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Anthem Executive Assists Northwest Missouri State University with Provost Search
Anthem Executive has assisted in the recruitment of Rose Marie Ward as the new provost and vice president for academic affairs of Northwest Missouri State University. Michael Ballew, Scott Watson, Mike “JR” Wheless, and Florene Stawowy led the search. “We are delighted to welcome Rose Marie to the Northwest team,” said Lance Tatum, president. “Her depth of experience and professional background will
HARTZ Search Recruits CFO for Intermountain Centers
After an extensive national search, Charlotte, NC-based HARTZ Search has helped to recruit Martha Zhan as the new CFO of Intermountain Centers. “We extend our sincere congratulations to Ms. Martha Zhan and to the entire Intermountain Centers community,” Hartz Search said. Ms. Zhan brings deep expertise in non-profit accounting, extensive financial leadership experience, and a comprehensive understanding of grants and audit management. She
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
New 2025 Report Highlights Tech Executive Pay Trends
Executive compensation goes beyond negotiation—it’s a strategic tool for driving growth, retaining talent, and maintaining a competitive edge. Understanding your executives’ value can be the key to securing top talent instead of losing them to rivals. Riviera Partners’ 2025 Executive Compensation Report, exclusively available to Riviera’s client and partner network, offers valuable insights into the
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
Benchmark Executive Search Finds CEO for CynergisTek
Benchmark Executive Search, a boutique provider of cybersecurity talent, has placed Caleb Barlow as chief executive officer of Austin, TX-based CynergisTek Inc. He succeeds retiring founder Mac McMillan, who will support Mr. Barlow in the execution of CynergisTek’s strategy through the remainder of 2019 and will remain a member of the board of directors. “I
Signal Partners Names Retail and Consumer Practice Leader
Signal Partners, a Santa Monica, CA-based search firm serving private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies, has appointed Patricia Muise as a partner and leader of its retail and consumer practice. “Pat’s superpower is helping PE sponsors and CEOs navigate the rapid innovation taking place in the consumer and retail sectors,” said Tim Smith, co-founder at Signal
What You Need to Know About Hiring Millennials
There are roughly 73 million Millennials in the U.S. Born between 1980 and 1996, Millennials are the largest generation in the workforce, yet many employers struggle to attract and retain them. The U.S. now has more open jobs than job seekers, and the quit rate recently reached a 17-year high. In today’s tight labor market,
Buffkin / Baker Seeks Chancellor for University of Mississippi
Executive recruitment firm Buffkin / Baker has been enlisted to find the next chancellor for the University of Mississippi. Managing partner Martin Baker is leading the assignment. The chancellor, who serves at the university’s chief executive officer, reports through the commissioner of higher education to the Mississippi board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning, the
Jobble Raises $11 Million in Funding
Jobble, an on-demand marketplace and management platform that connects companies to the 60 million U.S. gig economy workers, has raised $11 million in new Series A funding, led by Vestigo Ventures and AXA Venture Partners with participation from Guardian Strategic Ventures and Harlem Capital Partners. Founded by Zack Smith and Corey Bober, Jobble connects gig workers in the U.S. seeking
Hanold Associates Recruits CHRO for Domino’s Pizza
Executive recruiters continue to be in hot pursuit of chief human resource officers and other senior-level HR leaders across the nation. Recently, Hanold Associates placed Lisa V. Price as the executive vice president and CHRO of Domino’s Pizza. Jason Hanold, CEO and co-managing partner of the search firm, led the assignment. He was joined by partners Keri Gavin,
DRI Names Sports Practice Leader
The sports industry is thriving. With an estimated size of $539.7 billion in the U.S. alone, sports business jobs surrounding college athletic departments, professional sports leagues or other athletic franchises are in demand. Recently, Solon, OH-based Direct Recruiters Inc. (DRI) appointed Brett Wallace as director of its sports and entertainment practice. Mr. Wallace brings to Direct Recruiters 10
Alexander Mann Solutions Acquires Karen HR, Adds Leaders for North America
Alexander Mann Solutions, a London-based talent acquisition and management services firm, is continuing its expansion, acquiring an HR technology company, Karen HR Inc., and bringing new talent to its North American leadership team. The acquisition of Karen HR is a strategic move which will accelerate the launch of new digital products, said Alexander Mann Solutions.
Wanted: An HR Executive on Company Boards
Boards of directors are, in theory, supposed to be able to offer advice and guidance to a CEO on any aspect of an organization. One can look at any board in the Fortune 1000 and find current or retired experts in finance, strategy and marketing. That’s why boards are typically filled with current or former
Ventura Partners Places Leaders for Two Equity38 Portfolio Companies
Executive search firm Ventura Partners has recruited top executives for two portfolio companies owned by private equity firm Equity38. John Hutchison becomes president of TRX, a leader in functional training equipment, education and technology, and Clay Sanger steps into the chief executive officer role for Superfood Holdings, which is in the plant-based, clean food restaurant space.
Job Growth Continues in July; Unemployment Rate Stands at 3.7 Percent
Employers added 164,000 jobs last month as the U.S. unemployment rate stands at 3.7 percent, according to the most recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report. The increase was below the 165,000 forecast by economists, but close enough. The July gain is the 106th consecutive month of job growth. The number of unemployed currently stands at 6.1 million. “While
Wilton & Bain Recruits CEO for Community Fibre
London-based executive search firm Wilton & Bain has placed Graeme Oxby as the new chief executive officer of U.K.-based gigabit broadband provider Community Fibre. Jay Siddiki, a principal within the global TMT function at Wilton & Bain, led the search. “Community Fibre required a commercially astute executive who could drive the major scale-up of the business but, more so, it
Envision Consulting Opens Office in New York City
The non-profit sector has gained economic strength in recent years, making it the third largest employer in the country. Nearly two million not-for-profits employ 10.7 million people and produce $1.9 trillion in revenue. In the past decade, employment in the sector grew by 17 percent. With demand for non-profit talent at an all-time high, search firms have
