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Daily Newswire
How The Tolan Group is Leveraging Leadership for Behavioral Health’s Next Growth Phase
Behavioral health is undergoing rapid expansion as demographic pressures, access challenges, and capital inflows converge. As the sector matures, organizations are rethinking leadership structures to support scale, governance, and long-term impact. Demand for behavioral health services is reshaping investment priorities, care delivery models, and leadership requirements across healthcare, according to Tim Tolan, founder, chairman, and
Isaacson, Miller Assists UVA in the Recruitment of 10th President
Boston-based Isaacson, Miller recently assisted in the recruitment of Scott C. Beardsley as the 10th president of the University of Virginia (UVA). John Isaacson, Keight Tucker Kennedy, John Muckle, Kelly McLaughlin, and Kristen Andersen led the assignment. Past president Jim Ryan resigned in June 2025 under pressure from the U.S. Department of Justice, which investigated the university’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)
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.
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
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?
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,
IIC Partners Adds New Member Firm in New Zealand
IIC Partners Executive Search Worldwide has added Auckland, New Zealand-based Infinitas as its newest member firm expanding its capabilities across the Asia-Pacific region. “I am thrilled to welcome Infinitas to IIC Partners,” said Christine Hayward, executive director of IIC Partners. Their people-first philosophy, tech-enabled search processes, and talent advisory capabilities deeply align with our mission to transform
Hiring for the Culture You Don’t Yet Have
For much of the past decade, organizations have invested heavily in strategy, technology and operational efficiency to navigate an increasingly complex business environment. Yet despite these investments, many transformation initiatives continue to fall short of expectations. The differentiator is rarely the strategy itself. More often, success depends on whether leadership teams have the right people
BoardWalk Consulting Leading CEO Search for Downtown Atlanta Inc.
BoardWalk Consulting has been tapped by Downtown Atlanta Inc. (DAI) to lead in its search for a CEO. The search is being led by Sam Pettway, Crystal Stephens, and Patti Kish. The organization is seeking a leader who can help define what the next generation of Downtown Atlanta will become. This is a leadership opportunity of unusual scale and
Peña Search Assists To Be Like Me with the Recruitment of Executive Director
Peña Search recently assisted in the recruitment of Lauren Rowe as the new executive for To Be Like Me (TBLM) in Dallas, TX. Travis Hillier, Carlos González Peña, and Thaise Pereira led the assignment. She replaces To Be Like Me founder Hollis Owens, who has served as executive director since 2018 and initiated the search for her replacement last
BroadView Talent Partners Tapped by Baltimore Community Lending for President/CEO Search
BroadView Talent Partners was recently retained by Baltimore Community Lending, Inc. (BCL) to lead in its search for a new president and CEO. Tracy McMillan, Robyn Quinn, and Donna Young are leading the assignment. The CEO is the strategic, operational, and external leader of Baltimore Community Lending, responsible for driving the organization’s next era of growth and
Five Talent Trends in Private Equity
Private equity firms are increasingly recognizing that human capital is a critical lever for value creation—on par with strategy, operations, and finance. As competition intensifies and hold periods lengthen, more firms are investing in sophisticated talent strategies across the deal life cycle. Research from Spencer Stuart highlights five emerging talent trends that are shaping how
m/Oppenheim Associates Seeks CEO for River LA
Non-profit executive search firm m/Oppenheim Associates has been enlisted to find a chief executive officer for River LA, which is dedicated to revitalizing the Los Angeles River. Principals Mark Oppenheim and Patrick Salazar are leading the assignment for the San Francisco-based firm. The River LA board of directors is seeking a politically astute fundraising executive
Wilton & Bain Adds Expertise to Global Technology Officers Practice
London-based executive search firm Wilton & Bain has expanded with the addition of Colin Baker as a partner in its global technology officers’ practice. He will be located in London but will have oversight across the firm’s expanding U.S. business. Wilton & Bain’s global technology officers’ practice focuses on hiring senior executives in technology, data, digital, AI, and
Virdis Group Opens New Swiss Office
Virdis Group, U.K.-based executive search specialists in the life science and healthcare sectors, has expanded with the opening of a new office in Epalinges-Lausanne, Switzerland in the prominent Biopôle campus, where more than 100 of the most innovative companies in life science and research are headquartered. Maggie Goudy has been hired to lead the new office. She
5 Ways to Set Up a C-Suite Search for Success
The obvious measure of a successful search is hiring an exceptional candidate who makes a meaningful contribution to a company’s performance, culture and its future. “Having been involved in hundreds of C-level searches,” said Adelle Kirk in a new report from Herbert Mines Associates, “I have learned that how a company and its external search
Heidrick & Struggles and Isaacson, Miller Assist USC in Finding First Female President
In the wake of multiple scandals, the University of Southern California has appointed Carol L. Folt as its first woman president. Heidrick & Struggles and Isaacson, Miller conducted the search in an unusual pairing of rival recruiting outfits. Former president C. L. Max Nikias stepped down last year after a former campus gynecologist was accused of
Acertitude Recruits Chief Marketing Officer for Ping Identity
Executive search firm Acertitude recently recruited Kevin Sellers as global chief marketing officer of Ping Identity, a provider of identity defined security. Co-founder and managing partner Rick DeRose led the search. Mr. Sellers will lead all aspects of the company’s marketing function, focusing on accelerating expansion in the enterprise market and growing Ping’s brand globally. “Kevin Sellers is a
Female Executive Search Appoints New Leader
Despite the evidence that equality at the senior level improves the bottom line, a disparity remains in representation at the C-suite level, across all sectors. Female Executive Search, a recruitment platform that matches the world’s top female leadership talent with progressive businesses and organizations that value gender diversity, recently named France Dequilbec as its new managing
IRC Global Adds Hunt Executive Search as Newest Member Firm
IRC Global Executive Search Partners has added Charlotte, NC-headquartered Hunt Executive Search as its sixth member firm in the U.S. “The U.S. is such a key market for IRC, and it is great to have another leading search firm join the IRC family,” said Rohan Carr, president of IRC. “We further strengthen our capacity to
London Search Firms Merge, Supported by PE Investment
Dartmouth Partners, a recruitment business in London specializing in corporate finance, investment banking, private equity and wealth management, has forged a new partnership with Pure Search, backed by Literacy Capital plc. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. Pure, a search firm focused on finding talent in the tax, legal, risk & compliance space,
Coulter Partners Fills Board Position for Nanotechnology Company Nanoform
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, life sciences-focused executive search firm Coulter Partners placed Mads Laustsen as a non-executive board member for Helsinki-based
QTI Group Seeks President for Unity Point Health-Meriter Foundation in Wisconsin
QTI Group, a human resources and recruiting organization based in Madison, WI, has been enlisted to find the next president for the Unity Point Health-Meriter Foundation, which supports Madison’s only non-profit community hospital and health service. Executive search director Jennifer Winding is leading the assignment. The Meriter Foundation president will be expected to work with
Stanton Chase Appoints U.K. Financial Services Leader
Baltimore, MD-headquartered Stanton Chase has named Eva Kingston as leader of financial services for its U.K. team. “We are very pleased to have Eva join our firm,” said Nicholas Wylde, managing director in the London office. “Her decades of experience in executive search and leadership consulting, particularly in the financial sector, will undoubtedly be an added value to our
What Workers Want: Career Development Tops the List
Amid fast-paced innovation and global competitiveness, employees are facing more professional choices than ever. Attracting talented people to grow businesses remains extremely difficult for employers. Holding on to people proves to be an increasing challenge for organizations worldwide as well. So what do today’s workers want? Developing one’s career seems to be an important factor
Jorgenson Consulting Recruits CEO for ChamberRVA
Greensboro, NC-based Jorgenson Consulting has placed Brian Anderson as the new president and CEO for the ChamberRVA. He will replace Kim Scheeler, who has led the organization since 2008. Mr. Anderson was selected through a national search process spearheaded by Mark Hourigan, founder and CEO of Hourigan Group and vice chair of the ChamberRVA board of directors.
Bridge Partners Finds Chief Talent & Culture Officer for Wikimedia Foundation
Executive recruitment firm Bridge Partners has placed Robyn Arville as the new chief talent and culture officer of Wikimedia Foundation, the non-profit organization that hosts and operates Wikipedia and the other Wikimedia free knowledge projects. Partner and co-founder Tory Clarke is leading the search along with partner Janet Albert. “Robyn brings to Wikimedia a passion for building
Vanderbloemen Search Group Partners with the 4Sight Group
Houston-based Vanderbloemen Search Group, which finds leaders for churches and ministries, has formed a partnership with the 4Sight Group, a consulting group focused on developing healthy leaders and thriving organizations through coaching, consulting and culture workshops. Jenni Catron is the founder of 4Sight Group, a consulting group focused on developing healthy leaders and thriving organizations through coaching, consulting,
Signal Partners Appoints Leader of Boston Office
Signal Partners, a Santa Monica, CA-based search firm serving private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies, has appointed Andrew Goodman as partner to lead its Boston office. In this role, Mr. Goodman will assist investors and their portfolio companies to recruit “force-multiplying leadership.” Mr. Goodman brings experience as both an operator and a talent advisor. Before joining Signal, he
HR Leaders Report Readiness Gap When it comes to AI
Each day brings new headlines about artificial intelligence, from an AI system passing an eighth-grade science test to fears of the technology replacing human workers. According to Gartner, enterprise use of AI has grown by 270 percent over the last four years. Despite this acceleration toward AI, many HR leaders feel unprepared. Spencer Stuart recently surveyed
Riviera Partners Receives Grant to Bridge Gender & Diversity Career Gap
The data science team at Riviera Partners has been given the prestigious Convergence Accelerator (C-Accel) award by the National Science Foundation (NSF) in which the firm will receive nearly $1 million to help put women and first generation college grads into STEM careers. Riviera, partnering with the University of Virginia economics department, received the grant to
Premier League Enlists Russell Reynolds Associates to Lead CEO Search
The sports and entertainment field is among the most active and fast-growing sectors for executive search businesses, with many C-suite-focused recruiting firms having been drawn to it. Recently, the Premier League brought in Russell Reynolds Associates to continue its search for a new CEO. Earlier this year, Spencer Stuart had recruited Susanna Dinnage to assume the role.
Spelman Johnson Recruits Athletic Director for Connecticut College
Universities continue to turn to executive search firms to find new athletic directors. Following a competitive national search, Spelman Johnson has placed Maureen White as the next director of athletics and chair of physical education at Connecticut College. As the first woman to serve as director of athletics at the school, Ms. White will take the
Tyzack Partners Expands Search Staff
U.K.-headquartered executive search firm Tyzack Partners has expanded with the additions of Andy Austin, James Wheeler and Zany Anton-Smith as partners. “I am delighted that we have been able to strengthen the Tyzack team with three experienced individuals who we have known and respected for a long time and who share our vision of providing
Facebook, Apple and Netflix Have a Secret Hiring Weapon
The companies that many of us take for granted and make use of day-to-day are tech giants like Facebook, Apple and Netflix. These businesses have scaled quickly, innovated and beat their competition to become the gold standard for what they do. “This growth and success didn’t happen in a vacuum — it happened because they
Heidrick & Struggles Recruits CEO for San Diego Zoo Global
Heidrick & Struggles has recruited Disney executive Paul Baribault as the new president and CEO of San Diego Zoo Global. Current president and CEO Douglas Myers announced his retirement earlier this year after 34 years in the organization’s top post. “Working closely with the premier executive search firm Heidrick & Struggles on an international search, we looked for
Aspen Leadership Group Seeking CEO for Tucson Symphony Orchestra
Aspen Leadership Group, an executive search firm that specializes in recruiting top talent for philanthropic organizations, has been selected to find the next president and chief executive officer for the Tucson Symphony Orchestra in Arizona. Senior consultant Anne Johnson is conducting the assignment. “The president and chief executive officer of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra (TSO)
Holden Richardson Expands Reach With New Addition
Holden Richardson, an executive search firm based in Chicago, IL, has expanded with the addition of Patrick Andress who will advise clients across the consumer products and services, durables, retail and omni-channel, and industrial goods verticals. Based in Chicago, Mr. Andress brings to the search firm deep experience in the consumer and financial officers sectors.
Vaco Opens Office in Montreal
Brentwood, TN-headquartered recruiting firm Vaco has opened new office in Montréal, which will be led by managing partner, Sean Bartunek along with partners, Eloi Poudrier, Sebastien Lamarche and Olivier Moureaux. They have been leading the Montréal market in the field of technology recruitment for the past 15 years. “Vaco endeavors to be the most consultative, relationship driven
Changing the World, One HR Leader at a Time
Since civil rights activist Cezar Chavez came to speak to her second-grade class about the plight of the farm workers, Valerie Frederickson has worked to help others improve their lives and in the process make for a better world. As the teenage daughter of parents devoted to desegregation and diversity, she spent her summers volunteering
Academic Search Tapped by Coppin State University to Find Eighth President
With the new academic year underway, 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. Recently, education-focused executive recruiter Academic Search was selected by Coppin State University in
Wilton & Bain Expands Professional and Technology Services Practice
London-based executive search firm Wilton & Bain has expanded with the addition of Jonathan Guest as a partner in its professional and technology services practice. “We are delighted to welcome Jonathan to the team,” said David Heron, CEO of The Wilton & Bain Group. “He is someone we have known for some time, and we are thrilled that he has
Harris Rand Lusk Recruits CEO for Stupid Cancer
New York City-based executive search firm Harris Rand Lusk has placed Alison Silberman as the new CEO of Stupid Cancer, a non-profit that serves young adults with cancer. Matthew Zachary, the cancer group’s founder and CEO for 12 years, recently transitioned out of the role. Managing partner and CEO Jack Lusk led the assignment, along with Elly
