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Daily Newswire
Sheffield Haworth Acquires Tony O’Leary’s Executive Search Business
Global Leadership advisory and executive search firm Sheffield Haworth has acquired Tony O’Leary’s executive search business, O’Leary and Partners, as part of the firm’s continued investment in Australia and the broader Asia-Pacific region. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. As part of this acquisition, Mr. O’Leary recently joined Sheffield Haworth to lead and expand
Where The Next Trillions Will Be Won Among Executive Search Firms
McKinsey Global Institute’s latest research on the next “arenas of competition” sends a clear signal to investors and operators: future growth will be concentrated in fewer markets, and success in those markets will depend on speed, execution, and leadership quality. According to McKinsey, sectors including AI software and services, cloud, cybersecurity, semiconductors, electric vehicles, robotics, advanced
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.
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
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?
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,
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,
Accelerate Growth in Private Equity with Smarter Talent Strategies
The private equity (PE) landscape has significantly transformed, marked by longer hold periods and more roll-up deals due to rising borrowing costs and fewer mid-sized companies available for acquisition. The traditional approach of quick three to five year exits through financial engineering and C-suite changes is no longer viable. Through this transformation, leadership and talent
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
Lindauer Tapped by American University in Bulgaria to Find President
After vetting several national search firms, American University in Bulgaria (AUBG) has retained the services of Boston-based recruitment firm Lindauer to find its next president. Past president Steven Sullivan announced that he will be returning to his full-time teaching position at the school. Recruiters Jill Lasman and senior consultant Gretchen Dwyer are leading the search for his replacement. David
Wilton & Bain Recruits CCO and CTO for Community Fibre
London-based executive search firm Wilton & Bain has recruited Peter Rampling as chief commercial officer and Dale Kirkwood as chief technology officer of Community Fibre, a gigabit broadband U.K. internet service provider with a vision to deliver full fiber coverage to 500,000 homes in London. Jay Siddiki and Daniel Harrison, both principals within the global telecoms, media and technology functions at Wilton & Bain, led
Solomon Page Expands Life Sciences Practice, Naming Global Leader
Solomon Page has expanded with the addition of Luigi Frezza as managing director and global practice lead for life sciences. Reporting to president and global practice leader Marc Gouran, he will be based in the firm’s London office and drive the growth of the life sciences team globally by partnering with companies in the pharmaceutical, biotech,
Russell Reynolds Associates Names Americas Practice Leader for Transportation and Logistics
Executive recruitment firm Russell Reynolds Associates has added Zack Deming as a consultant in the firm’s industrial practice and Americas practice leader for transportation and logistics. Based in Atlanta, he will be expected to work closely with transportation, logistics, airports and aviation-related companies, as well as private equity and infrastructure funds that invest in this space, to advise them
Vaco Opens Office in West Palm Beach, Names Tech Practice Co-Leader
Brentwood, TN-headquartered recruiting firm Vaco continues to expand, recently opening a new office in West Palm Beach, FL and adding two key leaders: Matt Walter becomes co-managing partner of the technology practice and Albert Llodra joins the firm as managing director. South Florida is a key growth market for Vaco, serving more than 7,000 clients and some
6 Competitive Strategies for a Tight Talent Market
The old paradigms of the global economy have experienced a tectonic shift over the past few years, and perhaps the most significant of them is this point of view: Emerging economies grow at high rates and developed economies grow more slowly or are in decline. “This dictum has been turned on its head recently – nowhere
Ohio State and Emory University Select Isaacson, Miller to Lead President Searches
Many academic recruiting specialists say business has never been better. Even smaller recruiting outfits are handling multiple assignments running concurrently, all at the senior levels. With so much activity, it seems, talent demand is far outstripping the supply. Just recently, both Ohio State and Emory University chose Isaacson, Miller to lead their respective president searches as
The Christopher Group Places Head of Talent Rewards at Nu Skin
The Christopher Group (TCG) has placed Jennifer Lentine as the new head of total rewards at Nu Skin Enterprises. The search was completed in just 45 days by recruiters Nathaniel Schiffer, Kristen Pace and Amy Bott. “I am thrilled to have once again partnered with The Christopher Group to find extraordinary talent to join my team,” said Jeff Bettinger, CHRO at Nu Skin.
HARTZ Search Names Leader of Dallas Office
Charlotte, NC-based executive search firm HARTZ Search has appointed Carol Maxwell as managing director and leader of its Dallas office. The firm said that it expects her to be an invaluable asset. “We are excited to announce the addition of Carol Maxwell to our leadership team at HARTZ Search,” said Mike Hartz, president and CEO
Cornerstone International Group Creates Non-Profit Specialization
The non-profit sector has gained economic strength in recent years, making it the third largest employer in the country. Nearly two million not-for-profits employ 10.7 million people and produce $1.9 trillion in revenue. In the past decade, employment in the sector grew by 17 percent. With demand for non-profit talent at an all-time high, search firms have
