DAILY NEWSWIRE - TOP STORIES
Daily Newswire
BrainWorks Names Leader of Consumer Packaged Goods Practice
Warren, NJ-based executive search firm BrainWorks has appointed Jordan Kaliher will lead its consumer packaged goods (CPG) practice, succeeding company founder Andy Miller, who has guided the practice since its inception more than three decades ago. He will shift his full time focus to CEO. “Jordan’s appointment marks a natural next chapter for the practice,” the firm said
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
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
Private Equity Turns To Leadership Diligence To Gain A Sharper Edge
ghSMART’s latest report, Leadership Diligence in PE: 4 Tips to Spot Strengths and Risks Before You Buy, opens with a stark reminder: “Leadership is often the single biggest swing factor in the success of an investment.” Yet as Dina Wang, a ghSMART partner and co-leader of its private equity practice explains, that recognition alone isn’t enough. “The
SpenglerFox Appoints Head of Life Sciences and Switzerland
Global executive search and human capital solutions provider SpenglerFox has added Zsuzsanna Zimonyi to its executive leadership team as partner, head of life sciences, and head of Switzerland. “Zsuzsanna has made a considerable contribution to our business since she joined us in 2013, and today the life sciences practice is one of the biggest contributors to our overall
Staffing Firms Accelerate Adoption of Digital Transformation
The last year saw a dramatic rise in the number of staffing businesses employing a digital transformation strategy, according to Bullhorn’s 2022 Global Recruitment Insights and Data (GRID) report, a survey of more than 4,000 recruitment professionals from upwards of 12 countries. Eighty-four percent of global recruitment firms had a digital transformation strategy in place
Anthem Executive Called in to Lead CFO Search for the Texas Tech University System
The Texas Tech University System (TTU System) has selected executive recruitment firm Anthem Executive to lead its search for a new vice chancellor and chief financial officer. Leading the assignment are Michael Ballew, Scott Watson, Mike “JR” Wheless, and Florene Stawowy. The TTU System is searching for an accomplished individual to cultivate its success and momentum across
StevenDouglas Appoints CEO
Executive search firm StevenDouglas has named Matt Shore as CEO, succeeding Steve Sadaka, who will assume the role of chairman and founder. “Matt truly embodies the core values that StevenDouglas was founded on. He is always committed to doing what’s best for our employees, clients, and candidates, as well as his community,” said Mr. Sadaka. “I couldn’t think
Caldwell Posts 17 Percent Revenue Gain
Toronto-based Caldwell posted Q3 revenues of $41.9 million (Canadian), a 17 percent increase from a year ago. Financial results include those of IQTalent Partners (IQTP). “This marks the fifth consecutive quarter of record year-over-year revenue results,” said John Wallace, CEO. “Consolidated revenue for the quarter was $41.9 million (a 17 percent increase over the prior year) and $120.2
Cabot Consultants Joins DHR Global
Washington, D.C.-based Cabot Consultants has joined the DHR Global platform. The partnership strengthens Chicago-based DHR’s presence in the nation’s capital and adds two executive search partners, Tom Berray and Jorge Herrera, to the firm, as well as one emerging leader search partner, Trang Gulian, to Jobplex, a DHR company. Serving clients for 20 years, Cabot Consultants has ranked in the top 25
Slone Partners Recruits CFO for Clear Labs
Life sciences-focused search firm Slone Partners has placed Edward Fan as the new chief financial officer of Clear Labs, a provider of fully automated, next-generation sequencing for turnkey genomic surveillance and diagnostics. “Edward Fan is a highly respected and admired financial and operations leader with a wealth of experience across healthcare and the life sciences industry,” said Leslie
TritonExec Receives $30 Million Investment from Prytek
London-headquartered executive search firm TritonExec has received a $30 million investment from the talent solutions division of Prytek, a Singaporean multinational technology corporation. “Our investment in TritonExec is a completion of the value chain, from executive search at board and C-suite, to building out leadership teams two and three levels below; we provide the entire
RevelOne Recruits Chief Marketing Officer for Workhuman
Greenwood Village, CO-based executive search firm RevelOne has assisted in the recruitment of Tom Libretto as the new chief marketing officer of Workhuman. Vice president Jason Topel led the assignment. “As we look to the next phase of Workhuman’s growth, we are thrilled to have Tom join our team as CMO to lead our fast-growing marketing organization,”
Randstad Acquires Finite Group in Australia and New Zealand
Acquisitions and consolidations continue to make news in the recruiting industry, with a number of notable purchases in recent months. Randstad N.V. recently announced that Randstad Australia has signed an agreement to acquire the Finite Group in Australia and New Zealand. The completion of the acquisition is subject to several conditions, which parties expect to be fulfilled
How to Approach Strategic Board Succession Planning
In the past, boards treated board succession tactically, appointing the most eminent available candidate or someone who could meet an immediate need. Today, however, both external and internal pressures are compelling directors to adopt a longer-term, strategic view of the composition and evolution of their boards, says a new report from Egon Zehnder. But taking
Bryant Group Recruits CEO for Kansas Health Foundation
Irving, TX-based Bryant Group has placed Ed O’Malley as president and CEO of Kansas Health Foundation (KHF). “A lifelong Kansan, Ed has a track record of combining practical leadership skills with visionary system change,” said Jeffry L. Jack, chair of the KHF board of directors. “He has great interpersonal skills, but he also understands and thinks
Harris Search Associates Seeks Chief Scientific Officer for Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Harris Search Associates has been selected to help find the next chief scientific officer for the Abigail Wexner Research Institute (AWRI) at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, OH. Search firm founder and managing partner Jeffrey G. Harris is leading the assignment. AWRI wants an experienced pediatric research leader for this role, said the Dublin, OH-based
How Behavioral Assessments Can Accelerate Leadership Transformation
It’s a well-understood trade-off in many areas of business: Do you want speed or quality? The traditional view is that you cannot have both. Of course, an entire generation of operations engineers and process analysts has built a science around optimizing business systems and processes for quality and speed. “The goal is to eliminate the
Top 5 Trends Governing Global Executive Search
Talent management, particularly hiring and retention, is a major concern and priority across industries and organizations. Over the past two years, businesses have faced multiple challenges with their global executive search, be it from COVID restrictions, a hybrid mode of work, or closed borders. As such, it’s crucial to understand the top trends that will
Kincannon & Reed Strengthens Search Staff
Executive recruitment firm Kincannon & Reed, which exclusively focuses on food, agribusiness, and the related life sciences, has expanded with the addition of Aidan Connolly as a managing director. “Aidan is well known in the industry, with a reputation as a relationship builder who gets to the root of the problem and develops a practical solution,” said
Unemployment Rate Holds Steady at 3.6 Percent
Employment rose by 372,000 in May as the U.S. unemployment rate was unchanged at 3.6 percent, according to the most recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report. Notable job gains occurred in professional and business services, leisure and hospitality, and healthcare. Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rate for Asians increased to 3.0 percent in June.
Overcoming Inequity in Hiring
Over the past few years or so, “diversity” has received consistent attention because of increased national awareness of issues broadly related to hiring practices, the criminal justice system, and economic equity. Systemic inequities have been a matter of public debate, discourse, and contention. In response, a number of organizations have initiated measures to increase their enrollment
Russell Reynolds Associates Seeks New Leader for Baltimore Museum of Art
The Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA) has named Russell Reynolds Associates to help find a new director to replace Christopher Bedford, who has moved on to lead the San Francisco Museum of Art. Russell Reynolds was chosen following a rigorous interview process led by the BMA’s 10-member search committee, which is co-chaired by BMA board chair Clair Zamoiski
What to Ask Yourself Before Making a Diversity Hire and How Data Can Help
Anyone who works in executive search right now has seen, and will continue to see, a push for more lists of diverse candidates for open roles. We are also witnessing organizations start to mandate diversity numbers as a benchmark for DEI success, and seeing an influx of diverse candidates at the executive level as a
Pender & Howe Executive Search Seeks CHRO for Covenant Health
CHROs 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 will have diverse
Horton International Adds New Partner in Japan
Horton International has expanded in the Asian market with the addition of Yokohama-based Makana Partners as its newest member firm. “Horton International has strengthened it’s on the ground delivery capability in Japan with the addition of Yan Sen and his team,” said Maneesh Ajmani, chairman of Horton International. “We look forward to supporting our clients in Japan
Counteroffers: How to Avoid Your Offer Being Turned Down
The last three companies that Juli Smith, president of The Smith Consulting Group, spoke with shared a similar frustration about the candidates they had recently extended offers to: They lost out to a counteroffer. “They were so frustrated with the fact that their candidate who they had identified on their own, interviewed, screened, and had taken all the
TurnkeyZRG Recruits Commissioner for the Big 12
TurnkeyZRG has assisted in the recruitment of Brett Yormark as the fifth commissioner of the Big 12 Conference. Mr. Yormark’s official start date with the Irving, TX-based college athletic conference is expected to be August 1. His initial contract term is five years. As announced in April, current commissioner Bob Bowlsby will transition to a new
MalinHughes Expands Senior Search Staff
Chicago-based executive search firm MalinHughes recently expanded with the addition of Talisha Faber as managing director. Ms. Faber will work out of the firm’s offices in Miami and manage client and candidate relationships within the firm’s national financial services and non-profit practices. “We are very excited to have Talisha join our team,” said Robert Becker, partner and chief
Seeking Gender and Racial Equity
The past two years have seen significant progress in raising awareness and opening a national dialogue around racism and diversity, equity, and inclusion. There has been tragedy, with the murder of George Floyd, for example, and triumph with the recognition of Juneteenth as well as the election of Kamala Harris as America’s first black Vice
ON Partners Places Chief Product Officer for Phononic
Today’s chief product officer is responsible for all product-related matters, and the role is growing in demand, according to executive recruiters who place them. The post typically includes product conception and development, production, innovation, and project and product management. In many IT/ telecommunications companies, the position includes release management and production. Chief product officers generally work on
JamesDruryPartners Names Leader of Hispanic Board Services Practice
Chicago-headquartered JamesDruryPartners has appointed David Arenas as managing principal and leader of the firm’s Hispanic board services practice. Mr. Arenas brings specialized expertise in board director diversity placement. His earlier experience includes management consulting, executive search, and investment banking in industries such as technology, energy, distribution, manufacturing, and consumer goods. Mr. Arenas is an executive
Artico Search Recruits CFO for GoFundMe
Mercedes Chatfield-Taylor, co-founder of Artico Search, has recruited Greg Mrva as the new chief financial officer of GoFundMe, the leading provider of online fundraising services. Mr. Mrva has over 25 years of experience building finance, strategy, and operating teams at leading technology companies and leading investment banking teams advising global technology businesses. He will be responsible for leading
Daversa Partners Recruits CTO for Toggle Robotics
Daversa Partners, which helps build leadership teams for growth and venture-backed companies, has assisted in the recruitment of Joseph Bondaryk as the new chief technology officer of Toggle Robotics in Bohemia, NY. Frank Cumella led the assignment. “Joe is deeply experienced with robotics, AI, and autonomous systems, and is a proven leader of growing technology organizations,” said Daniel
N2Growth Acquires FluidMind Consulting
N2Growth, a Philadelphia-based management consulting and executive search firm, is expanding to Mexico with its acquisition of Mexican talent and leadership advisory firm FluidMind Consulting and appointing the firm’s founder, Carlos Alfonso Gonzalez, as managing partner. Mr. Gonzalez will be responsible for all operations in Mexico and neighboring countries and will report directly to Kelli Vukelic, chief
