter Partners Appoints Executive Director
Life sciences recruiting specialist Coulter Partners has expanded with the addition of Hannah Musisi as executive director based in London. She will support the firm’s work in the digital health sector, working closely with Ian Coyne, executive director. “As part of our broad offering across science, technology and innovation, we have been working more and
