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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,
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.
Lochlin Partners Recruits CHRO for Communities Foundation of Texas
Lochlin Partners has placed DeLancey Johnson as chief human resources officer of Communities Foundation of Texas (CFT). “Delancey brings new perspective, experience, and leadership to CFT as we continue building a culture that supports our mission and our staff experts,” said Wayne White, president and CEO of Communities Foundation of Texas. “His depth of experience leading
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?
HTP Group Expands in Europe and Transatlantic Markets with Four Partner Appointments
HTP Group has expanded with the additions of François Carloni, Diego Chinnì, Sandrine Lebouc, and Chloë Sonnois as partners. These appointment marks a significant milestone in HTP Group’s international growth, strengthening its capabilities across France, Italy, and Switzerland, while establishing its first-ever dedicated bridge to the North American market. “We are thrilled to welcome Chloë, Diego,
Fractional CHRO vs. Interim HR Leader: Key Differences and When to Hire Each
As organizations grow, restructure, prepare for investment, or navigate leadership change, many realize they need experienced HR leadership – but not always in the same way. That’s where fractional CHRO and interim HR solutions come in, according to a recent Talent Connections report. “While these terms are often grouped together, they solve very different business
Greenwood Asher & Associates Leading General Counsel Search for Illinois State University
Miramar Beach, FL-based executive recruitment firm Greenwood Asher & Associates (GA&A) was recently selected by Illinois State University to lead in its search for a general counsel. Kyle Pybus-Jerome and Jim Johnsen are leading the assignment. Reporting directly to the president and serving as a member of the president’s cabinet, the general counsel will serve as the University’s chief
ESGI Potomac Recruits CFO for MTSI
ESGI Potomac recently assisted in the recruitment of Ashutosh Gokhale as executive vice president and CFO of Modern Technology Solutions, Inc. (MTSI). “We welcome Ashutosh Gokhale as our new executive vice president and chief financial officer,” said Kevin Robinson, MTSI president and CEO. “As MTSI continues its growth trajectory, Ashutosh’s leadership, financial expertise, and strategic perspective
Marovi Targets Executive Search’s Evaluation Gap With AI-Driven Platform
Atlanta-GA-based Marovi has shared details of its market momentum and customer experience. Core to Marovi’s success is its proprietary evaluation intelligence engine, which weights every candidate against role-specific requirements and generates scorecard comparisons and curated shortlists before the interviewing process commences. Executive search has long been a high-stakes, challenge-filled endeavor, where misalignment can cause significant disruption. Ensuring
Parker Remick Appoints Partner
Seattle, WA-based Parker Remick has expanded with the addition of Amy Lewis as partner. Kevin Williamson, founder of Parker Remick, believes technology leadership has become one of the defining competitive advantages for large enterprises. “Technology leadership has never carried greater responsibility than it does today,” he said. “Every board is evaluating how AI, product innovation, and engineering capability
From Performance Reviews to People Intelligence: Rethinking How Organizations Assess Talent
Performance management is increasingly moving beyond a once- or twice-a-year exercise as organizations look for more timely insight into how leaders and teams are actually performing. For search and talent leaders, that shift is creating new opportunities to use people data more strategically in decisions around succession, development, retention, and leadership readiness. As companies place
millionways and Waxell Form Alliance to Bring Behavioral Intelligence to AI Governance and Agent Observability
millionways, the behavioral intelligence layer for the human-agent workforce, recently formed a strategic partnership with Waxell, an AI governance and agent observability company. The alliance was formed to help enterprises govern, observe, and improve AI agents operating in high-stakes human environments. As enterprises move from copilots to autonomous and semi-autonomous agents, AI systems are being given
How to Build a Perpetual CEO Succession Pipeline
CEO succession planning is increasingly being treated as a continuous leadership priority rather than a process that begins only when a departure is announced. With chief executives serving for a relatively limited period compared with the lifespan of most organizations, boards are under growing pressure to build deeper pipelines, develop internal talent, and maintain visibility
Slone Partners Recruits CEO for Perspectum
Life sciences-focused search firm Slone Partners has placed Warren Cresswell as CEO at Perspectum, an Oxford, England-based precision health company that delivers non-invasive solutions to accelerate drug development and improve patient outcomes in liver and cardiometabolic disease. “Warren brings an exceptional combination of global leadership experience, commercial expertise, and deep knowledge across diagnostics and precision health,” said Leslie
Anthem Executive | Anthem Academics Assists Texas A&M International University with Director of Athletics Search
Anthem Executive | Anthem Academics has assisted Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) with the recruitment of director of athletics. Michael Ballew, Scott Watson, Mike “JR” Wheless, and Florene Stawowy led the assignment. “We are excited to welcome Tyler to Texas A&M International University and to join our Dustdevil family,” said University president Christopher Maynard. His commitment to the academic
The Invisible Month in Executive Recruitment: The Overlooked ROI of Shortlist Due Diligence
Executive search firms are under growing pressure to protect both client outcomes and their own reputations as leadership decisions become more visible and consequential. That has put greater focus on when risk is identified in the search process, not simply whether it is identified at all, and on how earlier diligence can help firms avoid
AI Moves Deeper Into Executive Search Workflows as Innova Heads to Chicago
Artificial intelligence is moving quickly from experimentation into the day-to-day work of executive search firms, but adoption remains uneven across the industry. As search leaders evaluate a growing number of tools, many are looking for practical examples of where AI can improve research, business development, search delivery, and operations without compromising judgment or quality. The
JDG Associates Retained by SPIE to Lead CEO Search
Rockville, MD-based executive search firm JDG Associates has been selected by SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, to lead its search for a new CEO. The Bellingham, WA-based society, the premier global organization advancing light-based research and technologies, seeks a strategic, globally minded executive to succeed CEO Kent Rochford, who will depart in February
CIO Partners Seeking Chief Information Officer for Resideo
CIO Partners was recently tapped by Resideo to lead in its search for a new chief information officer. This executive is responsible for defining and executing the enterprise technology strategy that enables innovation across connected home products, digital services, and global distribution operations at Resideo Technologies. This leader ensures that enterprise technology platforms, cloud infrastructure, and
DSG Global Appoints Managing Directors
DSG Global has expanded with the additions of Kris McFeely, Chris Clarey, and Scott Murray as managing directors. Ms. McFeely, who joins the firm’s nonprofit and social impact practice, brings more than two decades of executive search experience to the team. She specializes in identifying and recruiting exceptional leaders for mission-driven organizations. Drawing on experience across
U.S. M&A Accelerates as Buyers Raise the Bar
EY-Parthenon’s September Merger Monthly points to continued momentum across the U.S. M&A market. Through August, deal value for transactions above $100 million reached approximately $2.2 trillion, up roughly 48 percent year-over-year, while volume increased 23 percent. Momentum remained strong from June through August, with deal value rising 23 percent and volume advancing 22 percent from
Why the Best Job Offer Is About More Than Salary
A higher salary can make a new job attractive, but compensation alone does not always tell candidates whether an offer is truly better. According to a recent report from NPAworldwide, recruiters can play an important role in helping candidates evaluate the complete package while also helping employers understand why a competitive base salary may not
Buffkin / Baker Recruits President for Valdosta State University
Partner-led executive search firm Buffkin / Baker has assisted in the recruitment of Donald J. Green president of Valdosta State University (VSU). Partner Ann Yates and associate Dinah DeWitt led the assignment. “Don Green is a leader who knows how to deliver results, and he’s proven that time and again,” USG chancellor Sonny Perdue said. “At Gordon State, he focused on
The Moran Company Recruits CEO for The Arc of New Mexico
The Moran Company, an executive recruitment firm that specializes in the non-profit sector, has placed Tracie Fletcher as the new executive director of The Arc of New Mexico. Senior search consultant Bruce Scott led the assignment. “Tracie brings a 25-year track record of leadership in non-profit, government, and community organizations,” The Arc of New Mexico said in a
Riviera Partners Expands Public Practice
San Francisco-based Riviera Partners, a recruitment provider specializing in C-level engineering, product, and design leader placements, has expanded with the addition of Archer McFall as a partner within its public practice serving large, publicly-traded companies and late-stage, pre-IPO companies. “Getting the right CTO, CIO, or chief AI officer in place, building the team structure around AI, making sure the
Building Your IR Function: The Questions Every VC Should be Asking
As venture firms mature and fundraising becomes more institutionalized, building the right investor relations function is increasingly becoming a critical part of long-term growth. The best time to hire an investor relations leader is before you urgently need one, according to a recent report from SPMB’s Suzanne Heske and Emily Leder. “LP relationships take years to
U.S. Hiring Slows as Unemployment Rate Edges Up to 4.2 Percent
Employment increased by 29,000 in September as the U.S. unemployment rate edged up to at 4.2 percent, according to the most recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report. The number of unemployed people, at 7.1 million, also increased in September. Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rate for people who are Black (7.0 percent) increased in September.
Cook Silverman Search Recruits Chief Development Officer for Common Sense Media
Greenbrae, CA-based Cook Silverman Search has assisted in the recruitment of Alicia Chang as chief development officer of Common Sense Media to lead in its search for a chief development officer. Ms. Chang joins Common Sense Media after spending a decade with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, where she most recently served as deputy chief development officer
DRiWaterstone Human Capital Assists WJCT Public Media with CEO Search
DRiWaterstone Human Capital has assisted in the recruitment of Karen Feagins as president and CEO of WJCT Public Media, the independent, community-owned public media organization serving Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia. “Karen represents exactly what we were looking for as the next leader for WJCT Public Media,” said Bill Hendrich, chair of the WJCT Public Media board
Hiring vs. Hustling: When It’s Time to Add to the Team
There’s a point in almost every growing company where things come to a head. Revenue is up, the pipeline is strong, and the team is stretched but still getting the job done, explained a recent report from Ascentria Search Partners. So leaders decide, “Let’s wait before making that hire.” “On paper, this seems disciplined, responsible, and
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
Krauthamer & Associates Recruits CFO for the Phoenix Valley Metro
Over the past year, a growing number of transportation companies have enlisted executive search firms to help them find senior talent. Executive recruiting firm Krauthamer & Associates has assisted in the placement of Ken Kessler as the new chief financial officer of the Phoenix Valley Metro in Arizona. He replaces interim CFO Jim Hillyard. “It is
Top Women Recruiters Share Views on 2023
As executive recruiters, leaders at DHR Global are always asked what they see in the labor market. Right now, the search firm is seeing a lot. In late 2022, DHR’s resource group for women partners – called Global DHR Women – met and discussed their thoughts on how the current economic environment is affecting executive
Diversified Search Group Acquires Yardstick Management
Diversified Search Group (DSG), a leading search firm backed by private equity firm ShoreView Industries, has acquired Yardstick Management, a black-owned management consulting and executive search firm. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. As a part of this acquisition, Yardstick Management Institute, a specialized leadership program designed for leaders and senior executives, also
ON Partners Recruits CEO for POWWR
Jake Espenlaub, Danny Bolger, and Omeed Veiseh of ON Partners have helped to place Matt Tormollen as the new chief executive officer of POWWR, a Manchester, England-based B2B energy SaaS provider and Five Elms Capital company. “Matt’s strong product and technical acumen, energy expertise, and proven ability to lead global teams make him the ideal candidate to lead POWWR’s next
Salveson Stetson Group Places Chief HR and Culture Officer for Longwood Gardens
Radnor, PA-based executive search firm Salveson Stetson Group has assisted in the recruitment of Shelley Dinehart as chief human resources and culture officer for Longwood Gardens. “We recently had the honor of partnering with Longwood Gardens in an executive search to find its new chief human resources and culture officer, and we are pleased to share that Shelley Dinehart has joined their
Slone Partners Continues Growth
Life sciences-focused search firm Slone Partners has expanded with the addition of Fred McCallum as vice president, client partnerships. “Fred McCallum is a talented and driven leader with a successful track record as an external recruiting business partner with global stakeholders,” said Leslie Loveless, CEO. “He has vast experience with candidate development and recruitment all the way up through
M&A Activity for Recruiting and Talent Platforms Expected to Heat Up In 2023
Acquisitions made big news in the recruiting industry this past year, and for good reason. Outside investors caught on to the sector’s expansion potential and long growth runway ahead. Top search leaders also found ways to maximize profit (cutting back on office space helped every search firm achieve a better bottom line in 2022). That
Bespoke Partners Recruits CEO for AbsenceSoft
San Diego, CA-headquartered executive search firm Bespoke Partners has assisted in the recruitment of Mark Schiff as the new chief executive officer of AbsenceSoft in Golden, CO. The search was led by Kristie Nova and Katherine Baker. “We couldn’t be more delighted to have partnered with such an outstanding team on this successful search,” the search team said. “We are
Should Your Next CEO be an Internal or External Hire?
Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, known as the “DACH” region, are German-speaking countries where supervisory boards not only define profiles and requirements for hiring the CEO, they are also responsible for their appointment. Consultants and management auditors support these processes, helping boards to ensure that suitable candidates have the required skills and experiences. “However, experience shows
Reffett Associates Recruits First Woman Superintendent of the United States Merchant Marine Academy
After a nationwide search, Seattle, WA-based Reffett Associates has assisted in the recruitment of rear admiral Joanna Nunan as the first woman superintendent of the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) in Kings Point, NY. She succeeds vice admiral Jack Buono. After announcing the appointment, transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg said Ms. Nunan is: “The right
ShiftKey Secures Funding Round from Lorient Capital
ShiftKey, a Dallas-based healthcare recruiting company, has closed on a funding round sponsored by majority investor Lorient Capital, valuing the company in excess of $2 billion. Crunchbase News reported the round was for $300 million. Lorient’s investment was completed through a continuation vehicle that was led by the Ares Management Secondaries funds and Pantheon. Additional investors
Getting Your Business ‘Exit Ready’ for a Sale
Scaling and creating a recruitment business which is attractive to investors or potential buyers is one of the most challenging areas for most entrepreneurs in recruitment. For many entrepreneurs, the end goal is to ultimately scale and exit the business they have built. Some believe that the business is ready for an exit as soon
Caldwell Posts 38 Percent Revenue Loss
Toronto-based Caldwell issued its financial results for the fiscal 2023 first quarter ended Nov. 30, 2022, posting consolidated professional fee of $23.7 million (Canadian), a 38 percent decrease from the same period a year ago when it reported $38.3 millon. “We experienced a slowing in our business segments in the last quarter of our record-breaking fiscal
