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Daily Newswire
HR Leaders Take Center Stage as Companies Push to Scale AI Across the Enterprise
Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping how organizations operate, forcing leadership teams to rethink not only technology strategy, but how work itself is structured, delivered, and scaled. As adoption accelerates, companies are moving beyond early experimentation and pilot programs, with growing pressure to translate AI investment into measurable business outcomes. What was once a forward-looking initiative
U.S. Adds 178,000 Jobs in March as Unemployment Holds Steady at 4.3 Percent
Employment increased by 178,000 in March as the U.S. unemployment rate changed little to 4.3 percent, according to the most recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report. The number of unemployed people, at 7.2 million, changed little in March. Job gains occurred in healthcare, in construction, and in transportation and warehousing. Federal government employment continued to decline. “March’s report
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.
Workforce Trends 2026: Leaders Confront Burnout, Disengagement, and AI-Driven Change
As we look ahead to 2026, global business leaders are navigating a shared set of challenges: employee engagement is declining, burnout is rising, and the pace of change—driven by economic uncertainty, AI advancements, and evolving work models—continues to accelerate. DHR Global’s second annual Workforce Trends Report recently surveyed global leaders to understand how these forces
Mercuri Urval Appoints Head of Client Consulting and Executive Search
Stockholm, Sweden-based executive search firm Mercuri Urval (MU) has strengthened its U.S. team with the addition of Lisa Brantley as head of client consulting and executive search in Houston, TX. “I had the pleasure of meeting Lisa almost three years ago, and was as impressed then, as now, with her high-level of integrity and strong principles, with which she
Building Relationships Paves the Way to Recruiting Better Talent
If you are a leader in a company of any size, talent has become one of the critical components to your success. The pressure you feel to go faster than the competition is real. But it creates demands on employees to move just as quickly, and for some parts of your business faster isn’t always
Lindauer Recruits CEO for the United States Marshals Museum
Lindauer recently assisted in the recruitment of Ben Johnson as the new president and CEO of the United States Marshals Museum in Fort Smith, AR. The assignment was spearheaded by Libby Roberts, senior vice president, and Megan Abbett, senior consultant. “In conducting a national search, we were looking for a new CEO with a proven
AGB Search Assists Gonzaga University in Finding CHRO
A number of universities have recently turned to search firms to find new chief human resources officers. Washington, D.C.-based AGB Search, which specializes in higher education leadership assignments, recently placed Ray Kliewer as Gonzaga University’s inaugural vice president for human resources and chief human resources officer. Executive search consultants Alan Crist and Jean Kim led the assignment. “I would like to thank
Walking the Talk Names President for North America
Walking the Talk, a consulting and advisory firm focused on culture transformation which was acquired last year by ZRG, has named Amanda Fajak as president of Walking the Talk North America. Ms. Fajak has been a core member of the leadership team at Amsterdam-based Walking the Talk for 10 years, advising C-suite leaders in dozens
Odgers Berndtson Appoints Chairman of Global Life Sciences Practice
Odgers Berndtson has named Henry Miller as partner and chairman of its global life sciences practice. “We are thrilled that Henry has joined the firm as chairman of the global life sciences practice,” said Steve Potter, CEO of Odgers Berndtson US. “His leadership abilities and personal knowledge will allow him to create and execute strategy around revenue
The Top 8 Concepts New Entrepreneurs in Recruitment Need To Know
The allure of working from home combined with post-pandemic societal and tech back-up, has prompted many recruitment professionals to reconsider priorities, lifestyle, and future working practices. Growing and building your own business within this high-growth industry sector has become an increasingly attractive option and a new report from Recruitment Entrepreneur International’s James Caan has noted
Hanold Associates Recruits Head of People for Autograph
Chicago-based Hanold Associates HR & Diversity Executive recently placed Erica Perkins as head of people for Autograph, a leading platform for non-fungible tokens (NFTs), co-founded by NFL quarterback Tom Brady. Jason Hanold, Mayank Parikh, and Eleanor Tetreault led the assignment. “Autograph is rapidly growing, bringing a unique and innovative platform to a revolutionary new market that is quickly
HARTZ Search Recruits Chief Talent Acquisition Officer for Bon Secours Mercy Health
Healthcare is among the most rapidly growing employment fields, according to analysts at Hunt Scanlon Media, which tracks trends in the executive search and leadership solutions space. So it is that the need for recruiting firms to deliver top-drawer leaders throughout the sector has only grown. After an extensive national search, Charlotte, NC-based HARTZ Search has placed Eric Van
Academic Search Seeks CFO and CIO for Marshall University
Education-focused executive recruiter Academic Search has been enlisted to help fill two key roles, chief financial officer and chief information officer, for Marshall University in Huntington, WV. Senior consultant Ann Die Hasselmo and consultant Christopher Butler are leading both assignments. The CFO is the senior financial role for Marshall and is responsible for the overall financial strength
Horton International Germany Names Head of Business Unit Logistics
Horton International Germany has added logistics and digitization expert Frederik Luz to its management team as head of business unit logistics. “The fact that Frederik is now part of the team and heads the business unit logistics is a win for us on several levels,” said Martin Krill, managing partner of Horton International Germany. “He is a
Inside The Rapidly Growing High-End Independent Talent Economy
The world of work is undeniably different today than it was just a few years ago. During one of the most turbulent periods for business in decades, companies have undergone significant changes to rise to the challenges—from increased adoption of remote working to transforming their very business models and product offerings to meet the ever-increasing
Four Trends That Will Shape the Future
Change can come quickly, as we have seen in 2022. Since the start of the year, the global economy has been buffeted by international conflict, supply chain shortages, mixed economic numbers, and frenetic turnover in the labor market. The C-suite has not only been expected to mitigate material risk during all this uncertainty but also
DHR Global Assists La Salle University with Provost Search
DHR Global has helped place Shivanthi Anandan as provost and vice president of academic affairs at La Salle University in Philadelphia. Glenn Sugiyama, managing partner and global practice leader, and Dwain Celistan, managing partner and global practice leader, diversity practice, led the assignment. “Dr. Anandan brings a wealth of professional and leadership experience to our university
Cejka Search Seeks CEO for Oncology Practice Solutions
Cejka Search was recently selected to help recruit a new chief executive officer for Oncology Practice Solutions (OPS). Todd Wozniak, vice president, search consultant, is leading the assignment. The CEO will be expected to position OPS for rapid growth and expansion on a national scale while support both OPS and Southeast Radiation Oncology Group’s (SERO) operational and
Hudson Global Acquires Hunt & Badge Consulting Private Limited
Old Greenwich, Conn.-based recruiting firm Hudson Global Inc. has acquired Hunt & Badge Consulting Private Limited, an India-headquartered provider of recruitment services to customers operating in India. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. “We are very excited to welcome the Hunt & Badge team to Hudson RPO and believe this accretive combination will generate
Korn Ferry Posts 19 Percent First Quarter Fiscal 2023 Revenue Gain
Korn Ferry (NYSE:KFY) has posted 2023 fiscal first quarter revenue of $695.9 million, an increase of 19 percent from the first quarter of last year. Revenue increased in all lines of business. The increase in fee revenue when compared to Q1 was primarily due to the continuing demand for the firm’s integrated service offerings and the
Diversified Search Group Seeks Chief Diversity Officer for SUNY
Diversified Search Group (DSG), a leading search firm backed by private equity firm ShoreView Industries, has been retained by the State University of New York (SUNY) to spearhead its search for a vice chancellor for diversity, equity, and inclusion and chief diversity officer. Euris Belle, managing director and Nancy Helfman, senior associate, are leading the assignment. The
Russell Reynolds Associates Chosen by the National Hockey League Players’ Association to Find New Leader
The sports industry continues to be a growth area for executive search businesses. The National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) has announced that its executive board has approved the executive director search committee’s recommendation to retain the executive search firm of Russell Reynolds Associates. Before making its recommendation, the search committee considered and met with several
KEES Seeks Executive Director for Bay Area Urban Debate League
Executive search and non-profit consulting firm KEES has been enlisted to find an executive director for the Bay Area Urban Debate League (BAUDL), an Oakland CA non-profit that partners with schools in the San Francisco Bay Area to found debate teams that help to transform the lives of their student participants. The assignment is led by Laura
NGS Global Opens New Office in Miami
Executive search firm NGS Global has expanded with the addition of a new office in Miami. “Over the last five years, we have ramped up our capabilities in the Southeastern part of the U.S. as well as Latin America, where our global client organizations continue to expand their own footprints in building regional offices in the Miami
Strategic Insights for Hiring a Private Equity CFO
The signature of the private equity business model has always been a relentless focus on building value and wasting neither time nor resources on things that won’t add meaningful return on investment. In short, as a recent client of Caldwell’s Dave Winston said: “We buy chaos at a discount and sell clarity at a premium.”
CarterBaldwin Executive Search Tapped to Find President for Liberty University
CarterBaldwin Executive Search has been enlisted by Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA to help find its next president. Founding partner Price Harding is leading the assignment for the search firm along with partner Bill Peterson. The evangelical university’s current and interim president, Jerry Prevo, has served in the role for two years. Prior to his
ON Partners Recruits Chief Accounting Officer for Tegus
Joe Olson, Daniel Bolger, and Jake Espenlaub of ON Partners have helped to place Lisa Akhionbare as chief accounting officer for Tegus, a research platform for institutional investors. Previously, Ms. Akhionbare was vice president and corporate controller at Vroom where she scaled the accounting organization from 12 to nearly 100 team members. During her time at Vroom, sales revenue grew from
SGA Talent Opens Office in Delray Beach, FL
Amsterdam, NY-headquartered executive search firm SGA Talent has expanded with the addition of a new office in Delray Beach, FL. As part of this strategic move, SGA Talent is also creating employee benefits at the Delray location for flex workspace and incentive trips to encourage the team to take advantage of the new workspace and benefits. “As we
Buffkin / Baker Names Chief Clinical Officer
Executive search firm Buffkin / Baker has added David Ballard as chief clinical officer in its healthcare practice. “David is a welcome addition to the Buffkin / Baker team,” said Craig Buffkin, managing partner. “His extensive healthcare experience provides us with a strong foundation to provide quality service for our clients seeking today’s leading physician, nursing, and
Targeting the Most Impactful Points of Value Creation
Inevitably, be it through inflation, supply chain disruptions, global political turbulence, or other unavoidable calamities, change hits – sometimes suddenly and without warning. When this happens, CEOs pivot towards the “must do” work and should pivot towards the “must have” roles connected to that work. According to Sumeet Salwan, co-founder of CEO.works, this practice enables
Bespoke Partners Recruits Chief Marketing Officer for BlueCat Networks
San Diego, CA-headquartered executive search firm Bespoke Partners recently placed David Duncan as chief marketing officer of BlueCat Networks in Toronto. Katherine Baker and Kim Le led the assignment. “David’s experience and track record for leading and nurturing agile marketing teams is a tremendous asset,” said Stephen Devito, CEO of BlueCat. “His passion for DNS and extensive cybersecurity
Caldwell Places New CFO for Ponce Bank
Caldwell has placed Sergio Vaccaro as the new chief financial officer for Bronx, NY-based Ponce Bank. He was formerly CFO for Private Bank Americas, HSBC. Richard C. Perkey, managing partner, and Mark Dillard, consultant, led the assignment. Ponce Bank’s previous CFO, Frank Perez, remains with the bank as executive vice president; he has assumed the
Seven Critical Actions to Elevate Recruiting and Retaining Efforts
More than 47 million Americans quit their jobs last year, the highest number of resignations on record, and there was still recently a record 11.5 million job openings. As labor shortages continue, this year could go down as a “pit of despair for employers,” said one senior economist. “It’s not all bad news, though,” said Molly Brennan in a new report from Diversified
ON Partners Places Chief Revenue Officer for LastPass
Partners Aaron Clark and Tindall (Sewall) Hein of ON Partners have helped to place Amy Appleyard as the new chief revenue officer of Boston-based LastPass, which provides password and identity management solutions. A cybersecurity sales veteran, Ms. Appleyard will be responsible for leading key priorities across revenue-related functions, continuing to bolster global sales performance and
