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Pearl Meyer Expands Leadership Advisory Practice Through Acquisition of Ampersand Leadership Group
Coalesce Capital, a PE firm focused on investing in human capital and technology-enabled business services companies, has announced that its portfolio company Pearl Meyer, an independent advisor to boards and senior management, has acquired Ampersand Leadership Group, a provider of leadership advisory and organization performance solutions to private equity firms, their portfolio companies, and leading
Nexus Search Partners Recruits Chief Medical Officer for Azurity Pharmaceuticals
Nexus Search Partners, an executive search and advisory firm in Charlotte, NC, recently assisted in the recruitment of Vinicius Gomes de Lima as chief medical officer of Azurity Pharmaceuticals, an international specialty pharmaceutical company headquartered in the U.S., backed by QHP Capital. The international search, spanning North America and Europe, focused on identifying a medical
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,
Seizing The Shift – Bain’s Midyear Take On Private Equity
2025 opened with promise. The first quarter brought strong deal activity and favorable credit markets. But by April, new tariff announcements upended sentiment. The policy shock sent ripples through global markets, and deal momentum quickly faltered. According to Bain & Company’s Midyear Private Equity Report, “tariff turmoil has held back deals and exits while investors digest
William Funk & Associates Places First Black President at Rutgers
William Funk & Associates, which specializes in recruitment for roles in higher education, has assisted in the placement of Jonathan Holloway as the first black president of Rutgers University. He was selected from a pool of more than 300 applicants. R. William Funk, president of the Dallas-based recruitment firm, led the search. Robert L. Barchi
Hanold Associates Strengthens Search Team with an Eye on Technology, Healthcare & Private Equity
Chicago-based Hanold Associates has expanded with the addition of Joe Costello as a partner. He specializes in recruiting executive level HR leaders across industries. His core focus is on technology, private equity and medical devices with a broader focus in the healthcare industry. “While we specialize in HR across industries, we are looking to continue adding depth
Diversified Search Recruits Board Members for the March of Dimes Foundation
Dale E. Jones and Andrew Wheeler of Diversified Search have placed Honest Company CFO Muhammad Shahzad and former Kids2 CFO Lorna Street as members of the board of trustees for the March of Dimes Foundation, a non-profit fighting for the health of mothers and babies. In their roles as trustees, they will share their unique skills and knowledge to address the country’s urgent
Fisher Leadership Places CEO for Merri Health
Executive search firm Fisher Leadership has placed the new chief executive officer for Merri Health, one of the largest community health providers in the state of Victoria, in southeast Australia. Tassia Michaleas, who had been general manager, family and community, with Merri Health, is charged with driving future growth in metropolitan and regional areas, said Melbourne-based
IIC Partners Adds New Member Firm in Czechia and Slovakia
IIC Partners Executive Search Worldwide has expanded with the addition of executive recruiters Teamconsult as its newest member firm. Located in Prague and Bratislava, Teamconsult will substantially strengthen IIC Partners’ position in the Central and Eastern European region. Teamconsult is focused on serving international organizations with business operations or investment interests in Czechia and Slovakia. The firm’s
Greenwich Harbor Partners Recruits Chief Digital Officer for Panera Bread
Greenwich Harbor Partners has placed former Under Armour executive George Hanson as the new chief digital officer of Panera Bread. Managing directors Ted and Carrie Pryor led the assignment. “This was a nationwide search and we talked to everyone who we thought were appropriate for the position,” said Mr. Pryor. “We were looking for experienced senior ecommerce
CohenTaylor Executive Search Seeks Next Leader for Junior Achievement of the Upper Midwest
Minneapolis-based CohenTaylor Executive Search has been enlisted to find the next president and CEO for Junior Achievement of the Upper Midwest (JAUM) in St. Paul, MN. “JAUM is currently seeking a dynamic and visionary leader to guide the organization through its next phase,” said CohenTaylor. “Working with the board of directors, the president/CEO provides vision and
R&L Associates Assists ZurickDavis in Acquisition
Rochelle Schumer, president of R&L Associates, a recruitment provider specializing in placing search professionals within the headhunting sector, has assisted in merging veteran life sciences recruiter Jennifer Chase and her firm, ChasePartners, with ZurickDavis, a search firm that recruits executives and physician leaders for healthcare organizations. “We are delighted to be part of growing the
Boyden Launches Global Private Equity & Venture Capital Practice
Boyden has created a new global private equity and venture capital practice and named Anita Pouplard, a managing partner of Boyden France, as its leader. “Anita was our board’s unanimous choice to lead our global private equity and venture capital practice, which has been growing for several years in succession,” said Trina Gordon, president and CEO of Boyden.
IRC Global Names Regional Technology Leaders
Organizations today recognize that it is critical and imperative to add technology-savvy leaders to lead in the coming decades of uncertainty. As IRC Global Executive Search Partners’ technology practice grows across all regions, it has decided to further strengthen its global team. Ron Magen, from IRC Israel, has been named as the new EMEA technology
Wilton & Bain Launches Women’s Forum to Drive C-Level Change
Wilton & Bain recently launched its groundbreaking SWITCH (Senior Women in Transformation & Change) network in North America, which brings together C-suite women across industries and functions. Members who operate at an executive or board level position or are in positions that are crucial to influencing and driving change in organizations have now joined arms.
Heidrick & Struggles Places First Female CEO at the National Geographic Society
Executive search, leadership consulting and culture shaping services provider Heidrick & Struggles has recruited Jill Tiefenthaler as the first female CEO of the National Geographic Society. The search included a review of more than 100 candidates. She will succeed former Heidrick CEO Tracy R. Wolstencroft, who was placed in the top role of the National Geographic Society by Russell
SearchWide Global Recruits CEO for VisitDallas
Executive recruiting firm SearchWide Global recently placed Craig Davis as the new president and CEO of VisitDallas. Mike Gamble, president and chief executive officer of SearchWide Global, led the assignment. The search firm had been seeking an executive with knowledge of the travel and tourism industry, its distribution channels and its customer base. “Craig stood out among many
Ernst & Young Acquires PeopleFirm
Ernst & Young (EY) has further enhanced and expanded its capabilities in its People Advisory Services (PAS) business with the acquisition of strategic people consultancy PeopleFirm, a leader in delivering workforce and organization strategy, performance management, diversity and inclusion, leadership and culture work. Financial terms of the deal were undisclosed. PeopleFirm is a leader in delivering
Cannabis Search Firm Hunter + Esquire Expands
Legal marijuana is now an over $10 billion business in the U.S. Investors poured over $10 billion into cannabis in North America last year, twice what was invested in the last three years combined. In addition, the North American market exceeded $16 billion in 2019. While talent deficits are a problem in every industry, the
Building a Talent Function for the Future
Today, organizations are contending with increasingly complex pressures caused by shifting societal trends and rapidly evolving business models as digitalization disrupts industries old and new. An increasingly digital world, 2020 marking the year Millennials are set to account for 50 percent of the workforce, as well as a heightened focus on social good and diversity and
Hobbs & Towne Recruits Chief Marketing Officer for HomeWorks Energy
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. Recently, executive search firm Hobbs & Towne placed Bill Graham as the new chief marketing officer of HomeWorks Energy
Ralph Andersen and Associates Seeks Chief of Police for Boise, ID
The public sector is in the midst of major transformation. It faces an array of challenges that range from shifting public expectations to budgetary pressures and a growing demand for operational efficiency. To successfully navigate these issues, government organizations need leaders who are focused, tenacious and adaptable, with the capacity to deal with significant scale,
LifeSci Search Expands Efforts in Two Key Areas
LifeSci Search, a life sciences-focused executive search firm, is expanding on multiple fronts. The New York City-based search firm recently announced that it was moving into the healthcare investment and advisory industries with the addition of two key recruiters, Elena Liapounova and Rahil Haneef. Late last year, the firm added a veteran leader, Cristiano Musso,
Doyen Search Group Opens to Serve Hospitality and Real Estate Recruiting Sectors
The executive search industry is being disrupted by the entrance of a multitude of new players offering advanced business models and new technologies. The latest: Doyen Search Group (DSG), an executive search firm specialized in hospitality and real estate development, has been launched by Darrell Maxwell. Serving clients across the U.S., Doyen Search Group said
Frederickson Partners Appoints Chief Growth Officer in Chicago
Frederickson Partners, an executive search firm that recruits high impact human resources and people leaders for innovative, high-growth and transformational companies, has named Brian Brinkley as chief growth officer. He will be based in the firm’s Chicago office. “With the increasing utilization of artificial intelligence in strategic HR and the focus on building companies based
Odgers Berndtson Awarded Epilepsy Foundation CEO Search
Odgers Berndtson has been enlisted to conduct a national search for the president and CEO for the Epilepsy Foundation. The assignment will be led by partners Maureen Ryan and Derek Wilkinson. Philip M. Gattone stepped down from the Epilepsy Foundation’s top job at the end of last year. He leaves the organization with a strong leadership team and board of directors
Spencer Stuart Acquires Cambia Consulting
Spencer Stuart has acquired Cambria Consulting, which specializes in individual and team development. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Cambria Consulting’s offerings complement Spencer Stuart’s growing set of leadership advisory services, which include executive assessment and development, coaching, CEO succession, team effectiveness, culture shaping, board effectiveness and the people side of merger integration,
AETHOS Consulting Group Tapped by Red Lion Hotels to Lead CEO Search
After taking a massive hit during the Great Recession, employment and hiring within the hotel and hospitality industry has begun to rebound. In the last year, according to one set of survey metrics, the industry added 527,000 jobs (2.6 million since 2004). That number is expected to increase in 2020, as global tourism and traveling
Sheffield Haworth Expands Global Markets Team
Global leadership advisory and executive search firm Sheffield Haworth has expanded with the addition of Deborah Way to its New York office as a managing director within the firm’s global markets team. Ms. Way brings to the firm a wealth of experience in fixed income sales across the New York and Asia markets, having spent over 21
AGB Search Embarks On Prodigious Start to New Year
A number of colleges and universities across the country are opening searches that, if all goes to plan, will provide high-profile leaders to take them into a new era of fundraising, digitalization, sports and, increasingly the case, globalization. One national recruiting outfit, Washington, D.C.-based AGB Search, has become a magnet for such assignments — recently
Options Group Opens Los Angeles Office; Adds Financial Services Expert to West Coast Team
Options Group has opened a new office in Los Angeles, which will be led by Amit Kapoor. Mr. Kapoor has transferred from the firm’s New York office to oversee Options Group’s ambitious growth plans for the region. The firm also hired Lara DeVito to help spearhead the buildout. As head of the Los Angeles office, Mr. Kapoor will be
ON Partners Lands CEO for Bazaarvoice
Executive search firm ON Partners has placed Keith Nealon as chief executive officer of Bazaarvoice Inc., a digital marketing company based in Austin, TX. Joe Davis of Marlin Equity Partners has served as CEO since it acquired Bazaarvoice in 2018. The company said he will transition out of the CEO role and return to his original role
Caldwell Posts 14 Percent Increase in Revenues
Toronto-based executive search firm Caldwell has posted first quarter revenues of $18.8 million (Canadian), a 14 percent increase from a year ago. “This was another excellent quarter and a strong start to our fiscal year,” said John Wallace, chief executive officer of Caldwell. “We said we were well-positioned heading into fiscal 2020, and we are pleased to be
Kennedy Executive Search Appoints New President and VP
Kennedy Executive Search, a network of independent executive search firms, has elected Caroline Frisenberg as new president and Markus Unterberger as vice president. Founder of the network Jorg Stegemann and Carl Lens will step down as president and vice president, respectively. The election is the result of the network’s recent transformation into an economic interest
As Job Growth Continues, ‘Robust Hiring Year’ Expected
Employers added 145,000 jobs last month as the U.S. unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.5 percent, according to the most recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report. The increase was below the 164,000 forecast by economists. The December gain is the 111th consecutive month of job growth. The number of unemployed currently stands at 6.3 million. In 2019, the
