DAILY NEWSWIRE - TOP STORIES
Daily Newswire
AI Adoption Linked to Stronger Revenue Growth Across Executive Search Firms
Macroeconomic conditions were unpredictable and labor markets remained sluggish in 2025, but many firms were able to find success in this challenging market. One way was with AI, which revolutionized the recruitment industry in 2025. Top-performing firms are four times as likely to be using AI, and 55 percent have seen KPIs increase more than
2026: A Year of Intentional Growth for HR Leadership
Global markets are moving out of a period defined by uncertainty and into one that favors disciplined execution. Organizations are no longer waiting for perfect conditions before acting; instead, they are recalibrating how they grow, where they invest, and which leaders they rely on to deliver results. In this environment, HR leadership is becoming increasingly
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.
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
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?
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,
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
True Launches AI Capability Index for Executive Assessment
Global executive talent platform True has launched the True AI Capability Index, a proprietary framework that predicts executive performance in the AI-transformation age. “We are entering a phase where relationship depth and judgment matter more than ever,” said Brad Stadler, co-founder and CEO of True Platform. “The cost of finding names is decreasing. True’s advantage lies in our ability
AI-Native Talent Won’t Fix AI-Foreign Organizations
As artificial intelligence moves from experimentation to enterprise-wide adoption, organizations are grappling with a fundamental question: what does it actually mean to become AI-native? While the term has quickly entered the business lexicon, many leaders are still struggling to define the capabilities, operating models, and cultural shifts required to make that vision a reality. “Some
ZRG Partners Acquires Fortium
ZRG Partners has acquired Fortium, a Dallas-based search firm that provides fractional, interim, and project-based CIO, CTO, and CISO leadership. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. “Companies are making more nuanced decisions about leadership than they did even a few years ago, particularly in technology,” said Mark Viner, leader of interim solutions & project
Lochlin Partners Recruits SVP of HR for the National Association of Corporate Directors
Lochlin Partners has placed Marian Stevens as senior vice president, human resources of the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) in Washington, D.C. “Marian’s deep experience in talent development, organizational effectiveness, and culture will help NACD to continue building the internal capabilities needed to support our growth and deliver on our mission,” said Peter Gleason, president and CEO of
JDG Associates Tapped by Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute to Find New Leader
Rockville, MD-based executive search firm JDG Associates has been retained by the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI) to lead its search for a new president and CEO. The Chicago-based institute, the leading technical institute and trade association for the precast, prestressed concrete industry in North America, seeks a visionary and collaborative executive to succeed its long-serving chief executive,
IIC Partners Adds New Member Firm in New Zealand
IIC Partners Executive Search Worldwide has added Auckland, New Zealand-based Infinitas as its newest member firm expanding its capabilities across the Asia-Pacific region. “I am thrilled to welcome Infinitas to IIC Partners,” said Christine Hayward, executive director of IIC Partners. Their people-first philosophy, tech-enabled search processes, and talent advisory capabilities deeply align with our mission to transform
Hiring for the Culture You Don’t Yet Have
For much of the past decade, organizations have invested heavily in strategy, technology and operational efficiency to navigate an increasingly complex business environment. Yet despite these investments, many transformation initiatives continue to fall short of expectations. The differentiator is rarely the strategy itself. More often, success depends on whether leadership teams have the right people
BoardWalk Consulting Leading CEO Search for Downtown Atlanta Inc.
BoardWalk Consulting has been tapped by Downtown Atlanta Inc. (DAI) to lead in its search for a CEO. The search is being led by Sam Pettway, Crystal Stephens, and Patti Kish. The organization is seeking a leader who can help define what the next generation of Downtown Atlanta will become. This is a leadership opportunity of unusual scale and
Peña Search Assists To Be Like Me with the Recruitment of Executive Director
Peña Search recently assisted in the recruitment of Lauren Rowe as the new executive for To Be Like Me (TBLM) in Dallas, TX. Travis Hillier, Carlos González Peña, and Thaise Pereira led the assignment. She replaces To Be Like Me founder Hollis Owens, who has served as executive director since 2018 and initiated the search for her replacement last
BroadView Talent Partners Tapped by Baltimore Community Lending for President/CEO Search
BroadView Talent Partners was recently retained by Baltimore Community Lending, Inc. (BCL) to lead in its search for a new president and CEO. Tracy McMillan, Robyn Quinn, and Donna Young are leading the assignment. The CEO is the strategic, operational, and external leader of Baltimore Community Lending, responsible for driving the organization’s next era of growth and
Allen Austin Launches Evidence-Based Leadership Assessment VantagePoint
Houston, TX-based search firm Allen Austin launch of VantagePoint, an evidence-based leadership assessment that helps organizations identify and develop high-potential leaders with greater clarity and confidence. VantagePoint is grounded in three decades of leadership advisory work and original research by Allen Austin chairman and CEO Rob Andrews. Over two years, Mr. Andrews interviewed more than 100 CEOs,
The CHRO’s New Mandate
Across industries, the organizational design structure has shifted from a traditional pyramid to an hourglass model. This is not a recent development, explained Slayton Search Partners’ John Doyle in a recent report. “Organizational efficiencies, increased technology and the first wave of Baby Boomer retirements began this transition nearly two decades ago,” he said. “Experienced leaders have been retiring. Internal pipelines have
AGB Search Recruits 11th President for Lewis University
Washington, D.C.-based recruitment firm AGB Search, which specializes in higher education leadership assignments, has helped to recruit Christopher Sindt as the 11th president of Lewis University. The Lewis University board of trustees recently announced that president David Livingston, will retire at the conclusion of the 2025–26 academic year. Melissa K. Trotta, Matthew J. Kilcoyne, and John Cech led the assignment. “After
Kincannon & Reed Assists CCI Prime with CFO Search
Kincannon & Reed (K&R), which exclusively focuses on food, agribusiness, and the related life sciences, has assisted in the recruitment of Jamie Broad as CFO of CCI Prime, bringing on a seasoned finance leader to support the company’s next phase of growth. “Jamie’s ability to connect financial insights to operational realities makes her an exceptional
EQU Advisors Seeking Senior Leader for Sarah Lawrence College
Executive search firm EQU Advisors was recently retained by Sarah Lawrence College to lead in its search for an associate vice president of enrollment. This executive will serve as a key member of the senior enrollment leadership team and a collaborative partner across the institution. This role is designed to strengthen coordination, elevate shared strategy, and support
Egon Zehnder Forms Alliance with IMD
Global leadership advisory firm Egon Zehnder and IMD, a leading business school in global executive education, have formed a strategic partnership to facilitate board directors’ personal growth and elevate board performance. The partnership combines IMD’s academic rigor and deep connections to global boards with Egon Zehnder’s expertise in leadership and board effectiveness. Together, they will co-create tailored
Egon Zehnder Assists with the Recruitment of America’s 76th Postmaster General and CEO
Global leadership advisory firm Egon Zehnder recently assisted the U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors in the recruitment of David Steiner to be America’s 76th postmaster general and CEO. He succeeded former postmaster general Louis DeJoy, who resigned in March, and current acting postmaster General Doug Tulino, who will return to his permanent position as deputy
What a Whole New Way of Working Looks Like
More and more companies are announcing their plans for workers to return to the office. So it is that reorganizing their approaches to hiring and new working environments has been high on the agendas of business leaders and HR professionals everywhere. Among the challenges that these changes pose are the practicalities of the physical space
ON Partners Recruits CHRO for SkyWater Technology
Executive search firm ON Partners has assisted in the placement of Amanda Daniel as the first chief human resources officer (CHRO) of SkyWater Technology, a technology realization firm. Baillie Parker and Alex Pelak led the assignment. “We are focused on optimizing our performance-driven culture as we aggressively expand and scale our technology as a service (TaaS) business model across the semiconductor
Kittleman & Associates Assists Eversight with CEO Search
Chicago-based search firm Kittleman & Associates recently assisted in the placement of Diane Hollingsworth as president and CEO of non-profit eye bank network Eversight. “Throughout the interview process, Diane’s experience, passion and vision stood above all the others,” Jerry Anderson, chair of the board of directors at Eversight. “The board is confident that she is the best choice
Amrop Launches Global Shipping Practice
Global recruiting organization The Amrop Partnership has launched a global shipping practice. “As a consequence of the new challenges and often exciting opportunities within the shipping industry today, clients are seeking a new breed of leader, one who combines outstanding leadership skills, with a focus on sustainability, technology and environmental stewardship, all from a global perspective,” said Thomas Hofer,
CTR Group Acquires RM Nephew & Associates
A group of private investors led by majority partner CTR Group, a Virginia-based, family-owned employment services firm, has completed its acquisition of RM Nephew & Associates, an executive search firm headquartered in Boston, MA. Hunt Scanlon Ventures facilitated the introduction and the transaction. RM Nephew and Associates, with offices in Boston and New York, offers
What’s Next for Talent Management in Private Equity
Private equity has been among the fastest recovering business sectors, due in part to its history of successfully executing turnarounds. “Private equity has historically been about the numbers and driving earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) to increase the value of a company,” said Dan Hawkins, founder and CEO of Summit Leadership Partners.
Egon Zehnder Names U.S. Leader
Egon Zehnder has appointed German Herrera as the firm’s new U.S. leader. He will succeed Karl Alleman, who led the region over the past five years. “With a client-focused mindset and the ability to help leaders navigate change, Karl Alleman has helped build an incredibly strategic, robust, and successful U.S. practice,” said Ed Camara, global
DHR International Seeks New Leaders for the Columbus and Pittsburgh Zoos
Chicago-based executive search firm DHR International has been enlisted to find news presidents and CEOs for both the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Ohio and the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium in Pennsylvania. The Ohio search launched earlier this month with James Abruzzo, managing partner of the global non-profit practice for DHR, gathering input from zoo employees, leaders
Bradbury-Miller Associates Assists Hoboken Public Library in Recruiting New Leader
Executive search firm Bradbury-Miller Associates has assisted the Hoboken Public Library in the recruitment of Jennie Pu as its new director. After what turned out to be a nationwide search, four finalists were identified. The board of trustees voted unanimously to appoint Ms. Pu as its new leader. She replaces long-time director Lina Podles who officially
Creating a Data-Driven Culture Starts at the Top
For the last decade or so, many companies have been on a mission to become data-driven, and for good reason. According to a new report by Morgan Samuels, the benefits to an organization are innumerable: The business gains a competitive edge, increases operational efficiency and effectiveness, scales the company, becomes more agile, makes more informed decisions,
Slone Partners Recruits CFO for BillionToOne
Over the past few months, numerous healthcare and life sciences organizations have turned to executive search firms to find new leaders. In the era of COVID-19, the sector has been a burgeoning area for executive search firms to ply their trade. Recently, life sciences-focused search firm Slone Partners placed Nipun Soni as the new chief financial officer
The Christopher Group Seeking Top HR Chiefs for Success Academy Charter Schools and Marcus & Millichap
Executive recruiters are in hot pursuit of chief human resource officers and other senior-level HR leaders across the nation. Why such pent-up demand for top flight HR experts? Corporate leaders want HR leaders who are sophisticated, proactive and strategic-minded, with strong business savvy to drive their people capabilities like they would a P&L, according to
Hiring Platform Oyster Raises $80 Million in Funding
Investors are pouring money into recruiting solutions businesses. Oyster, a global platform that enables fully remote companies to hire full-time workers and contractors, has announced a $50 million series B funding round. With this new round Oyster will expand its HR platform to more countries among other things. The round was led by New York-based venture
True Power is Working Together
During his career in diplomacy, business and politics, Matthew Barzun went out of his way to ever use the word “power.” So it is that some might find it peculiar that in his new book, The Power of Giving Away Power, Mr. Barzun unapologetically uses the word twice. “At some level, I think we all
The Challenge of Finding Top AI Leaders
North American cities are increasingly important hubs for artificial intelligence (AI) research. 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 Montreal-based Pender & Howe Executive Search. Montreal ranks No. 1 among 20 major cities in Canada and the U.S.
In Demand: Innovative and Adaptable Leaders to Drive Efficiency
The Labor Department reported that 411,000 Americans filed new claims for state unemployment benefits. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones expected 380,000 new jobless claims. The previous week’s level was revised up by 6,000 from 412,000 to 418,000. The four-week moving average was 397,750, an increase of 1,500 from the previous week’s revised average. The previous
Boardwalk Consulting Recruits Chief People Officer for the Union of Concerned Scientists
Executive recruitment firm BoardWalk Consulting assisted in the placement of Seto Akinjiola as the new chief people officer of the Union of Concerned Scientists in Cambridge, MA. Leading the search for this newly created position was Kathy Bremer, managing director, and Diane Westmore, senior associate. In her new role with the Union of Concerned Scientists, Ms. Akinjiola is responsible
Cameron Carmichael Recruits CEO for PunchListUSA
Gary Green and Barbara Hudson of Cameron Carmichael recently recruited Min Alexander as the new CEO of PunchListUSA. “Attracting a transformative CEO and industry leader with the experience of Min Alexander is a testament to the strength of our business model and our potential for unbounded growth,” said PunchListUSA founders Rich Estes and Jimmy Banyas in a joint statement. “It is significant that, like us,
The International Executive Search Federation Launches Advisory Board
The International Executive Search Federation (IESF) has introduced an advisory board. “The aim is that this body will not only enhance the international network reputation and credibility but will also provide the president and current members of the leadership council with valuable knowledge, information, lessons learned, insights and ideas,” IESF said. “The main goal of the advisory board
The Search for Diversity on Boards
For the last 10 years, LHH Knightsbridge Search’s Tim Hewat has worked closely with Junior Achievement of Canada to help manage the nomination process for executive induction into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame (CBHF). Along the way, his role evolved from managing to challenging, and ultimately to changing the process to make the Canadian Business
Egon Zehnder Assists CalSTRS in CEO Search
Egon Zehnder has assisted the California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) in the naming of chief operating officer Cassandra Lichnock as its new chief executive officer. She is the first woman to serve as the pension fund’s chief executive in its 108-year history and will replace current CEO Jack Ehnes. Ms. Lichnock assumes the CEO role on July
Arts Consulting Recruits New Leader for Martha’s Vineyard Museum
Following an international search, Boston-based search firm Arts Consulting Group has assisted in the recruitment of Heather Seger as the new executive director of the Martha’s Vineyard Museum (MVM). Ms. Seger, who has served as interim executive director for the past year, was the unanimous choice of the board. President Bruce D. Thibodeau led the assignment. “What good
SRI Assists British Gymnastics with CEO Search
The board at British Gymnastics, with help from senior leaders from Sport England, UK Sport, and London-based executive recruiting firm SRI, has appointed Sarah Powell as its new chief executive officer. “The caliber of applicants for this position was outstanding and we are delighted to appoint Sarah, who is a successful executive leader with 20 years’ experience
Riviera Partners Names Chief Technology Officer
Riviera Partners, a recruitment provider specializing in C-level engineering, product and design leader placements, has appointed Andrew (Pete) Peterson as chief technology officer. In this role, Mr. Peterson will oversee the firm’s technology vision, direction, and development by leading the engineering, product and data science teams. “Riviera Partners has created a platform that uses machine learning
Korn Ferry Posts 26 Percent Quarterly Revenue Gain
Korn Ferry (NYSE:KFY) has posted 2021 fiscal year-end revenues of $1.81 billion, down six percent from a year ago. The Los Angeles-headquartered executive recruiter and leadership consultant – the largest globally and in the Americas as ranked by Hunt Scanlon Media – also reported fourth quarter revenue of $555.2 million, an increase of 26 percent. The increase in fee revenue when compared to last
5 Concepts for the Post-Pandemic World of Work
As the pandemic begins to recede in many countries, it has become clear how much the coronavirus has changed the world of work. A year ago, we started to transform our spaces, our time management and how we performed our jobs. In a recent report, Natascha Zeljko, editor-in-chief at FemaleOneZero, and experts from Horton International
NorthWind Partners Recruits CFO for Cognosante
Reston, VA-headquartered executive search firm NorthWind Partners has assisted in the placement of Steve Hamric as the new chief financial officer of Falls Church, VA-based health IT company Cognosante. Partner Hunter Murray led the assignment. “I am pleased to welcome Steve to our leadership team,” said Michele Kang, founder and CEO of Cognosante. “He complements our strong growth culture, and
SearchWide Global Assists Big Sky Chamber of Commerce and Visit Big Sky in CEO Search
Retained executive recruitment firm SearchWide Global recently assisted in the placement of Brad Niva as the new president and CEO of non-profit Big Sky Chamber of Commerce and Visit Big Sky in Montana. Search firm vice president Nicole Newman led the assignment. Mr. Niva brings an extensive background in the outdoor and tourism industry. Most recently, he served as the
HC Smith Recruits Executive Director for Las Vegas Philharmonic
Following a nationwide executive search, Beachwood, OH-based executive search firm HC Smith has assisted in the placement of Anne Berquist as the new executive director of the Las Vegas Philharmonic. “I am thrilled and honored to be the Las Vegas Philharmonic’s executive director,” Ms. Berquist told Broadway World. “The Philharmonic has a long and prestigious history, and there are countless
Jensen Partners Launches New Platform to Address Diversity Hiring
Today, New York City-based Jensen Partners, a woman-owned executive search and corporate advisory firm for the alternative investment management industry, will launch DiversityMetrics, a software platform to combine self-reported diversity data and human capital management technology specifically designed for asset managers seeking to quantify, measure, report and improve workforce diversity and inclusion – both within their
Caldwell Places Chief Revenue Officer at Rasa Technologies
Top-drawer chief revenue officers are commonly found at start-ups and smaller businesses and tend to the bottom line while the rest of the C-level team expands key partnerships, seeks growth opportunities, or sources funding. That is changing. Larger businesses now view the CRO post as an essential, long-term role. In one recent search, Mercedes Chatfield-Taylor, managing
