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Daily Newswire
When Search Fatigue Leads to Costly Hiring Mistakes
In executive search, the biggest hiring mistakes are not always caused by weak candidate pools or poor sourcing strategies. More often, breakdowns occur near the finish line, when prolonged interview cycles, competing stakeholder opinions, and mounting business pressures begin to wear down decision-making discipline. What starts as a rigorous evaluation process can gradually shift toward
Preng & Associates Recruits SVP of Government Services for American Bureau of Shipping
Houston-based Preng & Associates has placed Rear Admiral Ronald J. Rábago as senior vice president of government services at American Bureau of Shipping (ABS). “Admiral Rábago brings exceptional government and industry experience that will further enhance the support we provide to our government clients in the U.S. and around the world,” said John McDonald, ABS chairman and CEO. “His
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.
Vetted Solutions Recruits CEO for GO2 for Lung Cancer
Washington, D.C.-based Vetted Solutions has placed David Benson as the new CEO of GO2 for Lung Cancer. “David is an exceptional leader with a deep commitment to improving the lives of people affected by cancer,” said GO2 board president Rick Sherlock. “His collaborative leadership style, strategic vision, and ability to build meaningful partnerships make him the right
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?
TalentRise Assists Grassroots Gardens of WNY with Executive Director Search
TalentRise has assisted in the recruitment of Megan Kelly as the new executive director of Grassroots Gardens of WNY. “We’re thrilled to announce Meg Kelly as the new executive director of Grassroots Gardens WNY,” the organization said. “Meg brings experience to our garden network from her work with the region’s business and entrepreneurship community, and enters
Private Equity Firms Rethink Executive Hiring for Future Growth
PE investors routinely underwrite businesses based on their future state. For example, an investment thesis may assume a restaurant company will double its unit count, accelerate franchising, expand geographically, complete acquisitions, improve margins, or become significantly more institutionalized during the hold period. Executive hiring, however, often remains anchored to the present, according to a new
ON Partners Recruits CFO for Fortera
Partners Josh Nathanson and Chris Clements along with principal Alexis Rohe of ON Partners have placed Albert Luu as the new CFO of cement manufacturer Fortera in San Jose, CA. “Fortera is at a stage where the work we’ve done to prove the technology now has to be matched by our ability to finance and execute at scale,”
BoardWalk Consulting Assists Downtown Atlanta with CEO Search
BoardWalk Consulting has recruited Kyle Waide as the new CEO of Downtown Atlanta Inc. (DAI) to lead in its search for a CEO. The search was led by Sam Pettway, Crystal Stephens, and Patti Kish. The search committee began its work in April of 2026 under the leadership of Egbert Perry, CEO, Integral Group; longtime member of CAP and
SearchWide Global Recruits President and CEO for Visit California
SearchWide Global has helped to recruit Julie Coker as the new president and CEO of Visit California. She succeeds longtime leader Caroline Beteta, who announced her retirement earlier this year. The assignment was led by Mike Gamble, chairman, CEO, and co-founder of SearchWide. The appointment is the culmination of a comprehensive global search conducted in partnership
JM Search Expands Search Team
JM Search, a senior-level talent provider serving private equity investors, portfolio companies, and Fortune 1000s, has expanded with the additions of Amber Shockey as partner within its legal practice and Curtis Walker as principal within its media & telecommunications team. “Continued private equity investment across legal services, legal-adjacent businesses, and professional sports is elevating the importance of
Interim or Executive Search? Choosing the Right Leadership Solution
Interim leadership has moved well beyond being a stopgap solution for unexpected vacancies. As organizations face greater complexity, faster strategic shifts, and mounting pressure to deliver results, boards and CEOs are increasingly turning to experienced interim leaders as a flexible way to maintain momentum and address critical business needs. For executive search firms, that shift
Funk Associates Assists the University of North Florida with the Recruitment of Eighth President
Funk Associates has assisted in the recruitment of Michael P. Shannon as the eighth president of the University of North Florida (UNF). Past president Moez Limayem stepped down from his position in early 2026. “Mike Shannon is the leader who can build on UNF’s strong momentum and continue to elevate the University’s incredible impact across our
DHR Global Recruits President of Business Operations for the Pittsburgh Penguins
Talent advisory firm DHR Global has placed Marcel Braithwaite as president of business operations for the Pittsburgh Penguins. This search was led by Mike Gagliardi and Glenn Sugiyama of DHR’s sports practice. “Marcel is going to be a transformational hire for one of the NHL’s premier teams,” said Mr. Sugiyama, managing partner of DHR’s sports practice. “I had the
Mercuri Urval Expands International Public and ESG Expert Practice
Stockholm, Sweden-based executive search firm Mercuri Urval (MU) has expanded with the addition of former Danish government minister Astrid Krag to its international public and ESG expert practice. “With Astrid’s extensive experience in international public affairs, strong commitment to ESG and sustainability, and deep understanding of life sciences, she brings a valuable combination of expertise and
ZRG Partners Acquires N2Growth’s Spain Business
ZRG Partners has entered the Spanish market through the acquisition of the business formerly known as Blacksmith that had been doing business since 2023 under the umbrella of N2Growth. Through this integration, ZRG enters the Spanish market with an established local team and the goal of offering Spanish and international clients agile, high-touch advisory backed by
Family Offices Move Into Human Capital M&A
Altss’ latest ranking, The 50 Largest Family Offices in the World (2026), illustrates the scale family capital has reached. The 50 largest offices collectively manage an estimated $2.4 trillion, with the top 10 controlling more than $1.5 trillion. Twenty-eight of the top 50 are headquartered in North America, while private equity represents their largest average portfolio allocation
The Leadership Pipeline Crisis: AI’s Hidden Cost
Companies everywhere are celebrating leaner teams, faster execution, and higher productivity thanks to AI, according to HIRECLOUT. From a business perspective, the logic is easy to understand, according to Avetis Antaplyan, founder and CEO of HIRECLOUT. “Investors reward efficiency,” Mr. Antaplyan said. “Leaders are under pressure to do more with less. Automation is eliminating repetitive
Klein Hersh Recruits CFO for Sparrow Pharmaceuticals
Klein Hersh, a search firm focused on the life sciences and healthcare industries, has recruited George Eldridge as the new CFO of Sparrow Pharmaceuticals, a targeted cardiometabolic therapeutics company. “We are thrilled to welcome George to Sparrow at such an important time for our company,” said Robert Jacks, president and CEO of Sparrow Pharmaceuticals. “George
McCormack + Kristel Seeking Executive Director for NEXT Harm Reduction
McCormack + Kristel has been retained by NEXT Harm Reduction (NEXT Distro) to lead in its search for an executive director. This is a rare opportunity for a visionary leader and skilled fundraiser to take a nationally recognized organization with an urgent mandate and grow it to the scale the moment demands. Reporting to the board
Riviera Partners Expands Public Practice
San Francisco-based Riviera Partners, a recruitment provider specializing in C-level engineering, product, and design leader placements, has expanded with the addition of Archer McFall as a partner within its public practice serving large, publicly-traded companies and late-stage, pre-IPO companies. “Getting the right CTO, CIO, or chief AI officer in place, building the team structure around AI, making sure the
HelloSky Brings Its Graph of People, Investors, and Companies Into Claude and ChatGPT
Executive search firms are increasingly looking for ways to move beyond traditional databases and static candidate profiles as clients demand deeper market intelligence and faster, more precise insight into leadership talent. Advances in artificial intelligence are giving recruiters new tools to connect people, companies, investors, relationships, and career outcomes in ways that can strengthen candidate
Harris Search Associates Leading Senior Assignment for Carnegie Mellon University
Harris Search Associates has been retained by Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) to lead in its search for newly created role of associate vice president for research computing and data (AVP RCD). Jeffrey Harris and Ed Christ are leading the assignment. This role offers a unique opportunity to elevate and transform CMU’s research computing ecosystem positioning it to better support
Preng & Associates Assists SOGC, LLC with President Search
Following a comprehensive executive search, Houston-based Preng & Associates assisted in the recruitment of David French as the new president of SOGC, LLC. “Preng & Associates is proud to have supported this important leadership appointment and continues to partner with energy companies worldwide in identifying and securing transformative executive talent,” the firm said. Mr. French brings
NPAG Appoints Senior Advisor
Executive search firm NPAG has appointed André Blackman as senior advisor. In this new role, he will build and lead a practice focused on mission-driven innovation — connecting dynamic leadership talent and the development resources to keep that talent in seat, to founders and organizations solving problems that matter. “André brings a rare combination of strategic insight, storytelling
Sheffield Haworth Adds Private Equity & Growth Venture Portfolio Assets Veteran
Global leadership advisory and executive search firm Sheffield Haworth has expanded with the addition of Michael McDonnell as managing director, private equity and growth venture portfolio assets. He is based in the New York office and works within the technology sector practice. “We are thrilled to welcome Michael to the team,” said Paul Gillespie, managing director of the
Leadership Needs Shift in a Changing Federal Market
Executive search across the federal contracting, government services, defense, and technology sectors is entering a new phase as companies look for more sophisticated ways to evaluate leadership beyond résumés, references, and past performance. In markets where specialized experience, relationships, and an understanding of complex government customers can be critical, the challenge is not simply identifying
Private Equity Rollup Wave Reshapes Executive Search
What may once have looked like a series of isolated transactions is increasingly taking on the shape of a broader industry shift. As capital moves into the sector and firms rethink where they have true competitive strength, the pattern is becoming harder to ignore. “A year ago, I would have called this a prediction, today,
HARTZ Search Seeking Chief Revenue Officer for Geisinger
Charlotte, NC-based HARTZ Search was recently retained by Geisinger to lead in its search for a chief revenue officer. This executive will direct, manage, and implement programs to ensure efficient revenue management operations and sufficient cash flow to support Geisinger operations and strategic initiatives. The role is responsible for identifying, analyzing, reducing, and resolving revenue management issues
Kincannon & Reed Places Executive Director for the Pennsylvania Dairymen’s Association
Kincannon & Reed (K&R), which exclusively focuses on food, agribusiness, and the related life sciences, has assisted in the recruitment of Patrick Carney as the new executive director of the Pennsylvania Dairymen’s Association. Dave Smith stepped down from his executive role after leading the association for more than 30 years. “Patrick pairs dairy industry knowledge with
Spencer Stuart Recruits 16th President for the University of Michigan
Spencer Stuart has recruited Kent Syverud, chancellor and president of Syracuse University, as the 16th president of the University of Michigan. He becomes the first U-M alumnus in nearly a century to be appointed president. Mary Gorman, a partner in the firm’s education and social impact practice, and Alexis Stiles, a University of Michigan alumna and a
BridgeStreet Partners Recruits Chief Information Officer for Austin Industries
The chief information officer is considered one of the most strategic roles in any organization. Still, recruiting within the function remains challenging, as skilled C-suite IT professionals are among the toughest to find, and move. BridgeStreet Partners recently recruited Janya Kieffer as the new chief information officer of Austin Industries. Ms. Kieffer was most recently the vice president of information
Direct Recruiters Inc. Names First Woman as Managing Partner
Solon, OH-based Direct Recruiters Inc. (DRI) has appointed Cherie Shepard as managing partner. She becomes the first woman appointed to this role at the firm. “Cherie has demonstrated leadership, mentorship, dedication, and a standard of excellence in her role and within the search industry,” DRI said. Ms. Shepard began at DRI over 14 years ago and currently directs
Chief Secures $100 Million in Funding
Chief, a private network designed to help more businesswomen rise into positions of power, has raised a $100 million Series B investment led by CapitalG at a valuation of $1.1 billion, joining the ranks of female-founded unicorn start-ups. Previous investors General Catalyst, GGV Capital, Inspired Capital, Primary Venture Partners, Flybridge Capital Partners, and BoxGroup also participated in the
ON Partners Recruits CFO for LRN Corp.
ON Partners has assisted in the recruitment of Dean Gels as chief financial officer of LRN Corp. in New York. Managing partner Tim Conti and Tindall Hein led the assignment. Kevin Michielsen, LRN’s chief executive officer, said Mr. Gels was hired for his robust experience as a financial executive for tech and service-based companies. “Dean is a
McCormack+Kristel Seeking CEO for Bronx Parent Housing Network
Executive search firm McCormack+Kristel has been enlisted to find the next chief executive officer for the Bronx Parent Housing Network (BPHN), one of the largest shelter provider in New York City. Last February, Victor Rivera was fired from the role after accusations of sexual misconduct. The assignment is being led by Michelle Kristel, managing partner, and
SRI Acquires LPA Search Partners
London-based executive recruiting firm SRI has acquired LPA Search Partners, a women-owned firm led by industry veterans Willa Perlman and Anna McCormick Kelch. “Technology is driving major change in every industry, and we are delighted to join forces with Anna and Willa and their talented team,” said Jim Chaplin, CEO of SRI. “LPA has an impressive track
DHR Global Recruits General Counsel for the Big Ten Conference
Chicago-based DHR Global has assisted in the recruitment of Anil Gollahalli as chief legal officer and general counsel of the Big Ten Conference. DHR’s managing partner and global sports practice leader Glenn Sugiyama headed the assignment. “When commissioner Kevin Warren first reached out to me to discuss this search and the importance of this placement to the future of the
Connecting Talent to Value
As the world changes, so too does “value” change. What consumers willingly paid for yesterday becomes passé overnight. What they will willingly pay for tomorrow just as quickly becomes today’s business imperative. To keep up with these value shifts, senior leaders move financial capital at lightning speed from points of lower return to points of
The Christopher Group Seeking Director of Talent and Inclusion for SRAM
The Christopher Group (TCG), a boutique HR executive search and business solutions recruiting firm, has been selected by SRAM, one of the world’s largest suppliers of components to the bike industry, to lead its search for a director of talent and inclusion. The search is being led by managing director Pam Noble and recruiting director Kat Kilkenney. “This is the
Korn Ferry Acquires Patina Solutions Group
Acquisitions continue to make news in the recruiting industry, with a number of notable purchases in recent months. The latest: Korn Ferry has acquired interim executive solutions provider Patina Solutions Group. The acquisition is expected to be immediately accretive to Korn Ferry’s adjusted earnings. “This combination presents real, tangible opportunity for Korn Ferry and our
RSR Partners Recruits Chief Investment Officer for the Colorado Health Foundation
Greenwich, Conn.-based RSR Partners recently placed Aron Grodinsky as chief investment officer of the Colorado Health Foundation in Denver. He succeeds Stan Willie, who is retiring. “Aron comes to our organization with significant and diverse investment management experience, and a belief that health is a basic human right,” said Mark Evans, CFO of the non-profit. “He’s a welcomed
Setting A New Direction for HR
Every leader seems to be looking for an answer as to what the “new normal” will look like. But as effects from the pandemic wear on, uncertainty will likely remain a lingering constant for organizations. Possibly more so than for any other role, chief human resources officers have faced mounting pressure from their companies due
Jorgenson Consulting Seeking New CEO for Quad Cities Chamber
The economic strength of the non-profit sector has increased in recent years, and it is now the third largest employer in the U.S. This has certainly kept search firms busy. Greensboro, NC-based Jorgenson Consulting has been selected to assist the Quad Cities Chamber in finding the next president and chief executive officer. The firm will conduct a series of meetings
Harris Search Associates Seeks New Dean for Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science
Dublin, OH-based executive recruitment firm Harris Search Associates has been enlisted to lead the search for the next dean of the College of Science and Health (COSH) at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (CDU) in Los Angeles. Reporting to the executive vice president for academic affairs/provost, the dean is responsible for guiding,
Unemployment Falls to 3.6 Percent as Recovery Continues
Employment rose by 431,000 in February as the U.S. unemployment rate edged up to 3.6 percent, according to the most recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report. Notable job gains continued in leisure and hospitality, professional and business services, retail trade, and manufacturing. The unemployment rate declined by 0.2 percentage point to 3.6 percent in March, and the
Venor Acquires Syntek Search Group
Executive search firm Venor has expanded into the Greater Toronto area with the recent acquisition of Syntek Search Group. Syntek was founded by Junior Roberts in 2018 with a focus on recruitment in the technology sector with a talent emphasis on diversity and inclusion. Mr. Roberts is an entrepreneurial leader, advisor and mentor in Central
SucceedSmart Launches Executive Search Platform
Los Altos, CA-based SucceedSmart has launched the general availability of its executive search platform, providing executives with a powerful “candidate-first” approach, said the company. “Founded by serial entrepreneur and RiseSmart founder Sanjay Sathe, SucceedSmart is poised to change the way executives maneuver to the forefront of their respective fields,” said the firm. “Similar to the
Selecting the Right Candidate Begins with Emotional Connection
The recruiting market today is highly competitive and experienced senior leaders are in high demand across every industry. This is particularly the case with the biopharma industry, where companies invest enormous amounts of time and money into the recruitment process. For these businesses, critical executive hires are needed to accelerate pipelines and commercialization of critical
Academic Search Recruits President for Roanoke College
Following a five-month nationwide search, education-focused executive recruiter Academic Search has placed Frank Shushok Jr. as the 12th president of Roanoke College in Salem, VA. Michael C. Maxey, the longest serving president in the college’s history, announced in September that he would be retiring at the end of the academic year. Mr. Maxey has held the role
BoardWalk Consulting Assists the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights in Finding New Leader
Executive recruitment firm BoardWalk Consulting has assisted in the recruitment of civil rights attorney and activist, and NBC News and MSNBC legal analyst Maya Wiley as president and chief executive officer of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and its sister organization, the Leadership Conference Education Fund. She will succeed Wade Henderson, who has served
Jobless Claims Up Amid Tight Labor Market
The Labor Department reported that 202,000 Americans have filed new claims for state unemployment benefits, an increase of 14,000 from the previous week’s revised level. The previous week’s level was revised up by 1,000 from 187,000 to 188,000. The four-week moving average was 208,500, a decrease of 3,500 from the previous week’s revised average. The
Curating an Exceptional Culture
Culture is what draws individuals to an organization, and it is the glue that, more often than not, keeps them there. More simply put, culture is why people join and it’s why they stay. Culture is a mindset, rooted in a philosophy. It’s mission in action. “Every organization has a culture. It exists in the
ON Partners Recruits Chief People Officer for IntelyCare
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
ZRG Partners Recruits Chief Commercial Officer for Agendia
ZRG Partners, a leading search firm backed by private equity firm RFE Investment Partners, has assisted in the recruitment of Elizabeth (Betsey) Hanna as executive vice president and chief commercial officer of Agendia. Heather Burns led the assignment. “We are pleased to welcome Betsy as a critical member of our executive team,” said Mark Straley, CEO of
SPMB Fills Senior Post for Cervin
SPMB, an executive search firm that helps find transformative executives throughout Silicon Valley, has assisted in placing Mila Ferrell, a founding member of Zoom’s product team, as the first female partner at the early-stage venture capital firm Cervin. Suzanne Heske, who heads SPMB’s investment practice, led the assignment. Ms. Ferrell brings deep product expertise, as
HackerRank Raises $60 Million in Funding
HackerRank, a hiring platform for technology talent, has closed $60 million in series D funding led by Susquehanna Growth Equity (SGE). Additional investors in HackerRank include JMI, Khosla Ventures, Randstad Innovation Fund, and Recruit Holdings. To date, HackerRank has raised more than $115 million in total funding. HackerRank will use the funding to fuel continued growth and accelerate its
General Counsel Role Expands to Risk Oversight
A key position in the C-suite, the general counsel role has been elevated in the past decade, from purveyor of legal advice to one of strategic counsel. With the proliferation of risks today, the general counsel is crucial in providing the board with the information they need to fulfill their duty of care. Yet, a
Hanold Associates Recruits Chief People Officer for AHEAD
Neela Seenandan, Val Lopez, and Eleanor Tetreault of Hanold Associates HR & Diversity Executive have placed Preet Michelson as chief people officer of Chicago-based IT firm AHEAD. She succeeds Michael Hoehne, who is retiring from the company. “We are extremely pleased to welcome Preet to our team,” said Dan Adamany, founder and CEO of AHEAD. “Her experience and demonstrated track record in
Daversa Partners Recruits CEO for HODINKEE
Daversa Partners, which helps build leadership teams for growth and venture-backed companies, has assisted in the placement of Jeffery Fowler as the new chief executive officer of watch website HODINKEE in New York City. He succeeds Toby Bateman, who will continue in an advisory role at the company. Bill Beer and Ashleigh Braun led the assignment. “Jeff is
Dynamic Search Consulting Seeks Two Key Roles for Neeyamo
San Jose, CA-based Dynamic Search Consulting (DSC) has been enlisted to help fill two key roles—global head of alliances and head of sales—for Neeyamo, a platform-based global payroll provider. The global head of alliances will be expected to lead in building revenue generating alliances and partnerships. With the support of the chief client partner, this
Skyminyr Launches AI-Driven Platform with Funding from Search Firms
Skyminyr, a human capital intelligence platform, has raised $2.5 million in seed funding to accelerate the continued development of its AI-driven platform. Investors in the seed round for Skyminyr include True Search, IQ Talent Partners, and Caldwell Partners, as well as financier Karmel Capital. Skyminyr has built a human capital intelligence platform, which will pair global top talent, across any industry with
