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WittKieffer Recruits 22nd President for the University of Tulsa
Oak Brook, IL-based WittKieffer has placed Stacy Leeds as the 22nd president of the University of Tulsa (UTulsa). Zachary Smith, Christine Pendleton, and Julia Bradley led the assignment. Ms. Leeds was selected following a competitive and comprehensive national search. Members of the search committee and full board were drawn to her unique portfolio of executive management, philanthropic success and unimpeachable academic credibility. “Stacy
SPMB Recruits CFO for AbsenceSoft
SPMB Executive Search has recruited Megan Wood as CFO of AbsenceSoft, a Denver, CO-based employee leave management and accommodations platform. Jon Landau and Laura Ayre led the assignment. “The market opportunity in front of AbsenceSoft is significant, and Megan brings the right financial and operational depth to meet it,” said Chris Murphy, CEO of AbsenceSoft. “Her proven track record at fast-growth, innovative companies on
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 Appoints New CFO
Spencer Stuart has appointed Clare Kennedy as its new chief financial officer. She succeeds Christine Laurens as part of a planned succession and in support of Laurens’ retirement from full-time executive work. Ms. Laurens will remain with the firm for several months to ensure a smooth transition. “We are grateful to Christine for her many significant contributions,
Assembly Group Announces Promotions
Austin, TX-based executive search firm Assembly Group has promoted Mariza Garza Warshawsky to partner, Pilar Caldwell to vice president, Audsley Carr to director, and Heather Sullivan to director of operations. “2021 was a record year for Assembly, and each of you showcased incredible talent and dedication to our company’s core values. We look forward to another incredible year ahead,” the search firm said.
Arts Consulting Group Seeks Artistic Director for Charlotte Ballet
Boston-based search firm Arts Consulting Group (ACG) has been enlisted to find the next artistic director for the Charlotte Ballet in North Carolina. Vice president Geoff Chang is leading the assignment. Last summer, Hope Muir stepped down from the ballet’s artistic director role to accept the same position with the National Ballet of Canada in Toronto. Christopher
FaithSearch Partners Appoints Leader of Higher Education Practice
FaithSearch Partners (FSP) has expanded with the addition of Andy Westmoreland as senior vice president and leader of its higher education service line. “Andy Westmoreland has dedicated his professional life to Christian academic institutions and I’m excited to have him lead our higher education practice,” said Ed Fry, president and chief executive officer of FaithSearch Partners.
Diversified Search Group | Koya Partners Recruits Executive Director for American L.G.B.T.Q.+ Museum
Diversified Search Group | Koya Partners recently assisted in the placement of Ben Garcia as the first executive director of the American L.G.B.T.Q.+ Museum. The search was led by Melissa Madzel, Stephen Milbauer and Jason Mannino. “After five years of working to get to this point, after our groundbreaking with the New York Historical Society last fall, the board is delighted to welcome Ben
Accelent Recruits CMO for SoftWorks AI
Executive search firm Accelent has placed former Kasisto executive Stephen Epstein as the new chief marketing officer of SoftWorks AI. Leading the assignment were John Boehmer, managing director; Maura McShane, partner; and Jerzy Jung, associate. “We are excited to announce that Stephen Epstein has joined the company as our first ever chief marketing officer,” SoftWorks AI said. “As a member of the executive team
CarrSports Recruits Senior Associate Athletics Director for External Affairs at Furman University
CarrSports Consulting has placed Drew Ingraham as the new senior associate athletics director for external affairs at Furman University in Greenville, SC. Mr. Ingraham previously served as associate athletics director for marketing, communications, and creative services at Texas Tech University. “Drew brings a wealth of knowledge, experience with several collegiate athletics programs, and a vital
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
