DAILY NEWSWIRE - TOP STORIES
Daily Newswire
NPAG Leading CEO Search for Horizons Foundation
Executive search firm NPAG has been retained by Horizons Foundation to lead in its search for a new CEO. The search is being led by Ellen LaPointe. The next CEO will bring strategic clarity, fundraising acumen, community insight, and a demonstrated commitment to justice, equity, and LGBTQ belonging. This leader will navigate a rapidly evolving social, political, and
Boyden Recruits CEO for the Canadian Marketing Association
Boyden has assisted in the recruitment of Esther Benzie as the new president and CEO of the Canadian Marketing Association (CMA). Ian Collyer led the assignment. Following Alison Simpson’s retirement announcement in September 2025, the CMA board of directors launched a comprehensive executive search to identify the association’s next leader. The search attracted strong interest from highly
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
Unlocking Growth in the PE-Backed Software Market
Enterprise software is one of Europe’s fastest-growing sectors. In 2024, enterprise software spending across the region expanded by 11 percent — more than 10 times the pace of EU economic growth — highlighting software’s role as a resilient and investable driver of opportunity. More than 13,000 companies now generate over $10 million in annual revenues (and almost
Meeting the Challenges of the CEO Succession Process
Chief executive officers are the mainstays of their companies – both externally and internally. They hold primary responsibility for developing and implementing forward-looking strategies and evolving corporate culture. And in our hyper-complex and fast-paced age, they are the voice of the company and architects of value creation that goes well beyond financial gain. Appointing the
Isaacson, Miller Selected to Find New Provost for Dartmouth College
Isaacson, Miller has been enlisted to find the next provost for Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH. Partner Kate Barry and managing associate Elizabeth Dorr are spearheading the assignment. Former provost Joseph Helble recently stepped down to become president of Lehigh University. David Kotz, a professor in computer science who has held several senior administrative roles
SearchWide Global Seeks Chief Sales Officer for VisitPittsburgh
Retained executive recruitment firm SearchWide Global has been enlisted to find the next chief sales officer for VisitPittsburgh, the tourism promotion agency for Pennsylvania’s Allegheny County. The individual will also serve as executive director of MeetPittsburgh, the division of the organization charged with attracting and supporting the delivery of business events. Senior vice president Kellie Henderson is
New Business Climate Requiring New Senior Leadership Type
Businesses across the world are now at a post-pandemic inflection point with respect to their most precious commodity: their talent. According to a new report by Alix Partners, the immediate uncertainty and chaos, underpinned by personal and societal anxiety about the impact of COVID-19, will moderate as people return to work. “But they will do so with at
Air Force Association Taps BoardWalk Consulting to Find Chief Development Officer
Executive recruitment firm BoardWalk Consulting has been called in by the Air Force Association (AFA) to lead its search for a new chief development officer. Sam Pettway and Diane Westmore are heading the assignment. To succeed in this “hands-on, can-do environment,” the chief development officer must be both strategist and project manager, proactively aligning AFA’s needs with
HIRE Technologies Acquires Canadian Search Firm Leaders and Co.
HIRE Technologies Inc., a company focused on modernizing and digitizing human resources solutions, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Montreal-based Leaders and Co. Leaders is an executive search firm with clients across Canada, strong national and international alliances, and a diversity and indigenous recruitment practice, HIRE said. “The partners at Leaders have created a
Sustainability and Clean Tech Meet the ‘Perfect Storm’ as Sector Surges
No one was saying it in so many words, but the report that the United Nations Global Compact and Russell Reynolds Associates released last year was aimed at nothing less than helping to save the world. Six years ago, leaders from 193 nations at an historic UN summit adopted 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) that
Six Best Practice for Building Virtual Teams
Just 10 percent of employees worked remotely before the COVID-19 pandemic, but more than one-third (34 percent) will likely continue to work virtually once the pandemic is over, according to a recent survey of chief human resources officers and talent leaders by Spencer Stuart. Some organizations will lean even more heavily into remote working, with as
Carrington & Carrington Seeks VP for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for Lawrence University
Chicago-based Carrington & Carrington has been enlisted to find a vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion for Lawrence University in Appleton, WI. Principal Marian H. Carrington is leading the assignment. “It is a critical moment as Lawrence University with new presidential leadership and a vision to strengthen its community, culture and climate on its
Johnson Partners Appoints New Leaders
Sydney-based executive search firm Johnson Partners appointed Kate Olgers as a partner and co-leader of its legal and government practice, and Vanessa Stack as partner and leader of the public sector practice. “Kate’s appointment represents a material step towards achieving our vision of becoming the leading independent board advisory and executive search firm in Australia and New
Jobless Claims Continue to Edge Down as Recovery Continues
The Labor Department reported that 375,000 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. This matches estimates from economists surveyed by Dow Jones. The previous week’s level was revised up by 2,000 from 385,000 to 387,000. The four-week moving
WB&B Executive Search Fills Top Talent Acquisition Post for Travel + Leisure
WB&B Executive Search recently assisted Travel + Leisure (Wyndham Destinations) in the recruitment of Shoba Menon as vice president and global head of talent acquisition. Leading the assignment for the search team were Kenneth Roldan, chief executive officer; Toyann King, senior partner and head of recruitment; Jeff Greene, senior partner; and Hamilton Roldan, director. Ms.
NPAworldwide Adds Seven New Member Firms
With the number of people vaccinated against the coronavirus growing daily, executive search consultants are seeing an increase in hiring mandates from around the world. 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. Member-owned
How to Attract More Diverse Candidates to Cannabis Companies
The continuing growth of the cannabis industry has brought with it more scrutiny regarding its operations. According to a newly released report by Y Scouts, this is not a negative point at all. “That’s because the more thought put into the standards and ethics of a business, the better it will thrive for all involved, in
Saenger Associates Selected by Child Care Resource Center to Find Director of Diversity, Equality and Inclusion
Los Angeles-based executive search firm Saenger Associates, a 20/20 Foresight company, has been retained by Child Care Resource Center to lead the search for its newly established position of director of diversity, equality and inclusion. Mike Nadler, senior vice president of client services, is leading the assignment along with Gary Saenger, founder and president. Child
The Loring Group Taps Head of Growth for Pathr.ai
San Francisco-headquartered executive search firm The Loring Group has placed Alan Flohr as head of growth and chief revenue officer for Pathr.ai, a leading spatial intelligence platform. Steve Caliger, managing partner, led the assignment. Pathr added the role to support the company’s rapid growth and lead the global sales, business development, marketing and customer success teams. With
Gender Equity Sees Advances on Corporate Boards
The representation of women in corporate leadership is coming under increasing scrutiny as stakeholders demand a greater degree of commitment to progress on gender equity. In a new report, BoardEx, a leading provider of executive intelligence and relationship mapping solutions, describes 2020 as a year of progress. Using 26 indices to measure progress at advancing
Chartwell Recruits COO for Triumph Business Capital
Executive search firm Chartwell Partners has placed Amber Roy as the new chief operating officer for Triumph Business Capital. Scott Petty, managing partner of Chartwell Partners’ financial services practice, led the search along with principal Sean O’Neal. “Amber is a dynamic leader with a proven track record of leading strategy, operations and technology with best-in-class companies,” said Mr. Petty. “With
FaithSearch Partners Seeks Chief Administrative Officer for Top Christian Radio Station
FaithSearch Partners (FSP) has been retained by Takoma Park, MD-based WGTS 91.9 FM to lead its search for a chief administrative officer. WGTS is the second largest non-commercial Christian radio station in the U.S., with nearly 550,000 weekly listeners in the Washington, D.C./Baltimore markets. FaithSearch president Ed Fry is leading the search with vice president Courtney
A Better Path to Boosting Diversity in Financial Services
In many ways, the racial awakenings of 2020 opened the eyes of banking executives and their boards to a reality that diverse employees have known and experienced for decades: Getting to the C-suite is tougher for women and underrepresented minorities throughout financial services than for their white and male counterparts, according the report by Russell
Howard Fischer Associates Assists Faction Recruit CRO and CPO
Philadelphia-headquartered executive search firm Howard Fischer Associates has helped to place two key leaders, Anthony Faustini as chief revenue officer and Rama Kolappan as chief product officer, for Faction, a leading multi-cloud data services provider. Messrs. Faustini and Kolappan are joining Denver, CO-based Faction during a time of significant growth. They are expected to be major contributors
Core Scientific Taps Reffett Associates to Recruit VP Investor Relations
Following a nationwide search, Seattle, WA-based Reffett Associates has assisted with the selection of Steve Gitlin as the new vice president of investor relations for Core Scientific, a leader in infrastructure and software solutions for artificial intelligence and blockchain. The assignment was led by William Reffett, managing partner and founder, with assistance from Marshall Reffett, managing director of
Hiring on the Rise in July as Unemployment Rate Falls to 5.4 Percent
Employment rose by 943,000 in July as the U.S. unemployment rate now stands at 5.4 percent, according to the most recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report released this morning. The number of unemployed persons fell by 782,000 to 8.7 million. Notable job gains occurred in leisure and hospitality, in local government education, and in professional and
Anthem Executive Recruits CEO for Jewish Federation
Executive recruitment firm Anthem Executive has placed Rabbi Noah Farkas as president and chief executive officer of the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles (JFGLA). He will succeed Jay Sanderson who led the organization for the past 12 years. Leading the assignment were co-founders and consultants Michael Ballew, Mike J.R. Wheless, Scott Watson and senior client service partner
Parker Executive Search Seeks New Athletic Director for Princeton University
Atlanta-based Parker Executive Search has been enlisted to find a new director of athletics for Princeton University. Leading the assignment are Daniel Parker, vice president and managing director, and DeLaina Jordan, associate. This spring, Mollie Marcoux Samaan, who has served as athletics director since 2014, announced that she will be leaving Princeton to join the Ladies Professional
WittKieffer Names Head of Marketing
WittKieffer has named Sharon Higgins as head of marketing. “We are extremely excited to have Sharon join our team and help WittKieffer continue on its course as one of the leading firms in the executive search industry,” said Elizabeth Frye, chief of operations. “She brings unique skills that she has honed in her prior leadership roles and a
Boyden Appoints Head of Japan
Boyden has named Stephen Irish as managing partner and head of Japan. Based in Tokyo, he joins Boyden’s global healthcare and life sciences practice, leading senior level searches for clients in Japan and Asia-Pacific, as well as those headquartered outside the region. “Japan is a unique market, and requires specialist knowledge and understanding of the cultural nuances at
Overcoming the Challenges of Remote Work
Remote work being the new normal is posing new challenges for local companies. With the ability to work from almost anywhere, diverse talent and highly skilled professionals are being outsourced to companies all over the globe. Talent acquisition professionals are seeing large brands such as Amazon, Facebook, Microsoft and Starbucks converting traditionally onsite positions to
Jobless Claims Remain High as Summer Recovery Continues
The Labor Department reported that 385,000 Americans 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 median estimate from economists surveyed by Bloomberg was for a decline to 383,000 claims. The previous week’s level was revised down by 1,000 from 400,000
Odgers Berndtson Appoints Head of U.S. Sports & Entertainment Practice
Odgers Berndtson has named Drew Cloud as partner and head of the U.S. sports and entertainment practice based in New York. “We are thrilled that Drew has joined the firm to lead the U.S. sports practice,” said Steve Potter, CEO of Odgers Berndtson U.S. “His leadership roles at various teams across sports leagues, including the NBA, NHL, MLB and
Cooper Coleman Seeking President and CEO for Interact for Health
Cincinnati, OH-based community health organization Interact for Health has retained Cooper Coleman LLC, to lead the search for its next president and CEO. Dr. O’dell Moreno Owens recently stepped down from the position. Bill Coleman, principal and co-founder of Cooper Coleman, is leading the assignment. “This is a particularly unique leadership opportunity, not only due







