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Daily Newswire
Jackson Lucas Names Chief Growth Officer
New York City-based Jackson Lucas has appointed Mark Esposito as chief growth officer. He is responsible for driving the firm’s strategic expansion and deepening client relationships across key markets. “Jackson Lucas is excited to welcome Mark Esposito as chief growth officer, said Anthony Fanzo, founding partner. “Mark is a proven growth leader who understands how
Long Ridge Partners Expands Search Staff
New York City-based Long Ridge Partners has expanded with the additions of Isaac Springer, Matthew Rodriguez, and Chad Goldstein. “Isaac will be focused on real estate recruiting while Matt and Chad will specialize in tech recruiting,” Long Ridge Partners said in a LinkedIn post. “All three bring valuable experience and fresh perspectives as we continue to grow our
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.
Anthem Executive Assists the University of Montevallo With President Search
Anthem Executive has assisted in the recruitment of Michelle R. Johnston as the first female president of the University of Montevallo (UM). Michael Ballew, Scott Watson, Mike “JR” Wheless, and Florene Stawowy led the assignment. Dr. Johnston has served as the president of Georgia Southwestern State University since 2024. Prior to her current presidency, she served as president of three other higher education
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?
Mercuri Urval Appoints Non-Executive Director
Stockholm, Sweden-based executive search firm Mercuri Urval (MU) has announced that Jan Sasse, partner at AlterInvest, was named as non-executive director to the MU group board. He will join the current board members Cecilia Strand, Mieke Weijenberg, Cecilia Beer, Richard Moore, and chairman Roger Hagafors. “We are pleased to welcome Jan Sasse as non-executive director of the MU
M&A Becomes a Capability-Driven Acquisition Strategy
EY-Parthenon is forecasting an eight percent increase in U.S. deal volume for transactions exceeding $100 million in 2026, underscoring how central M&A remains to corporate strategy. Yet beneath the headline numbers sits a more important story. The role of acquisitions is evolving. Companies are no longer pursuing deals primarily for scale or market share. Increasingly,
The Hidden Challenges Every First-Time CEO Faces
The corner office has never been more accessible—or more demanding. As boards increasingly turn to a new generation of leaders to navigate disruption, growth, and transformation, first-time CEOs are stepping into roles that require a fundamentally different set of skills than those that propelled them to the top. While many arrive with impressive track records,
Myers McRae Assists Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology with Provost Search
Following a nationwide search, Macon, GA-based Myers McRae Executive Search and Consulting has assisted in the recruitment of Richie Roberts as provost of Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology. Kenny Daugherty and Brianna Douglas led the assignment. Dr. Roberts’ selection was guided by a search committee of OSUIT administrators, faculty, staff and students, which was assisted by national search firm Myers McRae. “The entire
Lancer Group Recruits Chief Technology Officer for Minitab
La Jolla, CA-headquartered search firm Lancer Group has recruited Kevin Gordon as chief technology officer of Minitab. “We’re excited to welcome Kevin Gordon as chief technology officer at Minitab,” the company said. “This is an exciting step forward in the evolution of our technology strategy and will help accelerate innovation across our organization and solutions platform.” “Kevin brings
Friisberg & Partners International Names Managing Partner of its Copenhagen Office
Fribourg, Switzerland-headquartered Friisberg & Partners International has expanded with the addition of Birgitte Olrik as managing partner of its Copenhagen office, strengthening the firm’s presence in the Nordic region and supporting the continued execution of our international growth strategy. “The future of executive search belongs to firms that combine exceptional local expertise with international reach,” said Zoltán Pethő,
Attracting the Right CHRO Starts with the Right Job Description
Hiring a head of HR is one of the most consequential leadership decisions an organization can make, yet many companies struggle to define the role in a way that reflects their actual needs. The most effective job descriptions go beyond qualifications and responsibilities, offering candidates a clear picture of the challenges, priorities, and business objectives
Coulter Partners Recruits Chief Medical Officer for Neumirna Therapeutics
Life sciences recruiting specialist Coulter Partners has placed Ferenc Tracik as chief medical officer of Neumirna Therapeutics. “Neumirna has reached an inflection point: the question is no longer whether the science works, but how quickly we can translate it into an option for patients with urgent unmet need. Ferenc has the experience to get us there,” said Ellen
McCormack + Kristel Seeking CEO for Central New York ON RAMP
McCormack + Kristel is currently seeking a CEO for Central New York ON RAMP. New York State Empire State Development (ESD) recently engaged CenterState Corporation for Economic Opportunity (CenterState CEO), an business leadership and economic development organization, to lead, incubate, and launch the Central New York One Network for Regional Advanced Manufacturing Projects (ON RAMP). The
Bespoke Partners Appoints Leader of People and HR Practice
San Diego, CA-headquartered Bespoke Partners recently named Dani Pfeiffer as a partner leading the people and human resources leader recruiting practice serving both software and industrials sector companies. She will lead dedicated recruiting teams on searches for talent executives for private equity portfolio companies for the software and SaaS clients served by Bespoke Partners and industrial clients served by Industra Talent Partners,
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
KPMG Finds Success in M&A Remains Stacked Against Acquirers. Here’s Why.
New research from KPMG found that 57.2 percent of acquirers ultimately destroyed shareholder value, despite many appearing promising before closing. “Although many deals looked promising in the months leading up to closing – generating an average 13.2 percent in total shareholder return above the relevant S&P sector index – TSR dropped an average of 7.4 percent in the
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
NPAworldwide Adds 28 New Member Firms
Member-owned recruitment network NPAworldwide has added 28 new recruitment firms to its membership base. The latest members are from countries all over the world, including the U.S., Australia, Canada, Indonesia, Japan, and the U.K. “The second quarter was an excellent period for us as we continue to expand our reach and provide our members with even more value,”
Surging Non-Profit Sector Seeks Senior Leaders
During a time of tremendous societal transformation, not-for-profit organizations provide support and stability for individuals and their communities. These mission-driven institutions create equitable opportunities for all, leverage funds and resources for critical social programs and initiatives, and ensure at-risk and underserved individuals are not left behind, according to WittKieffer. The value of not-for-profits has only
WittKieffer Appoints Co-Leader of Professional Search Practice
Oak Brook-IL-based WittKieffer has named Jeffrey Schroetlin as managing partner and co-leader of the firm’s professional search practice (formerly known as its mid-level executive search practice). He will share leadership responsibilities with managing partner Elaina Genser, who has guided the practice since 2020. Both individuals will continue their executive search work for WittKieffer—Ms. Genser in the healthcare practice and Mr.
Under Pressure to Fill Jobs? Here’s the Relief Valve You’ve Been Looking For
If you’re responsible for hiring at your organization, you are no doubt under tremendous pressure. The skilled talent shortage is driving a hiring frenzy. Top talent is more willing than ever to jump to a new job and employers are seizing upon that trend by offering huge bonuses and inflated salaries, according to a new
Carrington & Carrington Seeks Executive Director/Chief Development Officer for the Cook County Health Foundation
Carrington & Carrington Diversity Executive Search has been enlisted to find an executive director/chief development officer (ED-CDO) for the Cook County Health Foundation in Evanston, IL. The new leader will be charged with overseeing the non-profit’s fund development, annual planning, board development, and marketing and strategic initiatives. The ED-CDO will be responsible for managing a portfolio
Slone Partners Appoints Practice Leader for Healthcare
Life sciences-focused search firm Slone Partners has named Melissa Hurst as practice leader for healthcare. “Melissa Hurst is a very smart, talented, and experienced leader in healthcare executive search,” said Leslie Loveless, CEO of Slone Partners. “As practice leader, she will drive our strategic efforts to build out Slone Partners’ healthcare client base and expand our partnerships with some
Knowing the Distinctions Between Talent Advisors and Recruiters
When filling open positions within your organization, your instinct may be to contact a recruiter to find candidates. You not only need qualified candidates but the top talent in your field to ensure ongoing growth for your organization, according to a report from SGA Talent. “When recruiters restrict their search to the same strategies, such
Caliber Associates Places Executive Vice President of Research and Development for Aurinia Pharmaceuticals
San Diego, CA- based Caliber Associates recently placed Dr. Volker Knappertz as executive vice president of research and development of Aurinia Pharmaceuticals Inc. He will be responsible for leading the consolidated research and development function. “Volker has a strong track record of advancing biotechnology and medical innovation and is recognized for his leadership in creating diverse,
ECI Group Adds Member Firms in China and New Zealand
ECI Group, a global network of independent executive search firms, has added Fitco Consulting in China and Baxter Executive Search in New Zealand as its newest member firms. “We at the ECI Group are delighted in welcoming Fitco Consulting and Baxter Executive Search to our network and to expand our footprint in the APAC region,” said Marcus Meyer,
The Interim Executive Model Has Become Mainstream
Organizations are having to respond to the Great Resignation by looking outside of the traditional channels to source talent. And they’re finding one of the best ways to address skills shortages is to tap into a highly skilled, diverse interim executive talent pool that is readily available and adept at dealing with the ambiguity of
Finding Insights From Losing
No one enjoys losing, but there is much we can learn and take away from a loss. Steve Ziegler, founder of Denver-based executive search firm Z3Talent, recently shared a story from about a year ago in which he and his team drove an hour to kick off a search for a chief operating officer of a
Herbert Mines Assists Invited in Finding New CHRO
Chief human resources officers have become critical stakeholders in defining the strategy of a company. Their job description calls for them to tackle the HR challenges and evolving expectations of a dynamic workplace environment that will consist of constant change, calculated risk-taking, and evolving expectations from top stakeholders. Those well-equipped to achieve the greatest success
To Integrate AI, Companies Must Alter Management Styles
As technology develops, business as well as executive search firms must develop with it. Companies that want to keep up with society must find ways to effectively integrate new technologies that will benefit them and allow them to continue to grow, according to a new report from ZRG Partners’ Lisa Hooker and Rahul Kapur. AI
Jorgenson Consulting Assists Quad Cities Chamber with CEO Search
The economic strength of the non-profit sector has increased in recent years, and it is now the third largest employer in the U.S. This has certainly kept search firms busy. Greensboro, NC-based Jorgenson Consulting has assisted in the recruitment of LaDrina Wilson as the new CEO of Quad Cities Chamber in Davenport, IA. She succeeds Paul Rumler, who stepped
Artico Search Appoints Partner
Artico Search recently expanded with the addition of cybersecurity specialist John Wilson as a partner. “Mercedes and I have known John for years,” said Matt Comyns, co-founder of Artico. “We are thrilled he joined Artico as he will deepen our go-to-market expertise and network globally. John will leverage his incredible experience as a chief revenue officer
How Employers Can Adapt to Remain Competitive in Today’s Labor Market
Worker confidence is at an all-time high, with a majority of job seekers believing it’s easier to find a job this year than the previous year and one-third feeling comfortable quitting a job without having another lined up, according to the 2022 Job Seeker Nation Report from Employ Inc., the parent company of Jobvite, JazzHR, and NXTThing RPO.
JDG Associates Selected by the Government Accountability Office to Find Chief Data Officer
Rockville, MD-based executive search firm JDG Associates has been retained by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to lead the search for its first chief data officer. This incoming executive will be expected to design and implement enterprise-wide data management, governance, and compliance strategies and frameworks to manage GAO’s data assets, said the search firm. The individual will
Daversa Partners Expands Into Miami
Daversa Partners, which helps build leadership teams for growth and venture-backed companies, is expanding into Miami, “the country’s next hyper growth tech hub,” said the firm. Partner Nicolette Hartman will be leading the new location. She will be joined by three additional team members: Jodie Salzberg, Caroline Didelot, and Olivia Witmer. “This has been one of
TalentoHCM Acquires De Forest Search
TalentoHCM has acquired De Forest Search, a Los Angeles-based executive search firm known for its 28-year history with Fortune 500 companies in consumer products, media and entertainment, alongside deep functional experience in sales, marketing, creative, product, ecommerce, human resources, finance and supply chain. Together, the combined organizations offer a broader human capital services menu and
Shelli Herman and Associates Recruits CEO for Omaha’s Zoo and Aquarium
Los Angeles-based Shelli Herman and Associates has assisted in the recruitment of Luis Padilla as the new president and chief executive officer of Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium. He will succeed Dennis Pate after his retirement in late 2022. Dr. Padilla’s first day at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium will be Nov. 14. “Our challenge
Riviera Partners Adds Partner in European Office
San Francisco-based Riviera Partners, a recruitment provider specializing in C-level engineering, product and design leader placements, has expanded with the addition of Pete Alexander as a partner in the firm’s European office, in London. Mr. Alexander joins Riviera Partners after 11 years with The Up Group, a digitally focused search, advisory, and networking firm where
Keys to Diversifying Your Workplace
It is by now widely known that diversity and inclusion are good for business—especially for high-powered companies. When considering high-quality candidates for new C-suite positions, what are some policies, procedures, or practices that business leaders can implement to diversify their hires? To answer this question, Carl Kutsmode, SVP of talent consulting and executive search at TalentRISE,
