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JM Search Assists Eden Brothers with Recruitment of New CEO
JM Search, a senior-level talent provider serving private equity investors, portfolio companies, and Fortune 1000s, has assisted in the recruitment of Mike Hollenstein as CEO of Kian Capital Partners-backed Eden Brothers. JM Search’s consumer practice team members Liza Stokes, partner, and Avery (Loeffler) Jacob, vice president, led the assignment. “Mike brings over 20 years of merchandising
Mercuri Urval Appoints Leader of Construction Practice
Stockholm, Sweden-based executive search firm Mercuri Urval (MU) has named Ulf Hillstedt as global practice lead for the construction practice. “Ulf has been working with clients from the construction industry for so many years, that he is the obvious choice to coordinate our activities in this industry globally,” said Andreas Frische, CRO at MU. “We know his passion
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
Reshaping the Talent Playbook in the Age of AI
In the age of AI, rapid technological advancements are revolutionizing the way organizations are approaching talent management. Heightened levels of automation are already reshaping recruitment, assessment, and team building while improving workforce optimization – all while balancing the critical need for ethical, human-centric decision-making. Hunt Scanlon Media is convening over 250 chief talent officers, CHROs,
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
SPMB Recruits Chief Product Officer for Magnifi
SPMB, an executive search firm that helps find transformative executives throughout Silicon Valley, has assisted in the placement of Tom Van Horn as the first chief product officer of Magnifi, a TIFIN Group company and natural-language powered investment marketplace. Partner Jon Landau led the assignment. “We are delighted to have Tom join Magnifi’s leadership team,”
Summit Leadership Partners Names Head of New Products & Innovation
Product development expert Kevin Impelman has joined Summit Leadership Partners to lead the firm’s consulting products and services practice. “Our business and team have been growing rapidly and we’re fortunate to welcome such an experienced and forward-looking thought leader like Kevin to help us develop and launch a new lineup of innovative products and services
The Chason Group Recruits CEO for Valdosta-Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce in Georgia
The Chason Group has placed Christie Moore as the new president and chief executive officer for the Valdosta-Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce in Valdosta, GA. Tim Chason and Randy Cardoza spearheaded the assignment for the recruitment firm. The organization’s board of directors voted unanimously to name Ms. Moore to the position effective Jan. 4. Ms. Moore,
Six Sourcing Strategies for Recruiting Passive Candidates
The job market as we know it has changed as the world adjusts to the strange year that 2020 has been. Earlier this year, college graduates entered into the worst job market since the Great Depression, with the unemployment rate at 14.7 percent in April. “This number is thankfully improving as the year comes to a close,
Cielo Acquires Talent Function to Expand Service Offerings
Brookfield, WI-based Cielo, a strategic recruitment process outsourcing firm, has acquired Talent Function to strengthen its market leadership and expand its service offerings. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The acquisition formalizes the strategic partnership between Cielo and Talent Function that was announced in October. “Talent Function boasts impressive capabilities and expertise in consulting,” said Sue Marks, founder and CEO of Cielo. “We’re
The Christopher Group Places SVP of HR at Brookwood Financial Partners
Executive recruiters are in hot pursuit of chief human resource officers and other senior-level HR leaders across the nation. Why such pent-up demand for top flight HR experts? Corporate leaders want HR leaders who are sophisticated, proactive and strategic-minded, with strong business savvy to drive their people capabilities like they would a P&L, according to
McDermott + Bull Recruits Chief Accounting Officer for First American Financial Corp.
Irvine, CA-based search firm McDermott + Bull recently placed Steve Adams as chief accounting officer of First American Financial Corp. in Santa Anna, CA. Chris Bull, managing partner and co-founder of the search firm, partner Craig Lipus, senior executive Sara Pizarro and director Anne Terry led the assignment. With over 25 years of experience in accounting and
Sheffield Haworth Names Head of New Sectors and Services
Global leadership advisory and executive search firm Sheffield Haworth has expanded with the addition of Georgina Harley, formerly a partner at Mercer Consulting, as a group managing director and head of new sectors and services. In the newly created role, Ms. Harley will join the firm’s executive management committee and be responsible for key growth areas including consulting
Unemployment Rate Drops to 6.7 Percent As America Prepares for Potential Lockdown
Employment rose by 245,000 in November as the U.S. unemployment rate fell to 6.7 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
Slone Partners Recruits Chief Business Officer for InterVenn Biosciences
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 John Leite as chief business officer at InterVenn Biosciences in
Turnkey Search Adds Two Key Recruiters
Turnkey Search, a subsidiary of Turnkey Sports & Entertainment, has added Chad Chatlos and Katy Young Staudt to its recruitment team. The pair join the firm from Ventura Partners. “Chad and Katy are championship caliber sports recruiters,” said Len Perna, chairman and CEO of Turnkey. “We’ll be even better at helping our clients win, win, win.” Mr.
ZRG Names Professional and Technology Services Practice Leader
ZRG Partners has appointed former Ernst and Young and Accenture executive John Weisel as global leader of its professional and technology services practice. “John Weisel brings amazing knowledge and experiences in professional services management and a network of global contacts that will be incredibly valuable as we continue to accelerate the growth of ZRG,” said Larry Hartmann,
Brooke Chase Associates Recruits HR Leader for Wellborn Cabinet
Joseph McElmeel, chairman and CEO of Sarasota, FL-based executive recruiter Brooke Chase Associates, has announced that his firm helped place Lisa Mahon as director of human resources for Wellborn Cabinet in Ashland, AL. Richard Mohrman led the assignment. With extensive experience in human resource management, Ms. Mahon most recently held the position of senior human resources
2020 a Turbulent Year for U.K. Private Equity
Much of the talk among U.K.-based PE investors in recent years has concerned the Brexit related risks of potential investments, the sky-high valuations being sought by vendors, and the highly fertile fundraising environment which has led to record levels of dry powder and the most competitive capital deployment market that most can recall. According to
Americans Continue to File Unemployment Claims as Recovery Challenges Mount
The Labor Department reported this morning that 712,000 more Americans filed new claims for state unemployment benefits last week. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones had been expecting 775,000. This was the sixth straight week that claims fell below 800,000. More than 20.2 million Americans are currently claiming some form of unemployment insurance, and Thursday’s Labor Department
