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When Founders Step Aside: Navigating Leadership Transitions In Private Equity
A recent Harvard Business Review article examining founder transitions highlights just how precarious these leadership handoffs can be. Founder CEO transitions carry a risk of failure or performance decline two to three times greater than standard CEO successions. The reason is simple: founders are rarely just executives. They are often the cultural center of gravity, the strategic
TM² Executive Search Seeking Chief Information Technology Officer for Cheyney University
TM² Executive Search (TM²) was recently selected by Cheyney University to lead in its search for a chief information technology officer (CITO). Associate principals Jessica Horton and Dr. Will Anyu are leading the assignment. The school is looking for a forward-thinking, mission-driven CITO to lead the office of information technology during a period of strategic transformation. This is the first-ever
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.
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
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?
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
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,
Building a Safer AI Future Through Guardrails and Human Oversight
The swift advancement of AI is opening doors to fresh opportunities for innovation and growth. At the same time, these breakthroughs are giving rise to serious digital safety challenges. From AI-powered scams and realistic deepfakes to generative AI (GenAI) hallucinations, new risks are emerging that traditional quality assurance approaches can no longer effectively address. For
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
Frederickson Partners Recruits HR Leader for PE-Backed Klaviyo
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. As a recent article in The Economist put it, chief people officers “keep employees healthy, maintain
McDermott + Bull Recruits CFO for Avellino
Irvine, CA-based search firm McDermott + Bull recently placed Cyril Allouche as treasurer and chief financial officer of Avellino in Menlo Park, CA. Managing director Jake Vander Zanden led the search along with senior executive recruiter Sara Pizarro. Mr. Allouche brings to Avellino over 20 years of experience in finance leadership in both public and pre-IPO companies, including diagnostics and biopharmaceutical.
Former Korn Ferry Diversity Chief Joins Executive Leadership Council as CEO
Black advancement organization the Executive Leadership Council has named Michael Hyter, the former chief diversity officer of Korn Ferry, as its new president and CEO. He succeeds Crystal Ashby, who served as interim president and CEO for the last 14 months. Mr. Hyter had won attention last June by being named Korn Ferry’s first-ever chief
Allen Austin Creates Executive Mentorship Service
Few executives would deny the powerful role that mentorship plays in providing opportunities for personal and professional development. Indeed, most have experienced these benefits firsthand. Yet when it comes to understanding how mentoring operates – let alone how it could be harnessed to support, develop and retain talented people – most of those same executives
Executive Search Firms Adapting to the New Normal
2020 was an unprecedented year in most respects, and a challenging year for many in the executive search industry. Senior executives across the sector, however, are generally optimistic in their outlook for the year ahead. According to two leading reports, one from Bullhorn and the other from Hunt Scanlon Media, optimism reigns supreme. According to
How Investors are Coping With Talent Demands During Uncertain Times
What is one of the top concerns keeping PE investors and executives up at night? Talent. Great executive talent is one of the most important factors driving company performance, and during an unprecedented era of uncertainty there is even more pressure and competition on PE firms and executives to staff their management teams with top-tier leaders.
Caldwell Recruits Chief Marketing Officer for Sisu
Mercedes Chatfield-Taylor, managing partner of the private equity and venture capital practice at Caldwell, recently placed Sun Lee as the new chief marketing officer of augmented intelligence solution company Sisu in San Francisco. In her role, Ms. Lee will report directly to founder and CEO Peter Bailis and lead all marketing functions. “Sun’s combination of creativity and pragmatic
LPGA Taps Spencer Stuart to Find New Commissioner
Spencer Stuart has been enlisted to find a new commissioner for the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA). Last month, Mike Whan announced that he would be leaving the tour this year after 11 years in the top job. He will stay with the association through the search. The LPGA board of directors is directing the
IIC Partners Adds New Member Firm in Russia
IIC Partners Executive Search Worldwide has added ZOOM Executive Search & Leadership Consulting in Russia as its newest member firm. ZOOM Executive Search & Leadership Consulting was founded in 2013 and provides professional services for the search and development of top managers and board members for Russian and international companies. The company has a team of 10
A Look at the Current State of Private Equity Recruiting
The past year has brought a degree of challenge to private equity that surpasses industry events that have confronted the very best fund and portfolio operators over the last several decades. The spreads between winning and losing decisions have increased dramatically and the variance across verticals and industries are both volatile and more difficult to
Bespoke Partners Recruits Operating Partner for Thoma Bravo
Executive search firms have been stepping up their efforts to assist private equity-backed firms and their portfolios across the nation find top-level talent, including chief executives, chief people officers, CFOs and other C-suite roles – all seen as key players as organizations grapple with the continued fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. Just recently, San Diego, CA-headquartered executive
Preng & Associates Assists Independent Oil and Gas with COO Search
Houston, TX-based executive search firm Preng & Associates recently placed David Gibson as the new chief operating officer of Independent Oil and Gas (IOG), an oil and gas company focused on the U.K. North Sea. “David has extensive relevant North Sea engineering and project management experience over a near 30-year energy industry career, culminating in a number
WittKieffer to Offer Bias Training as Part of Assessment Tools Package
WittKieffer has introduced a new implicit bias training package as part of its LeaderVerse suite of services. LeaderVerse, introduced in March of last year, combines executive assessment tools with enhanced leadership consulting capabilities to support the long-term success of executives and their organizations, through services including executive onboarding, coaching and succession planning. LeaderVerse helps organizations to tap
Kennedy Executive Search Appoints New President
Kennedy Executive Search, a network of independent executive search firms, has elected Pablo Perella-Berdun as its new president and Frank Knudsen as vice president. The election is a consequence of the network’s economic interest group (EIG) structure. In an EIG, all partners become equal stakeholders and together elect their leadership each year. “It’s been an
Diversity Hiring to Accelerate in Post-Pandemic Era
The Labor Department reported this morning that 793,000 more Americans filed new claims for state unemployment benefits. That was above the Dow Jones estimate for 760,000 but a slight decrease from the previous week’s upwardly revised total of 812,00. The feds have now reported about 77 million initial jobless claims over the course of the
The Bowdoin Group Recruits COO for PE-Backed PrimeRevenue
The Bowdoin Group recently placed Gavin Cicchinelli as the new chief operating officer at PrimeRevenue, a provider of working capital financial technology solutions and backed by private equity investors Battery Ventures and Brown Brothers Harriman. Jim Urquhart, managing director, fintech, and Paul Manning, managing director, software and technology, led the assignment. “Gavin is a strong and dynamic executive with a career
