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Daily Newswire
SpenglerFox Announces Leadership Changes
Global executive search provider SpenglerFox has announced leadership developments designed to strengthen the firm’s ability to serve clients in high-growth sectors. Michael Klingler will be taking on expanded responsibilities as he assumes leadership of the firm’s life sciences and healthcare practice in addition to his current role heading the private equity practice. “This move reflects the increasingly strong overlap we’re seeing between these
Korn Ferry Becomes Founding Partner of the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games
Staging the Olympic and Paralympic Games is one of the most complex operational undertakings in the world, requiring a massive workforce to execute everything from security and logistics to transportation, technology, hospitality, and athlete services. It is essential to hire the right people and build a strong leadership structures. Korn Ferry has established a strategic partnership
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
PitchBook Data Shows PE Outlook Is Shifting Fast
According to PitchBook’s Q1 2025 U.S. PE Breakdown Report, private equity entered the year with positive momentum. Deal activity totaled 2,263 transactions worth $259.7 billion, representing an 11.8 percent increase in volume and 36.1 percent increase in value year over year. Much of the quarter’s value was driven by large take-privates, notably Sycamore Partners’ $23.7 billion
Profectus and Excel Search Group Join Forces
Executive search firms Profectus and Excel Search Group have joined forces, bringing together more than 35 years of combined business experience. Immediately after the close of the transaction, both leadership teams will be combined under the Profectus brand. Excel Search Group is a Houston-based business advisory and executive search firm with a solid portfolio of
Penrhyn Elects New Chairman, Board Members
Global executive search consortium Penrhyn International, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, has announced the election of a new chairman and global board in an effort to drive future growth. Yanouk Poirier, a partner at Leaders International, a pan-Canadian firm based in Montreal, will be Penrhyn’s new chairman, while Frank Beyer of LAB & Company in
What Bypassing College Could Mean for Gen Z and Recruiters
Students across the country are about to graduate from college. But did you know that 75 percent of Gen Z believe there are alternative methods of getting a good education aside from going to college? This is according to a recent report by technology-led cultural consultancy Sparks & Honey. In addition, a new report by
Diversified Search Seeks Chief Publishing and Innovation Officer for Christian Publisher
Executive recruitment firm Diversified Search has been enlisted to find a chief publishing and innovation officer for non-profit Christian publisher David C Cook in Colorado Springs, CO. Managing director Jason D. León is leading the assignment. “David C Cook is seeking a courageous, innovative, collaborative and forward-thinking business executive to lead the Learning Resources Group
Academic Search Recruits First Woman and African-American President for Bloomfield College
As the academic year winds down, a number of universities across the country are looking to install new leaders. Following a nationwide search, education-focused executive recruiter Academic Search has recruited Marcheta P. Evans as the new president of Bloomfield College in New Jersey. Dr. Evans will be both the first woman and African-American to lead the college
Coulter Partners Opens in Sydney and Singapore, Makes Three Key Appointments
Life sciences-focused executive search firm Coulter Partners has opened new offices in Sydney and Singapore in addition to making three key appointments. Steven Johnson joins the firm as executive director in Sydney, while Martin Grindrod takes over as director in Singapore. In London, Rob Sansom joins as director to consolidate the international commercial pharmaceutical team.
Protis Global CEO Bert Miller Acquires Management Recruiters International
Bert Miller, co-founder and CEO of Protis Global, through control of MRI Network Holdings LLC, has acquired Management Recruiters International Inc. (MRI) from CDI Holding Co. LLC, an affiliate of CDI Corp. and a portfolio company of AE Industrial Partners LP. Mr. Miller is an industry veteran with over 24 years in executive search and
How Women Leaders Now Climb the Corporate Ladder
Line management roles are critical building blocks for senior-level general management, and can open doors to C-suite and board opportunities, including the CEO role. Market-facing P&L roles give leaders direct responsibility for leading people, strategy and operational priorities, as well as broader exposure to the business, more visibility and more risk. Because success in these
Caldwell Recruits SVP of HR for Torstar Corporation
Executive recruiters are in hot pursuit of chief human resource officers (CHROs) and other senior-level HR leaders across the nation. Why such pent-up demand for top flight HR experts? Corporate leaders want HR leaders who are sophisticated, proactive and strategic-minded, with strong business savvy to drive their people capabilities like they would a P&L, according
ON Partners Recruits Controller and Chief Accounting Officer for Advance Auto Parts
Executive search firm ON Partners has placed Andrew Page as senior vice president, controller and chief accounting officer of Advance Auto Parts in Raleigh, NC. “I am extremely pleased to have Andrew join the Advance team,” said Jeff Shepherd, executive vice president and chief financial officer. “Andrew’s extensive and diverse finance-related experience combined with his business acumen
Egon Zehnder Acquires Minority Stake in AI and Advanced Analytics Firm
Egon Zehnder, the third largest search firm globally as ranked by Hunt Scanlon Media, has formalized an agreement to purchase a minority stake in Zurich, Switzerland-based Sinequanon (SQN), a firm that uses AI and advanced analytics to improve workplace culture and performance. The investment in SQN signals Egon Zehnder’s intent to build on its 55 years
NPAworldwide Expands Footprint in the U.S. and Australia
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 nine new member locations as it continues
Storbeck/Pimentel Recruits 21st President of Michigan State University
In the wake of the sex abuse scandal involving sports doctor Larry Nassar, which forced the president of Michigan State University (MSU) to step down, the school faced the challenge of finding a new leader. In September, it called in Storbeck/Pimentel & Associates to lead the search for its 21st president. Yesterday, Michigan State announced that Samuel
OperationsInc Lands Leader for Avon Theatre Film Center
HR solutions firm OperationsInc has helped to place Stuart Adelberg as the new executive director of the Avon Theatre Film Center in Stamford, Conn. Mr. Adelberg joins the non-profit organization in its 80th anniversary year. “We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Stuart Adelberg to the Avon,” said Deborah Royce, Avon board president. “We have spent
Howard Fischer Associates Finds New Board Members for Vesper
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, Philadelphia-headquartered executive search firm Howard Fischer Associates (HFA) placed Chuck Swoboda, former CEO of Cree,
Declare Officially Launches to Support Next Generation of Female Leaders
Declare, a community-driven leadership platform designed to transform how women learn, work and lead, has officially launched. The organization is composed of two core components, “Declare Lead” and “Declare Search.” Previously, the organization operated as Parity Partners. Declare Lead offers an expanded array of immersive leadership training programs and resources aimed at empowering women to
CNA International Expands to Australia
U.K.-based executive recruiting franchise CNA International has opened a new office in Brisbane, Australia. Mahadevan Shankar, who joined CNA in March as managing partner of the Oceania region, has been appointed to lead the new location. His main charge is to develop extensive regional networks. “CNA International recognizes the tremendous economic growth and employment potential within the
Talent Challenges Facing Mid-Market Private Equity Backed Companies
Driving differentiated returns in a crowded private equity environment was never easy and has become significantly more difficult over time. Firms are paying top dollar to source and acquire companies in a market flooded with capital. Fewer deals are “locked up” in a proprietary manner. The areas where firms have true leverage to create value
Buffkin/ Baker Lands Diversity Head for Dalton School
Executive recruitment firm Buffkin/ Baker has helped place the new director of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) for the Dalton School in New York City. Domonic Rollins comes to the private, college preparatory school from Harvard University, where he worked in the president’s office as a strategist and advisor on diversity, inclusion and belonging, and
Quick Leonard Kieffer Tapped by CommunityHealth to Find New CEO
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. Executive recruitment firm Quick Leonard Kieffer has recently been enlisted by CommunityHealth in
Korn Ferry Appoints COO for Products Business
Korn Ferry has named Lisa McCann as chief operating officer for its products business. She is based in the search firm’s Boston office. In her role, Ms. McCann will provide delivery and operational leadership to expand Korn Ferry’s global capabilities across its integrated talent product suite and services. She will also lead the products organization’s strategic innovation
EMA Partners Names Practices Heads in India
EMA Partners International, a global partnership of executive search professionals, strengthened its presence in India with the addition of Aravind Sridharan as client partner to lead the technology and digital practice for the firm in the region. EMA also brought in Udai Raina as associate director to lead the digital and IOT practice in India. “Aravind and
Turnkey Search Recruits Juwan Howard as Head Basketball Coach for University of Michigan
Universities have been turning to search firms in greater numbers to fill their top coaching vacancies. Turnkey Search, a subsidiary of Turnkey Sports & Entertainment, recently placed Juwan Howard as the men’s head basketball coach for the University of Michigan, a plum assignment. He is a former Wolverine All-American and NBA All-Star. Mr. Howard replaces John Beilein,
Russell Reynolds Associates Seeks CEO for Malala Fund
Executive recruitment firm Russell Reynolds Associates has been chosen to find a chief executive officer for Malala Fund, a global non-profit that works to expand girls’ access to education. Consultants Joy Wiersum and Jamie Hechinger are leading the assignment. Malala Fund wants a relationship-oriented, highly-effective CEO to lead an exciting phase of accelerated growth and
Scion Executive Search Assists Born Free USA
Scion Executive Search, which specializes in the non-profit sector, has assisted Born Free USA in its selection of Angela Grimes as its new CEO. She had served in the top role on an interim basis since August. “Angela has the experience and compassion to take Born Free USA to the next level,” said Will Travers, president of Born
Lantern Partners Launches Healthcare and Life Sciences Practice, Names New Sector Leader
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. Recently, Chicago-headquartered executive search firm Lantern Partners launched a new healthcare
InterSearch China Opens New Office in Qingdao
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. Recently, InterSearch China announced the opening of ZW HR Consulting’s new office in Qingdao.
Robust Hiring Expected for Another Year
Economists foresee ongoing economic expansion for at least the next 12 months and companies expect to continue hiring, according to a business conditions survey released by the National Association for Business Economics (NABE). All survey respondents said that they expect the U.S. economy, as measured by the change in inflation-adjusted gross domestic product (real GDP), to
Myers McRae Chosen to Find Methodist University Provost
Macon, GA-based Myers McRae Executive Search and Consulting is seeking a new provost for Methodist University. Emily Parker Myers, CEO, and Jennifer Barfield, senior vice president, are spearheading the assignment. The Fayetteville, NC university wants a provost who will be a partner in moving its academic offerings into the future, said Myers McRae. The new
The Insight Group Recruits CEO for Millennium Services Group
After a comprehensive recruitment process, Sydney-headquartered executive search firm the Insight Group recently placed Darren Boyd as managing director and chief executive officer of Millennium Services Group Limited. He takes over from Millennium’s acting CEO, head of Millennium subsidiary Airlite Group Steve Willis, who was appointed following the departure of Millennium’s previous CEO, Craig Hanley. Millennium
Savannah Group Partners with Psychometric Assessment Expert to Create New Tool
Drawing on insights from providing executive talent to over 1,000 businesses on short and long-term transformation projects, U.K.-headquartered executive search and interim management specialist Savannah Group has partnered with Alan Bourne of Sova, one of the leading innovators in the design of psychometric tools, to create a new psychometric assessment tool called the Pillars of Transformation.
