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Occam Global Recruits Former CSO of Novo Nordisk to Advisory Board of Cradle
New York City-based executive search firm Occam Global has placed Marcus Schindler as a member of the advisory board at Cradle, the enterprise-grade AI platform for protein engineering. He will help accelerate the platform’s scientific impact and drive broader adoption of AI-powered protein engineering across the life sciences industry. “Marcus is renowned for modernizing drug discovery at some
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
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,
Agile Leadership Strategies: 6 Ways to Lead with Flexibility and Focus
Today’s organizations are navigating an environment of almost constant disruption and change. From ongoing economic uncertainty and rapid advances in digital transformation, to shifting workforce demographics and rising employee expectations, businesses are being challenged to adapt faster than ever before. Traditional leadership models, which often emphasize stability, hierarchy, and predictability, are no longer sufficient to
Prodigy Search Assists United States Association of Blind Athletes in Selecting New Board
The United States Association of Blind Athletes (USABA) has announced its new board of directors, which includes seven new appointees. Freehold, NJ-based Prodigy Search, a recruiting firm focused on sports recruiting, helped to lead the search process for the board member positions. The at-large board directors are chair Mark Ackermann; vice chair Dr. Skye Arthur-Banning; treasurer Gary Remensnyder; secretary Amy
HealthSearch Partners Fill Three Key Positions for Healthcare Organizations
Dallas, TX-based HealthSearch Partners (HSP) recently placed leaders of three important healthcare provider organizations: Phillip Mazzuca was recruited as chief executive officer of Williamson Medical Center (WMC) in Franklin, TN; Helen Johnson joins Sparrow Eaton Hospital, part of Central Michigan’s Sparrow Health System, as president; and Monte Wilson becomes president of CHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini Health
AMN Leadership Solutions Names Executive and Physician Leadership Search Practice President; Appoints Other Practice Leaders
Executive recruitment firm AMN Leadership Solutions has named former oncology clinical nurse specialist Christine Mackey-Ross as president of the firm’s executive and physician leadership search practice. This follows two other new leadership appointments. Ms. Mackey-Ross joined AMN Healthcare in 2019. Her expertise in executive-level retained searches is built on a hands-on healthcare foundation. She is
ZRG Opens New Office in Dubai
ZRG has opened a new office in Dubai with the addition of Tim Rotherham as managing director and member of the firm’s financial services and private equity practice. “ZRG is now poised to support clients within the UAE through our global financial services and private equity practice,” said Larry Hartmann, CEO of ZRG. “Additionally, ZRG will offer
Turnkey Search Recruits Chief DE&I Officer for the Orlando Magic; Fills ACC Commissioner Role
Turnkey Search, a subsidiary of Turnkey Sports & Entertainment, has placed Esu Ma’at as the new chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer of the Orlando Magic. This becomes the ninth NBA team to add a vice president-level position or higher dedicated to addressing diversity. “Turnkey Search is honored to help the Orlando Magic advance equity because it’s in
20/20 Foresight Acquires Saenger Associates
Chicago-based 20/20 Foresight has acquired Saenger Associates, a retained search firm focused on serving clients in the manufacturing, distribution and supply chain of the industrial products, aerospace and defense, and consumer products verticals. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Saenger Associates will operate under its new name, ‘Saenger Associates, a 20/20 Foresight Company,’ and will continue
Spencer Stuart Selected by Blue Apron to Find Next CFO
According to recruiters, the pressure on chief financial officers during the pandemic has been significant. That has made finding the best ones big business for executive recruiters. Just recently, Blue Apron Holdings retained Spencer Stuart to replace its outgoing CFO, Timothy S. Bensley, who resigned to pursue another opportunity. Mr. Bensley will continue to serve
Rush & Company Names Kimber McFadden Vice President
Rush & Company, a national executive search firm focused on the textile industry, has named Kimber McFadden as vice president of nonwovens and industrial textiles. “Kimber has been a tremendous addition to Rush & Company, going back close to a decade,” said Rick Rush, founder, and president. “She has been instrumental in building our nonwoven
The Good Board Expands Search Team
U.K.-based executive search and leadership consultancy firm The Good Board has appointed five new team members. Jo Sands joins as leader and director of interim and executive search, Lexie Sims as director of search and diversity, equity and inclusion; Veronica Linares as director of leadership development; Shivani Patel as a research manager; and Sian Gatenby
Finding the Right Leaders, Step by Step
In business, recruiting the right leaders at the right time is a competitive advantage. A new book, ‘Leadership Recruiting’ is an authoritative guide to doing so, every step of the way, for rapidly growing small companies to global 100 conglomerates. The book is intended for all executives, from candidates for new positions to managers responsible
Hobbs & Towne Assists Impossible Foods in Recruiting Chief Scientific Officer
Executive search firm Hobbs & Towne has assisted in the placement of Vanderbilt University biochemistry department chair John D. York as chief science officer at Impossible Foods. CEO Andy Towne led the assignment along with partner Ryan Houder for the search firm. Dr. York, whose first day at Impossible Foods will be Jan. 4, will serve on the senior
RM Nephew and Associates Fills Board Position for Watts Water Technologies
Although boards of directors are considered the backbones of organizations, director recruiting has grown markedly more challenging, say recruiters who conduct searches in that area. As a result, companies continue to turn to executive search firms to help find new board members. Executive recruitment firm RM Nephew and Associates’ board diversity practice recently placed Michael J. Dubose as new
Online Talent Platform Assembles $32 Million Funding Round
Turing.com, which describes itself as an automated platform that enables companies to use and manage remote software developers, has assembled $32 million Series B funding. The capitalization round was led by $3.3 billion fund WestBridge Capital. The round includes a number of high-profile investors, including Foundation Capital, which led Turing’s seed round. Altair Capital, Mindset Ventures, Frontier
AltoPartners Appoints Global Chair
AltoPartners, an international alliance of boutique executive search and leadership consulting firms, has elected Sonal Agrawal as its new global chair. Ms Agrawal has served on the global board for AltoPartners since its inception in 2006 and has been at the forefront of various initiatives across governance, geographic expansion, and marketing strategy over the years. Ms
Isaacson, Miller Called in by Harvard Business School to Find Chief Diversity Officer
The role of chief diversity officer is expanding at universities across the country. It has, in fact, become one of the most important positions for shaping the vision, culture and very face of institutions of higher learning from coast to coast. Pandemic or not, higher educational institutions need talent and these roles are now seen
Five Tips to End the Year Strong
COVID-19. Racial unrest. Remote work. Job insecurity. It’s been a long, strange, difficult and angst-ridden year, for sure. After everything that has happened in 2020, no one would be blamed for wanting to shut down and coast into the new year. However, according to a just released report by Korn Ferry, such an approach won’t
JDG Associates Tapped by the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification Accreditation Body to Find New CEO
Rockville, MD-based executive search firm JDG Associates has been retained by the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification Accreditation Body (CMMC-AB) to lead its search for a new CEO. Principal Paul Belford is spearheading the assignment. Reporting to the board of directors, the CEO will staff and supervise CMMC-AB’s C-suite executives. The individual will have responsibility for the following functional areas:
Acertitude Assists PE-Backed Turkey Hill in CIO Search
Executive search firm Acertitude has assisted in the placement of Julie Rafferty as chief information officer for private equity-backed Turkey Hill, the fourth largest-selling premium ice cream brand. Co-founder and managing partner Rick DeRose and principal Jessica Tvelia led the assignment. The search was completed in just 76 days. Ms. Rafferty brings a demonstrated track-record working for diverse, global
RETS Associates Opens Dallas Office
Executive search firm RETS Associates has expanded with the opening of a new office in Dallas. The firm has tapped Chase Fryhover as director and leader of the new office. With a decade of recruiting experience including almost eight years of commercial real estate recruiting success, Mr. Fryhover emerged as the ideal choice to launch this
Americans Continue to File for Unemployment as COVID-19 Cases Rise
The Labor Department reported this morning that 853, 000 more Americans filed new claims for state unemployment benefits last week. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones had been expecting 725,000. First-time claims for unemployment insurance totaled 853,000, an increase from the 716,000 total a week before. This was the highest weekly total since Oct. 10 and reflects
Bridge Partners Recruits Chief Diversity Officer for the Metropolitan Museum of Art
New York City-based Bridge Partners has placed Lavita McMath Turner as the first chief diversity officer of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The search firm’s founders Tory Clarke and Larry Griffin led the assignment. “Lavita McMath Turner has an exceptional record of success promoting equity throughout her career in cultural and higher education institutions, and she will
Myers McRae Assists the University of West Georgia in Provost Search
Following a comprehensive national search, Macon, GA-based Myers McRae Executive Search and Consulting has recruited Jon Preston as senior vice president for academic affairs and provost of the University of West Georgia (UWG). Emily Parker Myers, CEO, and Kenny Daugherty, president, led the assignment. The search team evaluated hundreds of candidates and ultimately brought five finalists to the Carrollton
Raines International Appoints Aerospace, Defense and Government Services Practice Co-Leader
New York-based Raines International has named Mercedes LeGrand as managing director and co-leader of the firm’s aerospace, defense and government services practice. Based in Washington, D.C., she will co-lead the practice with Patrick Gray, who formerly led the aerospace and defense practice at Heidrick & Struggles. Mr. Gray joined Raines in March. “Mercedes is an extremely driven
Boyden U.K. Partners with Aleto Foundation to Drive Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Competitive companies, organizations and government agencies know that diversity matters. Simply put, the demographics of the nation must mirror the workforce. Research shows that organizations that unleash the potential of diverse talent innovate faster and see better business results. According to executive recruiters, it starts by attracting proven talent with diverse perspectives, experiences, and contributions,
How to Become a Great Pandemic Era Leader
What does it look like to lead in a pandemic era, with COVID-19 raging on, civil unrest all around, and a global shift in health, perspective, and politics? To answer this question, Comhar Partners’ Bernard Layton and J. James O’Malley spoke with leaders in a range of industries to share how their leadership has changed since the
JM Search Launches Dedicated Financial Officers Practice
JM Search, a senior-level talent provider serving private equity investors, portfolio companies and Fortune 1000s, has formed a dedicated financial officers practice to assist public and private equity-backed companies in identifying and recruiting financial leaders. The firm has a 40-year track record placing CFOs and other senior finance and accounting executives into investor-backed and public
Lindauer Seeking EVP of Racial Equity and Social Justice for Fenway Health
Lindauer has been called in by Fenway Health to lead its search for an executive vice president of racial equity and social justice. Faith Eutsay is spearheading the assignment. The incoming leader will be expected to create and lead a process of transformation toward becoming an anti-racist organization. The newly created position reports to the CEO
Coulter Partners Forms Alliance with BioInnovation Institute
Life sciences search specialist Coulter Partners has formed a partnership with BioInnovation Institute (BII), the international incubator in Denmark for research-based innovation and entrepreneurship. The firm has been engaged to provide support for BII across three workstreams: providing assessment, coaching and development for the CEOs of start-up businesses in BII’s portfolio under the Creation House
RSR Partners Combines Family-Owned and Family Office Practice
Greenwich, Conn-based RSR Partners has combined the firm’s family-owned business and family office practices to jointly offer clients a full range of services related to governance, executive recruiting and succession planning. “The COVID pandemic has challenged many of our family-owned business clients to better plan for leadership succession,” said Thames Fulton, a member of the RSR’s board recruiting practice. “No one wants
View from London: The Year-Long Journey of a Search Firm Through COVID-19
As disconcerting as the COVID-19 crisis has been, executive search firms have found that not everything this past year has been dire. In fact, there have been valuable lessons learned and successes won over the course of 2020. One firm, U.K.-based Per Ardua Associates, a high-end firm specializing in financial services recruiting, has seen its
StevenDouglas Continues with Growth & Expansion Plans, Hires New Practice Leader
Executive search firm StevenDouglas has expanded its search staff in recent months and named Angelica Chadwick as head of its technology search practice in central Florida. She joined the firm to help establish and build the firm’s technology practice in the Tampa Bay area, furthering both StevenDouglas’ Florida and national capabilities. “In response to the economic downturn
