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Why Executive Hiring Is Shifting to Skills-First Leadership
For decades, executive hiring was guided by a familiar formula. Boards and CEOs focused largely on job titles, employer pedigrees, and years in senior roles when evaluating candidates. A polished résumé was commonly treated as a dependable signal of future performance. Today, that assumption is increasingly questioned, according to a new report from the International Executive Search
Cook Silverman Search Tapped by JVS for Chief Financial and Operating Officer
Greenbrae, CA-based Cook Silverman Search was recently selected by Jewish Vocational & Career Counseling Service (JVS) to lead in its search for a chief financial and operating officer (CFOO). This executive will be responsible for overseeing the operational strategy of the organization with a focus on scalability, efficiency, and financial leadership in support of JVS’s mission
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.
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,
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?
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
Allen Austin Launches Evidence-Based Leadership Assessment VantagePoint
Houston, TX-based search firm Allen Austin launch of VantagePoint, an evidence-based leadership assessment that helps organizations identify and develop high-potential leaders with greater clarity and confidence. VantagePoint is grounded in three decades of leadership advisory work and original research by Allen Austin chairman and CEO Rob Andrews. Over two years, Mr. Andrews interviewed more than 100 CEOs,
The CHRO’s New Mandate
Across industries, the organizational design structure has shifted from a traditional pyramid to an hourglass model. This is not a recent development, explained Slayton Search Partners’ John Doyle in a recent report. “Organizational efficiencies, increased technology and the first wave of Baby Boomer retirements began this transition nearly two decades ago,” he said. “Experienced leaders have been retiring. Internal pipelines have
AGB Search Recruits 11th President for Lewis University
Washington, D.C.-based recruitment firm AGB Search, which specializes in higher education leadership assignments, has helped to recruit Christopher Sindt as the 11th president of Lewis University. The Lewis University board of trustees recently announced that president David Livingston, will retire at the conclusion of the 2025–26 academic year. Melissa K. Trotta, Matthew J. Kilcoyne, and John Cech led the assignment. “After
Kincannon & Reed Assists CCI Prime with CFO Search
Kincannon & Reed (K&R), which exclusively focuses on food, agribusiness, and the related life sciences, has assisted in the recruitment of Jamie Broad as CFO of CCI Prime, bringing on a seasoned finance leader to support the company’s next phase of growth. “Jamie’s ability to connect financial insights to operational realities makes her an exceptional
EQU Advisors Seeking Senior Leader for Sarah Lawrence College
Executive search firm EQU Advisors was recently retained by Sarah Lawrence College to lead in its search for an associate vice president of enrollment. This executive will serve as a key member of the senior enrollment leadership team and a collaborative partner across the institution. This role is designed to strengthen coordination, elevate shared strategy, and support
Egon Zehnder Forms Alliance with IMD
Global leadership advisory firm Egon Zehnder and IMD, a leading business school in global executive education, have formed a strategic partnership to facilitate board directors’ personal growth and elevate board performance. The partnership combines IMD’s academic rigor and deep connections to global boards with Egon Zehnder’s expertise in leadership and board effectiveness. Together, they will co-create tailored
Why Boards Are Betting on New CEOs and How to Set Them Up to Win
A growing number of companies are entrusting the corner office to leaders stepping into the CEO role for the first time. As succession strategies evolve and executive talent markets tighten, boards are increasingly prioritizing leadership potential, adaptability, and strategic vision over prior CEO experience. Boards now face a new question: which qualities make a first-time CEO succeed,
The Leadership Reset: What AI is Exposing About Today’s Executives
For decades, leadership success was largely measured by experience, team size, and the ability to manage complex organizations. Today, artificial intelligence is changing that equation, and it is reshaping how boards, investors, and hiring executives evaluate leadership talent. As AI transforms how work gets done, organizations are discovering that competitive advantage is no longer determined
Greenwood Asher & Associates Recruits Provost for the University of Cincinnati
Miramar Beach, FL-based executive recruitment firm Greenwood Asher & Associates has assisted the University of Cincinnati (UC) in the recruitment of Rudolph Buchheit as executive vice president for academic affairs and provost. Andriel Dees and Julie Schrodt led the assignment for the search firm. His selection follows a national search led by a dedicated search committee that was informed by
HARTZ Search Assists Geisinger with Recruitment of CIO
Charlotte, NC-based HARTZ Search has helped to recruit Bill Bellando as executive vice president and chief information officer of Geisinger. He joins Geisinger after serving as senior vice president and chief information officer at Georgia-based Wellstar Health System from 2022 to 2026. In this role, Mr. Bellando oversaw information technology and digital initiatives across the health system.
Bridging Talent Gaps Across HR, Private Equity, Higher Education
In today’s complex talent environment, organizations across industries are facing a growing (and increasingly urgent) challenge: navigating critical talent gaps. Whether you’re scaling a portfolio company in private equity, rebuilding your human resources function, or filling a leadership void in higher education, the stakes are high, according to a new report from Blue Rock Search’s Ruben
Comhar Partners Lands SVP of Global Sales for Myers-Briggs Co.
Executive search firm Comhar Partners has placed Steven Nolan as senior vice president of global sales for the Myers-Briggs Co. Karen Turrini, managing director in the search firm’s San Francisco office, led the assignment. Based in Sunnyvale, CA, Mr. Nolan will report to Myers-Briggs’ president and CEO. He will oversee the global sales leadership team
Diversified Search Recruits Chief Information Officer for Herbalife Nutrition
The chief information officer is considered among the most strategic roles in any organization. Still, head-hunting within the function remains challenging, as skilled C-suite IT professionals are among the toughest to find. Recently, Diversified Search placed former Estee Lauder Companies executive Rhonda Vetere as the new CIO of Herbalife Nutrition. The search was led by
Robert Half Posts 3.8 Percent Revenue Increase
Robert Half International Inc./(NYSE:RHI) posted full-year revenues of $6.074 billion, up 3.8 percent from $5.80 billion the prior year. The Menlo Park, CA-based recruiting company posted fourth quarter revenues of $1.48 billion, up slightly from $1.48 billion last year. For the year, net income was $454 million, or $3.90 per share, compared to earnings of $434.3 million, or $3.57 per share,
Talentmark Makes Addition to Fuel U.S. Growth Strategy
Talentmark, a London-based specialist and executive recruitment solutions provider to the global life sciences market, has expanded with the addition of Patricia Hall as vice president as the firm continues its strategic growth in the U.S. She will be based in Chicago. Ms. Hall joins Talentmark from Quick Leonard Kieffer, where she led the firm’s
The State of Executive Recruiting in 2020
Cautious optimism seems to be the consensus among business leaders and executive recruiters heading into 2020. Although some pundits are predicting a dramatic and near-term market correction, supporting data is decidedly mixed. Changes in expectations for 2020 include: U.S. economic growth is expected to range from 1.5 percent to 2.0 percent, likely down from the 1.9
HARTZ Search Seeks CEO for Roper St. Francis Healthcare in South Carolina
Charlotte, NC-based executive search firm HARTZ Search has been selected to find the next chief executive officer for Roper St. Francis Healthcare (RSFH) in Charleston, SC. Leading the assignment are Carol Maxwell, the firm’s managing director, and Mike Hartz, president and CEO. The health system’s previous leader, Lorraine Lutton, recently took a new role as market
The Everest Group Announces Promotions
Glendora, CA-headquartered executive search firm the Everest Group has named Dennis Teschler and Anthony Duncan as vice presidents of national accounts as well as Kyle Bueckert as director of national accounts. Mr. Teschler focuses on placing middle to senior-level executives in many functional positions within the third party logistics, supply chain, and transportation industries. He recently placed
ManpowerGroup Posts Five Percent Revenue Dip in 2019
ManpowerGroup / (NYSE:MAN) posted full-year revenues of $20.9 billion, a decrease of five percent from $22 billion a year ago. The company posted fourth-quarter revenues of $5.2 billion, a decrease of four percent from the year earlier period. Financial results in the quarter were impacted by the stronger U.S. dollar relative to foreign currencies compared to the prior
Executive Search Firms Expect Revenue Uptick, Continued Growth in 2020
A new year brings a new set of perspectives and priorities. In 2020, search consultants are excited about the possibilities provided by technology, anxious about the economy, and (still) struggling with the talent shortage. Expectations for 2020 are largely positive but are more modest than in years past, according to Bullhorn’s “Global Recruitment Insights and Data”
The Pauly Group Places First Female and African-American President at Kellogg Community College
The Pauly Group, an academic executive search firm, has recruited Adrien L. Bennings as the sixth president of Kellogg Community College (KCC) in Battle Creek, MI. She becomes the first female and African-American president at the school replacing Mark O’Connell, who has held the role since 2015. Dr. Bennings was selected from a pool of 54
Human Resource Solutions Recruits Chief Revenue Officer for Great Plains Communications
Golden, CO-based executive search firm Human Resource Solutions has placed Josephine Bernson as the first chief revenue officer for Great Plains Communications, Nebraska’s largest independent telecommunications company and a grain management portfolio company. The search was led by R. Woody Daroca. “Josephine’s experience and proven track record in leading teams and driving increased revenue and
Novak Consulting Group Seeking Police Chief for Oro Valley
Cincinnati-based Novak Consulting Group has been chosen to conduct a nationwide search to find the next chief of police for the Town of Oro Valley in Arizona. Current chief Danny Sharp plans to retire on Feb. 21. The chief of police reports directly to the town council, which will make the final selection. The council’s
Development Guild DDI Appoints President and COO
Executive recruitment firm Development Guild DDI, which focuses on the non-profit sector, has named Victoria Jones as president and Deborah Brown as chief operating officer. “I’m delighted to share that Victoria Jones is our new president,” said CEO Suzanne Weber. “Victoria’s new role along with the promotion of Deb Brown to COO will drive our continuous
Kincannon & Reed Appoints President
Executive recruitment firms have made a number of top leadership appointments in the past year, many focused on strategy, growth, branding efforts and operations. The latest: Waynesboro, VA-based executive search firm Kincannon & Reed named David Turner as its new president. “Having spent nearly a decade working with our team and processes around the world, we’re confident David
Independent Directors, Women and Minorities See Board Gains
Standard & Poor’s 500 boards appointed 432 new independent directors in the 2019 proxy year, the most since 2004, and 59 percent were women and/or minorities, up from 50 percent the year before, according to a study by Spencer Stuart. The 2019 U.S. Spencer Stuart Board Index found that boards are listening to shareholders’ and
Allegis Partners Places VP of People for Venture-Backed Diamanti
Executive search firm Allegis Partners has placed Christina Monzon-Le as vice president of people for Diamanti in San Jose, CA. The search was conducted by John K. Anderson, managing director in Allegis Partners’ San Francisco office, and Lora Martinelli, director in Minneapolis. Ms. Monzon-Le has more than 15 years of HR experience in the areas of business
Clarendon Executive Selected by Fold Ireland to Find New CEO
Belfast-headquartered executive search firm Clarendon Executive has been called in by Fold Ireland to lead its search for a new CEO. Managing partner Ciaran Sheehan is leading the assignment. Fold Ireland provides a unique combination of accommodation and associated service options. As well as providing apartments and houses for older people, families and people with
Lucas Group Appoints Digital Strategy Leader
Atlanta, GA-headquartered executive search firm Lucas Group has expanded with the addition of Stephen Todd Duclos as vice president of digital strategy. Mr. Duclos brings a track record of digital innovation and change management with expertise in the technology recruitment space. “Todd will accelerate our adoption of cutting-edge technologies that streamline the recruiter experience and amplify recruiter effectiveness,”
NPAworldwide Adds 11 New Member Firms
Member-owned recruitment network NPAworldwide has added 11 new member locations as it continues to expand its global roster. NPA now has 530 member offices across six continents. Membership in the network allows independent recruiters to serve their clients and candidates by partnering with other member firms. “Congratulations to each of our new members,” said Dave Nerz, president of
Help Wanted: President Business Operations, Detroit Pistons
Turnkey Search, a subsidiary of Turnkey Sports & Entertainment, has been selected by the Detroit Pistons to find a new president of business operations. “The Detroit Pistons are an iconic NBA team that recently moved back into downtown Detroit,” said Len Perna, founder and chairman of Turnkey Search. “Detroit itself is really buzzing as a comeback
Caldwell Places Chief Marketing Officer at Recorded Future
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 former Acquia executive Tom
ON Partners Adds Partner in San Francisco
Executive search firm ON Partners has expanded with the addition of Michael Lynch, a veteran search executive with more than 20 years of experience in the global technology market, as a partner in its San Francisco office. Throughout his career, Mr. Lynch has placed CEOs, C-level and board executives in sectors that are increasingly turning to cutting-edge technologies such
Versique Search and Consulting Acquires Midwest Financial Search
Acquisitions continue to make news in the recruiting industry, with a number of notable purchases in recent months. Recently, Minneapolis-headquartered Versique Search and Consulting acquired St. Paul, MN-based Midwest Financial Search to boost its presence in the banking and financial services sector. Financial terms of the deal were undisclosed. Midwest Financial Search specializes in placing
Pearson Partners Expands Search Staff
Dallas-headquartered Pearson Partners International has expanded with the addition of veteran attorney Cortland Kelly Grynwald as vice president. She brings to the firm experience in recruiting leaders for both corporate and law firm clients. “The insight that Cortland brings to our team, gained from experience in her law practice and legal search career, is invaluable to our
A New Twist in the War for Talent
We’ve all heard about global talent shortages. But have you ever thought how the talent deficit is impacting the executive search industry itself? With competition stronger than ever, recruitment leaders are dealing with a pressing dilemma of their own: How and where to find top revenue producers. According to Ken Vancini, founder and CEO of Innova International
JM Search Names Three Partners
JM Search, a senior-level talent provider serving private equity investors, portfolio companies and Fortune 1000s, has appointed Bill Borkovitz, Brian Dwyer and David Robinson as partners. “JM Search strives to be a career destination for professionals at every stage of their careers,” said co-founder and CEO John Marshall. “As we begin our 40th anniversary year of client
Buffkin / Baker Recruits CFO for PE-Backed Digitech
Chief financial officers continue to be in high demand. Finding them is keeping many of the nation’s top recruitment operations busier than ever. In recent months, search firms of all varieties have placed CFOs at various companies, especially private equity-backed outfits. Just recently, executive recruitment firm Buffkin / Baker placed Tomas Chadwick as CFO for private
Missouri Southern State Selects EFL Associates to Find President
Executive search firm EFL Associates has been enlisted to find the next president for Missouri Southern State University (MSSU). Alan Marble, who has been the university’s president since 2014, announced in August that he would be retiring effective June 30. EFL Associates was one of two finalists out of six search firms which sought the assignment.
Bridge Partners Opens Chicago Office with New Partner
Executive recruitment firm Bridge Partners has opened a new office in Chicago and named Ryan Whitacre as a partner. Mr. Whitacre is a strategic advisor and talent spotter to hiring managers, boards of directors and search committees for leadership roles including board, C-suite and function heads across sector and industry. He is dedicated to identifying and recruiting
Using People Analytics to Acquire Top Talent, Predict Performance & Reduce Turnover
The value of combining Big Data with statistical predictive modeling has been highly touted in recent years. The idea is to apply advanced computing capabilities to talent-related data to better predict employee behavior. “This people analytics approach has been adopted with the aim of simultaneously doing a better job of improving performance, acquiring top talent
Coulter Partners Finds Chief Scientific Officer for OxStem
With the integration of technology into all facets of everyday life, the life sciences and healthcare industry is hardly alone in facing technology-related issues. These take on increased importance when they impact health, disease diagnosis, treatment and, ultimately, human longevity. Having the right leaders in place to sort through these complex challenges, say recruiters serving







