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Middle Market Momentum Meets a Talent Bottleneck
PitchBook’s latest report, 2025 Annual US PE Middle Market Report, highlights a market that is stabilizing but not yet fully normalized. Deal activity rebounded in 2025, with value rising 8.5 percent year-over-year to $410.7 billion across more than 4,000 transactions, supported by improving sentiment and a more accommodative financing environment. The recovery, however, is uneven. Deal sizes
Winning the Mandate in the New Era of Business Development
As competition intensifies across the executive search landscape, firms are rethinking how they originate and win new business. Success is increasingly tied to a more disciplined, insight-driven approach that goes beyond traditional networking and relationship management. In this environment, firms that combine data, technology, and market intelligence with strong client engagement are setting a new
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.
Why Succession Planning Is Critical to Reducing Leadership Risk
Most organizations have something they refer to as a succession plan — a spreadsheet, a nine-box grid updated once a year and then put away, or an annual HR review. But very few can answer the question that truly matters: if a critical leader left tomorrow, would the organization be able to keep executing? That’s
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?
Rokos Group Seeking Chief Medical Officer for Center for Elders’ Independence
Newport Beach, CA-based executive search firm Rokos Group has been selected by Center for Elders’ Independence (CEI) to lead in its search for a chief medical officer. Reporting to the president and CEO, the chief medical officer will serve as CEI’s senior physician executive and a full member of the executive leadership team. This is a strategic
ADK Consulting & Executive Search Assists the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority with CEO Search
ADK Consulting & Executive Search recently assisted in the recruitment of Cris Jensen as the new president and CEO of the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority (RTAA). Rod Dinger led the assignment. “It is my honor to announce the board has chosen Cris Jensen to serve as the next president and CEO, and his contract negotiations are currently underway,” said Shaun Carey, chair of
How CEOs Can Overcome Setbacks and Emerge Stronger
Executive search firms are increasingly being called upon to assess more than a candidate’s track record of growth, transformation, and financial performance. As boards search for CEOs capable of leading through persistent uncertainty, resilience has become a critical component of the leadership profile. Search consultants are placing greater emphasis on how executives have responded to
Occam Global Recruits CFO for eGenesis
New York City-based executive search firm Occam Global has placed Glenn Vraniak as CFO of eGenesis, a biotechnology company developing human-compatible engineered organs for transplantation. “eGenesis is entering a pivotal stage in our evolution as we prepare to advance our programs through clinical development and lay the foundation for future commercialization,” said Mike Curtis, CEO of eGenesis.
Maven Partnership Names Partner and Consultants
Global talent advisory firm Maven Partnership has recently promoted Tom Chambers to partner, Seb Coughlin as consultant, and George Roberts to consultant. “We are delighted to announce the well-deserved promotions of several exceptional individuals here at Maven Partnership, Will Hannaford, chief executive officer. “We’re committed to the growth and development of our people, and it’s fantastic to
The Execution Era: How Transformation Is Reshaping Private Equity
Most PE value creation plans don’t fail on strategy. They fail between the plan and the doing. With longer holds and less forgiving exit windows, delivery discipline is carrying more of the return, according to a new report from Wilton & Bain’s Jack Syred and James Royall. The report reflects patterns Wilton & Bain has
JDG Associates Retained by the Institute for Defense Analyses to Lead VP of Corporate Operations Search
Rockville, MD-based executive search firm JDG Associates has been tapped by the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA) to lead its search for their vice president of corporate operations, based in Alexandria, VA. IDA seeks a seasoned operational and business transformation leader to modernize systems, processes, and service delivery across the organization. Serving as a corporate officer and
Modern Executive Solutions adds Partner to Lead Growth of M1 Talent Community
Atlanta-based talent consultancy Modern Executive Solutions has appointed Bria Bass as as partner, where she will lead the continued growth and expansion of the M1 Talent Community across North America and Europe. “Bria brings a rare combination of executive advisory, deep community-building experience, and an exceptional ability to connect leaders in meaningful ways,” said Mark Oppenheimer, CEO
AI Is Rewriting the Executive Hiring Playbook
Insight Partners’ latest research suggests the AI era is creating a new executive hiring playbook. Based on more than 400 executive searches and interviews with over 1,400 leadership candidates, the firm’s talent team argues that many of the characteristics defining today’s strongest product and engineering leaders would have been viewed as weaknesses only a few years
FMG Leading Acquires Market Intelligence And Strategic Advisory Firm BroadBranch Advisors
Human capital advisory firm FMG Leading has acquired market intelligence and strategic advisory firm BroadBranch Advisors. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. “In today’s high-pressure landscape, translating forward-looking intelligence into action faster and more effectively is critical for our clients, especially in the investor-backed healthcare space,” said Matt Brubaker, chairman and CEO of FMG Leading. “By
PARC Street Group Places Chief Operating Officer for Mission Valley Bank
PARC Street Group has assisted in the recruitment Amanda Connell as chief operating officer at Mission Valley Bank. This search was completed by PARC Street Group senior executive search consultant Michelle Davis, executive recruiter Tabassum Nagpurwala, and executive search associate Priscilla Chacon. Ms. Connell brings more than 15 years of progressive leadership experience across community
Hunt Scanlon and HSiQ Build a New Performance Model for Executive Recruiters
As the executive search industry faces growing pressure to deliver stronger and more consistent results, firms are reassessing how recruiters are trained, developed, and prepared to meet changing client demands. A few months ago, Hunt Scanlon and its HSiQ Talent Intelligence advisory unit introduced the Recruiter Performance Training Program, a practical, execution-focused system designed to
U.S. Payrolls Fall by 23,000 in July as Unemployment Rate Dips to 4.1 Percent
Employment fell by 23,000 in July as the U.S. unemployment rate stood at 4.1 percent, according to the most recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report. The number of unemployed people, at 6.9 million, changed little in July. Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rates for teenagers (12.1 percent) and people who are Hispanic (4.6 percent) declined
Parker Remick Expands with New Partner
Seattle, WA-based Parker Remick has appointed Adam Szepkouski as partner of consulting excellence. The firm explained that this hire reflects a broader push to refine execution and scale delivery as demand for senior technology leaders accelerates. The appointment comes at a time of structural change in technology leadership. AI is reshaping how technology organizations are built and
The Data Migration Paralysis Problem: Why Firms Stay on Old Platforms Too Long
Technology has become a defining competitive advantage for executive search firms, yet many organizations continue to rely on aging platforms that no longer innovate. While artificial intelligence, automation, and data-driven workflows are reshaping the industry, the hesitation to replace legacy systems often leaves firms struggling with inefficiencies that quietly accumulate over time. The greatest obstacle
Recruiterflow Offers Four-Step Playbook for Building an AI-Native Search Firm
Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how executive search firms identify talent, manage information, engage candidates, and serve clients. But adopting an AI-powered platform alone does not make a recruiting organization AI-native. The larger challenge is integrating technology across the search lifecycle in ways that improve decision-making, strengthen execution, and allow consultants to devote more attention
Kirk Palmer Associates Recruits Chief Merchandising Officer for Belk
Retail-focused executive search firm Kirk Palmer Associates has helped to recruit Molly Taylor as chief merchandising officer at retailer Belk, where she will lead merchandising strategy and vision across all product categories. Melissa Sussberg and Alexa Liebman led the assignment. Ms. Taylor is a merchandising executive with over 30 years of experience connecting topline vision to bottom-line performance
The Forces Reshaping Executive Search
As organizations face accelerating business transformation, leadership succession, and rapid advances in artificial intelligence, the demands placed on executive search firms continue to evolve. Clients are looking for more than candidate identification—they increasingly expect strategic guidance, deeper market intelligence, and advisors capable of helping them navigate an increasingly complex leadership landscape. Those themes emerged consistently
Bryant Group Fills Senior Position for the University of Washington
Dallas-based executive search and talent development firm Bryant Group has assisted in the recruitment of Justin Michalka as vice president for university development at the University of Washington (UW). The search was led by firm president Chris Bingley. “I’m delighted to welcome Justin to the University of Washington,” said Mary Gresch, senior vice president for university advancement. “He is a
SPMB Expands Financial Officer and Private Equity Practices
SPMB Executive Search has appointed Christy Mihos as a partner in the firm’s financial officer and private equity practices. “Christy is one of the most accomplished CFO search practitioners in the market, and we are thrilled to welcome him to SPMB,” said Dave Mullarkey, managing partner at SPMB. “His track record of advising PE firms and technology companies on
Executive Talent Market Faces New Pressures as AI and Private Equity Reshape Leadership Demand
The executive talent market continues to tighten as private investment accelerates, experienced leaders retire, and organizations compete for executives capable of driving growth and transformation. At the same time, artificial intelligence is changing the capabilities companies expect from senior leaders, while consulting and private equity firms rethink how they build leadership teams and evaluate potential.
Carpenter Legal Search Recruits General Counsel for Park Corporation
Legal recruiting remains an active area for executive search firms as corporations, law firms, government agencies, and other organizations compete for experienced legal talent. Employment of lawyers is projected to grow four percent from 2024 to 2034, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, with approximately 31,500 openings expected each year as employers add
Signium Opens New Office in Hamburg, Germany
Executive search consortium Signium has opened a new office in Hamburg, Germany. The new office is led by Moritz Drerup, managing partner, who joined Signium with more than a decade of executive search experience and a highly focused practice in technology and AI leadership. The Hamburg office represents a natural evolution for Mr. Drerup’s established executive search practice, combining his specialist expertise with the reach,
Executive Search Strategies for Leadership Success
As organizations navigate rapid change, leadership decisions have become increasingly consequential, placing greater pressure on executive search firms to identify candidates who can deliver both immediate impact and long-term value. Success at the highest levels depends on far more than filling a vacancy—it requires a disciplined search strategy that combines market intelligence, rigorous assessment, and
Leverage AI in Your Job Search: When to Use It and When Not To
Artificial intelligence has been changing the way people search for jobs. From optimizing resumes to preparing for interviews, AI has become a valuable resource for candidates looking to streamline the process. The key is knowing how to use it effectively, according to a recent report from New York City headquartered executive search firm Solomon Page. “AI
Six Steps to Sharpen Leadership Focus and Protect Performance in 2026
The start of a new year often tempts senior leaders to move straight from results to resolution, skipping the quieter work of reflection. Yet without pausing to examine how leadership is experienced—not just measured—patterns of strain, growth, and resilience remain invisible, quietly shaping the year ahead. What follows is a structured way to slow the
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
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
