DAILY NEWSWIRE - TOP STORIES
Daily Newswire
Unemployment Falls to 4.4 Percent as 50,000 New Job Added
Employment rose by 50,000 in December as the U.S. unemployment rate fell to 4.4 percent, according to the most recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report. Employment continued to trend up in food services and drinking places, healthcare, and social assistance. Retail trade lost jobs. The number of unemployed people, at 7.5 million, changed little in December.
7 Questions to Ask When Choosing an International Recruiter
International recruiting quickly becomes a different game altogether—one where local networks, cultural fluency, and trusted on-the-ground connections often matter more than the tools or tactics employers rely on at home. However, many employers do not like working with recruitment companies, according to a report from NPAworldwide. “In markets that employers know well and have social
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.
Caldwell Expands in London and Madrid
Toronto-based Caldwell has expanded with the addition of Alex Langridge as a partner in the firm’s financial services practice. Based in London, Mr. Langridge advises clients across financial services and fintech on senior executive and board appointments, succession planning, organizational design, and transformational leadership hiring. “Alex’s appointment reflects our continued investment in expanding Caldwell’s financial
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?
Fama Technologies Granted U.S. Patent on Foundational AI-Powered Social Media Screening Technology
Fama Technologies, providers of AI-powered online screening, has announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has allowed all claims in its patent application covering the foundational technology behind social media background screening. The patent, titled “System for Searching and Correlating Online Activity with Individual Classification Factors,” has a priority date of November
Updating How You Work So AI Can Actually Deliver
AI adoption is no longer a technology challenge, it is an operational one. Companies that generate lasting value from AI will be the ones willing to redesign workflows, redefine leadership responsibilities, and embed AI directly into how work gets done every day. Most companies will not fail at AI because they chose the wrong model,
Vetted Solutions Assists CoreNet Global with CEO Search
Following an extensive search process, Washington, D.C.-based Vetted Solutions has assisted in the recruitment of Vicki Worden as the new CEO of CoreNet Global. “Vicki Worden demonstrates exemplary leadership through her collaborative approach,” said Jamie Leary-Erickson, CoreNet Global board chair. “Vicki’s extensive experience in the architecture, engineering, and commercial real estate sectors, combined with her global perspective
BarkerGilmore Places Head of Legal at Vantage Elevator Solutions
Boutique search firm BarkerGilmore, which specializes in building corporate legal and compliance teams, has placed Keinan Meginniss as VP, head of legal at Vantage Elevator Solutions. The search was led by Stephen Bell and Alison Waters. “Keinan joins the organization at an exciting time as the company continues to expand its operations and strengthen its leadership team
NGS Global Adds TalentXera
Wilmington, DE-headquartered executive search firm NGS Global has added Saúl Almendárez and his team at TalentXera. This expands the firm’s capabilities across Mexico and the broader Latin America region. Mr. Almendárez is based in Mexico City, where he has spent more than 20 years building an exceptional team and a highly regarded brand in the executive search industry. Along
IMD International Search Group Elects New Board Members
Global executive search consortium IMD International Search Group recently had delegates from member firms meet in Helsinki, Finland, and announced the election of several board members. Ben Tucker (Minerva, IMD U.K.) transitions from director to VP finance and legal. Eva Nielsen (Lisberg, IMD Sweden) is reelected for a second mandate as director while Terhi Heikkinen (IMS Talent,
Hunt Scanlon and HSiQ Launch Recruiter Performance Training Program
The executive search industry has a training challenge. For years, recruiting firms have depended on apprenticeship-style development, learning through observation, informal mentoring, and varying management approaches. That model works for some, but it does not scale effectively. In a market increasingly shaped by AI, speed, precision, and commercial demands, inconsistent recruiter performance is no longer
Executive Search Firms Confront the AI Transformation
As AI rapidly reshapes the executive search landscape, recruiting firms are facing growing pressure to modernize how they identify, assess, and engage leadership talent. Industry experts say AI-driven sourcing, predictive analytics, and automation tools are helping firms accelerate search timelines and expand candidate reach, while also forcing recruiters to rethink where their true value lies.
Cooper Coleman Recruits CFO the Center for Child Protection
Cooper Coleman LLC has placed William Wade as chief financial officer of the Center for Child Protection (CCP) in Austin, TX. The national search was led by Johnny Cooper, founder and CEO of Cooper Coleman. “Dion brings the kind of strategic thinking and mission alignment CCP needs in its CFO,” said Mr. Cooper. “They are doing remarkable work,
Boyden Assists Kerry’s Place Autism Services with CEO Search
Boyden has recruited Normandie Wragg as the new president and CEO of Kerry’s Place Autism Services in Ontario. The appointment follows the previously announced retirement of CEO Susan VanDeVelde-Coke at the end of June. The search was led by partners Jim Stonehouse and Pamela Colquhoun, and Kathy Luu, senior associate. “Normandie is a highly accomplished, values-driven
Modern Executive Solutions Expands Technology Practice
Atlanta-based talent consultancy Modern Executive Solutions has expanded with the addition of Moises Velilla as managing director in its technology practice. He brings deep experience advising organizations on senior leadership hiring and talent strategy across technology and transformation. Mr. Velilla specializes in advising clients on executive talent strategy and recruiting transformative technology and professional services leaders. He
AI’s Next Test: Can It Actually Drive Growth?
A massive opportunity, and a critical trust gap, is emerging among corporate leaders. According to EY-Parthenon’s Growth Survey of 271 U.S. executives, 78 percent believe AI will accelerate growth, even as nearly 80 percent say the growth environment has become more challenging over the past year. Yet only about a third trust AI inputs for high-stakes decisions such
Retained vs. Contingent Search: Choosing the Right Executive Search Model
As companies navigate increasingly complex leadership challenges, the pressure to make the right executive hiring decision has never been greater. Boards and leadership teams are looking beyond resumes and credentials, placing greater emphasis on cultural alignment, long-term business impact, and a candidate’s ability to guide organizations through growth, transformation, and uncertainty. At the same time,
Brettschneider Executive Search Completes Search for Western Colorado University
New York City-based Brettschneider Executive Search recently assisted in the recruitment of Sharoni Little as dean of Western Colorado University’s School of Business. “Dr. Little’s forward-thinking approach will help shape the future of business education at Western, creating opportunities for students to thrive in today’s competitive economy,” said Brad Baca, president. With a career spanning academia, corporate leadership,
Ren Systems Appoints Head of Product
Ren Systems, an AI-powered relationship intelligence platform used by sales, business development, and professional services leaders, recently expanded with the addition of Nick Wynja as head of product. “As we’ve scaled Ren to 70+ enterprise customers and accelerated our feature release cycle, it became clear that we needed focused product leadership,” the company said in
How to Kick Off an Executive Search the Right Way
As leadership demands grow more complex, organizations are increasingly recognizing that a successful executive search begins long before candidate outreach or interviews take place. Search consultants say the strongest outcomes are driven by early alignment around business strategy, organizational culture, leadership expectations, and the capabilities needed to support future growth. Rather than simply filling an
Why Structured Interviews Lead to Better Hiring
As organizations compete for leadership talent, many are reexamining how executive interviews are conducted and whether traditional hiring instincts are leading to the best decisions. Increasingly, research is showing that structured interviews built around standardized questions and evaluation criteria deliver more reliable hiring outcomes than conversational, free-flowing assessments. Talent experts say the approach not only
Rethinking Career Loyalty in the Age of Gen Z and Millennials
As leadership priorities continue to evolve, executive search firms are seeing a growing shift in how candidates evaluate long-term career opportunities. Today’s professionals are placing greater emphasis on purpose, culture, mentorship, flexibility, and personal growth alongside compensation and title. Recruiters say organizations that can clearly communicate vision, invest in employee development, and foster strong leadership
Coulter Partners Recruits Chief Scientific Officer for Laigo Bio
Life sciences recruiting specialist Coulter Partners has recruited Richard C.A. Sainson as the new chief scientific officer of Laigo Bio. “It was a privilege to partner with Matthew and the Laigo board,” said Kay Wardle, managing partner at Coulter Partners. “Targeted protein degradation is one of the most exciting frontier areas of drug discovery, and finding a chief
Blue Rock Human Capital Recruits Chief People Officer for Michelli Weighing & Measurement
Talent acquisition strategies at many large companies have become as complex as their balance sheets. And while chief human resource officers play a vital role in overseeing an organization’s broad-based workforce, the chief people officer typically goes beyond overseeing its people policies. The focus instead is on building talent as a key competitive advantage, with more
Raising the Bar for Interim and Fractional Leadership
As companies face mounting pressure to move faster and adapt to constant change, interim and fractional executives are increasingly being brought in not simply to maintain stability, but to drive transformation from day one. Organizations today are seeking experienced leaders who can step into critical roles, solve immediate business challenges, and create momentum while long-term
BoardWalk Consulting Selected by Atlanta Ballet for Executive Director Search
BoardWalk Consulting has was recently tapped by Atlanta Ballet to lead in its search for an executive director. The search is being led by Sam Pettway, Demeika Wheaton, and Patti Kish. The executive director will lead Atlanta Ballet’s administrative and business functions in alignment with the organization’s mission and values, while partnering closely with the artistic
When Search Fatigue Leads to Costly Hiring Mistakes
In executive search, the biggest hiring mistakes are not always caused by weak candidate pools or poor sourcing strategies. More often, breakdowns occur near the finish line, when prolonged interview cycles, competing stakeholder opinions, and mounting business pressures begin to wear down decision-making discipline. What starts as a rigorous evaluation process can gradually shift toward
Preng & Associates Recruits SVP of Government Services for American Bureau of Shipping
Houston-based Preng & Associates has placed Rear Admiral Ronald J. Rábago as senior vice president of government services at American Bureau of Shipping (ABS). “Admiral Rábago brings exceptional government and industry experience that will further enhance the support we provide to our government clients in the U.S. and around the world,” said John McDonald, ABS chairman and CEO. “His
McDermott + Bull Expands in Amsterdam
Irvine, CA-based McDermott + Bull has expanded in Amsterdam with the addition of Gerben van den Hout as managing director. “This strategic hire comes as McDermott + Bull continues to expand its executive search presence across Europe, further strengthening the firm’s ability to support organizations in identifying and placing high-impact leadership talent,” the firm said. “Gerben’s appointment represents an
The Role of Employee Experience in Boosting Talent Acquisition Outcomes
In today’s job market, employees have the freedom to select roles and organizations that reflect their values, career goals, and ideal work environments—making the overall employee experience a pivotal element in attracting, retaining, and inspiring top talent. Companies must recognize the decisive role of employee experience in executive search to secure leadership that drives organizational
Driving Diversity and Inclusion from the Top
A growing body of research shows significant correlations between diverse leadership teams and better business outcomes. Diverse companies are better able to attract top talent; to improve their customer orientation, employee satisfaction and decision-making; and to secure their license to operate, according to McKinsey & Company. In the majority of cases, they also improve their
Greenwich Harbor Partners Recruits Teach for America Miami-Dade Directors
Although boards of directors are considered the backbones of organizations, director recruiting has grown markedly more challenging, say recruiters who conduct searches in that area. As a result, companies continue to turn to executive search firms to help find new board members. Recently, Greenwich Harbor Partners placed Lisa Hook, Trisha McDermott Thompkins and Alena Brenner as new members
Heidrick & Struggles Lands New CEO for Search Firm Lucas Group
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: Atlanta, GA-headquartered executive search firm Lucas Group has appointed Randy Marmon as president and CEO. He succeeds Andi Jennings, who has led the firm since 2009 and will remain a member of Lucas
7 Ways to Improve Employee Engagement
Creating a culture of engagement is critical to business success. When executive teams are engaged, managers are 39 percent more likely to be engaged, and this drives engagement among all employees, according to a Gallup survey. Plain and simple, increased engagement impacts the bottom line. Publicly traded “100 Best Companies,” for example, consistently outperform major stock
Rosenzweig & Co. Recruits CIO for the Supreme Cannabis Company
Executive search firm Rosenzweig & Company has placed former Just Energy executive Ash Rajendra as chief information officer of the Supreme Cannabis Company, where he will focus on ensuring the organization is well prepared to execute on its next phase of growth. Partner Larry Chan led the assignment. Mr. Rajendra is an experienced information technology and
NPAworldwide Adds 13 New Member Firms
Executive search consultants are seeing an increase in hiring mandates from around the world. To meet demand, they continue to develop new practices, hire new recruiters and open new locations. Global recruiting consortiums, meanwhile, are taking advantage of a resurgence in certain geographic areas. Member-owned recruitment network NPAworldwide has added 13 new member locations as it continues to
Choosing Your Executive Search Firm
It’s far from easy to find people with the right skills, experience and values to fill vital senior executive positions. Some roles are simply so important that you have to invest in identifying and recruiting the best individual. But how do you set about choosing an executive search firm? To begin with, you need to
Lindauer Seeks Chief Development Officer for Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco
Boston-based recruitment firm Lindauer has been enlisted by Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco to find a chief development officer to lead its development and marketing team. Libby Roberts, senior vice president, is spearheading the assignment. “This is an exceptional leadership role for an experienced senior-level professional to join a successful team that is poised for
IMSA Search Opens New Offices in Norway
Executive search network IMSA Search Global Partners has expanded in Norway with the additions of Search House, based in Trondheim, and A’HEAD, which operates in Stavanger and Oslo. “Search House and A’HEAD have several commonalities: They were both founded and are still owned by the partners, are approximately the same size, and have vibrant operations in the
5 Reasons Why Top Recruiting Firms Rely on Real-Time Collaboration
The world of executive recruiting has changed significantly in the past decade. Technology-aided candidate assessment methods, for example, are now commonplace. And search firms are expanding the services they offer, as clients place a greater emphasis on succession planning, culture fit and talent management solutions that go far beyond recruiting. As a result, executive recruiting
Heidrick & Struggles Recruits CEO for Newell Brands
Competition among consumer companies has never been fiercer. Customers are shopping in new and sometimes non-traditional ways as mass market retailers offer designer goods, brick and mortar staples are available on-line and venerable brands spin off agile brand extensions. Consumer companies are also keen to capitalize on the potential of emerging and high growth markets. All this
Hudson Global Posts 60 Percent Q2 Revenue Gain
Hudson Global Inc. / (NASDAQ:HSON) posted second quarter revenues of $26.4 million, up 59.7 percent in constant currency, from a year ago. By region, Hudson Asia Pacific led the charge, recording a revenue gain of 81.8 percent. Revenue growth in Asia Pacific was driven by the start of a significant contract in Australia to manage a portion of the contingent
Career Transitions – How Do You Get Going?
Whether it’s planned or unplanned, a career transition can be a stressful experience for anyone. This is a time when senior executives need professional advice to make sure they’re heading in the right direction, whether that means networking with headhunters or seeking advice from a career coach. It’s too important to just leave this to
Polachi Recruits CFO for iZotope
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. Recently, executive search firm Polachi Inc. placed Tony Callini as the CFO of iZotope, a music-focused tech company. Charley Polachi spearheaded
Gerard Daniels Appoints New Asia Pacific Senior Leader
Executive search firm Gerard Daniels, headquartered in Perth, Australia, has appointed Paul Pryde as the new practice leader for its oil, gas and energy activities. Mr. Pryde will lead the firm’s work across the Asia Pacific region. “It’s rare to find someone of Paul’s caliber who brings such a deep level of international expertise in
Turnkey Search Recruits COO for the Minnesota Vikings
The NFL and its teams continue to look to specialist recruiters to fill top C-suite roles. Recently, Turnkey Search, a subsidiary of Turnkey Sports & Entertainment, placed Andrew Miller as the new chief operating officer of the Minnesota Vikings. His first day in the role will be September 1. Len Perna and Evan Kashan led the assignment. Mr.
Odgers Berndtson Appoints Leader of U.S. Health Systems Team
Building on a period of unprecedented expansion, global search firm Odgers Berndtson has named Maureen Ryan as a partner in its healthcare practice. She will lead the firm’s U.S. health systems team. A former international health systems executive, Ms. Ryan works with boards and executive teams to custom-build comprehensive talent strategies. She will also be a member
Healthcare Recruiting Pioneer, Mike Kieffer, Dies at 76
Mike Kieffer, chairman of Quick Leonard Kieffer, passed away on Aug. 3. He was 76. Mr. Kieffer was a well-known pioneer and a legend in healthcare executive search, executive coaching, succession planning and governance consulting. His life’s work and successes influenced boards of directors and CEOs as well as healthcare executives. He had a particular
How to Successfully Integrate Senior Talent
Recruiting and integrating senior talent is vital to any company’s success. Top talent stands to provide leadership, added revenue and greater market penetration. Yet integrating senior hires is not necessarily a simple endeavor. When a top-level hire fails to work out, the cost can be daunting—in terms of dollars and time lost as well as
Koya Leadership Partners Leading CHRO Search for the University of New England
Executive recruiters continue to be in hot pursuit of chief human resource officers and other senior-level HR leaders across the nation. Just recently, Tom Phillips and Charlotte Harris of Koya Leadership Partners were retained by the University of New England (UNE) to assist in its search for a new CHRO. The university, located in Biddeford, ME, seeks a collaborative
Heidrick & Struggles Adds 18 Consultants to Executive Search and Consulting Units
Executive search, leadership consulting and culture shaping services provider Heidrick & Struggles has added 18 new partners and principals to its executive search and Heidrick Consulting businesses in the Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe. “We continue to expand our executive search and Heidrick Consulting businesses globally with consultants who bring diverse industry expertise and strong client relationships to the
5 Lies That Recruiters Hear Everyday and How to Avoid Them
A top recruiter should be a trusted advisor in your job search. But this only works well when you, as the candidate, are honest about the facts concerning your career. A new report by Elizabeth Webster Felix of WinterWyman gives five of the most popular lies recruiters commonly hear — and why it’s important to
Bridge Partners Lands CEO for the Denver Foundation
Janet Albert and Larry Griffin of Bridge Partners have recruited Javier Soto as the sixth president and CEO for the Denver Foundation, Colorado’s largest community foundation. The organization’s previous leader, Christine Marquez-Hudson, abruptly stepped down last summer. Former board chair and trustee Virginia Bayless had been serving as interim president. Mr. Soto is the president and CEO of the Miami
Fisher Leadership Announces New Services
Australia-based executive search firm Fisher Leadership has announced that its founder and director Jo Fisher is joining forces with HR advisory and leadership specialist Michelle Loader of Advancity to expand the reach and services of the firm. Joining the well-established managing partners Liz Jones and Andrew Norton, are Gabriel Edwards of Engaging People to lead
Spencer Stuart Recruits First Woman Leader for RBS
Financial services organizations, generally, are facing a new competitive landscape, regulatory challenges and a constant struggle to manage cost and efficiency. This requires strategic leaders – male and female – with a multidimensional skill-set. But there’s a big problem – in most countries, while women represent about half of the financial services industry – precious few
AGB Search Seeking President for University of Nebraska
Washington, D.C.-based recruitment firm AGB Search has been enlisted to find the next president for the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. Managing principal Roderick J. McDavis and consultants Sally Mason and Garry W. Owens are leading the assignment. President Hank Bounds, who has been president for four years, announced in March that he would be
Standish Executive Search Opens Office to Serve Cannabis Sector Talent Needs
Legal marijuana is now a near $10 billion business in the U.S., which means it is only natural that recruiting firms will begin focusing on bringing talent to this booming sector. Providence, RI-headquartered Standish Executive Search recently opened a new office in Worcester, MA, and has started working with the growing cannabis industry to find senior leaders. Principals
3 Ways AI Will Make Hiring Human Again
The future of talent acquisition has never been brighter. People are what makes every organization tick, and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions are poised to make hiring the most people-centric it’s ever been. And truth be told, today the talent acquisition function in organizations is reactive. Talent professionals are not at fault. “Post and pray, go
Cejka Executive Search Recruits CEO for KidsPeace
Healthcare is among the most rapidly growing employment fields, according to analysts at Hunt Scanlon Media, which tracks trends in the executive search and leadership solutions space. So it is that the need for recruiting firms to deliver top-drawer leaders throughout the sector has only grown. After an extensive nationwide hunt, Cejka Executive Search recently assisted in the search
Talengo Launches Venture Capital Service; Elects President of Advisory Board
Madrid-headquartered executive search firm Talengo has launched a line of services specializing in venture capital funds whose objective is “to help this sector to face the challenges posed by the need to focus on the talent of the management teams of your companies,” the firm notes. Talengo’s offer includes services that cover the three fundamental phases of the
Moving Up in the Boardroom — Lessons From Female Board Chairs
The share of women appointed to public-company boards of directors has risen markedly in recent years, but in the U.S. and Europe, female chairs are still rare. At the end of 2018, only 30 female chairs were listed among the Fortune 500 and the FTSE 100 combined, though the overall shares of board seats held







