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Eastward Partners Fills Senior Sales Role for LRN
New York-based Eastward Partners recently assisted in the recruitment of Dan O’Leary to VP of sales at LRN, a Leeds Equity Partners backed company. Brian Ippolito, Callie Swift, and Reagan Wren led the assignment. “We are pleased to celebrate the appointment of Dan O’Leary to VP of sales at LRN,” Eastward Partners said in a LinkedIn post. “Congratulations
Potrero Group Seeking Board Members for 10,000 Degrees
San Francisco-based leadership consulting and search firm Potrero Group was recently retained by San Rafael, CA-based non-profit 10,000 Degrees to its search for new volunteer leaders to join its board of directors and regional advisory boards. “We are excited to expand our search for committed board members who will deepen our impact and ensure that more students
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
Isaacson, Miller Leading President Search for the University of Virginia
Boston-based Isaacson, Miller is currently seeking the 10th president for the University of Virginia (UVA). John Isaacson, Keight Tucker Kennedy, John Muckle, Kelly McLaughlin, and Kristen Andersen are leading the assignment. Past president Jim Ryan resigned in June 2025 under pressure from the U.S. Department of Justice, which investigated the university’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. According to
CarterBaldwin Executive Search Places Chief Marketing Officer for Pepperdine University
CarterBaldwin Executive Search has helped to place Sean Burnett, formerly with the Gulf Coast division of HCA Healthcare, as senior vice president for integrated marketing communications and chief marketing officer at Pepperdine University. Mr. Burnett will lead Pepperdine’s award-winning marketing and communications team to share the university’s brand story through signature events, publications, and emerging
Kestria Names Americas Practice Leader for its Technology Practice Group
Kestria, formerly known as IRC Global Executive Search Partners, has appointed Travis Hann of Kestria Canada and USA, as the Americas practice leader for its technology practice group. “Kestria helps identify effective technology leaders who act as catalysts to enable quantum business growth,” said Gurdeep Hora, global technology practice leader, Kestria India. “We are constantly enhancing our
Managing Through the Great Resignation and Reshuffle
The Great Resignation and Reshuffle has continued into the summer, and it’s hitting the C-suite particularly hard. While the demand for top talent exceeds the supply, talented executives are more inclined to consider external opportunities, according to a new report from DHR’s Mike Magsig, Mary Matthews, and Heather Smith. As a result, companies seeking such talent
ON Partners Places CEO for GXC
Fast-growing executive search firm ON Partners has helped to place Allen Proithis as the new chief executive officer of Austin, TX-based GXC, a leading network-as-a-service communications company. The assignment was spearheaded by Brad Westveld, the search firm’s co-founder and partner. “Allen’s unparalleled combination of experience, leadership, market acumen, and technical proficiency, especially in the emerging 5G
Ackermann International Selects Ezekia CRM Software
Ackermann International, a global executive search and human capital solutions provider headquartered in Spain and with offices in North, Central, and South America, has entered into an agreement with Ezekia to adopt its CRM software platform across its office network. “Ezekia aims to offer the best features and the best service, but perhaps even more significantly,
Do You Really Need an Executive Search Firm?
The people that make up any organization are critical to its success. From senior executives to middle managers, a company’s talent shapes its future and is of great importance to leaders of the organization. So it is that engaging an executive search firm in the talent acquisition process can help a company achieve its specific
Gauging the Forces That are Shaping Today’s Recruitment Environment
For many in the tech ecosystem, 2022 has brought the first true, deep market correction they have directly experienced. Market caps have been wiped out, pre-IPO shares are once again starting to resemble wallpaper, and companies are beginning to initiate hire freezes. But those who have lived through these dynamics know that the money does
Caldwell Recruits Managing Director, Head of People and Workplaces for Marlette Holdings
Toronto-based Caldwell has assisted in the recruitment of Graham Kennedy as managing director, head of people and workplaces at Marlette Holdings Inc., a financial technology company operating the Best Egg financial platform. Partner Brian Lawton led the assignment. “This new leadership role highlights, among other things, the investments our company is making to scale and grow our
Professional Development Is Key to Retaining Talent
As talent shortages persist, a new survey reveals that professional development opportunities are one tool for retaining employees. Indeed, 58 percent of those surveyed in a new report by The Conference Board say they are likely to leave their company without professional development—or continuing education and career training to help develop new skills, stay up
E.A. Hughes & Co. Places Head of Inclusion and Diversity for JCPenney
E.A. Hughes & Co., a division of Solomon Page specializing in retail and consumer-focused executive search, has partnered with JCPenney in identifying and placing Shenece Johns as the department store chain’s head of inclusion and diversity. Managing directors Ann MacCarthy and Bob Marchant led the search and took a unique and personalized approach to the assignment. Reporting to the chief human resources
ZRG Partners Recruits Chief Digital and Information Officer for Enovis
ZRG Partners, a leading search firm backed by private equity firm RFE Investment Partners, recently assisted in placing Ariane Schiereck as the chief digital and information officer at Enovis, a Fortune 500 medtech company. Lisa Hooker, ZRG’s managing director and technology practice leader, led the assignment along with Kevin Anderson, managing director, and Lambert Rugani, managing director
Heidrick & Struggles Posts 14.9 Percent Q2 Revenue Gain
Executive search, leadership consulting, and culture shaping services provider Heidrick & Struggles / (NASDAQ:HSII) has posted second quarter revenues of $298.7 million, an increase of 14.9 percent vs. the prior year period. Revenue growth was driven by all regions in executive search, by Heidrick Consulting, and by the addition of on-demand talent. “Our firm generated all-time high quarterly revenue and
Diversified Search Group | Koya Partners Seeks CEO for Social Enterprise Greenhouse
Diversified Search Group | Koya Partners has been enlisted by the non-profit Social Enterprise Greenhouse (SEG), a network of business and community leaders who work to create jobs and support positive change through social enterprise, to lead its search for a new chief executive officer. Spearheading the assignment is managing director Alicia Salerno, who works primarily in Diversified
Odgers Berndtson Names Co-Head of U.S.-Latin American Practice
Odgers Berndtson has expanded with the addition of Larry Rubin as its newest partner and co-head for its U.S.-Latin American practice. In this role, he will work closely with other practice area leaders and country managers. “It’s exciting to grow our presence in Latin America and be able to offer our clients even more value in this region,” said Steve
The Keys to Recruiting Passive Candidates
If you’re a chief executive officer or a hiring manager today, finding a way to attract talent is top of mind. Since the onset of The Great Resignation, how to attract top talent has been a key focal point for leaders and recruitment teams—especially when it comes to executive search, according to a new report from JM Search. This candidate-driven
Reffett Associates Fills Key Roles for Federal Government
Seattle, WA-based Reffett Associates has been enlisted to help fill a series of key senior executive roles in technical and hard-to-fill positions for the federal government. Already this year Reffett has assisted the U.S. Army Material Command at the Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, AL with recruitments for three highly qualified expert (HQE) positions. To be
N2Growth Appoints Country Head for Asia
N2Growth, a Philadelphia-based management consulting and executive search firm, has expanded in Asia with the appointment of Gene W. Oh as managing partner and country head, who will be leading the firm’s newest location in South Korea and reporting directly to the firm’s CEO, Kelli Vukelic. “N2Growth is pleased to welcome Gene, who will run the Korea office
ZRG Partners Recruits Chief Revenue Officer for CalAmp
ZRG Partners, a leading search firm backed by private equity firm RFE Investment Partners, recently assisted in placing Brennen Carson as the new chief revenue officer for CalAmp, an Irvine, CA-based telematics company. Mr. Carson is charged with helping to accelerate the business’ penetration into the transportation and logistics marketplace and drive sustainable revenue streams. ZRG’s managing
Daversa Partners Names Managing Director
Daversa Partners, which helps build leadership teams for growth and venture-backed companies, has appointed Samantha Pernice as its newest managing director, bringing eight years of search experience to the firm’s leadership team. “I am thrilled to announce Samantha as Daversa Partners’ newest managing director,” said Laura Kinder, president of Daversa Partners. “She has been instrumental in scaling our
Bespoke Partners Receives Strategic Investment from AEA Growth
Bespoke Partners, a leading provider of executive search and leadership advisory services for enterprise software companies, has received a strategic investment from AEA Growth. “We are excited to collaborate with the team at AEA Growth to enhance our services and deliver even greater value to our clients,” said Bespoke founder Kristie Nova. “The investment team brings
Post-Pandemic Job Shift: How Are Patterns of Employment Changing and Favoring Candidates?
The economic recovery over the past year has been remarkable: Most sectors have recovered their pre-pandemic levels of employment and the unemployment rate is almost as low as it was before 2020. Some sectors are struggling to find workers and hiring in all industries should remain tight. Looking beneath the surface, a new report by ACCUR Recruiting Services
DHR Global Recruits Executive Director for Museum of Arts and Sciences in Daytona Beach
The non-profit practice from DHR Global has helped place Tabitha Schmidt as the executive director of the Museum of Arts & Sciences (MOAS) in Daytona Beach, FL. She succeeds interim executive director Maria Hane and former executive director Andrew Sandall. The assignment was led by James Abruzzo, managing partner, global non-profit practice and principal Michele Baird Counter of DHR. “After
Bullhorn Acquires London-Based Search Firm
Recruiting software provider Bullhorn has acquired SourceBreaker, a London-based Al-driven search-and-match platform. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Bullhorn said that the acquisition will further enhance Bullhorn’s portfolio of solutions for talent engagement across the entire candidate lifecycle, from sourcing to engagement, onboarding, and redeployment. “We believe the addition of SourceBreaker’s solutions to
Navigating Counteroffers: What to Know as an Employer and Employee
The last thing any organization wants to hear is that one of their key executive leaders is resigning in favor of a better career opportunity. If the company is unprepared, making a counteroffer might seem like the only way to keep that executive and the best way to address the woes of a highly competitive
Artico Search Recruits Chief Marketing Officer for Veeam Software
Mercedes Chatfield-Taylor, co-founder of Artico Search, recruited Rick Jackson placed as chief marketing officer at Veeam Software. Mr. Jackson previously served as CMO of Qlik. In this role, he led global marketing for end-to-end data integration and analytics vendor, helping organizations achieve active intelligence from their data. He was a key member of the executive leadership team that
Miramar Global Executive Search Opens Office in Austin
U.K.-based Miramar Global Executive Search, which specializes in technology, science, engineering, automotive and natural resources, has opened a new office in Austin, TX. Partner Francois Scholtz will lead the new location. Miramar’s global network of offices also includes London, Philadelphia, Singapore, and Zurich. “As we continue to expand our footprint with a mission to deliver world
Six Misconceptions About Executive Search Firms
Perhaps no industry is as misunderstood as executive search. For many senior executives, their understanding of the industry is based on only one or two experiences, often with large, brand name firms. But a new report from The McCormick Group’s Stephen Nelson notes that the world of executive search is much more extensive and diverse.
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Acquires Four Corners Group
Acquisitions continue to make news in the recruiting industry, with a number of notable purchases in recent months. Today, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., one of the world’s largest consulting and risk management companies, has acquired Toronto-based executive search firm Four Corners Group Inc. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Founded in 2007, Four Corners
Caliber Associates Recruits Chief Scientific Officer for Atreca
San Diego, CA- based Caliber Associates recently placed Stephen Gould as the chief scientific officer of Atreca, a clinical-stage biotechnology company. “Stephen is an exceptional scientific leader with particular experience in the development of weaponized antibody-based therapeutics, and we are excited to welcome him to the Atreca team,” said John Orwin, CEO of Atreca. “Our discovery platform has
Redefining the Search Sector for PE Leaders
The private equity sector changed drastically in the past 30 years and even more so during recent times which have presented plenty of obstacles. However, private markets bounced back in 2021. After a year of pandemic-driven turbulence that suppressed fundraising and deal activity, private markets rebounded. Fundraising was up by nearly 20 percent year over
ON Partners Recruits Chief People Officer for O’Reilly Media
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
