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Daily Newswire
Laid Off by AI? What’s Really Driving the Latest Job Cuts
Companies are firing workers and saying AI made them do it. But new research from MIT and Oxford reveals the truth: 95 percent of companies investing in AI are getting zero return, yet they’re still using artificial intelligence as a convenient excuse for layoffs. This matters for anyone worried about job security in today’s market,
Employment Falls by 92,000 as Unemployment Rate Rises to 4.4 Percent
Employment fell by 92,000 in February as the U.S. unemployment rate rose to 4.4 percent, according to the most recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report. The number of unemployed people, at 7.6 million, changed little in February. Employment in healthcare decreased, reflecting strike activity. Employment in information and federal government continued to trend down. “That jobs weakness coupled
Executive Recruiters Pull Off Another Remarkable Year, Remain Bullish for 2023
Hunt Scanlon Media has released its annual rankings of leading executive recruiters. In the U.S. and globally, billions of dollars poured into the high-end recruiting sector in 2022, a result of continued pentup demand for senior-level leaders and their key reports.
EMA Partners India Acquires Recruitment Process Outsourcing Services Provider Taggd
Executive search and leadership recruitment platform EMA Partners India has acquired recruitment process outsourcing services provider Taggd in an all-cash deal valued at Rs 113 crore. The all-cash acquisition aims to create an integrated talent recruitment platform offering executive search, professional search and AI-powered recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) solutions at scale. Taggd will continue to
GDPR – The Perfect Time to Refresh Your Database
As executive search firms grapple with the complexities of GDPR, many are concerned that the new regulation will mean deleting thousands of records built up over many years. Surely there must be an alternative?
NGS Global Expands in London
Wilmington, DE-headquartered executive search firm NGS Global has expanded with the additions of Daniel Yeates and George Balfour as managing directors in London. “Daniel and George are accomplished executive search professionals with deep expertise in the technology and digital sectors,” said David Nosal, chairman and managing partner. “They each bring outstanding client and candidate relationships built over decades
Leadership Challenges Intensify as Organizations Confront AI, Talent, and Economic Uncertainty
Organizations are operating in an increasingly complex environment where economic uncertainty, workforce challenges, AI adoption, and digital transformation are converging to reshape leadership priorities. Kestria’s second annual global leadership survey builds on the themes that emerged in last year’s research; highlighting how rapidly the leadership landscape continues to evolve. Based on responses from more than
Riviera Partners Acquires Lateral Labs
San Francisco-based Riviera Partners, a recruitment provider specializing in C-level engineering, product, and design leader placements, has acquired Lateral Labs, a specialized recruiting firm serving top AI startups. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. “The acquisition comes as companies remain challenged to meet the demand of organizational AI readiness,” the firm said. “Adding Lateral Labs positions Riviera Partners
Marovi Assists Congruex with CFO Search
Working in partnership with Atlanta-GA-based Marovi, Congruex, a provider of digital infrastructure engineering and construction services, appointed Jim Stanley as CFO. He reports to Congruex’s co-founder, president, and CEO, Kevin O’Hara. The appointment comes amid strong and sustained growth at Congruex as it plans to continue to capitalize on macro tailwinds, including AI and data center
Brettschneider Executive Search Seeking Inaugural SVP of Advancement for Wilmington University
New York City-based Brettschneider Executive Search has been retained by Wilmington University (WilmU) to lead in its search for an inaugural senior vice president of advancement to lead the University’s next phase of philanthropic growth. Reporting to WilmU president LaVerne Harmon, the SVP will partner closely with the president, board and University leaders to advance the University’s strategic
August Leadership Expands in London
August Leadership has expanded with the addition of Honor Pollok as a partner in London. Ms. Pollok brings over 20 years of executive search and leadership experience. She has led numerous high-profile placements in chair, non-executive director, CEO and the full spectrum of C-suite roles. Her search expertise spans key commercial, financial, creative, human resource, functional,
Hunt Scanlon and HSiQ Spotlight New Approach to Recruiter Training
As the executive search industry faces mounting pressure to improve performance and consistency, firms are increasingly reevaluating how recruiters are trained and developed. Hunt Scanlon and its HSiQ talent intelligence advisory unit recently launched a new Recruiter Performance Training Program designed to bring greater structure, commercial rigor, and scalability to recruiter development in an industry long driven by
Building Team Alignment in an Era of Continuous Change
Ask any team to describe its top strategic priorities and you will often get as many answers as there are people in the room. The problem is not that the strategy hasn’t been communicated, according to recent report from AIIR Consulting. “The problem is that it was communicated into an environment that has since shifted
Isaacson, Miller Helps Recruit 28th President for Texas A&M
Boston-based Isaacson, Miller has assisted in the recruitment of Susan Ballabina as the 28th president of Texas A&M. Andy Lee and Julie Filizetti, led search with Raul Bernal and Luciano Zuniga, and Madeline Fitzpatrick. The members of the Board of Regents conducted a national search that produced a strong pool of candidates. Dr. Ballabina emerged through that process based on her experience, her understanding of
BarkerGilmore Recruits General Counsel for American Credit Acceptance
Boutique search firm BarkerGilmore, which specializes in building corporate legal and compliance teams, has placed Debra Noll as general counsel at American Credit Acceptance. The search was led by Stephen Bell and Alison Waters. “Deb is exceptionally well-positioned to support American Credit Acceptance as it continues to grow and adapt in a complex environment,” BarkerGilmore said in a LinkedIn
Kincannon & Reed Appoints VP of Marketing and Business Development
Kincannon & Reed (K&R), which exclusively focuses on food, agribusiness, and the related life sciences, has expanded with the addition of Dan Evans as vice president of marketing and business development. “Dan brings a strong background in building brands, driving growth, and connecting strategy to execution,” said Stephanie Liska, president of Kincannon & Reed. “Throughout his career,
Women Founders Gain Ground in Human Capital M&A
A meaningful shift has been unfolding across the executive search industry. Over the past decade, a growing number of highly specialized boutiques have been founded and led by women, many of whom built successful careers within larger firms before launching businesses of their own. What is becoming increasingly clear is that investors are paying attention.
Private Equity Recruiting – Return on Investment: Creating Value with Talent
Talent has become a defining driver of performance in private equity, shaping how firms manage risk, execute strategy, and deliver sustained returns. As deal cycles tighten and value creation depends increasingly on operational excellence, leadership quality and organizational design are no longer secondary considerations — they are central to how firms source, underwrite, and scale
AGB Search Seeking Chief Information Technology Officer for Slippery Rock University
Washington, D.C.-based recruitment firm AGB Search, which specializes in higher education leadership assignments, has been retained by Slippery Rock University to lead in its search for a chief information technology officer (CITO). Kimberly Templeton, Margaret Plympton, and Anne Hoffman are leading the assignment. This leader serves as the University’s senior technology executive, providing strategic vision, leadership, and executive
The Talent Studios Recruits Chief Marketing Officer for Pura Vida Miami
The Talent Studios has recruited Bruno Cardinali as chief marketing officer of Pura Vida Miami, the premium all-day café and lifestyle brand focused on health, wellness and community. The search was led by Katlyn Maloney and Jeremy Cohen. Mr. Cardinali brings more than two decades of marketing leadership across fast casual, foodservice, beverage, and global consumer brands. Most recently, as
JM Search Expands Technology and Financial Services Practices
JM Search, a senior-level talent provider serving private equity investors, portfolio companies, and Fortune 1000s, has expanded with the additions of Wes Chisholm as partner and Laura Bennstrom and Charles Telep as principals within its technology and financial services practices. Mr. Chisholm and Mr. Telep join the firm’s technology practice while Ms. Bennstrom joins both the financial
How The Tolan Group Navigated the Downturn and Remained Focused
For many executive search firms, 2024 and 2025 tested resilience in ways few could have predicted. At The Tolan Group (TTG), they experienced the same pressures felt across the industry. Slower decision cycles, delayed starts, and a noticeable dip in portfolio company hiring activity. Yet through that uncertainty, one thing remained constant: our commitment to
Korn Ferry Reports Seven Percent Q4 and Full-Year Revenue Growth, Led by Double-Digit Gains in Professional Search & Interim
Korn Ferry (NYSE:KFY) has posted Q4 fiscal-year revenues of $759.8 million, a year-over-year increase of seven percent and five percent at constant currency. This was led by Professional Search & Interim up 14 percent, followed by Executive Search and Consulting, both up seven percent and RPO up five percent. During the fourth quarter, revenues rose by
Lock Search Group Leading CEO Search for Atlas Sign & Awning
Toronto-headquartered executive recruitment firm Lock Search Group is currently seeking a new CEO for Atlas Sign & Awning. For over 30 years, Atlas Sign & Awning has helped businesses across Canada and the United States stand out through custom commercial signage, awnings, and branded architectural elements. Based in Langley, BC, they’ve built a strong reputation for quality
Anthem Executive Assists the University of Montevallo With President Search
Anthem Executive has assisted in the recruitment of Michelle R. Johnston as the first female president of the University of Montevallo (UM). Michael Ballew, Scott Watson, Mike “JR” Wheless, and Florene Stawowy led the assignment. Dr. Johnston has served as the president of Georgia Southwestern State University since 2024. Prior to her current presidency, she served as president of three other higher education
Mercuri Urval Appoints Non-Executive Director
Stockholm, Sweden-based executive search firm Mercuri Urval (MU) has announced that Jan Sasse, partner at AlterInvest, was named as non-executive director to the MU group board. He will join the current board members Cecilia Strand, Mieke Weijenberg, Cecilia Beer, Richard Moore, and chairman Roger Hagafors. “We are pleased to welcome Jan Sasse as non-executive director of the MU
M&A Becomes a Capability-Driven Acquisition Strategy
EY-Parthenon is forecasting an eight percent increase in U.S. deal volume for transactions exceeding $100 million in 2026, underscoring how central M&A remains to corporate strategy. Yet beneath the headline numbers sits a more important story. The role of acquisitions is evolving. Companies are no longer pursuing deals primarily for scale or market share. Increasingly,
The Hidden Challenges Every First-Time CEO Faces
The corner office has never been more accessible—or more demanding. As boards increasingly turn to a new generation of leaders to navigate disruption, growth, and transformation, first-time CEOs are stepping into roles that require a fundamentally different set of skills than those that propelled them to the top. While many arrive with impressive track records,
Myers McRae Assists Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology with Provost Search
Following a nationwide search, Macon, GA-based Myers McRae Executive Search and Consulting has assisted in the recruitment of Richie Roberts as provost of Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology. Kenny Daugherty and Brianna Douglas led the assignment. Dr. Roberts’ selection was guided by a search committee of OSUIT administrators, faculty, staff and students, which was assisted by national search firm Myers McRae. “The entire
Lancer Group Recruits Chief Technology Officer for Minitab
La Jolla, CA-headquartered search firm Lancer Group has recruited Kevin Gordon as chief technology officer of Minitab. “We’re excited to welcome Kevin Gordon as chief technology officer at Minitab,” the company said. “This is an exciting step forward in the evolution of our technology strategy and will help accelerate innovation across our organization and solutions platform.” “Kevin brings
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
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
Isaacson, Miller Recruits Provost for Brandeis University
Isaacson, Miller has placed biochemist Carol A. Fierke, provost and executive vice president at Texas A&M University, as the next provost and executive vice president of Brandeis University. Dr. Fierke will begin her tenure on Jan. 1 Partners Katie Rockman and Peter Lange led the assignment. Dr. Fierke will succeed Lisa M. Lynch, a world-renowned
Shelli Herman and Associates Recruits CEO for Fresno Chaffee Zoo
Los Angeles-based Shelli Herman and Associates has assisted in the placement of Jon Forrest Dohlin as the new chief executive officer of Fresno Chaffee Zoo. He becomes the organization’s eighth leader and will succeed retiring CEO Scott Barton with the transition expected to take place in early 2021. The assignment was led Shelli Herman, president, and founder
Erevena Opens Office in Stockholm
London-based executive search firm Erevena has expanded in northern Europe with the opening of a new office in Stockholm, Sweden. Jonas Helgesson has joined as a partner to focus on growing the business in Northern Europe, in response to increasing demand from clients such as Peakon, Puzzel, Unomaly, Pipedrive and Nectarine Health. “We are delighted to welcome
R. William Funk & Associates Retained by Indiana University and Texas A&M to Find New Leaders
R. William Funk & Associates, which specializes in recruitment for roles in higher education, has been enlisted to find new presidents for Indiana University (IU) and Texas A&M University. “We work meticulously to not do similar searches at the same time to avoid conflicts of interest,” said search firm president R. William Funk. “In this case,
Crist|Kolder Associates Retained by Foot Locker for CFO Search
According to recruiters, the pressure on chief financial officers during the pandemic has been significant: Rewriting corporate budgets seemingly daily; bargaining with banks over broken loan covenants; answering constant calls from investors and board directors; and, in extreme cases, figuring out how to make payroll. All while working with no colleagues around. New York-based specialty
20/20 Foresight Executive Search Appoints Washington, D.C. Office Leader
Chicago-headquartered 20/20 Foresight Executive Search has expanded with the addition of Mike Jones as managing director to lead the firm’s Washington, D.C. office. “Since our founding in 1994, we have honed our industry knowledge, experience and expertise by working in real estate before recruiting for it,” said Bob Cavoto, founder and managing principal of 20/20 Foresight. “With the addition of Mike
SmartRecruiters Appoints Chief Diversity Officer
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,
Novare Executive Search Finds New CEO for Energiföretagen Sverige
Stockholm-headquartered Novare Executive Search has placed Åsa Pettersson as the new CEO of Energiföretagen Sverige, a member association for the Swedish energy industry. She will begin her new role by April 15. Pernilla Winnhed announced her resignation in June. Gunilla Andrée will continue as acting CEO until Ms. Pettersson joins Energiföretagen Sverige. “In recent months, we have
Hunt Scanlon Media Launches M&A Advisory Network for Recruiters
Make no mistake, these have been sobering days for executive recruiting firms around the globe. Most of them, regardless of size, location, or specialization were caught flat-footed by one of the most sweeping economic crises to ever hit the sector. As a result, the nation’s top search consultants have been resetting expectations throughout 2020 –
Koya Partners Recruits CEO for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
Following a rigorous, national search in partnership with Koya Partners, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America has named Artis Stevens, chief marketing officer of National 4-H Council, as its new president and CEO. He becomes the organization’s first black leader. Alison Ranney and Chartise Clark led the assignment. Mr. Stevens succeeds Pam Iorio, who announced early this year
Executive Recruiting in a Post-COVID-19 Era
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a big impact on every business sector, executive recruiting included, costing organizations billions of dollars in lost revenue. Goldman Sachs estimates that economic growth around the world will be zero in 2020 thanks to the virus. For the executive search industry, where recruiters are constantly traveling to have face-to-face meeting with
