DAILY NEWSWIRE - TOP STORIES
Daily Newswire
Why First-Time Chief People Officers Are Becoming Mission-Critical Business Leaders
Amid ongoing economic, social, geopolitical, and technological disruption, placing the right leaders in the right roles—and ensuring they lead in the right way—has become critical. Yet the greatest obstacle to achieving organizational ambitions remains a lack of leadership talent equipped to navigate unprecedented complexity and change. Chief people officers are uniquely placed to overcome this
Why Executive Hiring Is Shifting to Skills-First Leadership
For decades, executive hiring was guided by a familiar formula. Boards and CEOs focused largely on job titles, employer pedigrees, and years in senior roles when evaluating candidates. A polished résumé was commonly treated as a dependable signal of future performance. Today, that assumption is increasingly questioned, according to a new report from the International Executive Search
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.
Bell Oaks Executive Search Seeking Chief Finance and Administrative Officer for the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation
Atlanta-based Bell Oaks Executive Search is currently seeking a chief finance and administrative officer (CFAO) for the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation (WRF). The assignment is being led by partner Cynthia J. Moreland and senior search consultant Abi Gamino. The CFAO will serve as a strategic partner to the CEO and a key member of the executive
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?
Leadership Advisory Enters a New Capital Cycle
Private capital is making one of its strongest moves yet into the leadership advisory sector. Recent investments by KKR in ghSMART and Advent International in Heidrick & Struggles represent more than headline transactions. Together, they signal a growing conviction among investors that leadership advisory firms occupy a unique position within the modern enterprise, helping organizations navigate leadership succession, organizational effectiveness, talent assessment, and
Crist|Kolder Places CFO at Mondelēz International
Crist|Kolder Associates has placed Amit Banati as executive vice president and chief financial officer of NASDAQ-traded Mondelēz International in Chicago. He will report directly to Dirk Van de Put, chair and CEO, and will be a member of the Mondelēz International leadership team. “Amit is a highly experienced CFO who brings a strong blend of financial leadership
Why Searches Lose Discipline Late and How to Prevent It
Even well-run executive searches can lose focus as the process unfolds and pressure to reach a decision begins to mount. Without consistent alignment around the original mandate, organizations risk making compromises that can undermine long-term leadership success. Most executive searches start with real clarity, a recent report from Nashville, TN-based executive search firm Morgan Samuels Company’s
NPAG Assists Proteus Fund with CEO Search
Executive search firm NPAG has assisted in the recruitment of Amardeep Singh the new president and CEO of Proteus Fund and Proteus Action League. He will officially assume the role in September. The Proteus Fund board of directors selected Mr. Singh following a rigorous national search supported by NPAG. The search was led by Ellen LaPointe, Ebony Breaux-Liang, and Andres Marcuse-Gonzalez. “On
Bullhorn Names Chief Innovation and Labs Officer and Chief Corporate Development Officer
Recruiting software provider Bullhorn recently appointed Jason Heilman as chief innovation and labs officer and Ryan Murphy as chief corporate development officer. As members of the executive leadership team, they will help drive the company’s next wave of growth and innovation. Mr. Heilman joined Bullhorn in 2020 when the company acquired Herefish, the automation platform he led
5 Ways to Evaluate a Job Offer in 2026
In today’s hiring market, the strongest job offer isn’t always the one with the biggest paycheck. Candidates who treat their next move as a base-salary math problem usually leave real money behind, according to a recent report from Lyneer Search Group, an executive talent acquisition firm specializing in finance and executive roles. The smarter approach, and the
McDermott + Bull Recruits Chief Technology Officer for JenaValve Technology
Irvine, CA-based McDermott + Bull has placed Edward Sarnowski as chief technology officer of JenaValve Technology, Inc. in Irvine, CA. The search was completed by partner Ken Dropiewski, and executive recruiter Michael Matranga. “Ed’s appointment marks an important step in the evolution of JenaValve as a company,” said John Kilcoyne, CEO of JenaValve. “With FDA approval now behind us and
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
Korn Ferry to Acquire AMS in $1.1 Billion Talent Solutions Deal
Korn Ferry (NYSE:KFY) has entered into a definitive agreement with OMERS Private Equity to acquire U.K.-headquartered AMS. The transaction will combine Korn Ferry’s expertise across search, talent & organizational solutions, and workforce solutions with AMS’s expertise in recruitment process outsourcing (RPO), early careers and campus recruiting, contingent workforce solutions, consulting, and skills creation. The combination will
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,
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
Witt/Kieffer Tapped by Oregon State University to Find 15th President
Executive recruitment firm Witt/Kieffer has been selected by Oregon State University (OSU) to lead in its search for its 15th president. Edward Ray, who has served as the school’s president since 2003, recently announced he is stepping down when his current five-year contract ends in 2020. Zachary Smith, senior partner and deputy managing partner for the firm’s
ZRG Partners Acquires Fiore Global Search
ZRG Partners, a fast growing executive search firm, has continued its expansion with the acquisition of certain assets of executive search firm Fiore Global Search. The deal’s financial terms were undisclosed. As part of the asset acquisition agreement, Adam Fiore, formerly the managing partner and CEO of Fiore Global Search, will be joining ZRG as a
N2Growth Names Chief Marketing Officer
N2Growth, a Philadelphia, PA-based management consulting and executive search firm, has added Dan Evans as chief marketing officer. A respected media and marketing professional, Mr. Evans has more than a decade of experience in helping strong brands create outstanding user experience. “Dan is an incredible marketing executive who understands how to engage the market across
Herbert Mines Associates Recruits CEO for Sprouts Farmers Market
Following a nationwide search, New York-based executive recruiter Herbert Mines Associates recently placed Jack L. Sinclair as the new chief executive officer of Sprouts Farmers Market which is based in Phoenix, AZ. Amin Maredia stepped down last December to pursue other interests. President and COO Jim Nielsen and CFO Brad Lukow had been serving as interim co-CEOs while
Odgers Berndtson Recruits CEO for American Association of Port Authorities
Global search firm Odgers Berndtson has placed Christopher Connor as the new CEO of the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA). Long-time leader Kurt Nagle recently retired. Vice chairman and partner Tim McNamara is leading the assignment along with partner and practice leader Conrad Woody. “The association’s executive committee is pleased to have found an outstanding individual to
Ventura Partners Places Tennis Head Coaches for Auburn and Yale
Executive recruitment firm Ventura Partners has recently placed head coaches for women’s tennis at Auburn University and men’s tennis at Yale University. Leading the respective assignments were Chad Chatlos, partner, and Katy Young Staudt, managing director, in the firm’s sports and entertainment practice. Caroline Lilley, assistant head coach at the University of Kansas (KU), was
Charles Aris Appoints Practice Leader
Greensboro, NC-based executive search firm Charles Aris Inc. recently expanded with the addition of Luis Tejada as its newest practice leader. Mr. Tejada will focus on recruiting A-level sales and marketing leaders on behalf of clients in the food and beverage industry. He brings an extensive background in shaping sales and marketing programs for a variety of organizations
NPAworldwide Adds 10 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 10 new member locations as it continues to
Finding Transformative Leaders Fueling Growth & Innovation at Wilton & Bain
In the early years after its founding in 2001, London-based Wilton & Bain was content to be a respected, tightly focused professional services executive search firm. With technology as its niche, it was a good business, everyone agreed, and profitable. Yet it was relatively small and geographically limited. Fast forward 18 years and behold a
Top Gun Ventures Recruits President for Lindenwood University
Plano, TX-based executive search firm Top Gun Ventures has recruited John Porter as the 23rd president of Lindenwood University in St. Charles, MO. Mr. Porter, who begins his tenure next Monday, replaces Michael Shonrock who was dismissed for reasons not provided by the school. Managing partner Don Tuttle led the assignment. “Higher education is facing a declining market
True Search Recruits CFO for Starry Inc.
CFOs continue to be in high demand. Finding them is keeping many of the nation’s top recruitment operations busier than ever. Recently, executive recruiter True Search placed former Assurant executive Gregg D. Bien as the new CFO of wireless technology company Starry Inc. Partners Rick Bank and Rick Faubert led the assignment. “Starry is in a period of explosive growth,”
HR Technology Company Enboarder Secures $8 Million in Funding
Enboarder, the cloud-based HR technology company that helps employers create employee onboarding experiences, has closed $8 million in Series A financing. Greycroft, who participated in Enboarder’s previous funding round of $4 million, is the lead investor in the new Series A investment, which brings Enboarder’s total funding to $12 million. New investors, Next Coast Ventures and Stage 2 Capital
Grace Blue APAC Partners with Cavalry Freelancing
Grace Blue APAC has formed a partnership with Cavalry Freelancing in an effort to help organizations hire effective contingent workforce and skilled contractors who would be ready to take up mid- and senior-level marketing roles. About one in four CXOs in the APAC region have said that a contingent workers make up about 30 percent
Creating a Great Recruiter-Candidate Relationship
Creating a good candidate-recruiter relationship should be a top priority for the best candidate recruitment possible. Having an open, honest and trustworthy relationship with one’s recruiter is important, especially as they help make big decisions in career moves. Being a committed recruiter ensures the candidate will end up happy and content at their next job,
Arts Consulting Group Recruits Artistic Director for New York City Gay Men’s Chorus
Boston-based executive search firm Arts Consulting Group (ACG) has placed Gavin Thrasher as the new artistic director of the New York City Gay Men’s Chorus (NYCGMC). He succeeds Charles Beale who will step down later this summer after 12 seasons to pursue other artistic endeavors. President Bruce D. Thibodeau led the assignment. “We are thrilled to welcome Gavin to Big Apple
Bridge Partners Seeks New Leader for the Denver Foundation
Executive recruitment firm Bridge Partners has been enlisted to find the next president and chief executive officer for the Denver Foundation, Colorado’s largest community foundation. Partners Janet Albert and Larry Griffin are leading the assignment. The Denver Foundation hopes to have a new leader in place this summer. The group’s previous leader, Christine Marquez-Hudson, abruptly
Pearson Partners International Names President
Women gaining top roles at executive search firms seems to be an increasingly refreshing phenomenon. Dallas-headquartered Pearson Partners International recently appointed Renee Baker Arrington to the position of president and the newly created post of chief operating officer. She has been with the firm for 13 years, is a member of the board of directors and
Johnson Appoints Two New Practice Leaders
Sydney-based executive search firm Johnson appointed Claude Ringuet as partner and leader of the firm’s consumer & retail, healthcare & life sciences and sports practices as well as Dianne Cassen as partner and leader of its real estate and construction practice. Mr. Ringuet is a seasoned executive who brings over two decades of C-suite level commercial
A Look at the Age-Agnostic Workplace
Multinational corporations are already aware of the importance of attracting and retaining a gender- and ethnically-diverse workforce to improve innovation and financial performance. Many have implemented policies to encourage this. What is less well-established as a competitive advantage is the idea of an age-diverse workforce, says Jackie Bernard of U.K.-based talent specialist Armstrong Craven. “This low
Korn Ferry Records Nine Percent Revenue Gain
Korn Ferry (NYSE:KFY) has posted 2019 fiscal year-end revenues of $1.92 billion, a nine percent increase from $1.767 billion a year ago. The Los Angeles-headquartered executive recruiter and leadership consultant – the largest globally and in the Americas as ranked by Hunt Scanlon Media – also reported fourth quarter revenue of $490.8 million, an increase of three percent. All three of its business lines were up. The results
Spencer Stuart Places CEO at Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams
Following an extensive national search, Spencer Stuart has recruited veteran retail and omnichannel executive Allison O’Connor as the new CEO of home furnishings brand Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams. “We are thrilled to have Allison coming aboard,” said Mitchell Gold, co-founder and chairman. “She has a proven track record in building an omnichannel business with excellence. I know she will be
Pauly Group Enlisted to Find President for Northwestern Michigan College
Pauly Group, an academic search firm, has been chosen to find the next president for Northwestern Michigan College (NMC) in Traverse City, MI. Senior consultant Marsi Liddell is leading the assignment. NMC wants a president who can lead a complex, regulated organization to meet the changes of the future, while respecting the college’s history and
IMD International Search Group Adds New Member Firm in Singapore
Global executive search consortium IMD International Search Group has expanded in the Asia-Pacific region with the addition of I Search Worldwide in Singapore. Singapore sits at the crossroads of the world’s largest and fastest growing region straddling China, India and the ASEAN countries. A modern cosmopolitan city with a strong reputation as a major player in the
Workers Remain Optimistic, but CEO Confidence Falls
American worker confidence is at its highest level in four years. Following a slight dip at the end of the last quarter, the national Worker Confidence Index (WCI) rose 3.6 points to 110.7 in its most recent quarter, reaching its highest level since the study’s inception. The Worker Confidence Index is a survey of U.S.
Heidrick & Struggles Selected by Washington State Investment Board to Find Chief Investment Officer
Executive search, leadership consulting and culture shaping services provider Heidrick & Struggles has been retained by the $135 billion Washington State Investment Board (WSIB) to lead its search for a new chief investment officer. Gary Bruebaker is retiring at the end of the year after 40 years in the investment business. Lyndon Taylor, partner in charge of
Leaders International Executive Search Lands President for Deer Park College
Leaders International Executive Search has placed the new president of Red Deer College (RDC) in Alberta, Canada. Peter Nunoda, president of Vancouver Community College, will start in his new role on Sept. 3. He succeeds Joel Ward, who is retiring after 10 years at the helm. During an extensive search that lasted more than 15
Ward Howell Expands Global Travel & Hospitality Practice
Global recruiter Ward Howell International has continued its recent expansion with the addition of Jim Theodore as a partner in its global travel and hospitality practice. Based in Boston, Mr. Theodore joins Ward Howell with more than 30 years of experience in retained search. He has worked in the hospitality and leisure industries serving clients of all
Amrop Names New CEO
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: Global recruiting organization Amrop has appointed Federico Cuneo as CEO and chairman of its executive board. He replaces José I. Leyún as CEO. “The organization extends its gratitude to José for his
The Benefits of Strategic CEO Succession Planning
About five years before the chief executive officer of a major European insurance company planned to retire, the board began considering potential candidates to fill his role. Eight internal executives rose to the top, and subsequently went through in-depth assessments of their strengths, weaknesses and psychometric profiles. A year before the end of this process,
Caldwell Recruits Chief Marketing Officer for Gigster
As business becomes more global and complex, and power shifts from producers of goods and services to consumers, the chief marketing officer’s job of planning and coordinating marketing activities has become more challenging, recruiters say. Yet executive search firms are seeing no shortage of assignments for this important C-level position. Recently, Toronto-based executive search firm Caldwell recruited Jennifer
LandrumHR Acquires HR-Focused Search Firm hrQ
LandrumHR, a Pensacola, FL-headquartered full-service human resources firm, has acquired executive search firm hrQ in Denver. Financial terms of the deal were undisclosed. The human resources sector is hrQ’s bailiwick. The firm focuses exclusively on providing HR professionals for short- or long-term contract assignments and full- time hires as well as offering expertise on a
