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The Expanding CFO Mandate: From Scorekeeper to Value Creator
As business complexity increases across industries, the office of the CFO is experiencing a significant transformation. Traditionally focused on financial stewardship, today’s CFO organizations are evolving into enterprise-wide strategic drivers—supporting growth, overseeing risk, enabling transformation, and acting as key partners to the CEO and board. With the CFO role increasingly viewed as a pathway to
Chartwell Partners Recruits President and CEO for Texas Gulf Bank, N.A.
Dallas, TX-based executive search firm Chartwell Partners has helped to recruit Steve Thompson as president and CEO of Texas Gulf Bank, N.A. He succeeds James F. Brown, who will continue as vice chairman of the company. The appointment follows a disciplined and comprehensive executive search conducted in partnership with Chartwell Partners. Scott Petty, managing partner of Chartwell
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.
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
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?
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
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,
Post-Merger Integration Leadership: Hiring the Right Executives to Capture Deal Value
Private equity firms spend billions on acquisitions each year, yet Harvard Business Review research shows that 70-90 percent of mergers fail to achieve their projected value, with the breakdown occurring primarily during post-merger integration. For lower middle market PE firms executing buy-and-build strategies, this failure rate represents millions in unrealized returns, according to a recent report
Quick Leonard Kieffer Recruits CFO for Cook County Health
Quick Leonard Kieffer has placed Pamela Cassara as chief financial officer of Cook County Health in Chicago. Adrienne White-Faines, Bill Foley, and Joe Johnston led the nationwide search, which included a large pool of candidates. Ms. Cassara comes to Cook County Health from Franciscan Alliance, where she served as chief financial officer. In this capacity, she helped standardize and consolidate financial functions for
Spencer Stuart Appoints General Counsel
Spencer Stuart has named Lucy Lopez as general counsel and chief legal officer. She will succeed Dave Rasmussen, who is retiring after 24 years with the firm. “Over his long career with Spencer Stuart, Dave Rasmussen has built an incredibly strong legal and tax team that has been critical to our success as a firm. We wish him the very best in his
m/Oppenheim Selected by Mississippi Symphony Orchestra to Find New President
Non-profit recruitment firm m/Oppenheim Executive Search has been enlisted to find a new president for the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra (MSO) in Jackson, MS. Leading the assignment are principals Dennis Hanthorn, Lee Kappelman and Kevin Redick. “MSO seeks a business professional who will partner with veteran music director and conductor Crafton Beck, to deliver exceptional orchestral music
Robert Half International Posts 44 Percent Revenue Gain
Robert Half International Inc./(NYSE:RHI) posted third quarter revenues of $1.190 billion, a 44 percent increase from the same period a year ago, surpassing the consensus mark by four percent. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates five times over the last five quarters. Robert Half came out with quarterly earnings of $1.53 per share, beating
Korn Ferry to Acquire Lucas Group
Korn Ferry has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Lucas Group. The transaction, which is subject to customary closing conditions, is expected to close on November 1. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Lucas Group gives Korn Ferry professional search and contracting expertise which is expected to enhance the firm’s search portfolio.
As Business Changes, CEOs Grow More Self-Aware
Self-reflection and personal development have jumped to be among the top priorities of CEOs as they become increasingly self-aware, according to a newly released report by Egon Zehnder. The key to prosperity, the leaders are realizing, is to improve the human side of their leadership. The report found that as heightened demands for workplace equality
Vetted Solutions Assists in the Recruitment of New CEO for CEDIA
Washington, D.C.- based executive recruitment firm Vetted Solutions has assisted in the recruitment of Daryl Friedman as global president and CEO of CEDIA, the global trade association for the home technology industry, in Indianapolis, IN. He will assume the role on Nov. 29. “We’ve found someone that I am confident will be the step-change in leadership that CEDIA needs
AGB Search Tapped by Maine Maritime Academy to Find New President
Washington, D.C.-based AGB Search, which specializes in higher education leadership assignments, has been enlisted to find the next president of the Maine Maritime Academy (MMA). Leading the search are Nancy M. Targett, executive search consultant, and Concetta M. Stewart, principal, executive search consultant. The president will be expected to work collaboratively with stakeholders to imagine the
ManpowerGroup Posts 12 Percent Revenue Increase
ManpowerGroup / (NYSE:MAN) posted third quarter revenues of 5.1 billion, a 12 percent increase from the same period last year. This misses the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.92 percent. This compares to year-ago revenues of $4.58 billion. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates three times over the last four quarters. ManpowerGroup reported net earnings of $1.77 per diluted
The International Executive Search Federation Adds Find Great People to Network
The International Executive Search Federation (IESF) has added Find Great People, a talent acquisition and human resources consulting firm, to its international network. This expansion is in line with the expansion strategy of IESF to be represented worldwide as a growing international organization. “As a new member of our network, we welcome Find Great People,” said Victor Carulla
Remote Work and Its Lasting Impact on Business
The rapid adoption of remote work over the last year and a half has sparked fundamental changes for businesses far beyond where their workforce is located. With 40.7 million Americans expected to be fully remote in the next five years, it has also been a catalyst for a fundamental, tectonic shift creating drastic spillover effects
Hanold Associates Recruits Head of People & Culture for Patagonia
Patagonia, a high-performance outdoor apparel and accessories brand, has appointed Lisa Ramirez as head of people & culture. Lisa Butkus, Sandra Pena and Meg Magurany of Hanold Associates HR & Diversity Executive led the search. Hanold Associates was seeking an executive with an exemplary track record of at least 15 years of experience in organizational development, human resources, training and coaching,
ON Partners Assists Unison Software in Chief Technology Officer Search
Executive search firm ON Partners has assisted in the placement of Monica Nicolau as the new chief technology officer of Unison Software. Leading the assignment for ON Partners were consultants Matt Mooney and Sean Cantarella. Ms. Nicolau is an accomplished senior technology leader with more than 20 years of experience in building scalable enterprise software products across multiple
August Leadership Adds Diversity Search and Leadership Consulting Practice
Executive search firm August Leadership has expanded its scope by adding a diversity, equity & inclusion search and leadership consulting practice to its portfolio. “Our diversity, equity and inclusion search and consulting practice provides clients with a holistic approach to this space in addition to our direct support to boards, CEOs and CHROs with the overall
Jobless Claims Fall to New Pandemic-Era Low
The Labor Department reported that 290,000 Americans have filed new claims for state unemployment benefits, a decrease of 6,000. This is the lowest level for initial claims since March 14, 2020 when it was 256,000. The previous week’s level was revised up by 3,000 from 293,000 to 296,000. The four-week moving average was 319,750, a decrease
The Rise of the Private Equity Chief Talent Officer
While drawing down on committed funds and having capital “at work” is most people’s core understanding of what the modern private equity firm does, having the right human capital in place to maximize return-on-assets and marshal the firm’s capital adequately is of equal critical importance. Against this backdrop, it is perhaps a logical development to
Achieving Better Balance in Business with Diversity
Recent political and social events have triggered a tipping point for wider representation from across society on companies’ boards and in their leadership teams. Now the times are truly changing, as companies come to see the shortcomings of hiring and appointing leaders and executives from the same socioeconomic background and ethnic origin, according to a
HireWerx Assists ISCO International in Recruitment of VP of Sales and Global Channel Development
Chicago-based HireWerx has assisted in the recruitment of Erik Leonard as vice president of sales and global channel development at ISCO International. “It is our pleasure to announce that Erik Leonard has joined ISCO to fulfill this role,” said Frank Scarpelli, managing partner and CEO of HireWerx. “He is responsible for the U.S. western region and global channel
Acertitude Appoints EMEA Leader of Global Consumer and Retail Practice
Executive search firm Acertitude has named Charlotte Cederwall as a partner and EMEA lead for the firm’s global consumer and retail practice. Her considerable influence in this space and in the private investment industry will both extend and strengthen the firm’s consumer and retail capabilities while evolving its private equity offering globally. “Charlotte is a wonderful addition to
Phillips Oppenheim Seeks New Leader for San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
New York City-based Phillips Oppenheim has been enlisted to find the next leader of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA). Sarah James and Becky Klein are leading the assignment. The official title of the role is the Helen and Charles Schwab director. “Our aspiration is to identify a leader with a commitment to artistic excellence
The Importance of Setting Proper Diversity Targets
Ask 100 business leaders if they’re comfortable achieving critical goals without a sound strategy in place and you’ll get 100 resounding answers “no.” Yet too often companies and their leaders fail to have proper targets in place when it comes to increasing diversity, according to a report by Prais+Barnette. “It’s an important initiative that, so far,
Jensen Partners Appoints Head of Asia
New York City-based Jensen Partners, a woman-owned executive search and corporate advisory firm for the alternative investment management industry, has named Sophie Norris as managing director, head of Asia. “Ms. Norris will bolster Jensen Partners’ capabilities and global footprint to meet the growing demand for alternatives talent in Asia,” the search firm said. “Sophie brings the experience and specialized knowledge
SPMB Recruits CFO for Pear VC
Chief financial officers continue to be in high demand. Finding them is keeping many of the nation’s top recruitment operations busier than ever. SPMB, an executive search firm that helps find transformative executives throughout Silicon Valley, has assisted in the placement of Anna Nitschke as the new CFO of Pear VC. Suzanne Heske, who heads SPMB’s
Cejka Search Seeks Chief Nursing Officer for Merrick Medical Center
As the healthcare sector continues to expand and reshape itself, vanguard organizations in the field are looking to bolster their leadership ranks. In demand: multi-skilled executives, physician leaders and nurses who can effect change on many levels. Of the four major C-suite roles in the typical hospital, the chief nursing officer has traditionally been the most
Kincannon & Reed Expands Search Staff
Executive recruitment firm Kincannon & Reed has expanded with the addition of veteran food value chain executive Jared Spader as managing director. “We were thrilled when Jared indicated he was interested in working for Kincannon & Reed,” said David Turner, president of the firm. “His service industry experience, combined with his passion for people will be a strong asset
Hunt Club Raises $10 Million to Grow Candidate Referrals and Talent Networks
Chicago-headquartered referral recruiting service Hunt Club has raised $10 million in Series A funding from Teamworthy Ventures to further the development of the firm’s Talent Expert Network candidate referral technology, and its growing high-performance recruiting team. This round of funding complements the company’s seed round of $4.5 million with key investors, including Brian Spaly (chairman of Tecovas,
Occam Global Places Leader of Gene Therapy Company Ensoma
New York City-based recruitment firm Occam Global has placed Emile Nuwaysir as president, chief executive officer and member of the board of directors of gene therapy company Ensoma. In conjunction with the CEO appointment, Ensoma executive chairman Paula Soteropoulos will transition to the role of chairman of the board, and Kush M. Parmar, managing partner
SearchWide Global Recruits Chief Sales Officer for VisitPittsburgh
Following a nationwide search that began in May, executive recruitment firm SearchWide Global has placed Andrew Ortale as the new chief sales officer for VisitPittsburgh, the tourism promotion agency for Pennsylvania’s Allegheny County. Senior vice president Kellie Henderson led the assignment. Mr. Ortale’s appointment marks a return to Pittsburgh for the seasoned industry veteran, who previously served
NorthWind Partners Recruits Chief Growth Officer for Oceus Networks
Reston, VA-headquartered executive search firm NorthWind Partners has assisted in the placement of Paul McQuillan, a strategic partner at Battle Investment Group, as the new chief growth and strategy officer at Oceus Networks. Partner Hunter Murray led the assignment. The company provides hardware and software for government and military command, control, communications, computers, cyber, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance operations. “Paul brings
SpenglerFox Enters Swedish Market
Executive search firm SpenglerFox has entered into the Swedish market with the appointment of Peter Billing as client partner. In his new role, Mr. Billing will be responsible for the firm’s coverage across Sweden, supporting Swedish clients with local and international talent acquisition, and new clients entering the Swedish market. “Given our expansion into key markets across Western Europe
The Case for Promoting Women
From negotiating pay to combating biases and non-inclusive workspaces, women face a variety of challenges in proving their worth in the workplace. Yet, there is an abundant and growing amount of research that substantiates that companies with women in leadership positions are more innovative and make more money. A new report from McDermott + Bull reveals
