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Klein Hersh Recruits Chief Medical Officer for Zag Bio
Horsham, PA-based Klein Hersh, a search firm focused on the life sciences and healthcare industries, has recruited Jan Hillson as chief medical officer of Zag Bio, Inc., a biotechnology company pioneering thymus-targeted medicines in Cambridge, MA. “Jan joins Zag at a pivotal moment as we transition from research into clinical development,” said Jason Cole, CEO of
Herbert Mines Assists Designer Brands with CFO Search
New York-based retail and consumer focused executive search firm Herbert Mines Associates has assisted in the recruitment of Sheamus Toal as executive vice president, chief financial officer and principal financial officer of NYSE-traded Designer Brands Inc. Mark Haley, who has served as interim principal financial officer during the transition period, will return full time to his position as
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
PER Completes Management Buyout, Paving the Way for Strategic Growth
Private Equity Recruitment (PER) has announced that its senior leadership team has completed a management buyout of the company from founder Gail McManus. As part of this transition, day-to-day leadership has passed to CEO, Rupert Bell, and managing director, Charlie Hunt, who, alongside other senior colleagues, are now majority owners of the company. “PER has
Human Capital Group Recruits CIO for Hensel Phelps
Brentwood, TN-based executive search firm The Human Capital Group | a Gallagher Company has placed Dolores Quezada-Mears as the new chief information officer at Hensel Phelps in Greeley, CO. “Our client has reinforced that they are thrilled with the process and outcome,” said Steve Hayes, senior managing director. “We presented a slate of vetted finalists within 20 business
Elevate Partners Expands in San Francisco
Chicago-based search firm DHR International has added Jonathan Hoyt to Elevate Partners, its advisory services line of business, as a partner based in the firm’s San Francisco office. “We are pleased to welcome Jonathan to DHR’s Elevate Partners,” said Christine Greybe, president of Elevate Partners. “A trusted advisor and executive coach, he brings a strategic mindset to his work guiding clients
Platinium Executive Search Adds Veteran HR Executive
The executive search field continues to be a welcoming landing pad for HR executives looking for a career change. Recently, Platinium Executive Search added former HR executive Céline Daubresse as a partner. “We are very pleased to welcome Céline here at Platinium Executive Search, as her international HR track record in various EMEA HR roles is both contrasting
U.S. Employers Planning Workforce Reductions Heading Into 2021
Nearly half of U.S. employers who have opted to furlough or lay off staff as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic are considering making additional workforce reductions in the next 12 months, according a new survey released by Randstad RiseSmart. The survey was conducted online by a third-party survey provider and respondents included more than 250 human
Perrett Laver Seeks COO for European Society of Endodontology
Perrett Laver is leading the search for a new chief operating officer for the European Society of Endodontology (ESE), which focuses on the study of dental pulp and tissues surrounding the root of a tooth. Consultant Emi Saliasi is leading the assignment for the search firm. ESE wants a COO to ensure that the organization’s mission, aims, objectives
Holden Richardson Recruits CFO for Unique Fabricating
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. Chicago, IL-headquartered executive
Kensington International Appoints Financial Services Practice Leader
Oak Brook, IL-based executive search firm Kensington International Inc. has named Steve Goering as partner and practice leader for financial services. He will lead search assignment within asset management, wealth management, real estate and fintech. “We are excited to welcome Steve back to Kensington International and believe he and the rest of our second-generation leadership will be instrumental in
The Loring Group Fills Senior Finance Role for XP Power
San Francisco, CA-headquartered executive search firm The Loring Group recruited Gerardo Adame as vice president of finance at XP Power. Managing partner Steve Caliger led the assignment. “We learned many valuable lessons during this search that was impacted by COVID-19 that will benefit XP Power and others we work with going forward during the pandemic,” Mr. Caliger
Some Leaders are Creative Forces, Others Excel at Delivering on Big Ideas
Is there a difference between a visionary and a leader in any given organization? If you posed the question to a C-suite professional who’s led by a so-called “visionary leader,” they might say that a visionary and a leader are one in the same; any individual can exhibit both qualities. While this is certainly true,
accelHRate Recruits First Chief People Officer for NACD
With the coronavirus crisis upon us, chief people officers 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: “They must keep employees healthy; maintain their morale;
Tyler & Company Assists Boone Hospital Center in CEO Search
As the healthcare industry continues its transformation, talent management remains a high priority. The shortage of physicians and other clinicians is one matter. But healthcare organizations must also fill new and expanding leadership roles to carry out strategic initiatives in response to current reform efforts, and whatever changes President Donald J. Trump may produce. This
Howe-Lewis International Leading Chief Development Officer Search for Safe Horizon
Executive recruitment firm Howe-Lewis International has been selected to find a chief development officer for New York City-based non-profit Safe Horizon. The chief development officer will lead and motivate a high-functioning department to raise large amounts of money in uncertain times from both public and private sources and to expand the base of support over time. The executive
Pendragon Consulting Launches Effort to Place Veterans Into Jobs
As millions of people across the nation are adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, some veterans have been hit especially hard by the crisis. Pendragon Consulting, a veteran-owned recruiting firm, has launched a new effort to place military veterans affected by COVID-19 into full-time employment. “As countless amounts of veterans have lost their jobs during the
Another Million File for Unemployment Benefits
The Labor Department reported this morning that just over a million more Americans filed new claims for state unemployment benefits last week. Economists polled by Dow Jones expected initial jobless claims to be down from 1.104 million in the previous week. Meanwhile, continuing jobless claims, reported on a one-week lag, improved to a new pandemic-era low for
Hanold Associates Tapped by TB12 to Recruit New Board Directors
Chicago-based Hanold Associates HR & Diversity Executive Search has been enlisted to recruit two board members for TB12, the fitness and wellness organization co-founded by NFL quarterback Tom Brady. The assignment is being led by Jason Hanold, CEO and co-managing partner of the search firm. “TB12 is a mission-driven, complex, rapidly scaling business, that co-founders Tom
Acertitude Opens London Office
Executive search firm Acertitude has opened a new office in London and appointed Guy Barnes as managing partner to fuel global growth and lead the new location. Working closely together with co-founders Kevin O’Neill and Rick DeRose, Mr. Barnes will help drive the continuing evolution and international growth of the firm. Based out of Acertitude’s London and
Caldwell Recruits Chief Marketing Officer for Mavenlink
As business becomes more global and complex, and power shifts from producers of goods and services to consumers, the chief marketing officer’s job of planning and coordinating marketing activities has become more challenging — and much more influential. Mercedes Chatfield-Taylor, managing partner of the private equity and venture capital practice at Caldwell, recently placed Robert Pickell as chief marketing officer
Management Consultants for the Arts Helps the Orlando Ballet Find New Leader
Following a wide-ranging nationwide search, Stamford, Conn-based executive search firm Management Consultants for the Arts has assisted in the placement of Cheryl Collins as the new executive director of the Orlando Ballet. Ms. Collins was selected from a competitive pool of eight candidates identified by the search firm. Her strong sense of integrity and solid judgment, success in building the organizations
Searching for Non-Profit Jobs as a Person of Color
Melissa Madzel has been a managing director with Koya Leadership Partners since 2015. She leads and contributes to executive searches, mainly in the social justice community, as well as developing and deepening Koya’s relationships in the progressive movement. “As a person of color in the executive search field, I’m asked time and again about how to navigate
The Bowdoin Group Recruits CEO for Alpha II, Taps 3 Other Leaders for Digital Health Companies
The Bowdoin Group, a Boston-based executive recruitment firm, has placed the new chief executive officer for Alpha II, which provides software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions for healthcare professionals, clearinghouses and government entities. Todd Doze joins the Tallahassee-based company from TransUnion, where he was vice president of reimbursement solutions. The search was spearheaded by Josh Gottlieb, managing director, digital
Reffett Associates Fills Top Post for Air Force Research Laboratory
Following a nationwide search, Reffett Associates recently assisted the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) in placing Justin Gallivan as senior scientist for systems and synthetic biology in it’s 711 Human Performance Wing. The assignment was led by Eric Reffett, managing director of the firm’s Washington, D.C. office, with assistance from Marshall Reffett, managing director of the firm’s Seattle
Spencer Stuart Assists Ingevity Corp. in CEO Search
Spencer Stuart has assisted in the placement of John C. Fortson as the new president and CEO of NYSE-traded Ingevity Corp. in North Charleston, SC. D. Michael Wilson resigned in February in regard to what the company called “matters relating to his personal conduct.” Ingevity chairman Richard “Rick” Kelson has been serving as interim president and CEO. Over the
Jobvite Acquires AI and Data Science Team of Predictive Partner
Recruiting software firm Jobvite has acquired the artificial intelligence and data science team of Predictive Partner. Morgan Llewellyn, CEO of Predictive Partner, will serve as Jobvite’s chief data scientist and oversee a team leveraging AI through automation, predictive analytics, data science, machine learning, natural language processing and optical character recognition. “As the first provider to introduce both machine vision
Disruptive Shift has One Sector Looking Far and Wide for Talent
For the first time in more than 20 years, government officials, providers, health plans and employers are recommending telehealth as the first choice for care, as opposed to an alternative – due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, according to a new report by healthcare-focused executive recruiting firm Cejka Search. Before the pandemic, only one in 10 patients in the
Pandemic Fallout: Sudden Surge In CFO Exits
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. A new Korn Ferry report, authored by Beau Lambert,
Sterling Martin Associates Recruits Executive Director for Obesity Medicine Association
Sterling Martin Associates, an executive search firm which specializes in recruiting talent for associations and other non-profit organizations, has placed Katrina Crist as the new executive director of the Obesity Medicine Association (OMA) in Denver, CO. “After an extensive nationwide search, the board of trustees enthusiastically selected Ms. Crist because of her proven experience in growing
KEES Retained by United Methodist Communities to Find VP of Philanthropy
Executive search and non-profit consulting firm KEES (Kistner Eddy Executive Services) has been retained by Neptune, NJ-based United Methodist Communities (UMC) to help find a new vice president of philanthropy. The assignment is being led by Heather Eddy, president and CEO. UMC, a senior living and healthcare organization, is seeking a senior-level philanthropic professional to complement and grow its development
WittKieffer Adds Interim Leadership Services to Education Practice
Executive search firm WittKieffer has expanded its interim leadership practice into the field of higher education. The practice, first launched in 2018 to provide interim leaders to the firm’s healthcare industry clients, will now also serve clients in academia that are seeking temporary executives to ensure leadership continuity in these difficult times, the firm said. “Interim executives
Pandemic Changes CHRO Role for Good
The coronavirus pandemic has transformed C-suites all over the world. But for the role of chief human resources officer, the changes have been revolutionary. A new report from IMSA Search examines how the COVID-19 crisis has demanded new capabilities and duties for chief HR officers. It’s conclusion: the role of CHROs shouldn’t be overestimated. “At a time when new risks and
Slone Partners Appoints Executive Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Life sciences-focused search firm Slone Partners has added esteemed educator Candace Nortey as executive director of diversity, equity and inclusion. In this newly created role, she will help expand the firm’s diversity efforts to enhance opportunities for minority candidates, both internally and for the company’s client partners. “Candace Nortey is an extremely accomplished leader in her field and brings
Coulter Partners Assists Optimapharm in CEO Search
Mark Sharp of life sciences-focused search firm Coulter Partners recently assisted private equity-backed Optimapharm in the recruitment of Andrew Copestake as its new CEO. “We are delighted to welcome Andrew to the executive management team and thank Coulter Partners for their professional support in achieving this high-caliber appointment,” said Harold Chatelus, director of private equity firm The Rohatyn Group.
