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What to Look for When Hiring an Executive Search Firm
Securing the right leadership talent can shape an organization’s strategic direction for years, making the choice of a search partner an important business decision. As companies compete for experienced executives who can drive growth, manage complexity, and guide transformation, many are turning to specialized firms that focus exclusively on identifying and attracting senior leaders. Understanding
Rokos Group Tapped by Contra Costa Health for CFO Search
Newport Beach, CA-based executive search firm Rokos Group has been retained by Contra Costa Health (CCH) in California to lead in its search for a new CFO. Greg Rokos and Mark Lukacs are leading the assignment. This leader will help guide the financial strategy for a large, integrated public health system delivering hospital, health plan, behavioral health,
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
Spencer Stuart Acquires Meyler Campbell
Spencer Stuart has acquired executive coach training and leadership development services firm Meyler Campbell. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Simon Fenton, a graduate of Meyler Campbell’s Mastered Program and a long-tenured Spencer Stuart partner, has been appointed CEO of the business, having served as interim CEO since January. “We believe in the power
Why Talent is Key to a Post-Pandemic Retail Sector Resurgence
These are revolutionary times for retail with COVID-19 having accelerated some fundamental trends across the sector. This has in turn created a fertile environment for the most able executives to set themselves apart and chart a course for a successful, digitally focused future, according to a new report by Melissa Reed, a consumer and retail
Bespoke Partners Assists Zipari and Aptos Retail in CFO Searches
San Diego, CA-headquartered executive search firm Bespoke Partners recently filled chief financial officer positions for Zipari and Aptos Retail with the placements of Matthew Crumley and David Bertolino, respectively. Vice president Katelyn Quaresma led the Zipari assignment; vice president Nick Donlan spearheaded the Aptos search. Mr. Crumley arrives on the heels of Zipari’s strategic growth investment from leading private
Riviera Partners Names Practice Leaders
Riviera Partners, a recruitment provider specializing in C-level engineering, product and design leader placements, has appointed Eoin O’Toole and Eric Larson, alongside managing partners Ali Behnam and Michael Morell, to lead four newly implemented, specialized practices within the firm. Mr. O’Toole will manage the emerging and early-stage practice; Mr. Behnam will run the mid- to late-stage venture-backed practice; Mr.
Worksome Receives $13 Million in Funding
Investors are pouring money into recruiting solutions businesses. Worksome recently closed a $13 million Series A funding round for its freelance talent platform — after racking up 10x growth in revenue since January 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic sparked a remote working boom. Founded in 2017, Worksome is an enterprise platform that connects companies with freelancers
Women Leaders Driving Corporate Sustainability Forward
Companies adopt more socially and ecologically sustainable practices when their boards include women and environmental experts and when younger members are elected to board leadership, according to a newly released report by Egon Zehnder and the University of Göttingen, Germany. “Corporate sustainability must be anchored more firmly within boards,” said Carsten Wundrack, head of the German industrial practice
CannabizTeam Report Shows Double-Digit Compensation Increases for Cannabis Executives
Cannabis sector salaries are up across the board with increased demand for top flight leaders driving double-digit increases in compensation for experienced managers and C-suite executives, according to a new report by CannabizTeam, a cannabis-focused executive search firm. Salaries, the study said, continue to increase above cost of living index due to competition and a shortage of
Kingsley Gate Partners Places Chief People Officer for J.Crew Group
Kingsley Gate Partners has placed Jose Davila, former vice president of human resources for Levi Strauss & Co., as chief people officer at J.Crew Group. Mike Bergen, senior partner and global HR practice leader led the search. “Jose is a builder that knows how to creatively transform and grow businesses and HR teams and is particularly strong at
Development Guild DDI Tapped by St. Louis Children’s Hospital Foundation to Find Chief Development Officer
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 was
Sheffield Haworth Appoints Executive Director in Corporate Officers Practice
Global leadership advisory and executive search firm Sheffield Haworth has named Paul DeCoster as executive director in its corporate officers practice. Based in New York, he will be working closely alongside Sonjay Vishnupad to develop and nurture new and existing relationships with clients across the financial services space. “We are delighted Paul has joined us at Sheffield Haworth,” said
Why a One-Search Diversity Strategy Often Fails
Play to win and when it comes to diversity, winners take all, according to a new report by Karen Alphonse, search solutions leader and executive coach with ExecSearches. “Organizations that manage diversity well will reap many benefits: increased productivity, employee satisfaction and creativity,” she said. “Their messaging and brands will resonate with best practices. Typically, where diversity hiring
TurnkeyZRG Assists Pac-12 in Finding Next Commissioner
TurnkeyZRG has assisted the Pac-12 Conference in the recruitment of sports business executive George Kliavkoff as its next commissioner. The Pac-12 announced on Jan. 20 that its governing executive committee, its presidents, and commissioner Larry Scott mutually agreed that Mr. Scott would not seek a new contract following an 11-year tenure. On the way to the selection of Mr. Kliavkoff,
WittKieffer Tapped by Premier Health to Find New CFO
WittKieffer has been retained by Premier Health in Baton Rouge, LA, to lead its search for a new chief financial officer. Donna Padilla, managing partner and leader of WittKieffer’s healthcare practice, is spearheading the search along with Jim King, chief quality officer as well as the leader of the board services and children’s hospitals practices,
Saxton Bampfylde Recruits Vice Chancellor and President for Loughborough University
U.K.-based executive recruiter Saxton Bampfylde recently assisted in the placement of Nick Jennings as the new vice chancellor and president of Loughborough University. Professor Jennings, who will be Loughborough’s ninth vice-chancellor, will take up the post in the autumn. He succeeds Robert Allison, who served nine years in the role. “We are thrilled professor Jennings
Horton Group International Elects Chairman
Horton Group International recently elected Maneesh Ajmani as its chairman of the board. “Having been a member of the board for some time, I have seen the organization grow from strength to strength in recent years, and I am confident that we will continue to build the Horton brand and our global reach in the coming years,” said
Why Brilliant People Fail in New Jobs
There are several reasons people fail in new jobs, and one of them is the result of talent that is not aligned with the role. In a recent report, Shefali Salwan of CEO.works explains how talent is set up to succeed when signature strengths, readiness, and fit are synergistic with a position’s requirements. “Throughout my three decades
5 Ways to Open Doors for Underrepresented Talent in Executive Leadership
Truth be told, executive recruiters have a disproportionate amount of influence in the process of hiring executive candidates. Unfortunately, that means talent from underrepresented backgrounds can be overlooked in the hiring process if the search firm doesn’t partner with clients to create a clear diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) placement strategy, according to a new
McDermott + Bull Recruits President for Buck Knives
Irvine, CA-based search firm McDermott + Bull has placed Lane Tobiassen as president of Buck Knives Inc. USA. The assignment was led by McDermott + Bull co-founder and managing partner Chris Bull, managing director Jake Vander Zanden, director Anne Terry, and senior executive recruiters Quyen Doan and Sara Pizarro. “We loved working with the board and the Buck family on making this critical transition from a
Tyler & Company Assisting PRISM Vision Group in CHRO Search
With the coronavirus crisis continuing to disrupt the world economy, HR leaders 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. Atlanta-based executive recruitment firm Tyler & Company was recently called in by PRISM Vision Group in New Providence,
Major Executive Search Taps New CEO for InterDigital Inc.
Major Executive Search has placed Liren Chen as chief executive officer for InterDigital Inc., a leading mobile and video technology research and development company in Wilmington, DE. Founder and CEO Sue Major along with managing director John Rivoir conducted the assignment. Mr. Chen replaces William J. Merritt, who retired this spring after 25 years at
New Jobless Claims Drop to Lowest Levels in More than a Year
The Labor Department reported that 473,000 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 previous week’s level was revised up by 9,000 from 498,000 to 507,000. The four-week moving average was 534,000, a decrease of 28,250 from the
Renovata & Company Recruits CFO for Outfittery
Global executive search and private equity advisory firm Renovata & Company has recruited Benjamin Von Schenck as chief financial officer of Outfittery, Europe’s biggest personal shopping service for men that helps them “unlock their true style” by providing curated selections driven by AI and personal stylists. “Benjamin will work across operational, commercial and strategic initiatives, offering insight and
Odgers Berndtson Adds Latin America Offices, Starts Blockchain Practice in U.S.
Odgers Berndtson continues to ride a wave of growth. This month, the executive recruitment firm made two moves that are expected to deliver big dividends. Internationally, the firm announced that it is opening offices in Buenos Aires, Santiago, Puerto Montt and Montevideo, further expanding its presence in the Americas. And in the U.S., Odgers Berndtson is starting
OverNorth Names Partner
Chicago, IL-based executive search firm OverNorth has named David L. Hansen as partner. “Clients appreciate and benefit from his disciplined approach to candidate assessment and client service, and he has helped many of OverNorth’s clients recruit difference-making senior executives to their companies,” said Jane C. Beatty, managing partner of OverNorth. With 20 years of experience in
Consider This When Choosing Your Next Executive Search Firm
Despite continued record unemployment, candidate pools are larger than ever. This has led organizations to turn more often to executive search firms to find coveted talent. Finding the right executive search firm is an investment of time and resources, which means that it requires careful consideration. What can talent leaders do to ensure they are finding
ZRG Recruits CFO for a.k.a. Brands
Executive search firm ZRG has placed Ciarán Long as chief financial officer of a.k.a. Brands, a global platform that is pioneering a new approach to driving growth in digitally native fashion brands. Mr. Long will report directly to chief executive officer Jill Ramsey. Brian Meany, ZRG’s global head of consumer in New York, led the
Caldwell Places Chief Marketing Officer for VC-Backed Imply
Mercedes Chatfield-Taylor, managing partner of the private equity and venture capital practice at Caldwell, has placed Praveen Rangnath as the new chief marketing officer for venture capital-backed Imply, a provider of self-service analytics. Mr. Rangnath is an experienced marketing leader across enterprise GTM and product-led growth. Previously, he was head of product marketing at Confluent, covering
JM Search Expands CFO / Financial Officers Practice
JM Search, a senior-level talent provider serving private equity investors, portfolio companies and Fortune 1000s, has added Stephen Thompson and Ryan Tomei to the firm’s CFO / financial officers practice. “We are thrilled to add Stephen and Ryan to our team,” said Drew Pressmen, leader of the CFO/financial officer practice. “I’m proud of the exceptional talent we are
Here’s Why Counteroffers are On the Rise
Companies in 2021 are in a mad dash to understand the post-COVID consumer landscape and eager to hire top research and analytics talent, among so many other specialists, to help decode the way forward. But this talent rush has been made more complex by hiring challenges, particularly robust counteroffers from candidates’ employers, according to a
Spencer Stuart Recruits CFO for Burford Capital
Spencer Stuart has placed Kenneth A. Brause as the new chief financial officer for Burford Capital, a global finance and asset management firm focused on law. Jim Kilman, the firm’s current CFO, was appointed in August 2019 to serve for up to two years, after having been a senior advisor since 2017. Working with Spencer Stuart, the firm undertook a search for Mr.
Vetted Solutions Seeks New Leader for American Dairy Science Association
The American Dairy Science Association, the science-based organization working to advance a sustainable global dairy industry, has retained Washington, D.C.- based executive recruitment firm Vetted Solutions to help find its next executive director. This is a unique opportunity for an individual with the right mix of proven business management skills and a demonstrated ability to work constructively
The Tolan Group Appoints New Partners
The Tolan Group (TTG) has announced that three of its executive search professionals have become partners in the firm. Kaye Johnson runs operations and finance; Rachel Gauthier leads the client delivery team; and Tim Russell spearheads the firm’s business development efforts across all of its industry sectors. “It’s a special day in the life of a company to welcome equity partners
