DAILY NEWSWIRE - TOP STORIES
Daily Newswire
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
Eastward Partners Fills CEO Positions for Aropha and General Trucking
New York-based Eastward Partners recently assisted in the recruitment of CEOs for Aropha and General Trucking. The firm placed Tammy Deblock as CEO of Aropha, a Comeback Capital backed company. “Congratulations to the team for a great outcome and for entrusting us with this important search,” Eastward Partners said in a LinkedIn post. The assignment was led
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.
EMA Partners India Acquires Recruitment Process Outsourcing Services Provider Taggd
Executive search and leadership recruitment platform EMA Partners India has acquired recruitment process outsourcing services provider Taggd in an all-cash deal valued at Rs 113 crore. The all-cash acquisition aims to create an integrated talent recruitment platform offering executive search, professional search and AI-powered recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) solutions at scale. Taggd will continue to
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?
NGS Global Expands in London
Wilmington, DE-headquartered executive search firm NGS Global has expanded with the additions of Daniel Yeates and George Balfour as managing directors in London. “Daniel and George are accomplished executive search professionals with deep expertise in the technology and digital sectors,” said David Nosal, chairman and managing partner. “They each bring outstanding client and candidate relationships built over decades
Leadership Challenges Intensify as Organizations Confront AI, Talent, and Economic Uncertainty
Organizations are operating in an increasingly complex environment where economic uncertainty, workforce challenges, AI adoption, and digital transformation are converging to reshape leadership priorities. Kestria’s second annual global leadership survey builds on the themes that emerged in last year’s research; highlighting how rapidly the leadership landscape continues to evolve. Based on responses from more than
Riviera Partners Acquires Lateral Labs
San Francisco-based Riviera Partners, a recruitment provider specializing in C-level engineering, product, and design leader placements, has acquired Lateral Labs, a specialized recruiting firm serving top AI startups. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. “The acquisition comes as companies remain challenged to meet the demand of organizational AI readiness,” the firm said. “Adding Lateral Labs positions Riviera Partners
Marovi Assists Congruex with CFO Search
Working in partnership with Atlanta-GA-based Marovi, Congruex, a provider of digital infrastructure engineering and construction services, appointed Jim Stanley as CFO. He reports to Congruex’s co-founder, president, and CEO, Kevin O’Hara. The appointment comes amid strong and sustained growth at Congruex as it plans to continue to capitalize on macro tailwinds, including AI and data center
Brettschneider Executive Search Seeking Inaugural SVP of Advancement for Wilmington University
New York City-based Brettschneider Executive Search has been retained by Wilmington University (WilmU) to lead in its search for an inaugural senior vice president of advancement to lead the University’s next phase of philanthropic growth. Reporting to WilmU president LaVerne Harmon, the SVP will partner closely with the president, board and University leaders to advance the University’s strategic
August Leadership Expands in London
August Leadership has expanded with the addition of Honor Pollok as a partner in London. Ms. Pollok brings over 20 years of executive search and leadership experience. She has led numerous high-profile placements in chair, non-executive director, CEO and the full spectrum of C-suite roles. Her search expertise spans key commercial, financial, creative, human resource, functional,
Hunt Scanlon and HSiQ Spotlight New Approach to Recruiter Training
As the executive search industry faces mounting pressure to improve performance and consistency, firms are increasingly reevaluating how recruiters are trained and developed. Hunt Scanlon and its HSiQ talent intelligence advisory unit recently launched a new Recruiter Performance Training Program designed to bring greater structure, commercial rigor, and scalability to recruiter development in an industry long driven by
Building Team Alignment in an Era of Continuous Change
Ask any team to describe its top strategic priorities and you will often get as many answers as there are people in the room. The problem is not that the strategy hasn’t been communicated, according to recent report from AIIR Consulting. “The problem is that it was communicated into an environment that has since shifted
Isaacson, Miller Helps Recruit 28th President for Texas A&M
Boston-based Isaacson, Miller has assisted in the recruitment of Susan Ballabina as the 28th president of Texas A&M. Andy Lee and Julie Filizetti, led search with Raul Bernal and Luciano Zuniga, and Madeline Fitzpatrick. The members of the Board of Regents conducted a national search that produced a strong pool of candidates. Dr. Ballabina emerged through that process based on her experience, her understanding of
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
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
Recruiting for Private Equity & Venture Capital: Driving Growth Through Talent
The demand for exceptional talent has never been greater in private equity and venture capital, where growth and innovation depend on the ability to build high-performing teams. As firms face rapid change and intense competition, scaling leadership and adopting forward-thinking talent strategies have become mission-critical priorities. For these organizations, finding and developing the right talent
Indeed Launches New Hiring Platform
Job aggregator Indeed has launched the Indeed Hiring Platform, a new solution that allows employers to manage the hiring process, from posting through interview, directly on Indeed, with no additional software. The new platform was designed to shorten the time it takes to get candidates into jobs. “With Indeed Hiring Platform, employers can reach 80 percent of US job
Boyden Appoints Managing Partner for Technology Practice in London
Boyden has named Mark Soden as managing partner of the firm’s technology practice in London. “We have a very experienced and skillful team in London and Mark is an ideal cultural fit,” said Nick Robeson, managing partner, Boyden UK & Ireland. “He will bring gravitas and insight to our clients in the tech space and to
Riviera Partners Acquires Arete Partners, Creates Riviera Ventures
Acquisitions and consolidations continue to make news in the recruiting industry, with a number of notable purchases in recent months. Riviera Partners, a recruitment provider specializing in C-level engineering, product and design leader placements, has acquired Arete Partners. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The Arete Partners team will form the foundation of
The Christopher Group Recruits VP of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for The Philadelphia Inquirer
The Christopher Group, a boutique HR executive search and business solutions firm, has recruited Jameel Rush as vice president of diversity, equity, and inclusion for The Philadelphia Inquirer, the third-oldest continually operating daily newspaper in the United States. The search was led and placed by managing director, Pam Noble, and managing partner Ayla Maloney. “It was an
Jobless Claims Remain High with Hopes of a Springtime Recovery Ahead
The Labor Department reported this morning that 712,000 more Americans filed new claims for state unemployment benefits. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg expected 725,000 filings. The reading lands below the previous week’s revised total of 754,000 and marks a third decline in the last four weeks. Before the virus flattened the U.S. economy a year ago,
Kirk Palmer and Associates Assists Vince Holding Corp. with CEO Search
Retailers are facing major shifts in their businesses that call for “unprecedented responses” by CEOs who can effectively lead through change, intuitively and analytically understand the evolving consumer and respond to ambiguity, according to a recent Korn Ferry report. Developed markets, excess retail capacity, rising prices, the shift to omni-channel retail and the unpredictable pace of
Heidrick & Struggles Names Leader for Consulting Practice in Asia Pacific and the Middle East Region
Executive search, leadership consulting and culture shaping services provider Heidrick & Struggles has appointed Markus Wiesner as regional managing partner for Asia Pacific and the Middle East region for Heidrick Consulting. He will take over from Ian Johnston who served as the APAC Heidrick Consulting lead for the past two years and will continue to focus on driving growth and market share for
How to Create a Culture of Retention
As executive recruiters know well, companies everywhere are full of eager employees poised for fresh starts. There is recharged enthusiasm for conquering previously unconquerable projects, and scaling new heights, according to a report by David Hunt of Hyperion Executive Search. “During lockdown and working from home, time with family and friends has allowed for the
Academic Search Taps New President for Saint Elizabeth University
Education-focused executive recruitment firm Academic Search has helped to place Gary B. Crosby as president of Saint Elizabeth University (SEU) in Morristown, NJ. Dr. Crosby becomes the first African-American and first male president in the university’s 121-year history. He is the institution’s eighth president. Dr. Crosby succeeds Helen J. Steubert, who will continue to lead
KEES Seeks Key Leaders for New Partnership of Envision Unlimited and UCP Seguin of Chicago
Executive search and non-profit consulting firm KEES (Kistner Eddy Executive Services) has been enlisted to help fill two key leadership positions for a new organization being created by the strategic partnership of the non-profits Envision Unlimited and United Cerebral Palsy Seguin of Greater Chicago (UCP Seguin). KEES’ president and CEO Heather Eddy is leading the search for
Allen Austin Launches Interim Leadership Practice
Top experts in talent management and C-suite recruitment agree that interim leaders will likely play a significant and growing role in top grading senior-level positions in a post-pandemic era, where costs and efficiency underpin executive hiring. Houston, TX-based search firm Allen Austin recently unveiled a new push into the sector by establishing a dedicated interim leadership
SeekOut Secures $65 Million in Funding
Investors are pouring money into recruiting solutions businesses, especially those with an AI component. SeekOut, the AI-powered talent 360 platform, has received $65 million in series B funding led by Tiger Global Management, with participation from existing investors Madrona Venture Group and Mayfield. This capital raise brings SeekOut’s total funding to $73 million. This funding round
Setting the Pace for Virtual Outplacement
The process of looking for a new job after having been laid off has undergone a significant transformation in recent years, which has only been accelerated by the pandemic. Virtual outplacement firm Careerminds, a longtime leader in its field, has met these changing norms by focusing on two key aspects for individuals participating in its
DHR International Forms Alliance with Harvard Business School Latino Alumni Association
Chicago-based executive search firm DHR International has partnered with the Harvard Business School Latino Alumni Association (HBSLAA) to create “21 in ’21” – a program aimed at placing 21 Latinx executives in board roles before the end of this year. DHR will engage its Latino Diversity Network of board-ready executives and its clients to bring more Latinx executives to
SPMB Assists NewView Capital in Recruitment of New COO
SPMB, an executive search firm that helps find transformative executives throughout Silicon Valley, has assisted in the placement of James Beck as the new chief operating officer of venture capital firm NewView Capital in Burlingame, CA. “NewView Capital is elated to announce Mr. Beck as our new COO,” said Ravi Viswanathan, founder and managing partner of
Corsica Partners Acquires Benz International Group
Acquisitions and consolidations continue to make news in the recruiting industry, with a number of notable purchases in recent months. Recently, Sarasota, FL-based executive search firm Corsica Partners acquired Benz International Group. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Founding partner Chris Benz was named managing director and search-for-search professionals practice lead. “We are delighted to
Diversified Search Group Names Global Insurance Practice Leader
Diversified Search Group has expanded with the recent addition of veteran search executive Margaret Resce Milkint as a managing director and leader of its global insurance practice. She will be based in Chicago. “Margaret brings not only a wealth of experience, but also so much more,” said Dale E. Jones, the firm’s CEO. “Her strategic thinking,
Private Equity Firms Invest in Raising Their Talent Game
Getting talent decisions right – especially at speed, across dozens of portfolio companies – is one of the stiffest challenges private equity firms face today. According to a new report by Bain & Company there are many reasons why talent decisions can go awry but those with the highest success rates have something in common:
Executive Transitions and Onboarding During a Crisis
Even in the best of circumstances, leadership transitions are tough. Failure rates are estimated at 40 percent, and it often takes six months or longer for a new leader to get to break-even productivity levels. Today, as leaders are operating in the most challenging circumstances most have ever faced, a new report from Russell Reynolds
Benchmark Executive Search Recruits Chief Product Officer for Janes
Benchmark Executive Search, a boutique provider of cybersecurity talent, has placed Ben Conklin as chief product officer at Janes, a U.K.-based global agency for open-source defense intelligence. The position reports to CEO Blake Bartlett. “Ben Conklin brings a distinguished background, proven leadership and deep product and mission expertise to Janes,” said Jeremy King, president of
CalSTRS Taps Egon Zehnder to Find CEO
Egon Zehnder, the fourth largest search firm globally as ranked by Hunt Scanlon Media, has been enlisted by the California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) to lead its search for a new CEO to replace Jack Ehnes, who is retiring in June. The selection was made following a competitive search process for an executive recruitment firm launched in August.
Kingsley Gate Partners Adds Three New Leaders
Kingsley Gate Partners continues to expand with the recent addition of three key leaders: Thomas Cope joined the firm as a partner based in Singapore. Ed Montoya comes to the organization as a partner in San Francisco. And David Mansbach is a new senior partner in New York. Mr. Cope brings extensive experience specializing in
Russell Reynolds Associates Assists Boston Symphony Orchestra to Find its First Female Leader
Russell Reynolds Associates has assisted in the placement of orchestral music executive Gail Samuel as the first woman president and CEO of the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO). She becomes the eighth leader in the organization’s storied 140-year history, succeeding Mark Volpe, who led the Boston Symphony for 23 years. Katherine Armstrong, leader of Russell Reynolds Associate’s arts &
Unemployment Falls to 6.2 Percent as Businesses Continue to Reopen
Employment rose by 379,000 in February as the U.S. unemployment rate dropped to 6.2 percent, according to the most recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report released this morning. That’s down from a peak of 14.7 percent in April, but still far above the 3.5 percent rate in February before the coronavirus pandemic led to mass economic
Odgers Berndtson Names President in Canada
Odgers Berndtson has appointed Brad Beveridge as president of its Canadian business, responsible for leading the firm’s continued expansion and the growth of its executive search, executive interim and leadership advisory services. “Brad’s extensive experience as a search professional and business leader will be key to helping us continue to anticipate and support our client’s emerging
Quick Leonard Kieffer Recruits Chief Nursing Officer for Providence
As the healthcare sector continues to expand and reshape itself, vanguard organizations in the field are looking to bolster their leadership ranks. In demand: multi-skilled executives, physician leaders and nurses who can effect change on many levels. Of the four major C-suite roles in the typical hospital, the top nursing executive has traditionally been the most
Leathwaite Adds Director to Lead Strategic Communications Practice
London-based executive search firm Leathwaite has expanded with the addition of Sarah Crawshaw as a director to lead the company’s executive search practice for strategic communications, government affairs and investor relations. She will also support clients with chief marketing officer and digital marketing leadership appointments across the Asia region. “We are thrilled to welcome Sarah to
HR Leaders Thrust into the Spotlight Once Again in 2021
2020 brought numerous changes during a landmark year. It began normally in the first quarter, followed by the global pandemic in the second. This immediately ushered in uncertainty, and coupled with social unrest, created one of the most tumultuous times in modern history. In the third quarter, the curve became flatter and the economy reopened,
Americans Continue to File for Unemployment Despite Loosening Restrictions
The Labor Department reported this morning that 748,000 more Americans filed new claims for state unemployment benefits. Before the virus flattened the U.S. economy a year ago, applications for unemployment aid had never topped 700,000 in any week, even during the Great Recession. The Fed have now reported about 78 million initial jobless claims over
ZRG Names Chief Revenue Officer
ZRG has named Justin Pinchback as chief revenue officer and head of practices. He will report directly to the CEO Larry Hartmann. “We laid out a spec: The dream player came with a great education, a consulting pedigree, and deep exposure to data-driven solutions in the human capital market,” said Mr. Hartmann. “We wanted someone who
Coulter Partners Fills CFO and Non-Executive Director Positions for Optimapharm
Life sciences search specialist Coulter Partners has placed Walter Miller as chief finance officer and Charles Woler as non-executive director of Optimapharm. Directors Mark Sharp and Irene Montgomery led the assignment. “It has been a privilege to partner with Optimapharm on two more key search assignments, following our collaboration to bring Andrew Copestake on board as CEO
