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Daily Newswire
The Evolution of CEO Succession
Leadership stability has become harder to maintain in an environment defined by continuous transformation, shifting investor expectations, and increasing operational complexity. As a result, boards and sponsors are placing greater emphasis on how leadership evolves over time, rather than relying on static assumptions about tenure and timing. This shift is forcing organizations to take a
Academic Search Recruits 22nd President for Muskingum University
Following a comprehensive national search, education-focused executive recruitment firm Academic Search has recruited Flavius Lilly as the 22nd president of Muskingum University in New Concord, OH. Susan Hasseler will retire in June 2026, after a decade of leadership. The search was led by senior consultants Sharon D. Herzberger and Dan DiBiasio, along with Carly Place, associate consultant. “Dr. Lilly is the right leader for
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
BCG Sees Strategic Acceleration Defining The Next Chapter Of M&A
BCG’s latest M&A report – The Brave New World of Dealmaking in the Global Market – finds that despite upheaval in the market, dealmakers are proving more strategic, and more versatile, than ever. “After navigating significant turbulence earlier this year, the market has shown its resilience, driven by strategic adaptability among experienced dealmakers,” noted BCG. The firm’s M&A
Coulter Partners Opens Office in Milan
Life sciences recruiting specialist Coulter Partners has opened a new office in Milan. The firm also named Francesca Lazzarin as executive director and Giuliana Milioto as research associate. They will work across Europe with a particular focus on the Italian market, alongside recently appointed Yasemin Holland, senior research associate. “These new colleagues will particularly enrich the firm’s
5 Tips for Launching a Second Career
The pandemic has left many people recalibrating their career choices. Americans quit 4.5 million jobs in March—a record. Some are burned out; others want more purposeful work. Whatever their reasons may be, many employees are looking at transitioning into a second career, experts say. “There might be some initial hiccups but finding a new line of
AboveBoard Raises $6 Million in Funding
AboveBoard, an inclusive platform for executive placement that is increasing representation of black, Latinx and female professionals on boards and at the C-suite/VP level, has raised $6 million in seed funding, bringing its funding to date to $9 million. AboveBoard received the $6 million in funds from its sister company, True. “In partnership with AboveBoard,
Frederickson Partners Seeks Chief People and Inclusion Officer for Second Harvest of Silicon Valley
Talent acquisition strategies at many large companies have become as complex as their balance sheets. And while chief human resource 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
Greenwood /Asher & Associates Seeks Provost for Louisiana State University
Miramar Beach, FL-based executive recruitment firm Greenwood /Asher & Associates has been enlisted to find the next executive vice president and provost for Louisiana State University’s (LSU) flagship campus in Baton Rouge. Betty Asher, co-founder, and Julie Holley, senior executive search consultant, are spearheading the assignment for the search firm. “Louisiana State University is seeking an exceptionally
Leathwaite Names Co-Leader of Global HR Practice
London-based executive search firm Leathwaite has recently expanded with the addition of Chris Smith. Based in London, he will co-lead Leathwaite’s global HR practice, while also steering and accelerating the firm’s strategy of ongoing diversification outside its core markets of financial & professional services. “We are delighted to welcome Chris to Leathwaite,” said Tom Pemberton, co-head
True Search Recruits CEO for Match Group
Executive recruiting firm True Search has assisted in the recruitment of Bernard Kim as the new chief executive officer of Match Group, a provider of digital technologies designed to help people make meaningful connections. Shar Dubey will be stepping down from the company’s top post at the end of the month. Todd Zangrillo, Agata de Reyes, and Ish Elhelbawey
Isaacson, Miller Places CHRO for Michigan State University
Following a national search, Isaacson, Miller has placed Christina K. Brogdon as the first vice president of human resources and chief human resources officer for Michigan State University (MSU) in East Lansing. Ms. Brogdon will start her new role on June 1, replacing Richard Fanning, who has been leading the university’s human resources organization on
Kincannon & Reed Recruits New Leader for Center for Food Integrity
Executive recruitment firm Kincannon & Reed has assisted in the recruitment of Mickie French as the new executive director of the Center for Food Integrity (CFI). She takes over for Terry Fleck, who announced his retirement late last year. Principals Paul Izenstark, Jon Leafstedt, and Jared Spader led the assignment. “Bringing a wealth of knowledge with her to the role,
CarterBaldwin Recruits Chief People Officer for CMSPI
CarterBaldwin Executive Search has helped to place Beth Ward as chief people officer for CMSPI, an independent global payments consultancy based in Manchester, U.K. The assignment was led by partner Jennifer Sobocinski and consultant Ted Wieber. Ms. Ward, who is certified as a senior professional in human resources, is CMSPI’s first CPO and will lead
Hudson Global Posts 50.7 Percent Revenue Gain
Old Greenwich, Conn.-based recruiting firm Hudson Global Inc. / (NASDAQ:HSON) has posted first quarter revenues of $51.9 million, an increase of 50.7 percent from the same period a year ago. Americas revenue of $14.6 million increased 220 percent, Asia-Pacific revenue of $31.1 million rose by 30 percent, and Europe revenue jumped 40 percent to $6.2 million. Net income increased
Mining Executive Talent for the Web3 Ecosystem
Joe Suliman, managing director and head of Daversa Partners’ Boston office, is bullish on cryptocurrency and NextGen companies in general. Supply is high, executives want to hear about opportunities with these businesses, and demand is through the roof. In 2021 alone, Mr. Suliman points out, the latest evolution of internet technology, known as Web3, reaped $33
How the Chief People Officer is Reinventing HR
The human resource function has changed dramatically over the past 25 or so years. This change is reflected in the creation of new titles for the head of that area. Chief human resources officer, chief people officer, chief human capital officer, and others have replaced longstanding titles such as human resources director, lead, or manager
Kirk Palmer Associates Recruits Chief Design and Merchandising Officer for Fabletics
Retailers are facing major shifts in their businesses that call for “unprecedented responses” by CEOs who can effectively lead through change, intuitively and analytically understand the evolving consumer, and respond to ambiguity, according to a recent search firm report. Developed markets, excess retail capacity, rising prices, the shift to omni-channel retail, and the unpredictable pace of
Odgers Berndtson Adds Partner to Launch New U.S. Media & Entertainment Practice
Odgers Berndtson has appointed Jonathan Davies as a partner to launch a new U.S. media and entertainment practice for the firm, based in Los Angeles. “Jonathan is an incredible addition to our team and a great example of our commitment to continuing to expand our media and digital expertise,” said Steve Potter, CEO of Odgers Berndtson U.S. “We are
Jobless Claims Rise Slightly
The Labor Department reported that 203,000 Americans have filed new claims for state unemployment benefits, an increase of 1,000 from the previous week’s revised level. The previous week’s level was revised up by 2,000 from 200,000 to 202,000. The four-week moving average was 192,750, an increase of 4,250 from the previous week’s revised average. The
Women and First Time Director Appointments at Fortune 500 Reach Record Levels
Fortune 500 boards appointed a record share of women and first-time directors in 2021, according to the 2022 Board Monitor report from Heidrick & Struggles. The study, which analyzed Fortune 500 board appointments including representation by gender, race/ethnicity, and experience, found that global events like the pandemic, climate change, increased calls for racial and social justice, and now
The Christopher Group Seeks Head of People and Culture for Untamed Brands
The Christopher Group (TCG), a boutique HR executive search and business solutions recruiting firm, has been selected by Untamed Brands to lead its search for a head of people and culture. Nat Schiffer, managing director, is leading the search along with recruiting manager Logan Sweet. “We are truly honored to have been chosen to lead this head of
BarkerGilmore Recruits General Counsel for Malta
Boutique search firm BarkerGilmore, which specializes in building corporate legal and compliance teams, has assisted in the recruitment of Alex Hernandez as general counsel of Malta Inc., a Cambridge, MA-based innovator of grid-scale, long-duration energy storage. The assignment was led by John Gilmore, co-founder and managing partner, and Stephen Bell, senior director. “Alex is a great addition to
ZRG Partners Recruits Dean of School of Nursing for University of Alabama
Following a national search, ZRG Partners, a leading search firm backed by private equity firm RFE Investment Partners, has placed Maria Rodriguez Shirey as the next dean of the school of nursing at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She succeeds Doreen Harper, holder of the Fay B. Ireland Endowed Deanship in the school of nursing,
Vantage Leadership Consulting Names New Marketing Leader
Vantage Leadership Consulting has appointed Sara Nelson as director of marketing. “As our firm has grown, so have the needs of our clients,” said managing partner Keith Goudy. “We are excited to have Sara on the team as she helps guide our firm into new markets, optimize client experience, and enhance our branding.” Ms. Nelson
The Web3 / Crypto Ecosystem Continues to Explode, Keeping Search Firms Busy
When hiring any Web3 executive, you need someone who’s going to drive innovation, scalability, and lead the organization through a hyper growth period. Hiring world-class talent for the fastest growing technology companies is only going to become more competitive, so understanding what skills are needed and where to look for the best talent is more
ON Partners Recruits CEO for Odyssey Semiconductor Technologies
Tim Conti and Alex Pelak of ON Partners have assisted in the recruitment of Mark Davidson as the new CEO of Odyssey Semiconductor Technologies in Ithaca, NY. He succeeds Rick Brown, the company’s co-founder, who served as interim CEO since September of last year. “Mark is known for his versatility to transform businesses into highly successful operations – having spent nearly 20
Grace Blue Partnership Recruits Chief Technology Officer for Dentsu
London-based executive search firm Grace Blue Partnership has placed Christina Lee as chief technology officer at Dentsu Asia Pacific, an integrated marketing solutions and agency services company. Ms. Lee will be responsible for providing overarching technology strategy, industry-leading capabilities, and solutions to enable business growth and drive day to day operations through transformational business and technology initiatives.
Management Consultants for the Arts Selected by Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre to Find New Leader
Stamford, Conn-based executive search firm Management Consultants for the Arts has been called in by the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre (PBT) to lead its search for a new executive director. The assignment is being spearheaded by David Mallette, Jason Palmquist, and Shruti Adhar. Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre wants a collaborative and engaged organizational leader to build on its strong financial
Amrop Rosin Launches Digital Transformation Practice
Toronto-based executive search and advisory firm Amrop Rosin has appointed Naveen Kumar and Sanjiv Purba as co-leaders of its new digital transformation practice. “Digital transformation is on the mind of every business leader,” said Jeff Rosin, founder. “We are launching a focused practice bolstered by two world leaders to meet this need and connect clients with the talent they need to
Exploring 5 Myths of CEO Succession
There is no more important pathway to successful leadership development than succession planning. Although the stakes are immeasurably high, succession planning is still an undervalued corporate agenda item, according to a new report from Russell Reynolds Associates. Top performing organizations understand that succession planning is a key pillar of corporate performance that transcends short-term emergency
Hanold Associates Places Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer for Red Hat
Hanold Associates HR & Diversity Executive Search has placed Shuchi Sharma as chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer for Red Hat, a provider of enterprise open-source software solutions. Ms. Sharma previously served as global vice president, diversity, and inclusion at SAR, a software development company. Val Lopez, Sandra Peña and Ivy Arlia led the assignment for
Cejka Search Tapped by Mason General Hospital & Family of Clinics to Find New CFO
Cejka Search was recently selected to help recruit a new chief financial officer for Mason General Hospital & Family of Clinics. Todd Wozniak, vice president, search consultant, is leading the assignment. The healthcare organization wants its CFO to be a strategic advisor who will provide the expertise needed to support the executive committee in making operational decisions that
RPA Assists Shippensburg University in the Recruitment of 18th President
Williamsport, PA-based higher education executive search firm RPA Inc. has assisted in the recruitment of Charles E. Patterson as the 18th president of Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania. He succeeds Laurie Carter who departed last summer to become president of Lawrence University in Wisconsin. “As interim president of Shippensburg University and former president of Mansfield University, Dr. Patterson has
Egon Zehnder Names Co-Leader of Global Consumer Practice
Egon Zehnder recently named Sarah Van Dyck as co-leader of its global consumer practice. Based in San Francisco, she advises both industry leaders and emerging disruptors on leadership development, executive search, and board advisory services. Ms. Van Dyck has 25 years of experience as a marketing executive with consumer and technology companies. Prior to joining Egon Zehnder,
