DAILY NEWSWIRE - TOP STORIES
Daily Newswire
20/20 Foresight Appoints Regional President
20/20 Foresight Executive Talent Solutions has expanded with the addition of Anna Souers as regional president. “The appointment of Anna Souers illustrates exactly what 20/20 has been doing for years: identifying progressive, forward-thinking search consultants and positioning them as leaders within our ever-growing platform and the evolving landscape of the search business,” said Robert Peck, president of
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 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.
Bell Oaks Executive Search Seeking Chief Finance and Administrative Officer for the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation
Atlanta-based Bell Oaks Executive Search is currently seeking a chief finance and administrative officer (CFAO) for the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation (WRF). The assignment is being led by partner Cynthia J. Moreland and senior search consultant Abi Gamino. The CFAO will serve as a strategic partner to the CEO and a key member of the executive
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?
Leadership Advisory Enters a New Capital Cycle
Private capital is making one of its strongest moves yet into the leadership advisory sector. Recent investments by KKR in ghSMART and Advent International in Heidrick & Struggles represent more than headline transactions. Together, they signal a growing conviction among investors that leadership advisory firms occupy a unique position within the modern enterprise, helping organizations navigate leadership succession, organizational effectiveness, talent assessment, and
Crist|Kolder Places CFO at Mondelēz International
Crist|Kolder Associates has placed Amit Banati as executive vice president and chief financial officer of NASDAQ-traded Mondelēz International in Chicago. He will report directly to Dirk Van de Put, chair and CEO, and will be a member of the Mondelēz International leadership team. “Amit is a highly experienced CFO who brings a strong blend of financial leadership
Why Searches Lose Discipline Late and How to Prevent It
Even well-run executive searches can lose focus as the process unfolds and pressure to reach a decision begins to mount. Without consistent alignment around the original mandate, organizations risk making compromises that can undermine long-term leadership success. Most executive searches start with real clarity, a recent report from Nashville, TN-based executive search firm Morgan Samuels Company’s
NPAG Assists Proteus Fund with CEO Search
Executive search firm NPAG has assisted in the recruitment of Amardeep Singh the new president and CEO of Proteus Fund and Proteus Action League. He will officially assume the role in September. The Proteus Fund board of directors selected Mr. Singh following a rigorous national search supported by NPAG. The search was led by Ellen LaPointe, Ebony Breaux-Liang, and Andres Marcuse-Gonzalez. “On
Bullhorn Names Chief Innovation and Labs Officer and Chief Corporate Development Officer
Recruiting software provider Bullhorn recently appointed Jason Heilman as chief innovation and labs officer and Ryan Murphy as chief corporate development officer. As members of the executive leadership team, they will help drive the company’s next wave of growth and innovation. Mr. Heilman joined Bullhorn in 2020 when the company acquired Herefish, the automation platform he led
5 Ways to Evaluate a Job Offer in 2026
In today’s hiring market, the strongest job offer isn’t always the one with the biggest paycheck. Candidates who treat their next move as a base-salary math problem usually leave real money behind, according to a recent report from Lyneer Search Group, an executive talent acquisition firm specializing in finance and executive roles. The smarter approach, and the
McDermott + Bull Recruits Chief Technology Officer for JenaValve Technology
Irvine, CA-based McDermott + Bull has placed Edward Sarnowski as chief technology officer of JenaValve Technology, Inc. in Irvine, CA. The search was completed by partner Ken Dropiewski, and executive recruiter Michael Matranga. “Ed’s appointment marks an important step in the evolution of JenaValve as a company,” said John Kilcoyne, CEO of JenaValve. “With FDA approval now behind us and
JDG Associates Retained by the Institute for Defense Analyses for General Counsel Search
Rockville, MD-based executive search firm JDG Associates has been retained by the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA) to lead its search for a general counsel based in Alexandria, VA. Reporting directly to the president and CEO, the general counsel serves as IDA’s chief legal officer and secretary of the Corporation, with responsibility spanning legal counsel and
Korn Ferry to Acquire AMS in $1.1 Billion Talent Solutions Deal
Korn Ferry (NYSE:KFY) has entered into a definitive agreement with OMERS Private Equity to acquire U.K.-headquartered AMS. The transaction will combine Korn Ferry’s expertise across search, talent & organizational solutions, and workforce solutions with AMS’s expertise in recruitment process outsourcing (RPO), early careers and campus recruiting, contingent workforce solutions, consulting, and skills creation. The combination will
CarterBaldwin Assists Ideal Tridon Group with Chief Information Officer Search
CarterBaldwin Executive Search has helped to recruit Shane Dacus as chief information officer of Ideal Tridon Group, a portfolio company of Nautic Partners and global provider of engineered clamps, brackets, fittings, and metal framing systems. Mr. Dacus brings more than 25 years of technology leadership across industrial, manufacturing, and PE-backed platforms, with a consistent record of elevating IT
Lindauer Recruits CEO for Penn State Alumni Association
Lindauer has placed Reggie Bustinza as associate vice president for alumni relations and chief executive officer of the Penn State Alumni Association. He was selected after a nationwide search to succeed Paul Clifford, who departed Penn State in January 2025. The search was led by Lindauer executive vice president Faith Montgomery and senior consultant Raegan Harvey in partnership with Penn State. “Lindauer
Why M&A Success Is Ultimately a Talent Challenge
In its latest market intelligence findings, The Role of HR in M&A: 5 Golden Rules for CHROs, Spencer Stuart argues that many transactions fail not because of flawed strategy, but because of shortcomings in leadership, culture, talent retention, and organizational execution. While financial and operational diligence often dominate deal planning, the firm’s research suggests that people-related
Greenwood Asher & Associates Leading Chief Marketing Officer Search for the College of Charleston
Miramar Beach, FL-based executive recruitment firm Greenwood Asher & Associates (GA&A) is currently seeking a chief marketing officer and vice president for marketing and communications for the College of Charleston. Kyle Pybus-Jerome and Jeremy Duff are leading the assignment. The College of Charleston seeks a strategic and innovative marketing executive to lead an integrated marketing and communications enterprise that
EMA Partners India Acquires Recruitment Process Outsourcing Services Provider Taggd
Executive search and leadership recruitment platform EMA Partners India has acquired recruitment process outsourcing services provider Taggd in an all-cash deal valued at Rs 113 crore. The all-cash acquisition aims to create an integrated talent recruitment platform offering executive search, professional search and AI-powered recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) solutions at scale. Taggd will continue to
NGS Global Expands in London
Wilmington, DE-headquartered executive search firm NGS Global has expanded with the additions of Daniel Yeates and George Balfour as managing directors in London. “Daniel and George are accomplished executive search professionals with deep expertise in the technology and digital sectors,” said David Nosal, chairman and managing partner. “They each bring outstanding client and candidate relationships built over decades
Leadership Challenges Intensify as Organizations Confront AI, Talent, and Economic Uncertainty
Organizations are operating in an increasingly complex environment where economic uncertainty, workforce challenges, AI adoption, and digital transformation are converging to reshape leadership priorities. Kestria’s second annual global leadership survey builds on the themes that emerged in last year’s research; highlighting how rapidly the leadership landscape continues to evolve. Based on responses from more than
Riviera Partners Acquires Lateral Labs
San Francisco-based Riviera Partners, a recruitment provider specializing in C-level engineering, product, and design leader placements, has acquired Lateral Labs, a specialized recruiting firm serving top AI startups. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. “The acquisition comes as companies remain challenged to meet the demand of organizational AI readiness,” the firm said. “Adding Lateral Labs positions Riviera Partners
Marovi Assists Congruex with CFO Search
Working in partnership with Atlanta-GA-based Marovi, Congruex, a provider of digital infrastructure engineering and construction services, appointed Jim Stanley as CFO. He reports to Congruex’s co-founder, president, and CEO, Kevin O’Hara. The appointment comes amid strong and sustained growth at Congruex as it plans to continue to capitalize on macro tailwinds, including AI and data center
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
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,
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
ON Partners Places Chief Sales Officer and Chief Marketing Officer at Guru
Daniel Bolger and Jake Espenlaub of ON Partners have helped to place Dan Thompson as chief sales officer and Jeff Perkins as chief marketing officer at Greenlight Guru, a provider of cloud-based software solutions for MedTech companies. “Dan and Jeff are joining Greenlight Guru as we enter a new chapter of expansion, innovation, and scale,”
SPMB Recruits General Counsel for Aven
SPMB, an executive search firm that helps find transformative executives throughout Silicon Valley, has assisted in placing Ronald Chillemi as general counsel of Aven. The search was led by Sarah Auten, client partner at SPMB. Mr. Chillemi is a general counsel with 10+ years experience leading cross-functional teams on major growth projects including optimizing partnerships
HIEC Expands Search Staff
Global search firm H.I. Executive Consulting (HIEC) has named Robert Dunn as a partner in the software & technology practice, based in Denver, CO. “We are excited to have Robert join us in our software & technology practice, our firm is growing at a rapid pace and Robert’s knowledge of the sector, along with his
How CEOs are Managing Today’s Challenges
The demands placed on corporate leadership seem to have skyrocketed. Being the boss has never been easy, but in the wake of the pandemic, a CEO’s path to success has only become more fraught with challenge and complexity, according to a recent report from Slayton Search Partners’ Richard Slayton. “Add to that the rising tides
Academic Search Seeks Provost for University of New Haven
Education-focused executive recruiter Academic Search has been tapped to find the next provost and senior vice president for academic affairs (SVPAA) for the University of New Haven in West Haven, CT. The assignment is being led by senior consultants Maria Thompson and Cynthia M. Patterson, along with associate consultant Lisa C. Rosenberg. As the chief
5 Tips for Hiring Faster at Your Company
If you’ve put out job listings and had no applicants to show for them, a new report from The Christopher Group (TCG) notes to take a step back and evaluate your hiring process. “Alternatively, you could have too many applicants and struggle to get through them all,” said Nat Schiffer, author of the report. “Keep reading
Egon Zehnder Recruits CEO for Blue Diamond Growers
Leadership advisory firm Egon Zehnder has assisted agricultural cooperative and global consumer packaged goods (CPG) leader Blue Diamond Growers in the recruitment of Kai Bockmann as its new president and chief executive officer. The board selected Mr. Bockmann after working with Egon Zehnder to recruit and consider candidates from across the country. He will succeed
Kestria Adds New Member Firm in Africa
Kestria, formerly known as IRC Global Executive Search Partners, has added Invictus Hill in Zambia, Africa as its newest member firm. “Africa is an exciting part of the world in terms of growth, development, and new opportunities,” said Rohan Carr, Kestria’s president. “We look forward to a long and happy association with our new member
ZRG Closes Secondary Equity Investment
ZRG, a global talent advisory firm and portfolio company of a global talent advisory firm and portfolio company of RFE Investment Partners, today announced that it has secured a new secondary equity investment from a consortium of new and existing institutional investors led by Timber Bay Partners. “We see tremendous opportunity to acquire great businesses
Supporting PE Growth & Valuation During Market Volatility
At the start of 2022, boards advised CEOs to take an aggressive approach to growth in all forms: top line revenue, margin expansion, and market share. As the year has unfolded, variables ranging from the war in eastern Europe, divisive mid-term elections in the U.S., inflation, and rising interest rates have created a drag on
Kincannon & Reed Recruits CEO for Burcon NutraScience Corporation
Agribusinesses worldwide face a host of challenges as they navigate their complicated mission of feeding the growing world population. This has led to high demand for new leaders among food businesses and agricultural organizations. Executive recruitment firm Kincannon & Reed, which exclusively focuses on food, agribusiness, and the related life sciences, recently placed alternative and specialty protein space
BridgeStreet Partners Fills Senior Positions for Communities Foundation of Texas
BridgeStreet Partners recently filled three senior roles for Communities Foundation of Texas. The search firm recruited Jim Berry as chief financial officer, Truman Greene as chief human resources officer, and Roger Santone as chief information officer for the non-profit organization. “As Communities Foundation of Texas has continued to grow, a top propriety has been ensuring its
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







