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Integration-Ready C-Suite Leaders Growing In Demand, and Influence
After two years of subdued activity, global M&A surged last year, with deal value climbing 40 percent to roughly $4.9 trillion, marking one of the strongest years on record. According to Bain & Company Global M&A Report 2026, the rebound was broad-based across sectors and geographies and driven by a renewed urgency among companies to reinvent
WittKieffer Tapped by the University of Tulsa for President Search
Oak Brook, IL-based WittKieffer has been retained by the University of Tulsa (UTulsa) to lead in its search for a new president. Zachary Smith, Robin Mamlet, and Julia Bradley are leading the assignment. The school seeks a visionary and dynamic leader to serve as its next president and to guide the private research institution to the next phase of success.
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.
JDG Associates Retained by the Institute for Defense Analyses for General Counsel Search
Rockville, MD-based executive search firm JDG Associates has been retained by the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA) to lead its search for a general counsel based in Alexandria, VA. Reporting directly to the president and CEO, the general counsel serves as IDA’s chief legal officer and secretary of the Corporation, with responsibility spanning legal counsel and
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?
CarterBaldwin Assists Ideal Tridon Group with Chief Information Officer Search
CarterBaldwin Executive Search has helped to recruit Shane Dacus as chief information officer of Ideal Tridon Group, a portfolio company of Nautic Partners and global provider of engineered clamps, brackets, fittings, and metal framing systems. Mr. Dacus brings more than 25 years of technology leadership across industrial, manufacturing, and PE-backed platforms, with a consistent record of elevating IT
Lindauer Recruits CEO for Penn State Alumni Association
Lindauer has placed Reggie Bustinza as associate vice president for alumni relations and chief executive officer of the Penn State Alumni Association. He was selected after a nationwide search to succeed Paul Clifford, who departed Penn State in January 2025. The search was led by Lindauer executive vice president Faith Montgomery and senior consultant Raegan Harvey in partnership with Penn State. “Lindauer
Why M&A Success Is Ultimately a Talent Challenge
In its latest market intelligence findings, The Role of HR in M&A: 5 Golden Rules for CHROs, Spencer Stuart argues that many transactions fail not because of flawed strategy, but because of shortcomings in leadership, culture, talent retention, and organizational execution. While financial and operational diligence often dominate deal planning, the firm’s research suggests that people-related
Greenwood Asher & Associates Leading Chief Marketing Officer Search for the College of Charleston
Miramar Beach, FL-based executive recruitment firm Greenwood Asher & Associates (GA&A) is currently seeking a chief marketing officer and vice president for marketing and communications for the College of Charleston. Kyle Pybus-Jerome and Jeremy Duff are leading the assignment. The College of Charleston seeks a strategic and innovative marketing executive to lead an integrated marketing and communications enterprise that
EMA Partners India Acquires Recruitment Process Outsourcing Services Provider Taggd
Executive search and leadership recruitment platform EMA Partners India has acquired recruitment process outsourcing services provider Taggd in an all-cash deal valued at Rs 113 crore. The all-cash acquisition aims to create an integrated talent recruitment platform offering executive search, professional search and AI-powered recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) solutions at scale. Taggd will continue to
NGS Global Expands in London
Wilmington, DE-headquartered executive search firm NGS Global has expanded with the additions of Daniel Yeates and George Balfour as managing directors in London. “Daniel and George are accomplished executive search professionals with deep expertise in the technology and digital sectors,” said David Nosal, chairman and managing partner. “They each bring outstanding client and candidate relationships built over decades
Leadership Challenges Intensify as Organizations Confront AI, Talent, and Economic Uncertainty
Organizations are operating in an increasingly complex environment where economic uncertainty, workforce challenges, AI adoption, and digital transformation are converging to reshape leadership priorities. Kestria’s second annual global leadership survey builds on the themes that emerged in last year’s research; highlighting how rapidly the leadership landscape continues to evolve. Based on responses from more than
Riviera Partners Acquires Lateral Labs
San Francisco-based Riviera Partners, a recruitment provider specializing in C-level engineering, product, and design leader placements, has acquired Lateral Labs, a specialized recruiting firm serving top AI startups. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. “The acquisition comes as companies remain challenged to meet the demand of organizational AI readiness,” the firm said. “Adding Lateral Labs positions Riviera Partners
Marovi Assists Congruex with CFO Search
Working in partnership with Atlanta-GA-based Marovi, Congruex, a provider of digital infrastructure engineering and construction services, appointed Jim Stanley as CFO. He reports to Congruex’s co-founder, president, and CEO, Kevin O’Hara. The appointment comes amid strong and sustained growth at Congruex as it plans to continue to capitalize on macro tailwinds, including AI and data center
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
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
Power Shift: How Employer Control and Employee Expectations Are Shaping the Future of Work
Employees’ needs can feel like a moving target, changing with new trends, technologies, and values. But in the past year, companies have made tough decisions—mandating office returns, flattening management layers, tightening salary increases—all in the name of stability and growth. The push and pull of power between employer control and employee expectations is rewriting common
Isaacson, Miller Seeks New Leader for Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law
Executive search firm Isaacson, Miller has been enlisted to find the next president and chief executive officer for the Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law in Chicago. Partner Tim McFeeley is leading the assignment along with managing associate Jeff Kessner. “Recently celebrating its 50th anniversary, the Shriver Center has consistently enjoyed an impressive set
Korn Ferry Retained by Municipal Credit Union to Lead CHRO Search
These are critical days for credit unions. The U.S. has about 5,300 federally insured credit unions, with more than $1.5 trillion in assets and 118.3 million members, according to the National Credit Union Administration. But with the steady retirement of Baby Boomers, among other factors, the cooperatives are facing the loss of more than 4,000
Savannah Group Appoints Head of Industrial Practice
U.K.-headquartered executive search and interim management specialist Savannah Group has appointed Chris Donkin as a partner and head of the firm’s industrial practice. “I am delighted that Chris has joined the Savannah team,” said John Ellis, CEO of Savannah Group. “His deep sector knowledge and impressive record with leading industrial clients will add further strength to this
Recession, Talent Shortages Top Concerns Among CEOs for 2020
A new survey reveals that the world’s chief executives view the risk of a recession as their biggest external concern in 2020. Attracting and retaining talent ranks as their top internal concern. They also feel unsettled by trade uncertainty, political instability and more intense competition from disruptive technologies. They plan to counter such forces, however,
Societe Generale Turns to Egon Zehnder to Find Next 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. Changing times require strategic leaders, both men and women, with a multidimensional skill-sets and competencies that often go beyond
Charities Aid Foundation Selects Russell Reynolds Associates to Lead CEO Search
Russell Reynolds Associates has been retained by the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) in the U.K. to lead its hunt for a new chief executive officer to replace Sir John Low. Mr. Low announced late last year that he would be stepping down when his successor was named. “This appointment is made at an exciting time
Bullhorn Appoints Chief People Officer
Bullhorn Inc., which provides cloud-based customer relationship management and operations solutions for the staffing industry, has named Kristin Machacek as its chief people officer. She will be based at the company’s headquarters in Boston and will serve on the company’s senior leadership team. Mercedes Chatfield-Taylor handled the search on behalf of Caldwell. “Kristin is a
Top Gun Ventures Names Leader of Education Practice
Plano, TX-based executive search firm Top Gun Ventures (TGV) has appointed Wallace Pond as partner and head of the firm’s new executive search practice for education. With this addition, the firm is expanding its search model into education, serving national and international clients out of its Denver, CO, office. “Top Gun Ventures has always been, and always
Larger Funds Bring Increased Competition for Private Equity Talent
The state of the U.S. private equity market is strong. As of November, U.S. private equity funds had raised $246 billion in 2019, more capital than in any other year recorded by PitchBook, and up substantially from a previous high of $238 billion in 2017. Large firms are driving the growth of private equity fundraising.
Kevin Chase Executive Search Finds New Leader for Equality Texas
Following a national search, Los Angeles-based Kevin Chase Executive Search Group has placed Ricardo Martinez as the new CEO of Equality Texas. He is a gay, bilingual, Mexican-American and a recognized LGBTQ leader by the Obama Administration. Managing partner Kevin Chase led the assignment along with senior associate Catie DiFelice. “We are pleased to announce Ricardo Martinez as Equality
SRi Recruits CEO for the All England Lawn Tennis Club
Executive search firm SRi has recruited Sally Bolton as the new CEO of the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) succeeding Richard Lewis. Partner David James led the assignment. With a proven track record of sports and event management experience at both an executive and non-executive level within the sports industry, Ms. Bolton was recognized by the AELTC committee
Jorgenson Consulting Seeks CEO for Montgomery County Economic Development Group
Greensboro, NC-based Jorgenson Consulting has been selected to find the next president and chief executive officer for the Montgomery County Economic Development Corp. (MCEDC) in Maryland. Todd W.S. Jorgenson, managing director and principal, is leading the assignment for the executive recruitment firm. David Petr stepped down from the organization’s top role at the end of his three-year
20/20 Foresight Executive Search Expands New York Office
Chicago-headquartered 20/20 Foresight Executive Search has expanded with the addition of Ellen Rhoades as managing director in its New York office. She brings more than 20 years of executive search and corporate talent acquisition leadership experience to her new role. “As 20/20 Foresight enters our 26th year of business in 2020, we are making significant internal additions to our team
Caldwell Recruits CFO for Helix As Role Becomes Success Driver across Private Equity Sector
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. Mercedes Chatfield-Taylor, managing partner of the private equity and venture capital practice at Caldwell, recently
Lindauer Seeking Chief Development Officer for the Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg
Boston-based recruitment firm Lindauer has been selected to find a chief development officer for the Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg in Florida Senior consultant Zena Lum is leading the assignment. As the chief fundraiser, the chief development officer will be expected to devise, implement and manage a comprehensive program, including the creation of a development plan
Stanton Chase Expands Media and Entertainment Practice
Baltimore, MD-headquartered Stanton Chase has continued its recent expansion with the addition of former film director Shayne Lightner to its Los Angeles office as a director, with a focus on entertainment, media and digital. “Now more than ever, creativity, storytelling and an understanding of human behavior are crucial in helping streaming and entertainment companies diversify their ranks and
Top Executive Jobs for 2020
ON Partners has unveiled its Top Jobs 2020 report, a bespoke list of C-suite and executive level jobs expected to be in demand in the coming year. Included are roles in the technology, consumer, life sciences, supply chain and industrial sectors. According to ON consultants nationwide who provided input for the Top Jobs list, the
BoardWalk Consulting Seeks CEO for Community Foundation for a Greater Atlanta
BoardWalk Consulting has been retained by the Community Foundation for a Greater Atlanta to lead its search for a new CEO. Alicia Philipp announced her plans to retire by the end of 2020 after 42 years with the organization. Earlier this year, the foundation established a search committee, which in turn created a comprehensive request
PFM Executive Search Places Chief Project Officer for Fraser Health
Vancouver, British Columbia-based PFM Executive Search has placed Sharat Chandra as chief project officer at Fraser Health for the Royal Columbian Hospital Redevelopment Project. Partners Allison Rzen and Shaun Carpenter are leading the assignment for the search firm. In his new role, Mr. Chandra will be responsible for leading the development, design, construction, completion and move-in of
Hunt Scanlon Media’s Top 10 Private Equity Recruiting Stories of 2019
Today, the PE sector is the chief growth driver for executive search firms. PE firms are rapidly expanding their portfolio companies and along that pathway they need top talent more than ever before. In short, private equity firms are hungry for top level C-suite talent as their portfolio companies go through an explosive gritty phase.
Cejka Search Wins CEO Assignment for the Iowa Clinic
Cejka Search has been retained by the Iowa Clinic to lead its hunt for a new CEO. The assignment is being led by Mark Madden, the recruitment firm’s executive vice president and managing principal. The incoming CEO will be expected to provide executive leadership in establishing and executing a strategic vision in alignment with the board
Russell Reynolds Associates Expands in Munich and Hamburg
Executive recruitment firm Russell Reynolds Associates recently closed the year by adding Immo Futterlieb as managing director in Munich and Moritz Trebeljahr as executive director in its Hamburg office. “We are very happy to have been able to strengthen our team by having Immo and Moritz join us,” said Ulrike Wieduwilt, Russell Reynolds Associates’ German country
Hunt Scanlon Media’s Top 10 Recruiting Stories of 2019
What a year to be covering the executive recruitment industry! Going back over the hundreds of stories Hunt Scanlon Media brought to our readers over the course of 2019 has been both exhilarating and revealing. Change continues to come to the field, often in the most surprising ways. There has been growth and expansion, new ways of
RM Nephew and Associates Places CHRO of Cytel
CHROs have become critical stakeholders in defining the strategy of a company. Their job description calls for them to tackle the HR challenges and evolving expectations of a dynamic workplace environment that will consist of constant change, calculated risk taking and evolving expectations from top stakeholders. Those well-equipped to achieve the greatest success will have
AGB Search Seeks Provost for University of South Carolina
Washington, D.C.-based recruitment firm AGB Search is looking for a new executive vice president for academic affairs and provost for the University of South Carolina. Managing principal Roderick J. McDavis, consultants Sally Mason and Garry W. Owens, and principal Kimberly S. Templeton are leading the assignment. This role is the second ranking officer of the university, acting for the president in his
Hunt Scanlon’s Top 10 Sports Search Assignments of 2019
2019 was a thrilling year for sports. It all started with the New England Patriots winning their sixth Super Bowl. The Washington Nationals claimed their first World Series. The Toronto Raptors won the NBA title. Megan Rapinoe and her teammates captured the FIFAWomen’s World Cup. And the cheers, jeers and intrigue were in evidence on
Ezekia to Manage Global Recruiting Processes at Stanton Chase
Stanton Chase is adopting Ezekia as the primary platform for managing its global recruiting business processes in a move that could have big implications for search firms as 2020 unfolds. The platform, which offers innovative, customized, easy-to-use software for recruiters, will be adopted across all of the firm’s 75 worldwide offices. “Ezekia is a proven, top-tier
Sapphire Partners Assists the Bank of England in Governor Search
Sapphire Partners, a London-based executive search firm, assisted the Bank of England in the recruitment of Andrew Bailey as its new governor. Mark Carney, who has held the position for six years, will step down at the end of January. Mr. Bailey will be the 121st Governor in the bank’s 325 year history and the
Koya Leadership Partners Recruits Chief Diversity Officer for Susquehanna University
The role of chief diversity officer is expanding at universities across the country — and fast becoming one of the most sought after C-suite positions to be filled by recruiters. It has, in fact, become one of the most important positions for shaping the vision, culture and very face of institutions of higher learning from
Russell Reynolds Associates Names Leader for HR Officers Practice in Australia
The executive search field continues to be a welcoming landing pad for HR executives and other top corporate executives looking for a career change. Executive recruitment firm Russell Reynolds Associates recently named veteran HR executive Katherine Henry as a senior member of the firm’s global corporate officers sector, leading the human resources officers practice in Australia. She is based
Hunt Scanlon’s Top 10 Search Assignments of 2019
With 2019 drawing to a close, we looked back through our archives over what was by all accounts a remarkable year for first-rate search assignments. Hunt Scanlon Media tracked hundreds of them. From CEO placements to those covering the bandwidth of the C-suite, our editorial team gleaned the best from every industry sector and functional discipline to create
