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Daily Newswire
The Execution Gap in AI Is Becoming Private Equity’s Defining Divide
Multimodal’s latest report, The State of Agentic AI in Private Equity, highlights a critical inflection point. While AI adoption is widespread across the industry, very few firms have translated that activity into sustained operational impact. Nearly two-thirds of private equity firms are actively piloting AI, and roughly 40 percent report having formal strategies in place. Yet only
Russell Reynolds Associates Recruits President and CEO of Cara Collective
Global leadership advisory firm Russell Reynolds Associates has assisted in the recruitment of Karin Norington-Reaves as president and CEO of Cara Collective in Chicago. “This is a defining moment for Cara Collective,” said J. Todd Phillips, chair of Cara Collective’s board of directors. “Karin was selected from a national search conducted by a special committee of the Cara
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
Five Questions with MJ Scott, Incoming CEO of Kirk Palmer Associates
Kirk Palmer Associates (KPA) an independent executive search firm dedicated exclusively to retail and consumer brands, this past July appointed search industry veteran MaryJeanne (MJ) Scott as its new CEO. A seasoned leader with more than 25 years in retail and executive search, Ms. Scott brings expanded capabilities to KPA’s global operations with a focus
Randall Partners Places CFO at the Place for Children with Autism
Chief financial officers continue to be in high demand. Finding them is keeping many of the nation’s top recruitment operations busier than ever. Chicago-headquartered executive search firm Randall Partners has assisted in the recruitment of Kristin Schultz as the new CFO at the Place for Children with Autism. The assignment was led by managing partner Craig Randall, president
Sterling Martin Associates Seeks CEO for Society of Surgical Oncology
Sterling Martin Associates, an executive search firm which specializes in recruiting talent for associations and other non-profit organizations, has been called in by the Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO) to lead its search for a new chief executive officer. Leading the assignment for the Washington, D.C.-based recruitment firm are CEO and managing partner David S. Martin and vice
PFM Executive Search Places Marketing Officer at Pattison Food Group
PFM Executive Search has assisted in the recruitment of Peter Housley as the new chief marketing officer with Pattison Food Group in Vancouver, Canada. Partners Shaun Carpenter and Jennifer Madden led the assignment for the recruitment firm. Mr. Housley brings a wealth of experience spanning more than 30 years and multiple industries, including retail and restaurant. He joins
AIMS International Elects Leader of EMEA
Executive search consortium AIMS International has elected Dimitris Kleftakis from AIMS International Hellas as executive vice president EMEA. He takes over from Peter Barkhurst, managing partner AIMS International Germany and global VP of AIMS International, who has held the position since 2020. “It is with joy that I congratulate Dimitris on being chosen for his new role as the executive VP EMEA,” said
Key to Virtual Executive Recruiting
With more people working from home, it can be a challenge to maintain the right team dynamics, and the cultural glue that holds it all together must be industrial strength. So how do you ensure that you continue to hire the right people? In particular, how do you find the right fit with virtual leadership?
Daversa Partners Names VP of Marketing and Communications
Daversa Partners, which helps build leadership teams for growth and venture-backed companies, named Nicole Daversa as vice president of marketing and communications after leading the firm through a three-year global rebrand and creative overhaul. “Even though Daversa Partners has been in business for 25-plus years, some of the most impactful additions to our team have happened over
Carrington & Carrington Tapped by Connecticut College to Lead Top HR Search
Chicago-based Carrington & Carrington has been enlisted to find a vice president for human resources for Connecticut College. Reporting to the president, the VPHR is the chief human resources officer and serves as a member of the president’s cabinet. The individual must work collaboratively with staff and a wide range of colleagues to promote the college’s principles of
Caliber Associates Fills Senior Post for Sutro Biopharma
San Diego, CA- based Caliber Associates recently placed Werner Rubas as VP of preclinical development at Sutro Biopharma. The assignment was spearheaded by Steven Hochberg, the search firm’s founder and CEO, along with director of search Kate Rogers. “The collective expertise of our preclinical development team is a valued strength at Sutro as we focus on execution
The Tolan Group Recruits Top Sales Executive for Omega Healthcare
The Tolan Group (TTG) recently placed Marc Coker as senior vice president, sales for Omega Healthcare, a Boca Raton, FL-based provider of revenue cycle management and broad healthcare management services along with its newly acquired company himagine solutions. himagine was recently acquired by Omega Healthcare, a Goldman Sachs portfolio company and the worldwide leader of middle revenue cycle management services. Through this
Heidrick & Struggles and Eightfold AI Form Alliance
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. To that end, executive search, leadership consulting and culture shaping services provider Heidrick & Struggles and Eightfold AI, a provider of AI-driven talent development platforms, have formed a partnership to develop a
Diversified Search Group Recruits Chief Digital and Information Office for Baptist Health
Diversified Search Group (DSG) has assisted Jacksonville, FL-based Baptist Health in the recruitment of Aaron Miri as its new chief digital and information officer. The search was led by Tony Leng, managing director in San Francisco, and Martha C. Hauser, a managing director and the healthcare services practice leader. “Aaron brings a wealth of experience in health care
Accelent Recruits Chief Product Officer for PebblePost
Executive search firm Accelent recently placed Rahul Lahiri as the new chief product officer for PebblePost, a leading digital to direct mail platform. Mr. Lahiri will head the product division as the company looks to build on the momentum and growth it has experienced in the last year. Leading the assignment were John Boehmer, managing director, Maura McShane,
August Leadership Opens Office in Seoul
Executive recruitment firm August Leadership has opened an office in Seoul, South Korea. With 20 years of experience, partner Lukas Beech is leading the South Korean region teaming up with associate partner Janeen Kang. “It has been encouraging to see a healthy demand from Korean and ‘western’ companies for executive search services in the Korean market,” August Leadership said.
ECI Group Adds New Member Firm in India
ECI Group, a global network of independent executive search firms, has added Stellar Search in India as its newest member firm. “With Stellar Search, ECI will add to its portfolio one of India’s most prolific independent firms, allowing their global clients on-ground access to executive search services in this fast-growing economy,” ECI Group said in a statement. The chairman
Artico Search Launches to Help Companies Build, Scale and Protect
No one could argue that Mercedes Chatfield-Taylor and Matt Comyns, both of whom recently departed from Caldwell to co-found their own executive search firm, Artico Search, are anything less than ground-breaking search leaders. They are both among the very best in their respective specialties, recruiting some of the most sought after, and costliest, hires in
Jobless Claims Rise for the Third Straight Week
The Labor Department reported that 362,000 Americans have filed new claims for state unemployment benefits. This was an increase of 11,000 from the previous week’s unrevised level of 351,000. The four-week moving average was 340,000, an increase of 4,250 from the previous week’s unrevised average of 335,750. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones had been expecting
Academic Career & Executive Search Seeking CEO for Kansas State University
Academic Career & Executive Search (ACES) has been called in by Kansas State University Olathe to lead its search for a new chief executive officer. Managing partner Jennifer Muller is spearheading the assignment. The university is seeking a dynamic individual with exceptional leadership, strategic and interpersonal capabilities. The CEO reports directly to the provost and executive
Development Guild DDI Recruits Chief Development Officer for St. Louis Children’s Hospital Foundation
Virtually every industry needs top-drawer chief development officers. CDOs play a key role in planning, coordinating, and administering capital campaigns, corporate giving and galvanizing new donors while keeping previous funders content. Implementing funding strategies that “keep the lights on,” according to recruiters specializing in the function, is Job 1. Non-profit specialist recruitment firm Development Guild DDI has assisted
Horton International Expands in Austria with New Partnership
Horton International has formed a partnership with Vienna, Austria-based RMI Partners, a retained consultancy specializing in leadership services for a diverse range of sectors. “We are delighted to further strengthen our presence in the DACH (Germany, Austria and Switzerland) region by welcoming RMI Partners, Austria, to the Horton International family,” said Maneesh Ajmani, chairman of
Boardgame to the Boardroom: Larry Hartmann Doubles Down on Growth
When Larry Hartmann, chief executive officer of ZRG, was a youngster, you could find him playing sports with the other kids in his neighborhood. He was an excellent team player by all accounts. But, as one old friend tells it, he also had another youthful passion: the board game Monopoly. And though the leader of
Tempting Talent Reveals Wide Gender Pay Gap Across U.S. Executive Search Sector
Tempting Talent’s USA Executive Search & Recruitment Compensation Report for 2021 reveals a gender pay gap of up to 41 percent across the U.S. executive search and recruitment industry. The aim of the report, said the consultancy, is to make the industry more transparent and help business owners by offering insights into issues like gender
Work&Partners Recruits Chief Product Officer for Toppan Merrill
New York-based Work&Partners recently placed Heather Jordan as chief product officer of Toppan Merrill, a provider of financial printing and communication solutions. Founder and president Alan Work led the assignment. Ms. Jordan was previously with data analytics company Nielsen where she held multiple roles throughout her tenure. Most recently she served as senior vice president, product leader. Her
Kevin Chase Executive Search Group Recruits New Leader for Time Out Youth
After a national search, Los Angeles-based Kevin Chase Executive Search Group has assisted in the recruitment of Sarah Mikhail as executive director for Time Out Youth (TOY) in Charlotte, NC. The non-profit offers support, advocacy and opportunities for personal development and social interaction to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning (LGBTQ) youth. Rodney Tucker, the group’s
Kennedy Executive Search Adds New Member Firm in Japan
Kennedy Executive Search, a network of independent executive search firms, has added Frank Schulz Human Capital Consulting in Tokyo as its newest member firm. This becomes the 14th partner firm for Kennedy, bringing the total number of offices in Europe, North America, Latin America and now Asia to 23. Frank Schulz Human Capital Consulting was
Pandemic Pause: Job Change Reluctance & Realities in the Age of COVID-19
Some say that what a high percentage of workers want most is job change. Still others are suggesting that unemployed workers are not even looking for a new job. Confused? According to a new report from Russ Riendeau, senior partner and chief behavioral scientist with New Frontier Search Company, job change reluctance is hampering the growth
Rosenzweig & Company Fills Senior Posts for CryptoSlam
Executive search firm Rosenzweig & Company has placed two key senior executives for CryptoSlam, a leading player in the booming NFT space: Todd Benge, as chief technology officer and Per Thomsen as vice president of engineering. Mr. Benge brings extensive experience scaling fast growth technology organizations, joining CryptoSlam from TrackVia, where he served as CTO. TrackVia is
DHR International Assists the Pittsburgh Zoo in Recruitment of New CEO
Chicago-based executive search firm DHR International has assisted in the recruitment of Jeremy Goodman as the next president and chief executive officer of the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium. He will succeed longtime zoo director Barbara Baker and will be the eighth Pittsburgh Zoo director since the zoo opened in 1898. After leading the organization for the past
Randstad RiseSmart Names Chief Marketing Officer
Global outplacement and career mobility provider Randstad RiseSmart has named Marisa Kacary as global chief marketing officer. “Marisa is an expert in building brand awareness, reputation and engagement, and we are excited to welcome her to the team as our chief marketing officer,” said Dan Davenport, CEO of Randstad RiseSmart. “With her proven track record
TRANSEARCH International Opens Office in Hamburg
TRANSEARCH International has opened a new office in Hamburg, Germany. The team in Hamburg has a specialization in management diagnostics, leadership development and coaching and is led by Lutz Rachner as executive global partner. He is supported by Arne Seeburger and Fabian Arimond. Mr. Rachner has more than 20 years of experience as an executive search consultant with a focus on
TurnkeyZRG Appoints President
TurnkeyZRG today appointed Nzinga “Zing” Shaw into dual roles: She becomes the search firm’s first president; she also takes over as parent company ZRG’s managing director, chief inclusion and diversity officer, and global practice head of ZRG’s diversity, equity and inclusion client-facing practice. “Zing is an undisputed DEI trailblazer; in fact, she is the first person
The Christopher Group Places Head of Talent and Diversity at IDEO.org
The Christopher Group, a boutique HR executive search and business solutions firm, recently assisted in the recruitment of Kelli Kombat as global head of talent and diversity, equity and inclusion at IDEO.org, a non-profit design and innovation organization. Managing partner Pam Noble led the assignment. “I knew from the beginning Kelli was a perfect fit for this role,” said Ms.
