DAILY NEWSWIRE - TOP STORIES
Daily Newswire
Goldman Sachs Signals a New M&A Supercycle
Goldman Sachs’ 2026 Global M&A Outlook suggests the market is entering a new phase of strategic transformation driven by technological disruption, scale ambitions, and unprecedented levels of capital deployment. The report highlights a surge in large-scale deals during the second half of 2025, with global M&A volumes rising sharply and mega transactions accelerating across regions.Corporate and private
Creating Predictable Recruitment Firm Revenue in an Unpredictable Industry
In a market where deal flow can shift quickly and client priorities change just as fast, many boutique recruitment firms find themselves operating without a clear line of sight on future income. What separates firms that consistently grow from those that stall isn’t just performance—it’s the ability to build structure around uncertainty and turn activity
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.
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,
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?
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
Allen Austin Launches Evidence-Based Leadership Assessment VantagePoint
Houston, TX-based search firm Allen Austin launch of VantagePoint, an evidence-based leadership assessment that helps organizations identify and develop high-potential leaders with greater clarity and confidence. VantagePoint is grounded in three decades of leadership advisory work and original research by Allen Austin chairman and CEO Rob Andrews. Over two years, Mr. Andrews interviewed more than 100 CEOs,
The CHRO’s New Mandate
Across industries, the organizational design structure has shifted from a traditional pyramid to an hourglass model. This is not a recent development, explained Slayton Search Partners’ John Doyle in a recent report. “Organizational efficiencies, increased technology and the first wave of Baby Boomer retirements began this transition nearly two decades ago,” he said. “Experienced leaders have been retiring. Internal pipelines have
AGB Search Recruits 11th President for Lewis University
Washington, D.C.-based recruitment firm AGB Search, which specializes in higher education leadership assignments, has helped to recruit Christopher Sindt as the 11th president of Lewis University. The Lewis University board of trustees recently announced that president David Livingston, will retire at the conclusion of the 2025–26 academic year. Melissa K. Trotta, Matthew J. Kilcoyne, and John Cech led the assignment. “After
Kincannon & Reed Assists CCI Prime with CFO Search
Kincannon & Reed (K&R), which exclusively focuses on food, agribusiness, and the related life sciences, has assisted in the recruitment of Jamie Broad as CFO of CCI Prime, bringing on a seasoned finance leader to support the company’s next phase of growth. “Jamie’s ability to connect financial insights to operational realities makes her an exceptional
EQU Advisors Seeking Senior Leader for Sarah Lawrence College
Executive search firm EQU Advisors was recently retained by Sarah Lawrence College to lead in its search for an associate vice president of enrollment. This executive will serve as a key member of the senior enrollment leadership team and a collaborative partner across the institution. This role is designed to strengthen coordination, elevate shared strategy, and support
Egon Zehnder Forms Alliance with IMD
Global leadership advisory firm Egon Zehnder and IMD, a leading business school in global executive education, have formed a strategic partnership to facilitate board directors’ personal growth and elevate board performance. The partnership combines IMD’s academic rigor and deep connections to global boards with Egon Zehnder’s expertise in leadership and board effectiveness. Together, they will co-create tailored
Why Boards Are Betting on New CEOs and How to Set Them Up to Win
A growing number of companies are entrusting the corner office to leaders stepping into the CEO role for the first time. As succession strategies evolve and executive talent markets tighten, boards are increasingly prioritizing leadership potential, adaptability, and strategic vision over prior CEO experience. Boards now face a new question: which qualities make a first-time CEO succeed,
The Leadership Reset: What AI is Exposing About Today’s Executives
For decades, leadership success was largely measured by experience, team size, and the ability to manage complex organizations. Today, artificial intelligence is changing that equation, and it is reshaping how boards, investors, and hiring executives evaluate leadership talent. As AI transforms how work gets done, organizations are discovering that competitive advantage is no longer determined
Greenwood Asher & Associates Recruits Provost for the University of Cincinnati
Miramar Beach, FL-based executive recruitment firm Greenwood Asher & Associates has assisted the University of Cincinnati (UC) in the recruitment of Rudolph Buchheit as executive vice president for academic affairs and provost. Andriel Dees and Julie Schrodt led the assignment for the search firm. His selection follows a national search led by a dedicated search committee that was informed by
HARTZ Search Assists Geisinger with Recruitment of CIO
Charlotte, NC-based HARTZ Search has helped to recruit Bill Bellando as executive vice president and chief information officer of Geisinger. He joins Geisinger after serving as senior vice president and chief information officer at Georgia-based Wellstar Health System from 2022 to 2026. In this role, Mr. Bellando oversaw information technology and digital initiatives across the health system.
The University of Alabama System Taps ZRG for President Search
Academic institutions continue to pump big fees into executive search firms nationwide. Many academic recruiting specialists say business, in fact, has never been better despite some sectors of executive search slowing over the past year. Even smaller recruiting outfits have multiple assignments running concurrently, all at the senior levels, and if there’s any slowdown coming
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,
How Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Fuels a Powerful Employment Brand
Employers are amid a labor shortage the likes of which we’ve never imagined. Today, unemployment is being reported at 3.6 percent, the lowest it’s been since its climb to 14.7 percent during the first days of the pandemic. While this number might sound good, this statistic is wildly misleading, says Rob Andrews of Allen Austin in a
Unemployment Rate Holds Steady at 3.6 Percent
Employment rose by 428,000 in February as the U.S. unemployment rate was unchanged at 3.6 percent, according to the most recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report. The number of unemployed persons was essentially unchanged at 5.9 million. These measures are little different from their values in February 2020 (3.5 percent and 5.7 million, respectively), prior
Krauthamer & Associates Recruits CEO for the Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District
Over the past year, a growing number of transportation companies have enlisted executive search firms to help them find senior talent. Executive recruiting firm Krauthamer & Associates recently placed Michael Tree as general manager and CEO of the Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District (METRO) in California. “Following a nation-wide search and many hours of work by our recruitment
CohenTaylor Seeks CEO for Planned Parenthood North Central States
Minneapolis, MN-based CohenTaylor Executive Search Services has been enlisted to find the next chief executive officer of Planned Parenthood North Central States (PPNCS). “The CEO is responsible for creating and driving the success of the organization’s strategic objectives and mission to: ‘affirm the human right to reproductive health and freedom,’” said the search firm. “Representing
IMSA Search Expands Into Singapore
Coming out of a global pandemic, executive search consultants are seeing an increase in hiring mandates from around the world. To meet demand, they continue to develop new practices, hire new recruiters, and open new locations. Global recruiting consortiums, meanwhile, are taking advantage of a resurgence in certain geographic areas. Executive search network IMSA Search Global Partners
What the Hybrid Workplace Means for Leaders
Since the late 1800s, offices have been considered the most efficient way to manage the workforce, but the pandemic has changed the way organizations think about and define the workplace. When COVID forced many people to work from home, a lot of them found that they appreciated the flexibility it allowed. Now they want to
Renovata & Company Recruits CHRO for Siteimprove
Global executive search and private equity advisory firm Renovata & Company has placed Britt Provost as the new CHRO for San Francisco-based marketing performance platform Siteimprove. “Britt joins as Siteimprove’s first chief human resources officer as the company ramps up for another big year,” said Joanna Chang, partner at Renovata & Company. “She has held people and human
Kirby Bates Associates Seeks Chief Nursing Officer for Winchester Medical Center
As the healthcare sector continues to expand and reshape itself, vanguard organizations in the field are looking to bolster their leadership ranks. In demand: multi-skilled executives, physician leaders, and nurses who can effect change on many levels. Of the four major C-suite roles in the typical hospital, the chief nursing officer has traditionally been the most
Job Cut Plans are Rising Amid Inflationary Risks
The Labor Department reported that 200,000 Americans have filed new claims for state unemployment benefits, an increase of 19,000 from the previous week’s revised level. The previous week’s level was revised up by 1,000 from 180,000 to 181,000. The four-week moving average was 188,000, an increase of 8,000 from the previous week’s revised average. The
