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Daily Newswire
CEO Turnover Surges as Boards Bet on First-Time Leaders
According to Spencer Stuart’s S&P 1500 CEO Transitions Report, 168 new chief executives were named across the index last year, the most since 2010. The surge reflects mounting board impatience with weak growth, activist pressures, AI-driven disruption, and a market environment that rewards speed over tenure. Turnover was broad-based but especially pronounced among smaller companies, with SmallCap
How AI Is (and Isn’t) Changing Search
In boardrooms and talent discussions alike, the conversation around AI has quickly shifted from curiosity to expectation. Organizations are no longer asking whether to use AI in executive search, but how to use it responsibly and effectively. This shift is forcing firms to rethink not just their tools, but their philosophy—how they evaluate leadership, how
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.
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
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?
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
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,
Why Boards Keep Selecting Yesterday’s Leaders for Tomorrow’s Problems
Boardrooms across America keep hiring the familiar. The CEO who worked miracles at the last company, the leader with the spotless resume, the safe bet. Yet, the uncomfortable truth is that yesterday’s corporate savior often becomes tomorrow’s expensive mistake, according to a recent report from Shawn Cole, founder and president of Cowen Partners Executive Search.
HireQuest to Acquire Northbound Executive Search
HireQuest Inc., a NASDAQ-traded national franchisor of on-demand, temporary and commercial staffing services, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Northbound Executive Search in New York City. Founded in 2010, Northbound provides executive placement and short-term consultant services primarily to blue chip clients in the financial services industry. The firm generated over $15 million
The Eliot Group Opens Office in Sydney
Eliot Partnership, a global insurance sector executive search firm, has opened an office in Sydney, Australia, its sixth location, which will be led by Graeme Young. “We all wish Graeme the best of luck in Australia and in all of his efforts within Ricarda’s Asia-Pacific team,” said Andrew Eliot, founder and managing partner of Eliot
5 Strategies for Winning High Impact Leaders in a Tight Talent Market
Companies of all types are dealing with talent shortfalls across the spectrum. But private equity firms, in particular, are navigating a perfect storm of landing high impact talent in arguably the tightest labor market seen in decades. Hiring key leaders has never been more critical for many high growth portfolio companies, yet a spike in
ON Partners Recruits CEO for Sentera
ON Partners recently assisted in the recruitment of Brian Wenngatz as the new CEO of Sentera, a global provider of digital insights to agriculture products manufacturers and distributors, and enterprise food companies. ON Partners consultants Jeff Hocking and Tindall Hein led the assignment. “After an exhaustive search process, the board, the team and I couldn’t be happier to welcome Brian as CEO
Development Resources Seeks CEO for HealthWorks of Northern Virginia
Arlington, VA-based executive search firm Development Resources inc. (DRi) has been enlisted to find a chief executive officer for HealthWorks for Northern Virgina, a non-profit community health center. Nancy K. Racette, co-founder and chief operating officer, is leading the assignment for the search firm. HealthWorks seeks an engaging CEO possessing unquestioned integrity to lead the overall operations of the
Robert Half Posts 15 Percent Revenue Gain
Robert Half International Inc./(NYSE:RHI) posted full-year revenues of $6.46 billion, up 15 percent from $5.11 billion the prior year. The Menlo Park, CA-based recruiting company posted fourth quarter revenues of $1.77 billion, a decrease of 36 percent. For the year ended Dec. 31, 2021, net income was $599 million, or $5.36 per share, on revenues of $6.461 billion. For the year ended Dec.
EMA Partners Opens Office in San Francisco
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
Measuring Culture to Manage Culture
As the ramifications of COVID-19 continue, broad and lasting changes to the workplace have advanced a more integrated approach to talent management built around culture. Organizations that used to synchronize their talent to corporate vision, core values and strategic objectives are now aligning people around purpose. And for good reason: Building sustainable cultures in the
Daversa Partners Assists Shippo in the Recruitment of Chief Business Officer
Daversa Partners, which helps build leadership teams for growth and venture-backed companies, has assisted in the recruitment of Andreas Lieber as chief business officer of Shippo in San Francisco. Daniel Marr led the search for Daversa Partners. “Building long-term, strategic partnerships with the platforms that enable today’s E-commerce ecosystem is paramount to achieving our vision for the future
McDermott + Bull Recruits CFO for Community West Bank
Irvine, CA-based search firm McDermott + Bull has placed Richard Pimentel as chief financial officer at Community West Bank. He will serve in this capacity for both the bank and the holding company, and he will oversee both accounting and finance, as well as investor relations. He succeeds Susan Thompson, who recently transitioned to SVP, interim SEC reporting manager. The search
Work&Partners Retained by Toppan Merrill to Recruit Chief Technology Officer
New York-based Work&Partners has been called in by Toppan Merrill to lead the search for a chief technology officer. Founder and president Alan Work is leading the assignment. The chief technology officer is the top leadership role reporting directly to the Toppan Merrill president and is the recognized technology expert who will be expected to provide thought
DHR Global Names Head of Leadership Consulting Services in APAC Region
Chicago-based executive search firm DHR Global has appointed Tim Wiseman as a managing partner in its leadership consulting practice. He is based in Hong Kong and heads the firm’s leadership consulting services in the APAC region. “Tim is a skilled facilitator and coach who drives impact with his clients,” said Christine Greybe, president of DHR Leadership Consulting.
Challenges, Opportunities and Leadership Implications of the Great Resignation
The Great Resignation has become the moniker for two phenomena – increased numbers of employees quitting their jobs voluntarily (usually to take on another job elsewhere), and a sense of a looming wave of attrition driven by COVID-era induced burnout and disengagement within the workforce, according to a new report from Russell Reynolds Associates’ Thomas
ON Partners Recruits Chief Supply Chain Officer for La-Z-Boy Incorporated
Globalization, digital disruption, financial markets, low-cost country sourcing, customer service pressures and, above all, COVID-19 have transformed supply chain from a tactical function into a strategic one, say recruiters. As speed to market, fulfillment rates and a global footprint become competitive advantages, companies need supply chain leaders with the right mix of business and financial
The Bachrach Group Launches SourceLab Search
New York City-based The Bachrach Group’s digital division has separated from its parent company to form a standalone company, SourceLab Search. Key leaders of the new entity are senior vice presidents James Schindler and Max Siegman, who were originally brought together at The Bachrach Group. Mr. Schindler had been national managing director of sales and
The Christopher Group Recruits Director of Global Talent Acquisition for STERIS
The Christopher Group (TCG), a boutique HR executive search and business solutions recruiting firm, has placed Matt London as the new director of global talent acquisition at STERIS. The search was led by managing director Pam Noble and recruiting director Kat Kilkenney. “We were honored to be selected to fill this strategic role at STERIS,” said Ms. Noble. “Mr. London will
Worker Shortage Weighing on Economic Recovery
The Labor Department reported that 260,000 Americans have filed new claims for state unemployment benefits, a decrease of 30,000 from the previous week’s revised level. The previous week’s level was revised up by 4,000 from 286,000 to 290,000. The four-week moving average was 247,000, an increase of 15,000 from the previous week’s revised average. The
True Search Recruits CEO for Imperfect Foods
Executive recruiting firm True Search has assisted in the recruitment of Dan Park as the new chief executive officer of Imperfect Foods, a sustainability-minded online grocer. Todd Zangrillo and Kristin Godfrey, co-leaders of the firm’s consumer practice, led the assignment along with senior associate James Rigano. “Dan is a perfect fit for the Imperfect Foods CEO role,” said Mr. Zangrillo.
Bespoke Partners Appoints CFO
San Diego, CA-headquartered executive search firm Bespoke Partners has appointed Prakash Patel as chief financial officer. “We are delighted to welcome Prakash, with his extensive track record in driving strategic initiatives and growth for a wide range of organizations,” said Kristie Nova, CEO of Bespoke Partners. “He brings us a rare combination of finance acumen and business
R. William Funk & Associates Assists University of South Carolina in the Recruitment of President
R. William Funk & Associates, which specializes in recruitment for roles in higher education, has assisted the University of South Carolina in the hiring of Michael Amiridis as its 30th president. Former president Bob Caslen recently retired. R. William Funk led the recruiting effort, personally interacting with the candidate pool, and reporting directly to the search committee
SRI Tapped by Rugby Canada to Lead CEO Search
London-based executive recruiting firm SRI has been chosen to find the next chief executive officer for Rugby Canada, the national governing body of the sport of Rugby Union in Canada. Managing partner David James is leading the assignment. SRI was selected for its track record of complex global sport CEO appointments involving multiple stakeholders and
WittKieffer Launches Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Service and Names Practice Leader
Oak Brook-IL-based WittKieffer has launched a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) suite of services and named Philip Burton as the practice’s leader. “The introduction of these services further advances WittKieffer’s commitment to placing and developing qualified, diverse executive leaders in the industries in which the company serves and helping clients to create and maintain leadership cultures that are inclusive and
7 Executive Search Trends to Impact Recruiting Firms in 2022
January is always a great time to reflect and to look ahead. Among the many problems faced over the last 12 months, top-level search strategies have had to adapt to change. “2021 has posed many challenges for organizations: continued restrictions, persisting uncertainty, managing hybrid workforces and closed borders,” said a new report from the International Executive Search Federation (IESF). In its
CarterBaldwin Recruits CIO for CCRM Fertility
The chief information officer is considered one of the most strategic roles in any organization. Still, head hunting within the function remains challenging, as skilled C-suite IT professionals are among the toughest to find. Recently, CarterBaldwin Executive Search assisted in the recruitment of Wade Lowder as chief information officer for Denver-based fertility service CCRM Fertility
Development Guild DDI Seeking CEO for the AKC Museum of the Dog
Non-profit specialist recruitment firm Development Guild DDI has been enlisted to find the next executive director and chief executive officer the AKC Museum of the Dog in New York City. Kieran McTague, senior vice president and director, New York, is spearheading the assignment. The new leader will be responsible for the management and supervision of the day-to-day
De Forest Search Fills Key Post for Dr. Suess Enterprises
Manhattan Beach, CA-based De Forest Search recently recruited Vienna Downes as the new senior director of licensing and sales at Dr. Suess Enterprises, a children’s entertainment company committed to caretaking Theodor Seuss Geisel’s (Dr. Seuss) legacy. As a global entertainment leader, Ms. Downes brings a progressive career in the toy and entertainment space to Dr. Seuss including Warner Bros.,
Heidrick & Struggles Makes Leadership Changes in Asia-Pacific and Middle East Region
Executive search, leadership consulting and culture shaping services provider Heidrick & Struggles has announced new leadership appointments in the Asia-Pacific and Middle East region. These include regional practice managing partners in Asia-Pacific and the Middle East for the global technology and services practice and the CEO and board of directors practice; country manager for Australia; and partner-in-charge for Singapore. “As organizations continue to navigate a course
How On-Demand Talent is Unlocking Value for Private Equity Investments
One constant about private equity is that the landscape is always changing. For some, those changes can lead to obsolescence; but for those with vision, change is an opportunity to unlock new opportunities for alpha returns, according to a new report from Upwork. “One relatively slow-moving change? The differentiating levers that a PE firm can
Hudson Gate Partners Places Chief People Officer at Mogo
Hudson Gate Partners recently recruited Allan Smith as the first chief people officer for Mogo, a NASDAQ-traded digital payments and financial technology company in Vancouver, British Columbia. Daryl-Lynn Michaud led the assignment. “We’ve been fortunate to attract and build an outstanding team at Mogo, and we’re excited to have Allan lead our people efforts going forward as we look
HealthSearch Partners Recruits New CEO for Maury Regional Health
HealthSearch Partners (HSP) recently placed Davin Turner as the next chief executive officer of Maury Regional Health, a three-hospital health system located in Columbia, TN. This project was managed by senior principal and co-founder Barry Cesafsky with the assistance of chief operating officer Laura Conley. Together they worked closely with the eight-member Maury board of
Diversified Search Group Names Managing Directors
Diversified Search Group (DSG), a leading search firm backed by private equity firm ShoreView Industries, has named three new managing directors, each adding to the firm’s capabilities in serving the needs of clients across key industries and sectors. Allen Chan joins the firm’s corporate practice, Lois Mufuka Martin joins its education practice, and Alicia Salerno has been
