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The Forum Group Expands Private Wealth Management Practice
Executive search firm The Forum Group has expanded with the addition of Jack Manire as director of private wealth management. “We’re excited to welcome Jack Manire to The Forum Group as director of private wealth management,” the firm said in a LinkedIn post. “Jack joined The Forum Group because of the people, culture, and commitment to excellence. He’ll
Kaye/Bassman Appoints Managing Partner
Plano, TX-based executive search firm Kaye/Bassman International has appointed Will Smith as managing partner within its construction practice. “Will’s promotion to managing partner is a proud moment for our team as he is the embodiment of our life laws including leadership, performance, commitment to clients, flexibility, unselfishness, and fun,” said Lee Martin, managing director of the Midwest construction & real
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.
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
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?
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,
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
Global Employers Take Cautious Approach to Q4 Hiring
Global employers are continuing a careful approach to hiring in the fourth quarter, with 45 percent planning to maintain current workforce levels—the highest since early 2022—as organizations balance capturing growth opportunities with mitigating economic uncertainty. This measured shift sees 38 percent of employers planning to add staff while 15 percent expect reductions, resulting in a
PFM Executive Search Partners with ViRTUS
PFM Executive Search has formed a partnership with ViRTUS Inc., a leadership development and strategic planning firm. “At ViRTUS, their purpose is to make a difference in the lives of others,” PFM said. “They build respectful, empathetic and productive leaders, who are aware of their impact on the world. ViRTUS helps senior teams create strategies that
The Future of the Private Equity Workforce
Among the central paradoxes of COVID-19 is the disconnect between our day-to-day lived experience of the pandemic — in a word: “stagnation” — and the ways in which it forced the business world to actively adapt, change and evolve. In that sense, 2020 felt less like a moment of acceleration, as many commentators have suggested,
Extensive Labor Shortages Leading to Pressure on Wages
The Labor Department reported that 332,000 Americans have filed new claims for state unemployment benefits. 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 2,000 from 310,000 to 312,000. The four-week moving average was 335,750, a decrease of 4,250 from
Wharton School Taps Isaacson, Miller to Find Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer
Isaacson, Miller has been enlisted to find a chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer for the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Keight Tucker Kennedy is leading the assignment, with Tiffany Weber and Kelly McLaughlin. “The inaugural chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer will use a data-informed approach to provide school-wide leadership
Bespoke Partners Recruits Chief People Officer for Conga
San Diego, CA-headquartered executive search firm Bespoke Partners has placed Dayna Perry as the new chief people officer of Conga, a global leader in commercial operations transformation. Her appointment is effective immediately. She will be based out of Conga’s Broomfield, CO office. Alex Bossetta led the assignment. “As Conga continues to grow and evolve as a global organization,
The Bowdoin Group Adds Director of Marketing, Eight Other Hires
In its largest hiring spree in the more than 25-year history of the firm, The Bowdoin Group has added nine new hires, including a director of marketing, to its team. Lauren Kendall, the new director of marketing, joins the firm from T3 Advisors, where she was senior marketing director. The other additions include two senior consultants,
How to Define Your Professional Brand
When most people think of brands, they first think of well-known consumer packaged goods or durable goods, such as Pepsi or Ford. These are often synonymous with TV commercials and other mass media advertising with big budgets, which are aimed at consumers. They have defined identities comprised of a logo and tagline, and they have a
Recruiting Entrepreneur Makes Seven-Figure Investment in ZRG
ZRG, a leading search firm backed by private equity firm RFE Investment Partners, has elected Hamilton Bradshaw CEO James Caan to its board of directors. Mr. Caan has made a personal seven-figure investment in the company. “We are thrilled to add James Caan to our board of directors,” said CEO Larry Hartmann. “He brings a global
Hobbs & Towne Assists Cervest Recruit Chairperson
Executive search firm Hobbs & Towne has assisted in the recruitment of Lila Tretikov as chairperson of Cervest’s board of directors. “Lila’s experience is incredibly unique,” said Iggy Bassi, founder and CEO of Cervest. “She brings to Cervest an important combination of climate and sustainability knowledge coupled with technology and AI expertise. She understands the strategic and
IQTalent Partners Launches Diversity-Focused SaaS Platform
Executive recruitment firm IQTalent Partners has unveiled Diversify by IQTalent Xchange to its existing talent exchange platform. Diversify by IQTX enables companies that are focused on recruiting and retaining underrepresented talent to generate an inclusive slate of qualified passive candidates for any open role. An original market concept, using responsible and advanced artifical intelligence combined with human
LPA Search Partners Recruits Digital Transformation Leader for American Chemical Society
LPA Search Partners recently placed Tim Jones as senior vice president of digital transformation for the American Chemical Society (ACS), the world’s largest scientific membership organization. “We are so honored to have led the search that brought Tim to ACS and continue to match great talent to challenging, high-growth opportunities in service of our clients,” said Anna
Diversified Search Group Selected to Lead Search for Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino
Diversified Search Group (DSG) has been selected to lead the search for the founding director of the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino. Leading the search are Victor Arias, managing partner of the firm’s Dallas office, and Jason León, managing partner of its Washington, D.C. office. “We are honored to have been selected to lead the search
Five Top Characteristics of Top Cannabis Executives
The cannabis industry has seen extraordinary growth of late due to increasing decriminalization and legalization across many states. In 2020, cannabis sales hit a record $17.5 billion, which was a 46 percent increase from 2019. Market analysts project that the cannabis industry could skyrocket to $100 billion in the U.S. by 2030. Cannabis is legal
WittKieffer Seeks Chief People Officer for the Institute of Aging
With the coronavirus crisis still posing a risk to people everywhere, human resources executives are stepping up at businesses across the country, playing a vital role in helping their organizations navigate what continues to be an even greater challenge than the Great Recession. Along the way, the importance of people strategy is expanding, and that
JDG Associates Begins CFO Search for ACTE
Rockville, MD-based executive search firm JDG Associates has been enlisted by ACTE (the Association for Career and Technical Education) to lead its search for a new chief financial officer. ACTE, headquartered in Alexandria, VA, is the largest national association dedicated to the advancement of education that prepares youth and adults for careers. ACTE’s CFO manages the financial
QJumpers Launches New AI Candidate Search Software
The demand for AI specialists focused on data and machine learning is growing exponentially internationally and the search for top talent is increasing, according to executive recruiters. QJumpers, a sourcing and recruitment software provider, has released its newest product, AI Talent Sourcing. The tool scours publicly available information and uses artificial intelligence to find, rank and engage
True Search Places President at PE-Backed CrossFit
Haddonfield, NJ-based executive recruitment firm True Search has placed former Nike executive Jason Dunlop as president of CrossFit, based in Boulder, CO. Todd Zangrillo, co-leader of the consumer practice, led the assignment along with partner Ben O’Reilly, principal Hannah James and senior associate James Rigano. “Jason is a perfect fit for the CrossFit president role,” said Mr. Zangrillo. “He brings a high growth
Steven John & Associates Recruits Deputy General Counsel and Global Head of Commercial Legal for Snap
Executive search firm Steven John & Associates has assisted Snap Inc. in the recruitment of Claudia Teran, a 21-year legal veteran of Fox Corp., as vice president, deputy general counsel and global head of commercial. Steve John, founder and principal, and Jason Snyder, managing director, led the assignment. Ms. Teran will report directly to general counsel Mike
Healthcare Trust of America Taps Spencer Stuart to Find New CEO
Healthcare Trust of America Inc. (HTA), based in Scottsdale, AZ, confirmed that Spencer Stuart has been retained to assist the organization’s board of directors in identifying the company’s next chief executive officer. Peter N. Foss, an independent director of the board, is serving as interim president and chief executive officer while the search process is ongoing. “The search
Fisher Leadership Acquires Centre for Leadership Advantage
Fisher Leadership has acquired the Centre for Leadership Advantage (CLA), a move that is expected to boost the firm’s advisory capability under its CogNative brand and strengthen its delivery of future of work executive solutions. Managing director, Michelle Loader, described the new merger with CLA as “disruption by design.” Joining the firm’s partners Liz Jones, Andrew Norton, David Baber, Kate Wheeler and Sharyn
DHI Group Invests $3 Million in The Muse
DHI Group, Inc., a provider of AI-powered technology-focused career marketplaces, has announced a $3 million investment in The Muse, a values-based career destination for the NextGen workforce to search for jobs and research companies and careers. The investment will be used to support the expansion of The Muse’s product development and sales efforts to meet
Leadership Skills for the Post Pandemic World
We’re all more than aware of how COVID-19 has turned the world upside down. All of us have experienced an impact on our professional and personal lives. As we edge closer to some kind of return to normality, it’s crucial that business leaders remember the skills they’ve developed and honed during the pandemic. According to
Storbeck Search Recruits SVP of Talent, Culture & HR for Ohio State University
Higher education-focused search firm Storbeck Search, part of the Diversified Search Group, has helped to place Jeff Risinger as senior vice president of talent, culture and human resources at Ohio State University. The assignment was led by Steve Leo and Vicki Henderson of Storbeck Search and Matt Vossler of Diversified Search Group. For the past several months, Paul Patton, senior advisor to the president, has
The Tolan Group Recruits CFO for Georgia Urology
Chief financial officers continue to be in high demand. Finding them is keeping many of the nation’s top recruitment operations busier than ever. The Tolan Group (TTG) recently placed Bridgett Chasko as the new CFO of Georgia Urology. Managing partner Kaye Johnson and senior search consultant Jennifer Chee led the search. “We selected The Tolan Group based on
Vetted Solutions Assists The American Dairy Science Association in Finding New Leader
Washington, D.C.- based executive recruitment firm Vetted Solutions has assisted in the recruitment of Jerry Bowman as the new executive director of the American Dairy Science Association (ADSA), a science-based organization working to advance a sustainable global dairy industry. He starts his new role on Sept.13. “I couldn’t be more pleased to welcome Jerry aboard,” said Paul
PE-Backed Talent Group Appoints CEO
IT-focused recruiting firm Talent Group has appointed industry veteran Matthew J. Ripaldi as chief executive officer. The appointment comes on the heels of a recently completed rebrand to better reflect the company’s identity as a full suite recruitment services provider poised for continued growth. Michael Babb, managing partner of Osceola Capital, which invested in Talent Group in 2018,
The Christopher Group Assists in the Recruitment of Chief People Officer for ITS Logistics
The Christopher Group, a boutique HR executive search and business solutions firm, recently assisted in the recruitment of Jim Hazboun as the new chief people officer of ITS Logistics, a premier third-party logistics company. Managing director Nat Schiffer and recruiting director Jim May led the assignment. “I frequently tell our team that every search is unique, and
Reffett Associates Places Senior Advisor to Air Force Warfighting Integration Capability
Following a nationwide search, Seattle, WA-based Reffett Associates has helped to place Howard Meyer as the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) liaison and senior advisor to the Air Force Warfighting Integration Capability (AFWIC). The search was led by Eric Reffett, managing director; Thomas Young, director of operations; and Marshall Reffett, managing director of the firm’s Seattle office.
Work&Partners Recruits CFO for Toppan Merrill
Chief financial officers continue to be in high demand. Finding them is keeping many of the nation’s top recruitment operations busier than ever. New York-based Work&Partners recently placed Cindy Sattler as the new CFO of Toppan Merrill, a provider of financial printing and communication solutions. Founder and president Alan Work led the assignment. Ms. Sattler was formerly the
Unemployment Claims Falls to Lowest Level Since Start of Pandemic
The Labor Department reported that 310,000 Americans have filed new claims for state unemployment benefits. This is the lowest level for initial claims since March 14, 2020, when it was 256,000. Claims were expected to total 335,000 for the week ended Sept. 4, according to economists surveyed by Dow Jones. The previous week’s level was
Korn Ferry Posts 70 Percent Fiscal Q1 Revenue Gain
Korn Ferry (NYSE:KFY) has posted 2021 fiscal reported first quarter revenue of $585.4 million, an increase of 70 percent. This compares to year-ago revenues of $344.1 million. Fee revenue increased in all regions with the largest increase in North America where demand for the company’s products and services exceeded pre-pandemic levels in conjunction with the worldwide economic recovery. The
