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Riviera Partners Names Managing Partner and General Manager of Paragon
San Francisco-based Riviera Partners, a recruitment provider specializing in C-level engineering, product, and design leader placements, has appointed Chris Rice as managing partner and general manager of Paragon, the firm’s global high-volume recruiting division supporting technology founders, leaders, and investors. “Talent remains the clearest advantage in the AI era,” said Michael Newcomer, chief executive officer of Riviera Partners. “Companies
CFO Recruiting Summit — Beyond the Balance Sheet: Executing Growth and Value Creation
As business complexity accelerates across industries, the office of the CFO is undergoing a fundamental transformation. Once centered primarily on financial stewardship, today’s CFO organizations are becoming enterprise-wide strategic engines—driving growth, managing risk, enabling transformation, and serving as critical partners to the CEO and board. As the CFO role increasingly serves as a pipeline to
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.
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
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?
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
True Launches AI Capability Index for Executive Assessment
Global executive talent platform True has launched the True AI Capability Index, a proprietary framework that predicts executive performance in the AI-transformation age. “We are entering a phase where relationship depth and judgment matter more than ever,” said Brad Stadler, co-founder and CEO of True Platform. “The cost of finding names is decreasing. True’s advantage lies in our ability
AI-Native Talent Won’t Fix AI-Foreign Organizations
As artificial intelligence moves from experimentation to enterprise-wide adoption, organizations are grappling with a fundamental question: what does it actually mean to become AI-native? While the term has quickly entered the business lexicon, many leaders are still struggling to define the capabilities, operating models, and cultural shifts required to make that vision a reality. “Some
ZRG Partners Acquires Fortium
ZRG Partners has acquired Fortium, a Dallas-based search firm that provides fractional, interim, and project-based CIO, CTO, and CISO leadership. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. “Companies are making more nuanced decisions about leadership than they did even a few years ago, particularly in technology,” said Mark Viner, leader of interim solutions & project
Lochlin Partners Recruits SVP of HR for the National Association of Corporate Directors
Lochlin Partners has placed Marian Stevens as senior vice president, human resources of the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) in Washington, D.C. “Marian’s deep experience in talent development, organizational effectiveness, and culture will help NACD to continue building the internal capabilities needed to support our growth and deliver on our mission,” said Peter Gleason, president and CEO of
JDG Associates Tapped by Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute to Find New Leader
Rockville, MD-based executive search firm JDG Associates has been retained by the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI) to lead its search for a new president and CEO. The Chicago-based institute, the leading technical institute and trade association for the precast, prestressed concrete industry in North America, seeks a visionary and collaborative executive to succeed its long-serving chief executive,
IIC Partners Adds New Member Firm in New Zealand
IIC Partners Executive Search Worldwide has added Auckland, New Zealand-based Infinitas as its newest member firm expanding its capabilities across the Asia-Pacific region. “I am thrilled to welcome Infinitas to IIC Partners,” said Christine Hayward, executive director of IIC Partners. Their people-first philosophy, tech-enabled search processes, and talent advisory capabilities deeply align with our mission to transform
Hiring for the Culture You Don’t Yet Have
For much of the past decade, organizations have invested heavily in strategy, technology and operational efficiency to navigate an increasingly complex business environment. Yet despite these investments, many transformation initiatives continue to fall short of expectations. The differentiator is rarely the strategy itself. More often, success depends on whether leadership teams have the right people
BoardWalk Consulting Leading CEO Search for Downtown Atlanta Inc.
BoardWalk Consulting has been tapped by Downtown Atlanta Inc. (DAI) to lead in its search for a CEO. The search is being led by Sam Pettway, Crystal Stephens, and Patti Kish. The organization is seeking a leader who can help define what the next generation of Downtown Atlanta will become. This is a leadership opportunity of unusual scale and
Peña Search Assists To Be Like Me with the Recruitment of Executive Director
Peña Search recently assisted in the recruitment of Lauren Rowe as the new executive for To Be Like Me (TBLM) in Dallas, TX. Travis Hillier, Carlos González Peña, and Thaise Pereira led the assignment. She replaces To Be Like Me founder Hollis Owens, who has served as executive director since 2018 and initiated the search for her replacement last
BroadView Talent Partners Tapped by Baltimore Community Lending for President/CEO Search
BroadView Talent Partners was recently retained by Baltimore Community Lending, Inc. (BCL) to lead in its search for a new president and CEO. Tracy McMillan, Robyn Quinn, and Donna Young are leading the assignment. The CEO is the strategic, operational, and external leader of Baltimore Community Lending, responsible for driving the organization’s next era of growth and
Hiring Interim CEOs for PE Portfolio Companies
Private equity firms are increasingly relying on interim CEOs to drive transformation within their portfolio companies. As interim leadership becomes a mainstream solution, the critical question evolves: how can firms deploy it to achieve transformative outcomes? In 2025’s challenging market environment, where value creation depends on operational excellence rather than financial engineering, interim CEOs have become
Eastward Search Partners Appoints Brand & Digital Practice Leader
New York-based Eastward Search Partners has named Nicole Balsam as lead of the brand and digital practice. “I have the utmost confidence in Nicole as she takes the lead of the digital and brand practice,” said Joe Carbone, founder and managing partner. “Her passion for delivering a sophisticated solution to her clients is apparent and comes
CEO Optimism Climbs to Multi-Year High
America’s CEOs are increasingly convinced that the COVID crisis, which has crushed the global economy, will soon come to an end. In Chief Executive magazine’s latest poll of more than 300 U.S. CEOs, a growing number of business leaders now forecast growth in revenues and capital expenditures. In the poll, chief executives rated their confidence in future
New Statistics Reveal the U.S. Lost 10 Million Jobs During Pandemic
The Labor Department reported this morning that 730,000 more Americans filed new claims for state unemployment benefits. That was below the Dow Jones estimate for 825,000 but a slight decrease from the previous week’s upwardly revised total of 841,00. The Fed have now reported about 78 million initial jobless claims over the course of the
The Christopher Group Launches Consulting Services Division, Adds Leaders
The Christopher Group, a boutique HR executive search and business solutions firm, has launched an HR consulting services division. The firm named Pam Noble as president of the new unit as well as practice leader for the firm’s expanding diversity, equity, inclusion and engagement practice, which will now be part of the consulting services division.
Marlin Hawk Names Americas Leader in New York
London-based executive search and leadership solutions provider Marlin Hawk has named Tracy Murdoch O’Such as its new president in the Americas region. She joins the team with more than 20 years of experience helping organizations grow their teams and focuses on executive search, strategic intelligence, and succession planning. “As the environment for placing talent and helping our clients
Spencer Stuart Retained by Vanderbilt University to Lead Provost Search
Colleges and universities across the country are opening searches that, if all goes to plan, will allow high-profile leaders to take them into a new era of fundraising, digitalization, sports and, increasingly the case, globalization – not to mention a pandemic and post-pandemic era. Spencer Stuart was recently enlisted by Vanderbilt University to lead in its
The Evolving Private Equity Recruiting Market
Private equity firms have learned from the lessons of the global financial crisis of 2008-2009, in which the industry was widely seen as having missed a major opportunity to acquire assets at steep discounts. As a result, PE firms have been more active during the pandemic, determined not to miss the opportunity this time around.
Perrett Laver Assists Murray Edwards College in President Search
U.K.-based executive search firm Perrett Laver has assisted in the recruitment of Dorothy Byrne as the sixth president of Murray Edwards College. She will take up the position in September. Ms. Byrne will succeed Dame Barbara Stocking who has been president of the college since 2013. “I am delighted with the election of Dorothy Byrne, who will
WGNinHR Recruits VP of People for LeagueApps
With the coronavirus crisis expected to intensify, human resources executives are stepping up at businesses across the country, playing a vital role in helping their organizations navigate what is looking to be an even greater challenge than the Great Recession. Along the way, the importance of people strategy is expanding, and that is keeping executive
RSR Partners Names Consumer Goods & Services Practice Leader
Greenwich, Conn-based RSR Partners has named Gretchen Crist as leader of the firm’s consumer goods and services practice. “Gretchen brings direct experience leading consumer goods and services organizations through transformation and growth,” said Brett Stephens, CEO of RSR. “Her insightfulness and authenticity are immediately apparent to our clients. We are delighted that she will further amplify the team and extend
IMSA Adds New Member Firm in Japan
Executive search network IMSA Search Global Partners has added Evander Group in Japan as its newest member firm. William Hall and his partner, Arlo Brown, both veteran search professionals in Japan, founded Evander Group in 2016 to provide executive recruitment solutions to clients and to bridge potential culture gaps in the Japanese market. Both were born and raised in Japan, graduated from
Heidrick & Struggles Posts Revenue Declines for 2020
Executive search, leadership consulting and culture shaping services provider Heidrick & Struggles (NASDAQ:HSII) has posted global revenues of $621.6 million in 2020, a 12 percent decrease from revenues of $706.9 million the year before. The firm says the reduction in net revenue was primarily due to the impact of the pandemic on a global basis. The Chicago-headquartered
State Employees’ Credit Union Selects Russell Reynolds Associates to Find New CEO
These are critical days for credit unions with leadership development, succession planning and employee retention becoming more important than ever. Russell Reynolds Associates was recently called in by State Employees’ Credit Union in North Carolina to lead its search for a new CEO. CEO Michael J. Lord is retiring effective Aug. 31 and will remain in
WilsonHCG Secures $120 Million in Funding from 3i Group
Investors are pouring money into recruiting solutions businesses. British-based 3i Group recently agreed to invest $120 million of equity in global talent solutions provider Wilson Human Capital Group (WilsonHCG). Based in Tampa, FL, WilsonHCG provides a full suite of configurable talent solutions including recruitment process outsourcing (RPO), executive search, contingent talent solutions and talent consulting. The firm
Comhar Partners Appoints Healthcare and Life Sciences Practice Leader
Chicago-based executive recruitment firm Comhar Partners has named Marion Spears Karr as managing director and leader of its healthcare and life sciences practice. He will be based in the firm’s Atlanta office. “We are excited that Marion brings a career in serving top organizations across multiple industries in the area of healthcare and life sciences,” said Bernard
Vanderbloemen Search Group Assists Champion Forest Baptist Church Recruit Fourth Senior Pastor
Vanderbloemen Search Group, which finds leaders for churches and ministries, has assisted in the placement of Jarrett Stephens as the fourth senior pastor of Champion Forest Baptist Church in Houston, TX. Eric Albert, executive search consultant, said: “What an exciting new season for Champion Forest Baptist Church. The pastoral search committee came in with detailed expectations
Korn Ferry Q3 Revenues Fall Eight Percent
Korn Ferry (NYSE:KFY) has posted fiscal third quarter revenues of $475.4 million, an eight percent decrease from the same period a year ago. While RPO and professional search saw a year-over-year increase of almost four percent, digital and executive search declined year-over-year as those businesses continued on a path to recovery from the impact of COVID-19
Waterstone Human Capital Launches Culture Institute
As organizations begin to look at the matter of if, when and how they will transition back to traditional workplaces, leaders are fielding a number of questions: What will the office look like? Will it be safe? Will it ever be the same again? Can we have a high-performance culture with so many people working
Hanold Associates Recruits Chief People Officer for the Arizona Cardinals Football Club
Chicago-based Hanold Associates HR & Diversity Executive Search recently recruited Kelly Jones as chief people officer of the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals. CEO and managing partner Jason Hanold and partners Keri Gavin and Katrina Prospero led the assignment. In the newly-created role, Mr. Jones reports to owner and president Michael Bidwill and begins on March 1. He will oversee
Kaplan Partners Recruits CHRO for Northwest Bank
With the coronavirus crisis disrupting 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. Kaplan Partners, which specializes in conducting searches for C-level executives primarily in the financial services, corporate financial,
NPAworldwide Adds Nine New Member Firms
Nine new independent recruitment firms have recently joined member-owned recruitment network NPAworldwide in the U.S., Europe, Canada and Africa. These search outfits seek to increase revenue through NPAworldwide’s cooperative placement model. NPA now has 550 member offices across six continents. “Congratulations to each of our new members,” said Dave Nerz, president of NPAworldwide. “By joining the network,
How to Hire Someone You’ve Never Met
As many companies face a rapid transition to working remotely, teams are learning how to collaborate, make decisions, deliver feedback, and remain connected at a personal level despite not being physically together. And then there’s the challenge of hiring. According to a new report from specialized marketing recruiting and strategy firm RevelOne, clients have one common and
Slone Partners Recruits COO for Quanterix
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 Will Geist as chief operating officer at Quanterix Corp. “Will
Coleman Lew Canny Bowen Places CEO and Chief Librarian for the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library
Search firms across the nation are finding library leadership needs rising dramatically. Coleman Lew Canny Bowen recently recruited Marcellus Turner as the new CEO and chief librarian for the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library in North Carolina. Effective April 1, Mr. Turner replaces Lee Keesler, who said last June he would be retiring after nearly a decade in the role. “Marcellus
Pender & Howe Executive Search Seeks CEO for Canadian Agri-Food Automation and Intelligence Network
Toronto-based Pender & Howe Executive Search has been tapped to find a new chief executive officer for CAAIN, the Canadian Agri-Food Automation and Intelligence Network in Edmonton, Alberta. The non-profit organization supports the creation of technological solutions for challenges facing Canada’s agri-food sector. The search is being spearheaded by managing principals Glenn Lesko and Travis
Stanton Chase Expands in Finland
Baltimore, MD-headquartered Stanton Chase has appointed Mika Hassinen as a partner in Helsinki, Finland. “Mika’s more than 15 years of expertise with public companies, combined with his in-depth knowledge of the private equity world and his experience in strategy consulting and investment banking, are a natural fit for our Helsinki team,” said Mikael Stelander, managing partner in
Isaacson, Miller Assists Holy Cross in President Search
Isaacson, Miller recently assisted the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA, in the recruitment of Vincent D. Rougeau its 33rd president, the first lay and first black president in the history of the college. Vivian Brocard, president of Isaacson, Miller, led the assignment along with partner Anita Tien and associate Jenna Sattar Kwiatek. Mr.
KEES Seeks Executive Director for the Acorn Theater in Michigan
Executive search and non-profit consulting firm KEES (Kistner Eddy Executive Services) has been enlisted to find an executive director for the Acorn Theater (The Acorn) in Three Oaks, MI. Leading the assignment is Heather Eddy, president and CEO. Sandra Thompson, who has held The Acorn’s executive director role for the last five years announced in November that she
Odgers Berndtson Expands U.S. Corporate and Government Affairs Recruiting Practice
Odgers Berndtson has expanded with the addition of Tonya Muse as partner in the U.S. corporate and government affairs practice based in the firm’s Washington, D.C., office. “We are delighted to welcome Tonya Muse to the firm,” said Steve Potter, CEO of U.S. Odgers Berndtson. “As a seasoned corporate and government affairs executive, Tonya brings a deep background in industry and trade association
IRC Adds New Member Firm in Luxembourg
Even in the face of 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. Recently, IRC Global Executive Search
Improving the Selection of Leaders for PE Portfolio Companies
Making the most informed choices of senior-level talent to drive and lead your organization is a process, and every step in that process is critical to maximizing the outcome for success. “The selection of your potential leaders is the most important decision you can make,” said John Marshall, co-founder and chief executive officer of JM
