DAILY NEWSWIRE - TOP STORIES
Daily Newswire
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,
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.
Myers McRae Leading CFO Search for Florida A&M
Macon, GA-based Myers McRae Executive Search and Consulting is currently leading the senior vice president and vice president for finance and administration and CFO search for Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. CEO J. Barry Hasenkopf is leading the assignment. This executive position will serve as a key strategic advisor to the president and board of trustees
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?
Wilton & Bain Names Co-Leaders of North America
Global executive search and interim leadership firm Wilton & Bain has appointed partners Sam Wallace and Hannah Robb as co-leads of North America as the firm increases its focus and investment in the region. “Success in North America is the key strategic pillar in Wilton & Bain’s growth ambitions,” said David Heron, CEO. “I am delighted
The Talent Gap Behind the Next Organizational Shift
McKinsey’s The State of Organizations 2026 identifies three “tectonic forces” reshaping companies: technology disruption, economic and geopolitical uncertainty, and fundamental workforce shifts. Drawing on more than 10,000 leaders across 16 countries and 17 industries, including more than 3,000 U.S. respondents, the report finds organizational priorities shifting from short-term resilience toward sustained productivity, performance, and long-term value creation.
ON Partners Recruits CFO for Kairos Power
Partners Chris Clements and Cher Murphy of ON Partners have recruited Ignacio (Nacho) Redondo as chief financial officer of Kairos Power, marking an important step as the company builds the financial infrastructure to support its continued growth and expansion. “Nacho Redondo brings the experience, leadership, and financial expertise that Kairos Power needs as we enter this next phase of
The Rise of the Chief Growth Officer
The chief growth officer is rapidly emerging as one of the most discussed executive roles in today’s C-suite, yet adoption of the position remains surprisingly limited. This paradox highlights a critical shift in how modern organizations approach revenue generation and leadership accountability, according to a recent report from Keith Johnstone, vice president of marketing at
Cooper Coleman Recruits CEO for the National Association for Interpretation
Cooper Coleman LLC has assisted in the recruitment of Karon Moody Harden as chief executive officer of the National Association for Interpretation (NAI). She officially began her tenure on November 2, following a national search conducted by Cooper Coleman in partnership with NAI’s board of directors. “Throughout the search, we were looking for a leader who
Odgers Strengthens Global Financial Services Practice
Odgers has announced two strategic leadership appointments that further strengthen its global financial services practice. Charles F. Preusse, managing partner and chair of U.S. financial services, has been named executive director on the board of Odgers USA, while Kevin C. McKeon, managing partner and head of U.S. financial services, has been named co-head of the global
Local Vs. Global Leadership: Trends Shaping Executive Hiring
Executive hiring continues to evolve as organizations respond to increasingly interconnected markets, changing workforce expectations and rapid technological advancements. Building effective leadership teams requires a careful balance between global perspective and local understanding, ensuring that senior executives can respond to complexity, support sustainable growth and lead confidently across diverse business environments. The Kestria Global Leadership Barometer
U.S. Economy Adds 165,000 Jobs in October as Unemployment Rate Edges Down to 4.1 Percent
Employment increased by 165,000 in October as the U.S. unemployment rate edged down to at 4.1 percent, according to the most recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report. Employment increased in professional and business services, in healthcare, and in transportation and warehousing. Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rates showed little or no change in October
Russell Reynolds Associates Assists the University at Buffalo in Recruiting 16th President
Following an international search, global leadership advisory firm Russell Reynolds Associates recently assisted in the recruitment of Caroline Attardo Genco as the 16th president of the University at Buffalo (UB). She succeeds Satish K. Tripathi, who is stepped down after 15 years of distinguished service as UB’s president. Jett Pihakis, Steve Newton, and Joi Hayes-Scott led
BoardWalk Consulting Leading Chief Philanthropy Officer Search for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul
BoardWalk Consulting was recently selected by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) to lead in its search for a chief philanthropy officer. The search is being led by Terri Kohan and Patti Kish. Philanthropy is central to that ambition. SVdP USA’s leadership aims to grow national fundraising substantially over the next three to
Bespoke Partners Launches AI Leadership Benchmarks for PE-Backed Software and SaaS
Bespoke Partners has released its AI Leadership Benchmarking Guide for measuring AI deployment progress in software and SaaS company leadership for the private equity industry. “Panic drove the SaaSpocalypse fear that AI will kill software, but the transformation of software and SaaS using AI has been under way for years,” said Eric Walczykowski, CEO of
Search Leaders Have Mastered Prompting. Now They Want AI that Works for Them
As artificial intelligence becomes more deeply embedded in executive search, firms are moving beyond basic adoption to determine how the technology can deliver measurable business value. The focus is increasingly shifting toward improving productivity, strengthening client relationships, and giving recruiters more time to concentrate on high-value activities. But realizing those benefits will require more than
TurnkeyZRG Leading Athletic Director Search for the University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is launching a national search for its next athletic director, with president-elect C. Cybele Raver leading the process in partnership with current president Domenico Grasso. The school has retained TurnkeyZRG to lead the assignment. The university is seeking a leader of unquestioned integrity who will take a fresh, comprehensive look at Michigan
Lock Search Group Leading Efforts to Recruit CEO for Atlas Sign & Awning
Toronto-headquartered executive recruitment firm Lock Search Group was retained by Atlas Sign & Awning to find its next CEO. Recruitment consultant, partner Cameron Lappin is leading the assignment. Reporting directly to the CEO of the holding company, the appointed CEO for Atlas Sign & Awning will provide strategic and operational leadership across all facets of the business,
Slayton Search Partners Grows Consumer Practice
Slayton Search Partners has expanded with the addition of Karen Ouchterloney as vice president and managing principal in the firm’s consumer practice. “We are pleased to welcome Karen to Slayton Search Partners,” said Richard Slayton, CEO and managing partner. “Her combination of firsthand operating experience with leading consumer brands and more than 13 years advising clients
TRANSEARCH Adds New Member Firm in Poland
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. TRANSEARCH International has added GP Executive as a member firm in
Consulting Partner Compensation Strengthens as AI and Private Equity Reshape the Market
The North American consulting market is showing signs of renewed strength, with improving revenue performance and resilient partner compensation. A new report from The Barton Partnership examines how compensation, ownership structures, and career expectations are evolving as consulting firms navigate shifting business models and growing private equity investment. The findings also point to mounting concerns
The Old Math Is Broken: Rethinking Growth, Headcount and Margins in the AI Era
The traditional growth model for executive search firms is undergoing a significant shift as artificial intelligence reshapes how recruiting businesses operate. For years, expansion meant adding more clients, mandates, recruiters, and overhead. Today, AI is creating opportunities to increase productivity, improve margins, and grow revenue without expanding headcount at the same pace. These advances are
Preng & Associates Recruits Chief Construction Officer for Pacifico Energy
Houston-based Preng & Associates has placed Ronald Hall as chief construction officer at Pacifico Energy, a global energy infrastructure developer specializing in power generation and customized energy solutions for commercial, industrial, and data center customers. The appointment comes at a pivotal time for Pacifico Energy as the company advances major power generation developments to meet
Potrero Group Currently Seeking Executive Director for The Pisgah Conservancy
San Francisco-based leadership consulting and search firm Potrero Group is currently leading the executive director search for The Pisgah Conservancy. Senior consultant Jena Kuznik is leading the assignment. The executive director serves as TPC’s chief executive and is the primary steward of its mission, culture, and long-term vision. This is an opportunity to lead a respected conservation organization
Charles Aris Appoints Senior Practice Leader
Greensboro, NC-based executive search firm Charles Aris Executive Search has expanded with the recent addition of Scott Kennedy as senior practice leader. He will lead CFO and senior finance executive searches for growth-oriented and sponsor-backed companies, with a particular focus on software, technology and TMT. Over more than a decade in executive search, Mr. Kennedy has worked on
Talent Alignment: Why Human Capital Must Be Central to Business Strategy
While growth is expected to strengthen a business, many organizations eventually reach a point where the opposite appears to be true. Decision-making slows, accountability becomes less defined, and initiatives begin to lose momentum. Leaders begin wondering whether they need different people, a recent report from Ascentria Search Partners explained. Sometimes they do, but not always. But
Isaacson, Miller Recruits 17th President for Virginia Tech
Boston-based Isaacson, Miller has assisted in the recruitment of Richard Linton as the 17th president of Virginia Tech. He succeeds Tim Sands, who announced his resignation in April. Greg Esposito and Julie Filizetti led the search with Kristen Andersen, Raul Bernal, Victoria Castillo, and Gabrielle Nayar. “Virginia Tech is poised to make a generational leap as a
NU Advisory Partners Recruits Chief Marketing Officer for Paula’s Choice
NU Advisory Partners has placed Sheila Shekar Pollak as chief marketing officer of Paula’s Choice. The search was led by Libby Naumes, Penina Remler, and Kelsey Kelly. Ms. Shekar Pollak brings more than 20 years of marketing and brand leadership experience across consumer, beauty, apparel, and outdoor brands. Most recently, she served as chief marketing officer
Modern Executive Solutions Names New Leader to Drive M1 Technology Community Expansion
Atlanta-based talent consultancy Modern Executive Solutions has expanded with the addition of Joan Rohs as senior partner, M1 Technology Community. “We’re building an integrated network that connects exceptional leaders, brings together the right expertise, and helps prepare executives for a world being reshaped by AI,” said Mark Oppenheimer, CEO of Modern Executive Solutions. “Joan brings an extraordinary
The CFO Rewired: From Leading Finance to Driving Strategic Value
Today’s CFO plays an active role in shaping corporate strategy, managing risk, and driving long-term enterprise value. They navigate complexity, challenge the status quo, and act as the CEO’s co-pilot in an ever-changing environment. CFO influence now spans capital allocation, M&A, operational efficiency, and digital transformation, according to a recent report from True. “Today’s CFO
Can Leadership Be Sustainable?
As the world gradually starts to lift the restrictions imposed as a result of COVID-19, many are questioning the capitalist business models that have been used to build our current society, according to new report from EMA Partners’ Rui Guedes de Quinhones. “We live in a historic moment in which business leaders can choose to
McCormack+Kristel Recruits Executive Director for Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice
LGBTQ-focused executive search firm McCormack+Kristel has placed Joy Chia as the new executive director of the Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice in New York City. The charitable foundation supports grantee partners in the U.S and internationally who challenge oppression and seed change. Interim executive director Sandy Nathan has been leading the non-profit organization since 2019. Ms.
RH Perry & Associates Assists Erie County Community College in President Search
Asheville, NC-based RH Perry & Associates has assisted the Erie County Community College of Pennsylvania in recruiting Chris Gray as its first president. “The board of trustees, after an extensive national search, is proud to appoint Christopher Gray as the founding president of the Erie County Community College of Pennsylvania,” said Ronald Dinicola, chairman of the
PFM Executive Search Partners with ViRTUS
PFM Executive Search has formed a partnership with ViRTUS Inc., a leadership development and strategic planning firm. “At ViRTUS, their purpose is to make a difference in the lives of others,” PFM said. “They build respectful, empathetic and productive leaders, who are aware of their impact on the world. ViRTUS helps senior teams create strategies that
The Future of the Private Equity Workforce
Among the central paradoxes of COVID-19 is the disconnect between our day-to-day lived experience of the pandemic — in a word: “stagnation” — and the ways in which it forced the business world to actively adapt, change and evolve. In that sense, 2020 felt less like a moment of acceleration, as many commentators have suggested,
Extensive Labor Shortages Leading to Pressure on Wages
The Labor Department reported that 332,000 Americans have 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 2,000 from 310,000 to 312,000. The four-week moving average was 335,750, a decrease of 4,250 from
Wharton School Taps Isaacson, Miller to Find Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer
Isaacson, Miller has been enlisted to find a chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer for the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Keight Tucker Kennedy is leading the assignment, with Tiffany Weber and Kelly McLaughlin. “The inaugural chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer will use a data-informed approach to provide school-wide leadership
Bespoke Partners Recruits Chief People Officer for Conga
San Diego, CA-headquartered executive search firm Bespoke Partners has placed Dayna Perry as the new chief people officer of Conga, a global leader in commercial operations transformation. Her appointment is effective immediately. She will be based out of Conga’s Broomfield, CO office. Alex Bossetta led the assignment. “As Conga continues to grow and evolve as a global organization,
The Bowdoin Group Adds Director of Marketing, Eight Other Hires
In its largest hiring spree in the more than 25-year history of the firm, The Bowdoin Group has added nine new hires, including a director of marketing, to its team. Lauren Kendall, the new director of marketing, joins the firm from T3 Advisors, where she was senior marketing director. The other additions include two senior consultants,
How to Define Your Professional Brand
When most people think of brands, they first think of well-known consumer packaged goods or durable goods, such as Pepsi or Ford. These are often synonymous with TV commercials and other mass media advertising with big budgets, which are aimed at consumers. They have defined identities comprised of a logo and tagline, and they have a
Recruiting Entrepreneur Makes Seven-Figure Investment in ZRG
ZRG, a leading search firm backed by private equity firm RFE Investment Partners, has elected Hamilton Bradshaw CEO James Caan to its board of directors. Mr. Caan has made a personal seven-figure investment in the company. “We are thrilled to add James Caan to our board of directors,” said CEO Larry Hartmann. “He brings a global
Hobbs & Towne Assists Cervest Recruit Chairperson
Executive search firm Hobbs & Towne has assisted in the recruitment of Lila Tretikov as chairperson of Cervest’s board of directors. “Lila’s experience is incredibly unique,” said Iggy Bassi, founder and CEO of Cervest. “She brings to Cervest an important combination of climate and sustainability knowledge coupled with technology and AI expertise. She understands the strategic and
IQTalent Partners Launches Diversity-Focused SaaS Platform
Executive recruitment firm IQTalent Partners has unveiled Diversify by IQTalent Xchange to its existing talent exchange platform. Diversify by IQTX enables companies that are focused on recruiting and retaining underrepresented talent to generate an inclusive slate of qualified passive candidates for any open role. An original market concept, using responsible and advanced artifical intelligence combined with human
LPA Search Partners Recruits Digital Transformation Leader for American Chemical Society
LPA Search Partners recently placed Tim Jones as senior vice president of digital transformation for the American Chemical Society (ACS), the world’s largest scientific membership organization. “We are so honored to have led the search that brought Tim to ACS and continue to match great talent to challenging, high-growth opportunities in service of our clients,” said Anna
Diversified Search Group Selected to Lead Search for Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino
Diversified Search Group (DSG) has been selected to lead the search for the founding director of the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino. Leading the search are Victor Arias, managing partner of the firm’s Dallas office, and Jason León, managing partner of its Washington, D.C. office. “We are honored to have been selected to lead the search
Five Top Characteristics of Top Cannabis Executives
The cannabis industry has seen extraordinary growth of late due to increasing decriminalization and legalization across many states. In 2020, cannabis sales hit a record $17.5 billion, which was a 46 percent increase from 2019. Market analysts project that the cannabis industry could skyrocket to $100 billion in the U.S. by 2030. Cannabis is legal
WittKieffer Seeks Chief People Officer for the Institute of Aging
With the coronavirus crisis still posing a risk to people everywhere, human resources executives are stepping up at businesses across the country, playing a vital role in helping their organizations navigate what continues to be an even greater challenge than the Great Recession. Along the way, the importance of people strategy is expanding, and that
JDG Associates Begins CFO Search for ACTE
Rockville, MD-based executive search firm JDG Associates has been enlisted by ACTE (the Association for Career and Technical Education) to lead its search for a new chief financial officer. ACTE, headquartered in Alexandria, VA, is the largest national association dedicated to the advancement of education that prepares youth and adults for careers. ACTE’s CFO manages the financial
QJumpers Launches New AI Candidate Search Software
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. QJumpers, a sourcing and recruitment software provider, has released its newest product, AI Talent Sourcing. The tool scours publicly available information and uses artificial intelligence to find, rank and engage
True Search Places President at PE-Backed CrossFit
Haddonfield, NJ-based executive recruitment firm True Search has placed former Nike executive Jason Dunlop as president of CrossFit, based in Boulder, CO. Todd Zangrillo, co-leader of the consumer practice, led the assignment along with partner Ben O’Reilly, principal Hannah James and senior associate James Rigano. “Jason is a perfect fit for the CrossFit president role,” said Mr. Zangrillo. “He brings a high growth
Steven John & Associates Recruits Deputy General Counsel and Global Head of Commercial Legal for Snap
Executive search firm Steven John & Associates has assisted Snap Inc. in the recruitment of Claudia Teran, a 21-year legal veteran of Fox Corp., as vice president, deputy general counsel and global head of commercial. Steve John, founder and principal, and Jason Snyder, managing director, led the assignment. Ms. Teran will report directly to general counsel Mike
Healthcare Trust of America Taps Spencer Stuart to Find New CEO
Healthcare Trust of America Inc. (HTA), based in Scottsdale, AZ, confirmed that Spencer Stuart has been retained to assist the organization’s board of directors in identifying the company’s next chief executive officer. Peter N. Foss, an independent director of the board, is serving as interim president and chief executive officer while the search process is ongoing. “The search
Fisher Leadership Acquires Centre for Leadership Advantage
Fisher Leadership has acquired the Centre for Leadership Advantage (CLA), a move that is expected to boost the firm’s advisory capability under its CogNative brand and strengthen its delivery of future of work executive solutions. Managing director, Michelle Loader, described the new merger with CLA as “disruption by design.” Joining the firm’s partners Liz Jones, Andrew Norton, David Baber, Kate Wheeler and Sharyn
DHI Group Invests $3 Million in The Muse
DHI Group, Inc., a provider of AI-powered technology-focused career marketplaces, has announced a $3 million investment in The Muse, a values-based career destination for the NextGen workforce to search for jobs and research companies and careers. The investment will be used to support the expansion of The Muse’s product development and sales efforts to meet
Leadership Skills for the Post Pandemic World
We’re all more than aware of how COVID-19 has turned the world upside down. All of us have experienced an impact on our professional and personal lives. As we edge closer to some kind of return to normality, it’s crucial that business leaders remember the skills they’ve developed and honed during the pandemic. According to
Storbeck Search Recruits SVP of Talent, Culture & HR for Ohio State University
Higher education-focused search firm Storbeck Search, part of the Diversified Search Group, has helped to place Jeff Risinger as senior vice president of talent, culture and human resources at Ohio State University. The assignment was led by Steve Leo and Vicki Henderson of Storbeck Search and Matt Vossler of Diversified Search Group. For the past several months, Paul Patton, senior advisor to the president, has
The Tolan Group Recruits CFO for Georgia Urology
Chief financial officers continue to be in high demand. Finding them is keeping many of the nation’s top recruitment operations busier than ever. The Tolan Group (TTG) recently placed Bridgett Chasko as the new CFO of Georgia Urology. Managing partner Kaye Johnson and senior search consultant Jennifer Chee led the search. “We selected The Tolan Group based on
Vetted Solutions Assists The American Dairy Science Association in Finding New Leader
Washington, D.C.- based executive recruitment firm Vetted Solutions has assisted in the recruitment of Jerry Bowman as the new executive director of the American Dairy Science Association (ADSA), a science-based organization working to advance a sustainable global dairy industry. He starts his new role on Sept.13. “I couldn’t be more pleased to welcome Jerry aboard,” said Paul
PE-Backed Talent Group Appoints CEO
IT-focused recruiting firm Talent Group has appointed industry veteran Matthew J. Ripaldi as chief executive officer. The appointment comes on the heels of a recently completed rebrand to better reflect the company’s identity as a full suite recruitment services provider poised for continued growth. Michael Babb, managing partner of Osceola Capital, which invested in Talent Group in 2018,
The Christopher Group Assists in the Recruitment of Chief People Officer for ITS Logistics
The Christopher Group, a boutique HR executive search and business solutions firm, recently assisted in the recruitment of Jim Hazboun as the new chief people officer of ITS Logistics, a premier third-party logistics company. Managing director Nat Schiffer and recruiting director Jim May led the assignment. “I frequently tell our team that every search is unique, and
Reffett Associates Places Senior Advisor to Air Force Warfighting Integration Capability
Following a nationwide search, Seattle, WA-based Reffett Associates has helped to place Howard Meyer as the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) liaison and senior advisor to the Air Force Warfighting Integration Capability (AFWIC). The search was led by Eric Reffett, managing director; Thomas Young, director of operations; and Marshall Reffett, managing director of the firm’s Seattle office.
