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Alexander Hughes Names Head of Global Legal Practice
Alexander Hughes has named Anthony Dodeman as head of its global legal practice to strengthen expertise across key legal domains. “This strategic move reinforces our commitment to supporting clients with access to legal professionals who possess a deep understanding of today’s complex legal landscape,” Alexander Hughes said. “Our legal practice spans a broad spectrum of expertise,
EY’s CEO Outlook Puts Talent At The Center Of Growth
EY-Parthenon’s 2026 CEO Outlook Survey of 1,200 global CEOs reveals a striking divergence. While confidence in the global economy has softened, nearly nine in 10 U.S. CEOs remain optimistic about their own companies’ prospects. The implication is clear: leaders believe growth, this year at least, will be self-generated rather than market-driven. That confidence rests on transformation. Ninety-seven percent of CEOs report they
Executive Recruiters Pull Off Another Remarkable Year, Remain Bullish for 2023
Hunt Scanlon Media has released its annual rankings of leading executive recruiters. In the U.S. and globally, billions of dollars poured into the high-end recruiting sector in 2022, a result of continued pentup demand for senior-level leaders and their key reports.
Brettschneider Executive Search Seeking Inaugural SVP of Advancement for Wilmington University
New York City-based Brettschneider Executive Search has been retained by Wilmington University (WilmU) to lead in its search for an inaugural senior vice president of advancement to lead the University’s next phase of philanthropic growth. Reporting to WilmU president LaVerne Harmon, the SVP will partner closely with the president, board and University leaders to advance the University’s strategic
GDPR – The Perfect Time to Refresh Your Database
As executive search firms grapple with the complexities of GDPR, many are concerned that the new regulation will mean deleting thousands of records built up over many years. Surely there must be an alternative?
August Leadership Expands in London
August Leadership has expanded with the addition of Honor Pollok as a partner in London. Ms. Pollok brings over 20 years of executive search and leadership experience. She has led numerous high-profile placements in chair, non-executive director, CEO and the full spectrum of C-suite roles. Her search expertise spans key commercial, financial, creative, human resource, functional,
Hunt Scanlon and HSiQ Spotlight New Approach to Recruiter Training
As the executive search industry faces mounting pressure to improve performance and consistency, firms are increasingly reevaluating how recruiters are trained and developed. Hunt Scanlon and its HSiQ talent intelligence advisory unit recently launched a new Recruiter Performance Training Program designed to bring greater structure, commercial rigor, and scalability to recruiter development in an industry long driven by
Building Team Alignment in an Era of Continuous Change
Ask any team to describe its top strategic priorities and you will often get as many answers as there are people in the room. The problem is not that the strategy hasn’t been communicated, according to recent report from AIIR Consulting. “The problem is that it was communicated into an environment that has since shifted
Isaacson, Miller Helps Recruit 28th President for Texas A&M
Boston-based Isaacson, Miller has assisted in the recruitment of Susan Ballabina as the 28th president of Texas A&M. Andy Lee and Julie Filizetti, led search with Raul Bernal and Luciano Zuniga, and Madeline Fitzpatrick. The members of the Board of Regents conducted a national search that produced a strong pool of candidates. Dr. Ballabina emerged through that process based on her experience, her understanding of
BarkerGilmore Recruits General Counsel for American Credit Acceptance
Boutique search firm BarkerGilmore, which specializes in building corporate legal and compliance teams, has placed Debra Noll as general counsel at American Credit Acceptance. The search was led by Stephen Bell and Alison Waters. “Deb is exceptionally well-positioned to support American Credit Acceptance as it continues to grow and adapt in a complex environment,” BarkerGilmore said in a LinkedIn
Kincannon & Reed Appoints VP of Marketing and Business Development
Kincannon & Reed (K&R), which exclusively focuses on food, agribusiness, and the related life sciences, has expanded with the addition of Dan Evans as vice president of marketing and business development. “Dan brings a strong background in building brands, driving growth, and connecting strategy to execution,” said Stephanie Liska, president of Kincannon & Reed. “Throughout his career,
Women Founders Gain Ground in Human Capital M&A
A meaningful shift has been unfolding across the executive search industry. Over the past decade, a growing number of highly specialized boutiques have been founded and led by women, many of whom built successful careers within larger firms before launching businesses of their own. What is becoming increasingly clear is that investors are paying attention.
Private Equity Recruiting – Return on Investment: Creating Value with Talent
Talent has become a defining driver of performance in private equity, shaping how firms manage risk, execute strategy, and deliver sustained returns. As deal cycles tighten and value creation depends increasingly on operational excellence, leadership quality and organizational design are no longer secondary considerations — they are central to how firms source, underwrite, and scale
AGB Search Seeking Chief Information Technology Officer for Slippery Rock University
Washington, D.C.-based recruitment firm AGB Search, which specializes in higher education leadership assignments, has been retained by Slippery Rock University to lead in its search for a chief information technology officer (CITO). Kimberly Templeton, Margaret Plympton, and Anne Hoffman are leading the assignment. This leader serves as the University’s senior technology executive, providing strategic vision, leadership, and executive
The Talent Studios Recruits Chief Marketing Officer for Pura Vida Miami
The Talent Studios has recruited Bruno Cardinali as chief marketing officer of Pura Vida Miami, the premium all-day café and lifestyle brand focused on health, wellness and community. The search was led by Katlyn Maloney and Jeremy Cohen. Mr. Cardinali brings more than two decades of marketing leadership across fast casual, foodservice, beverage, and global consumer brands. Most recently, as
JM Search Expands Technology and Financial Services Practices
JM Search, a senior-level talent provider serving private equity investors, portfolio companies, and Fortune 1000s, has expanded with the additions of Wes Chisholm as partner and Laura Bennstrom and Charles Telep as principals within its technology and financial services practices. Mr. Chisholm and Mr. Telep join the firm’s technology practice while Ms. Bennstrom joins both the financial
How The Tolan Group Navigated the Downturn and Remained Focused
For many executive search firms, 2024 and 2025 tested resilience in ways few could have predicted. At The Tolan Group (TTG), they experienced the same pressures felt across the industry. Slower decision cycles, delayed starts, and a noticeable dip in portfolio company hiring activity. Yet through that uncertainty, one thing remained constant: our commitment to
Korn Ferry Reports Seven Percent Q4 and Full-Year Revenue Growth, Led by Double-Digit Gains in Professional Search & Interim
Korn Ferry (NYSE:KFY) has posted Q4 fiscal-year revenues of $759.8 million, a year-over-year increase of seven percent and five percent at constant currency. This was led by Professional Search & Interim up 14 percent, followed by Executive Search and Consulting, both up seven percent and RPO up five percent. During the fourth quarter, revenues rose by
Lock Search Group Leading CEO Search for Atlas Sign & Awning
Toronto-headquartered executive recruitment firm Lock Search Group is currently seeking a new CEO for Atlas Sign & Awning. For over 30 years, Atlas Sign & Awning has helped businesses across Canada and the United States stand out through custom commercial signage, awnings, and branded architectural elements. Based in Langley, BC, they’ve built a strong reputation for quality
Anthem Executive Assists the University of Montevallo With President Search
Anthem Executive has assisted in the recruitment of Michelle R. Johnston as the first female president of the University of Montevallo (UM). Michael Ballew, Scott Watson, Mike “JR” Wheless, and Florene Stawowy led the assignment. Dr. Johnston has served as the president of Georgia Southwestern State University since 2024. Prior to her current presidency, she served as president of three other higher education
Mercuri Urval Appoints Non-Executive Director
Stockholm, Sweden-based executive search firm Mercuri Urval (MU) has announced that Jan Sasse, partner at AlterInvest, was named as non-executive director to the MU group board. He will join the current board members Cecilia Strand, Mieke Weijenberg, Cecilia Beer, Richard Moore, and chairman Roger Hagafors. “We are pleased to welcome Jan Sasse as non-executive director of the MU
M&A Becomes a Capability-Driven Acquisition Strategy
EY-Parthenon is forecasting an eight percent increase in U.S. deal volume for transactions exceeding $100 million in 2026, underscoring how central M&A remains to corporate strategy. Yet beneath the headline numbers sits a more important story. The role of acquisitions is evolving. Companies are no longer pursuing deals primarily for scale or market share. Increasingly,
The Hidden Challenges Every First-Time CEO Faces
The corner office has never been more accessible—or more demanding. As boards increasingly turn to a new generation of leaders to navigate disruption, growth, and transformation, first-time CEOs are stepping into roles that require a fundamentally different set of skills than those that propelled them to the top. While many arrive with impressive track records,
Myers McRae Assists Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology with Provost Search
Following a nationwide search, Macon, GA-based Myers McRae Executive Search and Consulting has assisted in the recruitment of Richie Roberts as provost of Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology. Kenny Daugherty and Brianna Douglas led the assignment. Dr. Roberts’ selection was guided by a search committee of OSUIT administrators, faculty, staff and students, which was assisted by national search firm Myers McRae. “The entire
Lancer Group Recruits Chief Technology Officer for Minitab
La Jolla, CA-headquartered search firm Lancer Group has recruited Kevin Gordon as chief technology officer of Minitab. “We’re excited to welcome Kevin Gordon as chief technology officer at Minitab,” the company said. “This is an exciting step forward in the evolution of our technology strategy and will help accelerate innovation across our organization and solutions platform.” “Kevin brings
Friisberg & Partners International Names Managing Partner of its Copenhagen Office
Fribourg, Switzerland-headquartered Friisberg & Partners International has expanded with the addition of Birgitte Olrik as managing partner of its Copenhagen office, strengthening the firm’s presence in the Nordic region and supporting the continued execution of our international growth strategy. “The future of executive search belongs to firms that combine exceptional local expertise with international reach,” said Zoltán Pethő,
Attracting the Right CHRO Starts with the Right Job Description
Hiring a head of HR is one of the most consequential leadership decisions an organization can make, yet many companies struggle to define the role in a way that reflects their actual needs. The most effective job descriptions go beyond qualifications and responsibilities, offering candidates a clear picture of the challenges, priorities, and business objectives
Coulter Partners Recruits Chief Medical Officer for Neumirna Therapeutics
Life sciences recruiting specialist Coulter Partners has placed Ferenc Tracik as chief medical officer of Neumirna Therapeutics. “Neumirna has reached an inflection point: the question is no longer whether the science works, but how quickly we can translate it into an option for patients with urgent unmet need. Ferenc has the experience to get us there,” said Ellen
McCormack + Kristel Seeking CEO for Central New York ON RAMP
McCormack + Kristel is currently seeking a CEO for Central New York ON RAMP. New York State Empire State Development (ESD) recently engaged CenterState Corporation for Economic Opportunity (CenterState CEO), an business leadership and economic development organization, to lead, incubate, and launch the Central New York One Network for Regional Advanced Manufacturing Projects (ON RAMP). The
Bespoke Partners Appoints Leader of People and HR Practice
San Diego, CA-headquartered Bespoke Partners recently named Dani Pfeiffer as a partner leading the people and human resources leader recruiting practice serving both software and industrials sector companies. She will lead dedicated recruiting teams on searches for talent executives for private equity portfolio companies for the software and SaaS clients served by Bespoke Partners and industrial clients served by Industra Talent Partners,
DSG Global (Diversified Search Group) Tapped by the American Cancer Society to Recruit Chief Development Officer
The field of advancement is an extension of development/fundraising. Over the past two decades, educational institutions and charitable groups have shifted toward more integrated models of collaboration between communications, marketing, branding and development. Advancement represents the full integration of these functions under a single leader, the chief advancement officer. According to recruiters who specialize in
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
HDFC Bank Taps Egon Zehnder to Find New CEO
Financial services organizations, generally, are facing a new competitive landscape, regulatory challenges and a constant struggle to manage cost and efficiency. Overseas, fold in Brexit and you have an environment growing in complexity by the day. This requires strategic leaders, both men and women, with a multidimensional skill-set and competencies that often go above and
Hofer Tan & Partners Opens Office in Hong Kong
Singapore-based Hofer Tan & Partner has expanded its global operations with the addition of a new office in Hong Kong to serve key Asian markets and meet rising client demand. The Hong Kong office will work closely with the existing headquarters in Singapore to offer region-wide service in all areas of executive search, board and
The Rise of the Chief Well-Being Officer
In an increasingly complex and stressful world with blurred lines between personal and work lives, workers at all levels need total well-being in all aspects of their lives. Expectations at work and home are no longer distinct or neatly separate – they are becoming one and the same. Savvy companies know that workers who are well
Crist|Kolder Associates Tapped by HanesBrands to Find New CFO
Executive recruiting firm Crist|Kolder has been selected by HanesBrands in Winston-Salem, NC, to lead a comprehensive search for a new chief financial officer. Barry Hytinen left the company in November and current chief accounting officer and controller M. Scott Lewis is serving as interim CFO while the search is underway. In its CFO search, HanesBrands is considering
Collegiate Sports Associates Leads Athletic Director Search for Western Carolina University
Universities continue to turn to executive search firms to find new athletic directors. Western Carolina University (WSU) has enlisted Todd Turner of Collegiate Sports Associates to lead its search for a new director of intercollegiate athletics. The school decided not to renew the contract of former AD Randy Eaton. WSU is hoping to have a new leader of Catamount athletics
Optimum Talent Appoints VPs in Manitoba and Toronto
Toronto-headquartered Optimum Talent has expanded with the additions of Mark Shayna as vice president and market leader of executive search in Manitoba and Debbi Ragogna as vice president of executive search in Toronto. Mr. Shayna has had a 30-year career in sales and recruitment. After 12 years working with Xerox Corp., Baxter Corp. and Pharmacia, he made
Pedersen & Partners Appoints Head of Private Equity Practice
Dubai-headquartered executive search firm Pedersen & Partners named Alvaro Arias Echeverria as global head of the firm’s private equity practice group. Mr. Arias Echeverria has been in charge of Iberia and Latin America at Pedersen & Partners for almost a decade and has co-headed the global private equity practice for over two years. With more than 15
