DAILY NEWSWIRE - TOP STORIES
Daily Newswire
AI Moves from Hype to Workflow in Executive Search as Innova Launches Hands-On Summit
Artificial intelligence is rapidly moving from experimentation to execution within executive search, reshaping how firms approach everything from business development to candidate delivery. As expectations rise around speed, insight, and precision, search firms are under increasing pressure to rethink traditional workflows and identify where technology can meaningfully enhance performance rather than simply add complexity. Unlike
Recalibrating Talent: How Generational Dynamics and Mid-Level Hiring Are Reshaping Leadership Strategy in 2026
The hiring landscape is entering a new phase—one defined less by disruption and more by recalibration. After years of volatility, organizations are taking a more deliberate look at how talent aligns with long-term strategy and evolving business needs. That shift is bringing new attention to how companies build teams, assess potential, and define leadership across
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.
JDG Associates Retained by the Institute for Defense Analyses for General Counsel Search
Rockville, MD-based executive search firm JDG Associates has been retained by the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA) to lead its search for a general counsel based in Alexandria, VA. Reporting directly to the president and CEO, the general counsel serves as IDA’s chief legal officer and secretary of the Corporation, with responsibility spanning legal counsel and
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?
CarterBaldwin Assists Ideal Tridon Group with Chief Information Officer Search
CarterBaldwin Executive Search has helped to recruit Shane Dacus as chief information officer of Ideal Tridon Group, a portfolio company of Nautic Partners and global provider of engineered clamps, brackets, fittings, and metal framing systems. Mr. Dacus brings more than 25 years of technology leadership across industrial, manufacturing, and PE-backed platforms, with a consistent record of elevating IT
Lindauer Recruits CEO for Penn State Alumni Association
Lindauer has placed Reggie Bustinza as associate vice president for alumni relations and chief executive officer of the Penn State Alumni Association. He was selected after a nationwide search to succeed Paul Clifford, who departed Penn State in January 2025. The search was led by Lindauer executive vice president Faith Montgomery and senior consultant Raegan Harvey in partnership with Penn State. “Lindauer
Why M&A Success Is Ultimately a Talent Challenge
In its latest market intelligence findings, The Role of HR in M&A: 5 Golden Rules for CHROs, Spencer Stuart argues that many transactions fail not because of flawed strategy, but because of shortcomings in leadership, culture, talent retention, and organizational execution. While financial and operational diligence often dominate deal planning, the firm’s research suggests that people-related
Greenwood Asher & Associates Leading Chief Marketing Officer Search for the College of Charleston
Miramar Beach, FL-based executive recruitment firm Greenwood Asher & Associates (GA&A) is currently seeking a chief marketing officer and vice president for marketing and communications for the College of Charleston. Kyle Pybus-Jerome and Jeremy Duff are leading the assignment. The College of Charleston seeks a strategic and innovative marketing executive to lead an integrated marketing and communications enterprise that
EMA Partners India Acquires Recruitment Process Outsourcing Services Provider Taggd
Executive search and leadership recruitment platform EMA Partners India has acquired recruitment process outsourcing services provider Taggd in an all-cash deal valued at Rs 113 crore. The all-cash acquisition aims to create an integrated talent recruitment platform offering executive search, professional search and AI-powered recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) solutions at scale. Taggd will continue to
NGS Global Expands in London
Wilmington, DE-headquartered executive search firm NGS Global has expanded with the additions of Daniel Yeates and George Balfour as managing directors in London. “Daniel and George are accomplished executive search professionals with deep expertise in the technology and digital sectors,” said David Nosal, chairman and managing partner. “They each bring outstanding client and candidate relationships built over decades
Leadership Challenges Intensify as Organizations Confront AI, Talent, and Economic Uncertainty
Organizations are operating in an increasingly complex environment where economic uncertainty, workforce challenges, AI adoption, and digital transformation are converging to reshape leadership priorities. Kestria’s second annual global leadership survey builds on the themes that emerged in last year’s research; highlighting how rapidly the leadership landscape continues to evolve. Based on responses from more than
Riviera Partners Acquires Lateral Labs
San Francisco-based Riviera Partners, a recruitment provider specializing in C-level engineering, product, and design leader placements, has acquired Lateral Labs, a specialized recruiting firm serving top AI startups. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. “The acquisition comes as companies remain challenged to meet the demand of organizational AI readiness,” the firm said. “Adding Lateral Labs positions Riviera Partners
Marovi Assists Congruex with CFO Search
Working in partnership with Atlanta-GA-based Marovi, Congruex, a provider of digital infrastructure engineering and construction services, appointed Jim Stanley as CFO. He reports to Congruex’s co-founder, president, and CEO, Kevin O’Hara. The appointment comes amid strong and sustained growth at Congruex as it plans to continue to capitalize on macro tailwinds, including AI and data center
Brettschneider Executive Search Seeking Inaugural SVP of Advancement for Wilmington University
New York City-based Brettschneider Executive Search has been retained by Wilmington University (WilmU) to lead in its search for an inaugural senior vice president of advancement to lead the University’s next phase of philanthropic growth. Reporting to WilmU president LaVerne Harmon, the SVP will partner closely with the president, board and University leaders to advance the University’s strategic
August Leadership Expands in London
August Leadership has expanded with the addition of Honor Pollok as a partner in London. Ms. Pollok brings over 20 years of executive search and leadership experience. She has led numerous high-profile placements in chair, non-executive director, CEO and the full spectrum of C-suite roles. Her search expertise spans key commercial, financial, creative, human resource, functional,
Hunt Scanlon and HSiQ Spotlight New Approach to Recruiter Training
As the executive search industry faces mounting pressure to improve performance and consistency, firms are increasingly reevaluating how recruiters are trained and developed. Hunt Scanlon and its HSiQ talent intelligence advisory unit recently launched a new Recruiter Performance Training Program designed to bring greater structure, commercial rigor, and scalability to recruiter development in an industry long driven by
Building Team Alignment in an Era of Continuous Change
Ask any team to describe its top strategic priorities and you will often get as many answers as there are people in the room. The problem is not that the strategy hasn’t been communicated, according to recent report from AIIR Consulting. “The problem is that it was communicated into an environment that has since shifted
Isaacson, Miller Helps Recruit 28th President for Texas A&M
Boston-based Isaacson, Miller has assisted in the recruitment of Susan Ballabina as the 28th president of Texas A&M. Andy Lee and Julie Filizetti, led search with Raul Bernal and Luciano Zuniga, and Madeline Fitzpatrick. The members of the Board of Regents conducted a national search that produced a strong pool of candidates. Dr. Ballabina emerged through that process based on her experience, her understanding of
BarkerGilmore Recruits General Counsel for American Credit Acceptance
Boutique search firm BarkerGilmore, which specializes in building corporate legal and compliance teams, has placed Debra Noll as general counsel at American Credit Acceptance. The search was led by Stephen Bell and Alison Waters. “Deb is exceptionally well-positioned to support American Credit Acceptance as it continues to grow and adapt in a complex environment,” BarkerGilmore said in a LinkedIn
Kincannon & Reed Appoints VP of Marketing and Business Development
Kincannon & Reed (K&R), which exclusively focuses on food, agribusiness, and the related life sciences, has expanded with the addition of Dan Evans as vice president of marketing and business development. “Dan brings a strong background in building brands, driving growth, and connecting strategy to execution,” said Stephanie Liska, president of Kincannon & Reed. “Throughout his career,
Women Founders Gain Ground in Human Capital M&A
A meaningful shift has been unfolding across the executive search industry. Over the past decade, a growing number of highly specialized boutiques have been founded and led by women, many of whom built successful careers within larger firms before launching businesses of their own. What is becoming increasingly clear is that investors are paying attention.
Private Equity Recruiting – Return on Investment: Creating Value with Talent
Talent has become a defining driver of performance in private equity, shaping how firms manage risk, execute strategy, and deliver sustained returns. As deal cycles tighten and value creation depends increasingly on operational excellence, leadership quality and organizational design are no longer secondary considerations — they are central to how firms source, underwrite, and scale
AGB Search Seeking Chief Information Technology Officer for Slippery Rock University
Washington, D.C.-based recruitment firm AGB Search, which specializes in higher education leadership assignments, has been retained by Slippery Rock University to lead in its search for a chief information technology officer (CITO). Kimberly Templeton, Margaret Plympton, and Anne Hoffman are leading the assignment. This leader serves as the University’s senior technology executive, providing strategic vision, leadership, and executive
The Talent Studios Recruits Chief Marketing Officer for Pura Vida Miami
The Talent Studios has recruited Bruno Cardinali as chief marketing officer of Pura Vida Miami, the premium all-day café and lifestyle brand focused on health, wellness and community. The search was led by Katlyn Maloney and Jeremy Cohen. Mr. Cardinali brings more than two decades of marketing leadership across fast casual, foodservice, beverage, and global consumer brands. Most recently, as
JM Search Expands Technology and Financial Services Practices
JM Search, a senior-level talent provider serving private equity investors, portfolio companies, and Fortune 1000s, has expanded with the additions of Wes Chisholm as partner and Laura Bennstrom and Charles Telep as principals within its technology and financial services practices. Mr. Chisholm and Mr. Telep join the firm’s technology practice while Ms. Bennstrom joins both the financial
How The Tolan Group Navigated the Downturn and Remained Focused
For many executive search firms, 2024 and 2025 tested resilience in ways few could have predicted. At The Tolan Group (TTG), they experienced the same pressures felt across the industry. Slower decision cycles, delayed starts, and a noticeable dip in portfolio company hiring activity. Yet through that uncertainty, one thing remained constant: our commitment to
Korn Ferry Reports Seven Percent Q4 and Full-Year Revenue Growth, Led by Double-Digit Gains in Professional Search & Interim
Korn Ferry (NYSE:KFY) has posted Q4 fiscal-year revenues of $759.8 million, a year-over-year increase of seven percent and five percent at constant currency. This was led by Professional Search & Interim up 14 percent, followed by Executive Search and Consulting, both up seven percent and RPO up five percent. During the fourth quarter, revenues rose by
Lock Search Group Leading CEO Search for Atlas Sign & Awning
Toronto-headquartered executive recruitment firm Lock Search Group is currently seeking a new CEO for Atlas Sign & Awning. For over 30 years, Atlas Sign & Awning has helped businesses across Canada and the United States stand out through custom commercial signage, awnings, and branded architectural elements. Based in Langley, BC, they’ve built a strong reputation for quality
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
Talent and Technology: A New Generation of Leadership Enters the C-Suite
Riviera Partners recently surveyed more than 1,000 technology executives for its latest report, revealing a major shift in how leadership is structured. According to Riviera, AI, data, and cross-functional collaboration are pushing technology roles to the forefront of enterprise strategy. The report identifies five key positions now demanding space in the C-suite: Chief AI officer (CAIO), chief
Bullhorn Launches New Service to Support Recruiting Firms
Bullhorn, a provider of software to recruiting firms, has launched Bullhorn Ventures, a dedicated corporate venture capital resource that will invest in and partner with high-potential, early-stage companies focused on helping staffing and recruiting firms improve operational efficiency and boost top-line growth. Bullhorn Ventures will launch initially with $20 million allocated for investments. The recruiting industry is
ZRG Partners Recruits Chief Marketing Officer for CalAmp
As business becomes more global and complex, and power shifts from producers of goods and services to consumers, the chief marketing officer’s job of planning and coordinating marketing activities has become more challenging — and much more influential. ZRG Partners, a leading search firm backed by private equity firm RFE Investment Partners, recently assisted in the recruitment of
Envision Consulting Recruits Chief Development Officer for Children’s Bureau
Virtually every industry needs top-drawer chief development officers. CDOs play a key role in planning, coordinating and administering capital campaigns, corporate giving and galvanizing new donors while keeping previous funders content. Implementing funding strategies that “keep the lights on,” according to recruiters specializing in the function, is Job 1. Pasadena, CA-based search firm Envision Consulting recently
Tight Talent Market Means Upward Pressure of Wages to Continue
The Labor Department reported that 232,000 Americans have filed new claims for state unemployment benefits, a decrease of 17,000 from the previous week’s revised level. The previous week’s level was revised up by 1,000 from 248,000 to 249,000. The four-week moving average was 236,250, a decrease of 7,250 from the previous week’s revised average. The
10 Tips for Using LinkedIn to Boost Your Career
Forget all the hype around the pithy Great Resignation phrase that blankets the news with a vision of employees leaving jobs everywhere. The data shows that while more people are indeed resigning, a higher percent of the industries from which they are departing are in hospitality, retail and other sectors impacted by the lack of
Daversa Partners Recruits Chief People Officer for SmartAsset
Daversa Partners, which helps build leadership teams for growth and venture-backed companies, has assisted in the recruitment of Meghan Lapides as the new chief people officer of SmartAsset, an online destination for financial information and advice and a national marketplace connecting consumers to financial advisors. Associate director Emma Sullivan and director Samantha Pernice led the assignment.
DHR Global Acquires Westmont Search
Chicago-based executive search firm DHR Global has acquired Philadelphia-based Westmont Search. The move adds two search consultants to the DHR roster and will strengthen the firm’s presence in the healthcare sector. Wendy Brown-Blau and Peter Blau, co-founders of Westmont Search, will join DHR as managing partners with a focus on health systems, managed care services and government
E.A. Hughes Places COO at Perry Ellis International
Retailers are facing major shifts in their businesses that call for “unprecedented responses” by leaders who can effectively lead through change, intuitively and analytically understand the evolving consumer, and respond to ambiguity, according to search consultants. Developed markets, excess retail capacity, rising prices, the shift to omni-channel retail and the unpredictable pace of change in
Horton International Merges with Atabay Consulting in Mexico
Horton International has expanded in Mexico with its merger of talent solutions and leadership firm Atabay Consulting. “At Horton International we have been consistently working on building our leadership team, our service offering and our global presence,” said Maneesh Ajmani, chairman of the board at Horton International. “This merger is yet another step in strengthening our
Finding HR Leaders and Diversity Chiefs Remains Hot Spot for Executive Recruiters
More and more, chief executive officers have recognized the strategic role that the human resources function plays in the core strategic issues their companies face, including growth strategy, mergers and acquisitions, restructuring, increased board oversight, and evolving governance and reporting. HR can also ensure that clear changes are made to recruitment and capability-building processes by
Top Technology Trends to Look Out for in 2022
Technology is part of our everyday lives and has become more ingrained in how businesses operate. A new Harvey Nash report says that we will continue to see existing technologies adoption rates increase and new technologies emerge to re-shape business day-to-day. The search firm lays out the top five technology trends that have the biggest
True Search Expands Leadership Team
Executive recruiting firm True Search has named Chin Yee Ng as general manager, Asia-Pacific; Darci Galvin as vice president of global client services; William Che as chief information officer; and promoted Andrea Watt to chief people officer. “Each leader brings subject matter expertise to help support the increasing demand from True’s client base,” the search firm said in a statement. True experienced a record growth
ON Partners Recruits CEO for nView Health
Tara Flickinger of ON Partners recently assisted in the recruitment of John Letter as the new chief executive officer of nView Health, a provider of evidence-based software and solutions used by research organizations and healthcare professionals. In conjunction with Mr. Letter’s appointment, nView’s previous CEO, Jim Szyperski, will transition into the role of vice president of strategic partnerships.
Greenwich Harbor Partners Fills Seven Board Positions for Teach for America Twin Cities
Although boards of directors are considered the backbones of organizations, director recruiting has grown markedly more challenging, say recruiters who conduct searches in that area. Greenwich Harbor Partners recently placed seven new members of the board of advisors for Teach for America Twin Cities. The new members are: Javier Alacron, senior vice president finance in agriculture at
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and Measuring What Matters
Although metrics should never be the sole measure of success, they provide vital information on the effectiveness of the policies and programs implemented. They also offer essential clues on the steps that we can take to gain traction on equity and inclusion while broadening overall representation within the organization, according to Solade Rowe in a
Lindauer Assists Fenway Health in the Recruitment of Chief People Officer
Lindauer has helped to place Shari Stier as the new chief people officer for Fenway Health, a Boston-based healthcare, research and advocacy organization that serves the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. She will assume the role on April 4. Faith Eutsay led the assignment for the search firm. Ms. Stier brings over 20 years of experience,
SearchWide Global Recruits Chief Diversity Officer for Destinations International
Executive recruitment firm SearchWide Global has assisted in the recruitment of Sophia Hyder Hock as chief diversity officer of Destinations International. Senior vice president Kellie Henderson led the assignment. “Since implementing equity, diversity and inclusion as a strategic goal for the association in 2017, Destinations International has been working to lead and engage diversity initiatives and opportunities
JM Search Places Head of Cyber Services at Beazley
Increasingly, organizations of all sizes are awakening to the perils posed by cyber attacks. For years, many groups tried to ignore the problem, dismissing cybersecurity as a concern only for the biggest, most high-profile entities, be they government or corporate. These days, more groups are coming to understand how ruinous such intrusions could be. This
EMA Partners Opens Office in Seoul
Coming out of a global pandemic, executive search consultants are seeing an increase in hiring mandates from just about every corner of the globe. 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. EMA Partners
Moving the DE&I Needle Beyond the Rooney Rule Checkbox
Even before businesses had access to research showing a positive correlation between diversity, profitability and innovation, organizations realized the need for diverse profiles in leadership positions. Diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives have been around for decades. Outside of HR and recruiting, however, many people weren’t aware of the work being done to make C-suites, corporate
Diversified Search Group Recruits First Leader for the National Museum of the American Latino
Diversified Search Group (DSG), a leading search firm backed by private equity firm ShoreView Industries, has assisted in the recruitment of Jorge Zamanillo as the inaugural director of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Latino, a new museum established by Congress in December 2020. Leading the search were Victor Arias, managing partner of the firm’s Dallas office,
Phillips Oppenheim Recruits New Leader for San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
New York City-based Phillips Oppenheim has placed Christopher Bedford as the new director of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA). Mr. Bedford, who has been director of the Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA) since 2016, will assume his new role in June. He will succeed veteran director Neal Benezra, who stepped down in the fall
Jobless Claims Unexpectedly Rise as Americans Continue Look for New Employment Opportunities
The Labor Department reported that 248,000 Americans have filed new claims for state unemployment benefits, an increase of 23,000 from the previous week’s revised level. The previous week’s level was revised up by 2,000 from 223,000 to 225,000. The four-week moving average was 243,250, a decrease of 10,500 from the previous week’s revised average. The
Key Search Expands Team
Basel, Switzerland-headquartered executive search firm Key Search has expanded with the addition of Google search executive David Bizer as director. “As a keynote speaker and an executive recruitment specialist in the technology sector, his passion for company culture is well-known throughout the start-up ecosystem,” the search firm said. “In addition, his experience in talent acquisition and
How to Attract Top Talent from Other Industries to Cannabis
With a growing number of legalized states starting to sell and some experts predicting that the cannabis industry will top $43 billion by 2025, it is no surprise that cannabis-related jobs are also on the rise. For businesses, this means new positions to fill to keep up with rapid growth and consumer demand. The challenge
Beecher Reagan Launches New Platform Focused on Leadership Acceleration
Catalyte Leadership Acceleration, a Beecher Reagan company, has launched a full suite of leadership acceleration offerings for professional services and private equity firms. The company’s proprietary Verity Leadership Assessment tool and services help benchmark top talent, accelerate leadership performance, align, and accelerate teams, and perform talent due diligence, according to the company. “We’ve seen an
Daversa Partners Recruits President / Chief Revenue Officer for Chainalysis
Daversa Partners, which helps build leadership teams for growth and venture-backed companies, has assisted in the recruitment of W. Thomas Stanley as the new president and chief revenue officer of Chainalysis Inc. The search was led by Gary Constance, Julie Wrapp, Sarah McDonald, Paul Daversa and Jason Slattery. Mr. Stanley is a passionate advocate for education, science and technology, youth
Preng & Associates Places New Leader for Traverse City Light & Power in Michigan
Houston-based executive search firm Preng & Associates recently assisted in the recruitment of Brandie Ekren, executive director of strategic planning and development for the Lansing (MI) Board of Water & Light as the next executive director of Traverse City Light & Power (TLCP), also in Michigan. Consultant Mark Ciolek led the assignment. Ms. Ekren’s successor, Tim Arends,
Hiretual Secures $26 Million and Rebrands to hireEZ
Hiretual, an AI-powered global talent platform, has closed $26 million in funding led by Conductive Ventures. The company is also rebranding to hireEZ, which reflects its mission to focus on outbound recruiting. “In these unprecedented times, recruiting has become an impossible task,” said founder and CEO Steven Jiang. “Recruiters and hiring managers can no longer sit
Isaacson, Miller Called in by University of Michigan to Find 15th President
The University of Michigan (UM) has retained Isaacson, Miller to assist in the search for its 15th president. John Isaacson, John Muckle and Elizabeth Dorr are spearheading the assignment. The school removed Mark Schlissel as president in December after it learned that Dr. Schlissel may have been involved in an inappropriate relationship with a university employee. The board has
The Tolan Group Recruits CFO for The Plastic Surgery Center
The Tolan Group (TTG) recently placed Paul Valenti as the new CFO of The Plastic Surgery Center. “It was a privilege to work with Dr. Elkwood and the hiring team to bring on such a crucial member of the executive staff,” said Kaye Johnson, managing partner of the search firm that led the assignment. “We felt
