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IIC Partners Adds New Member Firm in Bucharest
IIC Partners Executive Search Worldwide has added Resolute Advisory as its newest member. Located in Bucharest, Resolute Advisory expands IIC Partners’ capabilities across Romania and Eastern Europe. “I am delighted to welcome Resolute Advisory into membership,” said Christine Hayward, executive director of IIC Partners. “Their philosophy of search as a strategic intervention, combined with their rigorous,
Hiring vs. Hustling: When It’s Time to Add to the Team
There’s a point in almost every growing company where things come to a head. Revenue is up, the pipeline is strong, and the team is stretched but still getting the job done, explained a recent report from Ascentria Search Partners. So leaders decide, “Let’s wait before making that hire.” “On paper, this seems disciplined, responsible, and
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
The Rise of Authentic Leadership
For years, professionals have felt compelled to separate their “work selves” from their “personal selves” in order to conform to strict corporate norms. But that’s beginning to change. Today, authentic leadership is what drives organizations to thrive, inspire, and retain great talent. It’s about authenticity and showing up as your true self, not just focusing
Pinpoint Search Group Former Alliance with FiveSix Partners
Increasingly, organizations of all sizes are awakening to the perils posed by cyber attacks. For years, many groups tried to ignore the problem, dismissing cybersecurity as a concern only for the biggest, most high-profile entities, be they government or corporate. These days, more groups are coming to understand how ruinous such intrusions could be. This
ZRG Recruits CEO for Wise Snacks
Eduardo “Ted” Latham of ZRG recently placed Milton Mattus as chief executive officer of Wise Snacks (an Arca Continental company). He started his new role on July 19. Mr. Mattus’ background and international experience proved to be the right fit for the position. Mr. Mattus is a bi-cultural and bi-lingual leader with a strong financial and business administrative background. He
Creating a New World Leadership
None of us expected that 2020 would bring a pandemic that would disrupt our daily lives and shift working conditions to the home environment. A new crisis, increasing unemployment, health and mental well-being becoming more important than ever before, and future uncertainty has added a different dynamic to the relationship between employees and employers. “Instead
The Tolan Group Recruits CFO for Pharmalogic Holdings
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 Mark Attarian as the new CFO of Pharmalogic Holdings Inc. Managing partners Kaye Johnson and Rachel Gauthier and senior search consultant Jennifer Chee led the assignment. “We were honored to work with Steve
Comhar Partners Expands Private Equity Practice Group
Chicago-based executive recruitment firm Comhar Partners has expanded with the addition of Joe Brennan ss managing director a senior member of the private equity practice group. “We are thrilled to welcome Joe to our growing team,” said Bernard Layton, managing director and chief executive officer of Comhar Partners. “Joe’s wealth of experience and industry knowledge will make him
Amrop Elects New Board Members
Global recruiting organization Amrop has added Jaime Montemayor, managing partner, Amrop Mexico, and Thomas Hofer, managing partner, Amrop Hofer Tan, Singapore. “Jaime and Thomas bring significant business knowledge and global leadership to Amrop’s board, built through many years of experience in executive search consulting as well as in industry,” said Annika Farin, Amrop chair. “They are key
Deep Cultural Truths of Your Company Reside in the Underlying Data
Someone once told Rusty Rueff that people only change two ways, through invitation or through situation. The same can be said of companies, says the co-founder for search firm Alioth in a new report. “But it is usually when they lose customers or face pressure from shareholders – or a significant product failure – that they
Bespoke Partners Recruits Chief People Officer for Zipari
San Diego, CA-headquartered executive search firm Bespoke Partners recently placed Kerry Unflat as chief people officer of Zipari, a modern consumer experience solution. Alex Bossetta led the assignment. “In this moment of continued growth and expansion, it’s more important than ever that we ensure our employees have what they need to succeed, inside and outside the office,” said Mark Nathan,
Coulter Partners Recruits Chief Medical Officer for Memo Therapeutics
Over the past few months, numerous healthcare organizations have turned to executive search firms to find new chief medical officers. In the era of COVID-19 this is likely to be another burgeoning area for executive search firms. Life sciences search specialist Coulter Partners recently partnered with Memo Therapeutics AG for the recruitment of George Badita as its new
Myers McRae Tapped to find Executive Director for Macon Water Authority
Macon, GA-based Myers McRae Executive Search and Consulting has been selected to find a new executive director for the Macon Water Authority (MWA), a comprehensive water, sewer and stormwater utility in Georgia. Emily Parker Myers, CEO, and Kenny Daugherty, president, are leading the assignment along with Jennifer Barfield, senior vice president “The executive director is the chief
Saxton Bampfylde Appoints Head of Media Practice
U.K.-based executive recruiter Saxton Bampfylde has expanded with the addition of Amanda Pitt as partner and head of its media practice. “We are thrilled to welcome Amanda – her passion and professionalism offer great synergies across our team,” said Stephen Bampfylde is co-founder and chairman of Saxton Bampfylde. “She is a highly skilled professional in the media
DRi Seeks CEO for Atlas Service Corps
Arlington, VA-based executive search firm Development Resources Inc. (DRi) has been retained by Atlas Service Corps, also known as Atlas Corps, to lead its search for a new chief executive officer. Based in Washington, D.C., Atlas Corps is an international network of social sector leaders and organizations that promotes innovation, cooperation and solutions to address the world’s 21st-century challenges.
EFL Associates Seeking CFO for Ottawa University
Executive search firm EFL Associates has been selected to find a new chief financial officer for Ottawa University (OU), a private Baptist university based in Ottawa, KS. Steve Waldron, the recruitment firm’s managing director—legal practice and higher education practice, is leading the assignment along with Angela Lilje, practice and project manager, higher education practice. The incoming
Renovata & Company Recruits CEO for Vivino
Global executive search and private equity advisory firm Renovata & Company has placed Olivier Grémillon as chief executive officer of wine locator app Vivino. “Olivier has led demonstrable growth at Booking.com and Airbnb,” said Thomas Jepsen, partner at Renovata & Company. “At Booking.com, he led a business with more than $20 billion in gross merchandise value.” “He understands
Why We Make Bad Hires
Finding good people is one of the toughest challenges for business owners and managers. Turnover has an immediate and often devastating impact on the bottom line, according to StevenDouglas’ Donald Zinn. If you have a sales force of five people, for example, each represents 20 percent of your potential annual revenue, he says. If one
Kincannon & Reed Appoints Director of Data and Analytics
Executive recruitment firm Kincannon & Reed has expanded with the addition of John Grisolano as director of data and analytics. “Our database of executives is critical for our ability to place leaders who feed the world and keep it healthy,” said David Turner, president of Kincannon & Reed. “Having someone like John leading our data strategy is key
The Most Common Recruiting Mistakes at the Executive Level
Whether you’re a seasoned executive at a Fortune 500 company adding to your management team or a first-time founder and chief executive officer making a critical leadership hire for your start-up, Natalie Ryan of SPMB says common mistakes can derail the recruiting process. “As a client partner at SPMB, I have visibility into the most frequent recruiting mistakes and
CarterBaldwin Recruits CEO for Delaware Electric Cooperative
After a national search, CarterBaldwin Executive Search recently placed Greg Starheim as the new president and chief executive officer of the Delaware Electric Cooperative (DEC), a Greenwood, DE-based not-for-profit utility. Chris Guiney, partner and energy and infrastructure practice leader, led the assignment for the search firm. Mr. Starheim, who most recently served as senior vice president
Heidrick & Struggles Seeks CEO for American Jewish Committee
American Jewish Committee CEO David Harris recently announced he will step down from his position in May of 2022. The organization has called in Heidrick & Struggles to lead its search for his replacement. The search firm is seeking a visionary leader who will set the course for the next era of Jewish advocacy. “Now, after
Greenwood / Asher & Associates Assists Clemson University with CHRO Search
Miramar Beach, FL-based executive recruitment firm Greenwood /Asher & Associates has assisted in the recruitment of Ale Kennedy as the new associate vice president for human resources and chief human resources officer of Clemson University. “The university engaged a recruiting firm and conducted a rigorous national search to select our human resources leader,” said Max Allen, vice
Versique Creates Finance and Accounting Division
Minneapolis, MN-headquartered Versique Search and Consulting has added Paige Batcha as vice president of finance and accounting consulting to lead a newly created division within the firm. In her role, Ms. Batcha will collaborate with Versique’s current consulting and executive search teams to grow clients and consultants within the finance and accounting contract consulting practice area. “This is a
Jobless Claims Still Remain High as Recovery Looms
The Labor Department reported that 400,000 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 385,000 claims. The previous week’s level was revised up by 5,000 from 419,000
Hiring Strong Leaders in Today’s Climate
Before the pandemic, “it was almost unthinkable to hire someone without interviewing or meeting them in person,” said Cecilia Besa Montes, managing partner with EMA partners. “It is a fact that this new reality is solving various issues related to distance and travel times, but it still represents significant challenges for companies in their hiring
Queensland Investment Corp. Taps Egon Zehnder to Find CEO
According to recruiters specializing in the investment banking space, demand for executive level, “high impact” investing talent has been on the rise, and that demand is expected to soar in coming years. But recruiters say these roles can be generally difficult to develop and ultimately recruit for clients, given their multi-disciplinary and evolving nature. In fact, impact investing roles are
Odgers Berndtson Appoints Head of Diversity
Odgers Berndtson has named Ryna Young as partner and head of diversity. “We are proud to be a leader in our industry as we appoint Ryna Young as head of diversity,” said Carl Lovas, chair and chief executive officer of Odgers Berndtson Canada. “We are deeply committed to creating an equitable client and colleague experience. Welcoming Ryna to
HARTZ Search Taps President for Acclaim Physician Group
Charlotte, NC-based HARTZ Search has assisted in the placement of Bryan Becker as the new president for Acclaim Physician Group, a partner of JPS Health Network. CEO Mike Hartz and partner Carol Maxwell led the assignment. Acclaim is a multi-specialty, 480-provider medical group that partners with JPS Health Network to provide healthcare, education and research to Tarrant
Why Connecting Private Equity with Executive Search Matters More Now than Ever
There have rarely been two industries more compatible than private equity and executive search. According to Mike Myatt of N2Growth, PE firms are adept at identifying and monetizing synergies that fall within their investment guidelines, but they are curiously less skilled at taking advantage of enhanced value creation opportunities amplified through professional services relationships. “I
Attracting Top Talent in a Competitive Marketplace
If you are looking to fill an open position, you know how tough that can be these days. Just when you think you have found the perfect candidate, they will tell you that they have accepted another offer. According to Executive Staffing Solutions, there are key traits that are most desired in a manager or
Caldwell Recruits Chief Marketing Officer for Armis
Mercedes Chatfield-Taylor, managing partner of the private equity and venture capital practice at Caldwell, has placed Jean English as the new chief marketing officer of Armis, a unified asset visibility and security platform provider. “Jean is an exceptional modern marketing leader with an impressive record of delivering results,” said Yevgeny Dibrov, co-founder and CEO of Armis. “She has
Spencer Stuart Assists National Auto Auction Association in Recruitment of CEO
Spencer Stuart has assisted in the recruitment of Tricia Heon as the first woman chief executive officer of the National Auto Auction Association (NAAA). She replaces Frank Hackett, who is retiring from the position after 17 years. “This marks a milestone for NAAA and for the growing number of women who have chosen to build careers
ECA Partners Appoints CEO
Private family office Nobel Investments has named Ken Kanara president and CEO of its portfolio company ECA Partners, a data-driven executive search firm. “Ken has been instrumental in growing the firm over the past five years,” said Atta Tarki, founder of ECA Partners and managing partner of Nobel Investments. “He helped to formalize and scale
