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Ren Systems Appoints Head of Product
Ren Systems, an AI-powered relationship intelligence platform used by sales, business development, and professional services leaders, recently expanded with the addition of Nick Wynja as head of product. “As we’ve scaled Ren to 70+ enterprise customers and accelerated our feature release cycle, it became clear that we needed focused product leadership,” the company said in
How to Kick Off an Executive Search the Right Way
As leadership demands grow more complex, organizations are increasingly recognizing that a successful executive search begins long before candidate outreach or interviews take place. Search consultants say the strongest outcomes are driven by early alignment around business strategy, organizational culture, leadership expectations, and the capabilities needed to support future growth. Rather than simply filling an
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.
WittKieffer Elects New Chair
Oak Brook, IL-based WittKieffer has elected Angelique David as chair of its board of directors, succeeding L. Thomas Richards, who completed a distinguished tenure as board chair and concluded more than a decade of service on the firm’s board. “We are honored to have Angelique David serve as board chair for WittKieffer,” said Andrew P. Chastain, WittKieffer
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?
Caldwell Appoints Leader of Global HR Practice
Toronto-based Caldwell has named John Staines as a partner and leader of the firm’s global HR practice. “We’re pleased to welcome John to Caldwell to lead our human resources practice,” said Chris Beck, CEO. “John’s addition, together with Ali Palmer’s recent arrival in London, strengthens our global human resources practice and our ability to serve clients
With millionways Investment Hunt Scanlon Ventures Backs the Future of AI-Powered Talent Platforms
Hunt Scanlon Ventures (HSV) has spent the last several years building an investment portfolio around a central conviction: as AI becomes embedded across the human capital and private markets ecosystem, the greatest opportunities will extend beyond automation and productivity. The next generation of platforms, according to Hunt Scanlon, will increasingly help organizations make better decisions
In NYSE Interview, HelloSky CEO Alex Bates Explains the ‘Moneyball’ Approach to Executive Search
Artificial intelligence is reshaping how executive search firms identify and evaluate leadership talent, but the technology alone is not replacing the judgment that experienced recruiters bring to senior-level hiring. Instead, the opportunity increasingly lies in combining better data and targeting with the intuition, pattern recognition, and relationship skills that have long defined successful executive search.
Academic Search Retained by William Penn University to Find Next President
Education-focused executive recruitment firm Academic Search has been retained by William Penn University (WPU) to lead in its search for a new president. The search is being led by senior consultant and Dan DiBiasio and consultant Andrea Cowsert. President John Ottosson will retire in June 2027 after more than a decade of leadership, leaving William Penn poised for further growth and
McCormack + Kristel Recruits CEO for Resource Center
McCormack + Kristel recently placed Christopher Wagley as CEO of He will join Resource Center in November 2026 following an extensive national search prompted by the planned retirement of long-standing CEO Cece Cox in early 2027. “The board is thrilled to welcome Christopher Wagley as the next CEO of Resource Center,” said Chris LaGrone, board
Lindauer Forms Alliance with Cedars-Sinai to Grow Development Team
Lindauer and Cedars-Sinai, one of the largest non-profit academic medical centers in the U.S., have form an alliance in an effort to expand its development team and build the infrastructure needed to sustain that growth. In preparation for an ambitious new philanthropic campaign and to help Cedars-Sinai respond to the evolving needs of the communities it serves, the
The Last Mile of Executive Search: Turning Candidate Conversations Into Defensible Shortlist Decisions
As executive search becomes more data-driven, firms are under growing pressure to show clients not only who made the shortlist, but why. That is putting greater emphasis on consistent evaluation, clearly defined criteria, and stronger evidence around leadership capability, risk, and fit. The shift is also creating a larger role for AI in helping search
TurnkeyZRG Leading Chief Commercial Officer Searches for the University of Kentucky and the Indianapolis Colts
College athletics is moving into a new era as the business of sports continues to evolve, making commercial leadership increasingly important and creating new opportunities for experienced executives. As universities and professional teams place greater emphasis on revenue growth, partnerships, fan engagement, and brand strategy, the chief commercial officer role is becoming increasingly central to
TOC Arts Partners Seeking Chief Marketing Officer for by Brooklyn Academy of Music
New York City-based TOC Arts Partners was recently retained by Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM). The search is being led by senior strategist Brenna Thomas. The CMO will lead marketing, creative services, ticketing, audience research, revenue forecasting, communications, and brand storytelling for an organization that showcases both emerging artists and modern icons. The chief marketing officer
ADK Consulting & Executive Search Recruits CFO for SkyCity
ADK Consulting & Executive Search has helped to recruit Basil O. Dosunmu as the new CFO of SkyCity, a purpose-built consortium for the transformative U.S. Virgin Islands Port Authority (VIPA) Airports. Linda Frankl, director, senior practice leader, led the assignment. Mr. Dosunmu brings more than 30 years of financial and executive leadership experience, with extensive
Stevenson Search Partners Names Head of Life Sciences Tools and Services
Fort Lee, NJ-based Stevenson Search Partners, a global life science executive search firm and a Hunt Scanlon Top 50 ranked search firm, has named Allen Reed as partner and head of life sciences tools and services. “Allen’s breadth of experience will be a key asset to Stevenson,” said Kris Steen, president, executive search at Stevenson Search Partners. “His
Spencer Stuart Expands CEO and Board Advisory Capabilities Around Succession and Value Creation
Spencer Stuart has strengthened its global CEO and board advisory offering with the appointment of Colin Graham as global head of its board and CEO practice and with additions of Sandy Ogg and Chris Gagnon. “CEOs and boards face an increasingly complex leadership agenda where creating value depends on connecting the right leaders to the most
Funk Associates Retained by Troy University to Assist Chancellor Search
Funk Associates has been retained by Troy University to lead in its search for a new chancellor. The Troy University board of trustees has appointed a 14-member search committee. Gibson Vance, president pro tempore of the board of trustees, will chair the committee, which includes representatives from the board of trustees, senior administration, faculty, the
TalentRise Assists the Buffalo Center for Arts and Technology with CEO Search
TalentRise has assisted in the recruitment of Denise Harris as president and CEO of the Buffalo Center for Arts and Technology (BCAT). The search follows the planned retirement of the organization’s current CEO, who has provided dedicated leadership to BCAT and its community mission for nearly 10 years. “Denise stood out early in a thorough search, and it
Lochlin Partners Recruits CHRO for Communities Foundation of Texas
Lochlin Partners has placed DeLancey Johnson as chief human resources officer of Communities Foundation of Texas (CFT). “Delancey brings new perspective, experience, and leadership to CFT as we continue building a culture that supports our mission and our staff experts,” said Wayne White, president and CEO of Communities Foundation of Texas. “His depth of experience leading
HTP Group Expands in Europe and Transatlantic Markets with Four Partner Appointments
HTP Group has expanded with the additions of François Carloni, Diego Chinnì, Sandrine Lebouc, and Chloë Sonnois as partners. These appointment marks a significant milestone in HTP Group’s international growth, strengthening its capabilities across France, Italy, and Switzerland, while establishing its first-ever dedicated bridge to the North American market. “We are thrilled to welcome Chloë, Diego,
Fractional CHRO vs. Interim HR Leader: Key Differences and When to Hire Each
As organizations grow, restructure, prepare for investment, or navigate leadership change, many realize they need experienced HR leadership – but not always in the same way. That’s where fractional CHRO and interim HR solutions come in, according to a recent Talent Connections report. “While these terms are often grouped together, they solve very different business
Greenwood Asher & Associates Leading General Counsel Search for Illinois State University
Miramar Beach, FL-based executive recruitment firm Greenwood Asher & Associates (GA&A) was recently selected by Illinois State University to lead in its search for a general counsel. Kyle Pybus-Jerome and Jim Johnsen are leading the assignment. Reporting directly to the president and serving as a member of the president’s cabinet, the general counsel will serve as the University’s chief
ESGI Potomac Recruits CFO for MTSI
ESGI Potomac recently assisted in the recruitment of Ashutosh Gokhale as executive vice president and CFO of Modern Technology Solutions, Inc. (MTSI). “We welcome Ashutosh Gokhale as our new executive vice president and chief financial officer,” said Kevin Robinson, MTSI president and CEO. “As MTSI continues its growth trajectory, Ashutosh’s leadership, financial expertise, and strategic perspective
Marovi Targets Executive Search’s Evaluation Gap With AI-Driven Platform
Atlanta-GA-based Marovi has shared details of its market momentum and customer experience. Core to Marovi’s success is its proprietary evaluation intelligence engine, which weights every candidate against role-specific requirements and generates scorecard comparisons and curated shortlists before the interviewing process commences. Executive search has long been a high-stakes, challenge-filled endeavor, where misalignment can cause significant disruption. Ensuring
Parker Remick Appoints Partner
Seattle, WA-based Parker Remick has expanded with the addition of Amy Lewis as partner. Kevin Williamson, founder of Parker Remick, believes technology leadership has become one of the defining competitive advantages for large enterprises. “Technology leadership has never carried greater responsibility than it does today,” he said. “Every board is evaluating how AI, product innovation, and engineering capability
From Performance Reviews to People Intelligence: Rethinking How Organizations Assess Talent
Performance management is increasingly moving beyond a once- or twice-a-year exercise as organizations look for more timely insight into how leaders and teams are actually performing. For search and talent leaders, that shift is creating new opportunities to use people data more strategically in decisions around succession, development, retention, and leadership readiness. As companies place
millionways and Waxell Form Alliance to Bring Behavioral Intelligence to AI Governance and Agent Observability
millionways, the behavioral intelligence layer for the human-agent workforce, recently formed a strategic partnership with Waxell, an AI governance and agent observability company. The alliance was formed to help enterprises govern, observe, and improve AI agents operating in high-stakes human environments. As enterprises move from copilots to autonomous and semi-autonomous agents, AI systems are being given
How to Build a Perpetual CEO Succession Pipeline
CEO succession planning is increasingly being treated as a continuous leadership priority rather than a process that begins only when a departure is announced. With chief executives serving for a relatively limited period compared with the lifespan of most organizations, boards are under growing pressure to build deeper pipelines, develop internal talent, and maintain visibility
Slone Partners Recruits CEO for Perspectum
Life sciences-focused search firm Slone Partners has placed Warren Cresswell as CEO at Perspectum, an Oxford, England-based precision health company that delivers non-invasive solutions to accelerate drug development and improve patient outcomes in liver and cardiometabolic disease. “Warren brings an exceptional combination of global leadership experience, commercial expertise, and deep knowledge across diagnostics and precision health,” said Leslie
Top 10 Executive Search M&A Deals for 2025
M&A activity in the human capital sector is holding up well despite a choppy macro backdrop, with deal interest staying steady even as founders weigh risk more carefully. In Hunt Scanlon Media’s latest polling, a majority of executive search firm owners signaled they would consider a transaction, underscoring how succession planning, scale pressures, and shifting
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
Russell Reynolds Associates Seeking CFO for Rail Safety and Standards Board
The Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB), an independent British non-profit company which supports its members to deliver a better, safer railway through its research, standards, and analysis, has retained Russell Reynolds Associates to lead its search for a chief financial officer. RSSB’s new CFO, who will be based in London, will report to the
KEES Recruits Executive Director for The Acorn Theater
Executive search and non-profit consulting firm, KEES, has recruited Beth Kaskel as the new executive director of The Acorn Theater (The Acorn) in Three Oaks, MI. Sandra Thompson, who has held The Acorn’s executive director role for the last five years announced in November that she would be shifting from administration, fundraising and general management to focus specifically on artistic
AMS Expands into Russia
Global provider of talent outsourcing and advisory services, AMS, has continued its global expansion opening a dedicated Russian entity. This latest move follows an increase in demand for talent solutions in the country across multiple industries, including pharmaceutical, life sciences and fast-moving consumer goods. “Located in Moscow and with a dedicated team with the knowledge, experience
For Cannabis Companies, Aligning C-Suite Leadership is Job One
Cannabis companies face unique challenges as they move through various business stages. Many founders began as growers without extensive business experience and as they move through the business lifecycle into a second-stage start-up, they might realize they need to scale their leadership team, bringing on people who complement their own strengths and weaknesses for a
Hanold Associates Taps CHRO for Millennium Trust Company
Chicago-based Hanold Associates HR & Diversity Executive has placed Karyn DeFalco as chief human resources officer (CHRO) for Millennium Trust Company (MTC), a leading fintech company providing retirement and investment solutions. Partners Sandra Peña, Sonia Nagra and Adam Watson led the assignment. Ms. DeFalco’s appointment follows John Samaan’s decision to step down as CHRO to pursue another
Frederickson Partners Recruits Equity, Inclusion and Diversity Leader for Western Digital
Global HR search firm Frederickson Partners recently placed Lise Edwards as senior director of equity, inclusion and diversity at data-centric solutions company Western Digital. “We’re very excited to have Lise join Western Digital in this important role,” said Lori Sundberg, executive vice president and chief human resources officer of Western Digital. “She brings years of experience in
accelHRate Partners with the National Association of Corporate Directors
The National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD), the authority on boardroom practices representing more than 21,000 board members, has enlisted search firm accelHRate to help grow its board director search practice. NACD Board Search will leverage the membership (including NACD certified directors), partners, and ecosystem of NACD to expertly match qualified candidates to available board
NPAworldwide Adds New Member Firms
As we emerge from a global pandemic, executive search consultants are seeing an increase in hiring mandates from around the world. To meet demand, they continue to develop new practices, hire new recruiters, and open new locations. Global recruiting consortiums, meanwhile, are taking advantage of a resurgence in certain geographic areas. Member-owned recruitment network NPAworldwide recently added The
Settling Into a New Normal and What That Means for Jobs Recovery
The Labor Department reported that 412,000 Americans filed new claims for state unemployment benefits. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones expected 360,000 new jobless claims. The previous week’s level was revised down by 1,000 from 376,000 to 375,000. The 4-week moving average was 395,000, a decrease of 8,000 from the previous week’s revised average. This is
4 Lessons on Leading Through a Crisis
Having worked through a global pandemic that affected every business, some leaders are emerging from this crucible more agile, energized and better prepared to guide their organizations through recovery and beyond. In a recent report, ChampionScott Partners showcased four such leaders and the opportunities they saw in adversity to make their companies stronger, more resilient
