DAILY NEWSWIRE - TOP STORIES
Daily Newswire
NPAworldwide Elects Board Chair; Re-Elects Key Directors
Member-owned recruitment network NPAworldwide has elected a new slate of representatives to its board of directors. The election was held during the group’s virtual annual owners meeting. Member-owners also accepted a financial report, amended the organizational bylaws, confirmed the actions of the board of directors and conducted other official business. NPAworldwide member-owner Patti Steen of The Pelsten Group automatically
August Leadership Names Partner in Paris
August Leadership has appointed Art Avdeev as partner in Paris. He brings over 25 years of experience managing executive search and leadership development projects for clients across EMEA and beyond. Mr. Avdeev works with corporate and private equity clients on assignments in banking, insurance, consumer finance, and mobile banking, as well as FMCG, retail, agriculture, 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.
Vetted Solutions Recruits CEO for GO2 for Lung Cancer
Washington, D.C.-based Vetted Solutions has placed David Benson as the new CEO of GO2 for Lung Cancer. “David is an exceptional leader with a deep commitment to improving the lives of people affected by cancer,” said GO2 board president Rick Sherlock. “His collaborative leadership style, strategic vision, and ability to build meaningful partnerships make him the right
GDPR – The Perfect Time to Refresh Your Database
As executive search firms grapple with the complexities of GDPR, many are concerned that the new regulation will mean deleting thousands of records built up over many years. Surely there must be an alternative?
TalentRise Assists Grassroots Gardens of WNY with Executive Director Search
TalentRise has assisted in the recruitment of Megan Kelly as the new executive director of Grassroots Gardens of WNY. “We’re thrilled to announce Meg Kelly as the new executive director of Grassroots Gardens WNY,” the organization said. “Meg brings experience to our garden network from her work with the region’s business and entrepreneurship community, and enters
Private Equity Firms Rethink Executive Hiring for Future Growth
PE investors routinely underwrite businesses based on their future state. For example, an investment thesis may assume a restaurant company will double its unit count, accelerate franchising, expand geographically, complete acquisitions, improve margins, or become significantly more institutionalized during the hold period. Executive hiring, however, often remains anchored to the present, according to a new
ON Partners Recruits CFO for Fortera
Partners Josh Nathanson and Chris Clements along with principal Alexis Rohe of ON Partners have placed Albert Luu as the new CFO of cement manufacturer Fortera in San Jose, CA. “Fortera is at a stage where the work we’ve done to prove the technology now has to be matched by our ability to finance and execute at scale,”
BoardWalk Consulting Assists Downtown Atlanta with CEO Search
BoardWalk Consulting has recruited Kyle Waide as the new CEO of Downtown Atlanta Inc. (DAI) to lead in its search for a CEO. The search was led by Sam Pettway, Crystal Stephens, and Patti Kish. The search committee began its work in April of 2026 under the leadership of Egbert Perry, CEO, Integral Group; longtime member of CAP and
SearchWide Global Recruits President and CEO for Visit California
SearchWide Global has helped to recruit Julie Coker as the new president and CEO of Visit California. She succeeds longtime leader Caroline Beteta, who announced her retirement earlier this year. The assignment was led by Mike Gamble, chairman, CEO, and co-founder of SearchWide. The appointment is the culmination of a comprehensive global search conducted in partnership
JM Search Expands Search Team
JM Search, a senior-level talent provider serving private equity investors, portfolio companies, and Fortune 1000s, has expanded with the additions of Amber Shockey as partner within its legal practice and Curtis Walker as principal within its media & telecommunications team. “Continued private equity investment across legal services, legal-adjacent businesses, and professional sports is elevating the importance of
Interim or Executive Search? Choosing the Right Leadership Solution
Interim leadership has moved well beyond being a stopgap solution for unexpected vacancies. As organizations face greater complexity, faster strategic shifts, and mounting pressure to deliver results, boards and CEOs are increasingly turning to experienced interim leaders as a flexible way to maintain momentum and address critical business needs. For executive search firms, that shift
Funk Associates Assists the University of North Florida with the Recruitment of Eighth President
Funk Associates has assisted in the recruitment of Michael P. Shannon as the eighth president of the University of North Florida (UNF). Past president Moez Limayem stepped down from his position in early 2026. “Mike Shannon is the leader who can build on UNF’s strong momentum and continue to elevate the University’s incredible impact across our
DHR Global Recruits President of Business Operations for the Pittsburgh Penguins
Talent advisory firm DHR Global has placed Marcel Braithwaite as president of business operations for the Pittsburgh Penguins. This search was led by Mike Gagliardi and Glenn Sugiyama of DHR’s sports practice. “Marcel is going to be a transformational hire for one of the NHL’s premier teams,” said Mr. Sugiyama, managing partner of DHR’s sports practice. “I had the
Mercuri Urval Expands International Public and ESG Expert Practice
Stockholm, Sweden-based executive search firm Mercuri Urval (MU) has expanded with the addition of former Danish government minister Astrid Krag to its international public and ESG expert practice. “With Astrid’s extensive experience in international public affairs, strong commitment to ESG and sustainability, and deep understanding of life sciences, she brings a valuable combination of expertise and
ZRG Partners Acquires N2Growth’s Spain Business
ZRG Partners has entered the Spanish market through the acquisition of the business formerly known as Blacksmith that had been doing business since 2023 under the umbrella of N2Growth. Through this integration, ZRG enters the Spanish market with an established local team and the goal of offering Spanish and international clients agile, high-touch advisory backed by
Family Offices Move Into Human Capital M&A
Altss’ latest ranking, The 50 Largest Family Offices in the World (2026), illustrates the scale family capital has reached. The 50 largest offices collectively manage an estimated $2.4 trillion, with the top 10 controlling more than $1.5 trillion. Twenty-eight of the top 50 are headquartered in North America, while private equity represents their largest average portfolio allocation
The Leadership Pipeline Crisis: AI’s Hidden Cost
Companies everywhere are celebrating leaner teams, faster execution, and higher productivity thanks to AI, according to HIRECLOUT. From a business perspective, the logic is easy to understand, according to Avetis Antaplyan, founder and CEO of HIRECLOUT. “Investors reward efficiency,” Mr. Antaplyan said. “Leaders are under pressure to do more with less. Automation is eliminating repetitive
Klein Hersh Recruits CFO for Sparrow Pharmaceuticals
Klein Hersh, a search firm focused on the life sciences and healthcare industries, has recruited George Eldridge as the new CFO of Sparrow Pharmaceuticals, a targeted cardiometabolic therapeutics company. “We are thrilled to welcome George to Sparrow at such an important time for our company,” said Robert Jacks, president and CEO of Sparrow Pharmaceuticals. “George
McCormack + Kristel Seeking Executive Director for NEXT Harm Reduction
McCormack + Kristel has been retained by NEXT Harm Reduction (NEXT Distro) to lead in its search for an executive director. This is a rare opportunity for a visionary leader and skilled fundraiser to take a nationally recognized organization with an urgent mandate and grow it to the scale the moment demands. Reporting to the board
Riviera Partners Expands Public Practice
San Francisco-based Riviera Partners, a recruitment provider specializing in C-level engineering, product, and design leader placements, has expanded with the addition of Archer McFall as a partner within its public practice serving large, publicly-traded companies and late-stage, pre-IPO companies. “Getting the right CTO, CIO, or chief AI officer in place, building the team structure around AI, making sure the
HelloSky Brings Its Graph of People, Investors, and Companies Into Claude and ChatGPT
Executive search firms are increasingly looking for ways to move beyond traditional databases and static candidate profiles as clients demand deeper market intelligence and faster, more precise insight into leadership talent. Advances in artificial intelligence are giving recruiters new tools to connect people, companies, investors, relationships, and career outcomes in ways that can strengthen candidate
Harris Search Associates Leading Senior Assignment for Carnegie Mellon University
Harris Search Associates has been retained by Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) to lead in its search for newly created role of associate vice president for research computing and data (AVP RCD). Jeffrey Harris and Ed Christ are leading the assignment. This role offers a unique opportunity to elevate and transform CMU’s research computing ecosystem positioning it to better support
Preng & Associates Assists SOGC, LLC with President Search
Following a comprehensive executive search, Houston-based Preng & Associates assisted in the recruitment of David French as the new president of SOGC, LLC. “Preng & Associates is proud to have supported this important leadership appointment and continues to partner with energy companies worldwide in identifying and securing transformative executive talent,” the firm said. Mr. French brings
NPAG Appoints Senior Advisor
Executive search firm NPAG has appointed André Blackman as senior advisor. In this new role, he will build and lead a practice focused on mission-driven innovation — connecting dynamic leadership talent and the development resources to keep that talent in seat, to founders and organizations solving problems that matter. “André brings a rare combination of strategic insight, storytelling
Sheffield Haworth Adds Private Equity & Growth Venture Portfolio Assets Veteran
Global leadership advisory and executive search firm Sheffield Haworth has expanded with the addition of Michael McDonnell as managing director, private equity and growth venture portfolio assets. He is based in the New York office and works within the technology sector practice. “We are thrilled to welcome Michael to the team,” said Paul Gillespie, managing director of the
Leadership Needs Shift in a Changing Federal Market
Executive search across the federal contracting, government services, defense, and technology sectors is entering a new phase as companies look for more sophisticated ways to evaluate leadership beyond résumés, references, and past performance. In markets where specialized experience, relationships, and an understanding of complex government customers can be critical, the challenge is not simply identifying
Private Equity Rollup Wave Reshapes Executive Search
What may once have looked like a series of isolated transactions is increasingly taking on the shape of a broader industry shift. As capital moves into the sector and firms rethink where they have true competitive strength, the pattern is becoming harder to ignore. “A year ago, I would have called this a prediction, today,
HARTZ Search Seeking Chief Revenue Officer for Geisinger
Charlotte, NC-based HARTZ Search was recently retained by Geisinger to lead in its search for a chief revenue officer. This executive will direct, manage, and implement programs to ensure efficient revenue management operations and sufficient cash flow to support Geisinger operations and strategic initiatives. The role is responsible for identifying, analyzing, reducing, and resolving revenue management issues
Kincannon & Reed Places Executive Director for the Pennsylvania Dairymen’s Association
Kincannon & Reed (K&R), which exclusively focuses on food, agribusiness, and the related life sciences, has assisted in the recruitment of Patrick Carney as the new executive director of the Pennsylvania Dairymen’s Association. Dave Smith stepped down from his executive role after leading the association for more than 30 years. “Patrick pairs dairy industry knowledge with
What Talent Acquisition Will Really Demand in 2026
Talent acquisition looks nothing like it did a couple of years ago. A new Korn Ferry report says AI is the headline—84 percent of talent leaders plan to use it next year—but it’s only one piece of the 2026 puzzle. The bigger challenge is connecting AI, skills, leadership pipelines, and workplace policies into a strategy
Spencer Stuart Tapped by the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston to Find New Leader
Federal Reserve Bank president searches are some of the most coveted assignments to take on among executive recruiters, and a number of leading search firms have gotten in on the action. The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston recently selected Spencer Stuart to help in its search for a new president and CEO. Eric Rosengren announced his retirement
BroadView Talent Partners Seeks CFO for Microlending Platform Kiva
Executive search firm BroadView Talent Partners has been retained to find a chief financial officer for Kiva, an international person-to-person microlending platform. “This mission-oriented, dynamic and strategic professional will lead the finance department, working with the executive leadership team to build Kiva and expand the organization’s impact,” said the search firm. Based in San Francisco,
The Moran Company Seeks New CEO for The Animal Foundation
The Moran Company, an executive recruitment firm that specializes in the non-profit sector, has been enlisted to find the next chief executive officer for The Animal Foundation (TAF) in Las Vegas. Senior search consultant Becky Hauk is leading the assignment. “The CEO of The Animal Foundation will hold one of the most visible and important
Kingsley Gate Partners Expands in London
Kingsley Gate Partners recently named Andy Davies as senior partner. He will be based in the firm’s London office. “We are thrilled to have Andy join our team,” said Nancy Albertini, senior partner at the search firm. “Our continued global growth into this key market strengthens our ability to deliver above and beyond the expectations
Jobless Claims Fall to Lowest Level Since March 2020
The Labor Department reported that 293,000 Americans have filed new claims for state unemployment benefits, a decrease of 36,000. 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 326,000 to 329,000. The four-week moving average was 334,250, a decrease
How PE Firms Can Attract the Best Portfolio Leadership
The global private equity sector is more than three times bigger than it was just 10 years ago. How can PE firms ensure that they are attracting the best talent to lead their portfolio companies? Despite a COVID-induced 22 percent downturn in private equity fundraising and deal volume in 2020, the broader multi-year trend is
Westmont Search Places Chief Transformation Officer for Essentia Health
Executive search firm Westmont Search has placed Karyn Baum as chief transformation officer of Essentia Health in Duluth, MN. As CTO she will be responsible for leading clinicians in process improvement and innovation across the Essentia Health System. The search was conducted by Peter Blau, managing partner and Carolyn Lecocq, search director. Most recently, Dr. Baum served
Caldwell Fills Technology Posts for Concentra Bank
Drew Railton and Adam Cotterall of Caldwell recently recruited Dave Baldarelli as chief digital officer and Wendy Murphy as chief technology and operations officer at Concentra Bank. Mr. Baldarelli is a motivational leader with a demonstrated ability to guide an organization through innovation and extensive business transformation. He is passionate about creating value for customers and offering products that drive business
Charles Aris Executive Search Opens New Office in Washington, D.C.
Greensboro, NC-based executive search firm Charles Aris Executive Search has opened a new office in Washington, D.C. The firm was prepared for the expansion in 2020, but the pandemic put the plans on hold until now. The office will allow the search firm to strengthen relationships with existing clients and establish connections with new organizations. “The opening
LifeSci Partners Teams With Expert Network FirstThought
LifeSci Partners, a life-sciences focused consultancy, has entered into a strategic partnership with FirstThought, a global life sciences expert network, which specializes in connecting clients with life sciences and healthcare subject matter experts. FirstThought’s services, which include one-on-one consultations (virtual or in-person), group meetings, surveys and direct engagements, will be accessible to clients and employees
Disruption in Financial Services Presents Big Opportunities for Recruiters
The profile of modern financial services leaders continues to shift amid the sector’s renewed focus on customers for revenue growth, service digitalization, a renewed focus on risk management, and increasing investor and regulatory scrutiny, according to executive recruiters. The COVID-19 crisis has only heightened the need for top talent that has the ability to pivot
The Christopher Group Leading Top Diversity Search for Standard Motor Products
The Christopher Group (TCG), a boutique HR executive search and business solutions firm, was recently called in by Standard Motor Products (SMP) to lead the organization’s vice president of talent, diversity and corporate social responsibility search. Managing director Pam Noble and managing partner Jeff Wilbanks are leading the critical assignment. “TCG is honored to have been selected for this prestigious
Hartz Search Recruits Chief Administrative Officer for East Jefferson General Hospital
After an extensive national search, Charlotte, NC-based Hartz Search has helped to place Jennifer Parks as chief administrative officer of Louisiana Children’s Medical Center Health (LCMC Health) and East Jefferson General Hospital (EJGH). Ms. Parks will strategically plan, lead, and manage all business aspects of the EJGH’s physician group. EJGH, which recently joined the LCMC Health
Miller Black Associates Recruits Chief People Officer for Kroll Business Services
With the coronavirus crisis disrupting the world economy, chief people officers are stepping up at businesses across the country, playing a vital role in helping organizations navigate what is looking to be an even greater challenge than the Great Recession. Executive recruiters across the business landscape report that searches for these C-suite executives will only
NPAworldwide Adds Five 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
The Ins and Outs of Executive Recruiting
As individuals reach the rarefied heights of the executive tier, more than their title changes. The way executives are hired at this level differs from non-executive roles. According to a new report by AboveBoard, even the language of hiring shifts. Instead of being “recruited,” for example, executives are “placed” by an “executive search professional.” Most
Unemployment Rate Falls to 4.8 Percent
Employment rose by 194,000 in September as the U.S. unemployment rate fell to 4.8 percent, according to the most recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report. So far this year, monthly job growth has averaged 586,000. Notable job gains occurred in leisure and hospitality, in professional and business services, in retail trade, and in transportation and warehousing.
Furst Group Recruits Chief People Officer for Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago
Executive recruitment firm Furst Group, which serves the healthcare and insurance industries, has assisted in the placement of Audrey Williams-Lee as chief people officer of Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. The hospital said it changed the title of this role from chief human resources officer to emphasize the importance of people in advancing its
Arts Consulting Group Places CEO for Ordway Center for the Performing Arts in Minnesota
After a comprehensive national search, Boston-based search firm Arts Consulting Group (ACG) has helped to place Christopher Harrington as the new president and CEO of the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts in St. Paul, MN. He will begin his tenure on Nov. 1. Mr. Harrington will succeed interim president Chris Sagstetter, who will resume her
IRC Global Adds New Member Firm in Spain
IRC Global Executive Search Partners has added Barcelona-based boutique firm The Skeye as its newest member. “With IRC Spain, our new member firm, we have strengthened our solid position serving international clients, locally and globally,” said Stepan Motejzik, IRC Global alliance director. “We are excited about extending our capabilities in the critical market of Spain, spanning
Fenway Health Picks Lindauer to Assist in Chief People Officer Search
With the coronavirus crisis disrupting the world economy, chief people officers are stepping up at businesses across the country, playing a vital role in helping organizations navigate what is looking to be an even greater challenge than the Great Recession. As a recent article in The Economist put it, chief people officers “keep employees healthy;
Bespoke Partners Recruits New Leader for Madison Dearborn Partners
Tremendous opportunity lies ahead in integrating a set of distinctive human capital solutions that will deliver exponential value to private equity firms and their portfolios. At the core of this drive are PE talent leaders and executive recruiters who are developing solutions to help clients navigate change and power value creation early in the hold
Shelli Herman and Associates Recruits New Leader for the St. Louis Zoo
Los Angeles-based Shelli Herman and Associates has placed Dwight Scott as the next Dana Brown president and CEO of the St. Louis Zoo. He succeeds Jeffrey P. Bonner, who will retire from that position at the end of the year after leading the organization for nearly two decades. Shelli Herman, president of the recruitment firm, led the assignment along
True Promotes Leaders to Support Continued Growth
Haddonfield, NJ-based True, a global executive talent management platform, has announced key leadership changes designed to support the firm’s rapidly growing business units. Josh Withers, a co-founder of the organization, moves into the newly created role of managing director, platform; Shawn Thorne, former co-lead of the product, data and technology practice, succeeds Mr. Withers as GM, Americas;
Jobless Claims Edge Down as Recovery Continues
The Labor Department reported that 326,000 Americans have filed new claims for state unemployment benefits, an increase of 38,000. The previous week’s level was revised up by 2,000 from 362,000 to 364,000. The four-week moving average was 344,000, an increase of 3,500 from the previous week’s revised average. The previous week’s average was revised up
Riviera Partners Assists HubSpot with Chief Product Officer Search
Today’s chief product officer is responsible for all product-related matters, according to executive recruiters who place them. The post typically includes product conception and development, production, innovation, and project and product management. In many IT/ telecommunications companies, the position includes release management and production. Chief product officers generally work on product strategy based on goals set by
Spencer Stuart Helps the Museum of Contemporary Art Find New Leader
Spencer Stuart has assisted in the recruitment of Johanna Burton as executive director of the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) in Los Angeles. She was selected after an extensive international search. “Johanna is an accomplished leader whose experience, management skills and passion prepare her for this important new role,” said Maria Seferian, chair of the museum’s
Hobson Leavy Recruits CEO for Financial Markets Authority
New Zealand executive search firm Hobson Leavy has placed Samantha Barrass as chief executive officer for the Financial Markets Authority (FMA), a regulatory government agency in New Zealand. Ms. Barrass will assume her new role in January, subject to COVID-19 concerns. The FMA’s current CEO, Rob Everett, steps down at the end of October. FMA general
Coulter Partners Appoints Marketing Leader
Life sciences search specialist Coulter Partners has expanded with the addition of Christelle Kerouedan as marketing director. “We are delighted to welcome Christelle to the team and are looking forward to working with her on the next phase of development of Coulter Partners,” said CEO Bianca Coulter. Her extensive experience as a life sciences communications specialist will
Calibre One Adds Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Veteran
Executive search firm Calibre One has named John Staines as partner based in Los Angeles. “John’s personal and professional desire for driving business results through a culture of belonging really resonated with our own culture at Calibre One,” said Tom Barnes, managing partner. “In fact, our Culture Quotient initiative plays directly into his impressive goal of helping employers
No Shot, No Job
The number of organizations requiring employees to get vaccinated for COVID-19 continues to increase. However, the big question is whether organizations will take the biggest step – firing unvaccinated employees outright, according to a new report from Korn Ferry. In August, one media company fired three unvaccinated employees for showing up at the office, while several other







