DAILY NEWSWIRE - TOP STORIES
Daily Newswire
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
Egon Zehnder Elects Chair
Global leadership advisory firm Egon Zehnder has elected German Herrera as the next chair by its worldwide partnership. The announcement comes in accordance with the firm’s established governance and three-year election cycle. Mr. Herrera will assume the role effective March 1, 2026 and will succeed Michael Ensser, who has held the position since 2022, in a planned succession
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.
The Talent Studios Recruits Chief Marketing Officer for Pura Vida Miami
The Talent Studios has recruited Bruno Cardinali as chief marketing officer of Pura Vida Miami, the premium all-day café and lifestyle brand focused on health, wellness and community. The search was led by Katlyn Maloney and Jeremy Cohen. Mr. Cardinali brings more than two decades of marketing leadership across fast casual, foodservice, beverage, and global consumer brands. Most recently, as
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?
JM Search Expands Technology and Financial Services Practices
JM Search, a senior-level talent provider serving private equity investors, portfolio companies, and Fortune 1000s, has expanded with the additions of Wes Chisholm as partner and Laura Bennstrom and Charles Telep as principals within its technology and financial services practices. Mr. Chisholm and Mr. Telep join the firm’s technology practice while Ms. Bennstrom joins both the financial
How The Tolan Group Navigated the Downturn and Remained Focused
For many executive search firms, 2024 and 2025 tested resilience in ways few could have predicted. At The Tolan Group (TTG), they experienced the same pressures felt across the industry. Slower decision cycles, delayed starts, and a noticeable dip in portfolio company hiring activity. Yet through that uncertainty, one thing remained constant: our commitment to
Korn Ferry Reports Seven Percent Q4 and Full-Year Revenue Growth, Led by Double-Digit Gains in Professional Search & Interim
Korn Ferry (NYSE:KFY) has posted Q4 fiscal-year revenues of $759.8 million, a year-over-year increase of seven percent and five percent at constant currency. This was led by Professional Search & Interim up 14 percent, followed by Executive Search and Consulting, both up seven percent and RPO up five percent. During the fourth quarter, revenues rose by
Lock Search Group Leading CEO Search for Atlas Sign & Awning
Toronto-headquartered executive recruitment firm Lock Search Group is currently seeking a new CEO for Atlas Sign & Awning. For over 30 years, Atlas Sign & Awning has helped businesses across Canada and the United States stand out through custom commercial signage, awnings, and branded architectural elements. Based in Langley, BC, they’ve built a strong reputation for quality
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
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,
Redefining CEO Selection in 2025: Navigating High-Stakes Transitions with Strategic Precision
CEO transitions are high-stakes moments that can shape a company’s future as the outcome can drastically affect financial performance, investor trust, employee engagement, and customer relationships. Several forces complicate CEO transitions, according to a new report from True Search’s Evan Grossman, Tim McDonald, and Caroline Lo. The study noted that continuing market volatility creates unease, forcing
Miami Dade College Picks Diversified Search to Find President
Miami Dade College has retained Diversified Search to find a new president to replace longtime leader Eduardo Padrón. The search is being led by John Mestepey, managing director of the firm’s Miami office, and senior managing director Kim Morrisson. “The decision came as we were planning the 60th anniversary of the college, which is next year,” Mr. Padrón said.
Heidrick & Struggles Places Five Directors at Bed Bath & Beyond
After an extensive search, Heidrick & Struggles has placed five new independent directors on the board of Bed Bath & Beyond. The Chicago-based firm had been asked to help accelerate a “refreshment” shake-up in the composition of the company’s board. Harriet Edelman, Harsha Ramalingam, Andrea Weiss, Mary Winston and Ann Yerger will serve as new board members.
Arrow Strategies Launches Executive Search Division
Over the past year, a number of other organizations have expanded their retained executive search services or added them to their offerings as the top-end talent sector heats up globally. Recently, Southfield, MI-headquartered staffing firm Arrow Strategies launched a new staff and executive search division called Arrow Select. The new division acts as a wholly owned
Hanold Associates Seeks Chief People Officer for Canidae
Private equity-backed Canidae, a pet food company, has retained Hanold Associates to find its first chief people officer. Jason Hanold, CEO and co-managing partner of the search firm, is leading the assignment, joined by partners Keri Gavin and Mayank Parikh. The chief people officer, a newly recreated role for Canidae, will report directly to the CEO and will be responsible
AGB Search Seeks Provost for St. John’s University
Washington, D.C.-based recruitment firm AGB Search has been chosen to find the next provost and vice president for academic affairs for St. John’s University in New York City. Melissa K. Trotta, associate managing principal, and Roderick J. McDavis, managing principal, are leading the assignment. As chief academic officer of the university, the provost and vice
Waverly Partners Recruits CEO for the Center for Health Affairs
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. Following a national search, executive recruiting firm Waverly Partners recently placed Brian
Beecher Reagan Names President and COO
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: Houston-based executive search firm Beecher Reagan has welcomed former North Highland Worldwide Consulting executive Angela Navarro as its president and chief operating officer, a new role with the company. “Angela’s appointment
PrincetonOne Strengthens Search Staff
Skillman, NJ-headquartered executive search firm PrincetonOne has expanded with the addition of Kent Mayes as practice director for its accounting and finance division. Mr. Mayes brings more than two decades of search experience to his role as national practice director. As a managing producer, he will be responsible for leading a national team of recruiters
Unemployment Rates Falls Again, This Time to 3.6 Percent
Employers added 263,000 jobs last month as the U.S. unemployment rate dropped to 3.6 percent, according to the most recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report released this morning. Economists had estimated that 190,000 jobs were added last month, according to a Bloomberg survey. The April gain is the 103rd consecutive month of job growth. The number of
Positive Coaching Alliance Taps Odgers Berndtson for CEO Search
The Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) has partnered with Greg Santore and Jennifer Biehn of Odgers Berndtson to assist with the national search for the non-profit’s next leader. Jim Thompson, the group’s founder and CEO, is stepping down after 20 years. “Jim has given so much to the organization and the community,” said search chair and national
SearchWide Places CEO for Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau
Executive recruiting firm SearchWide Global has helped place Kristen Adamo as the new president and CEO of the Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau (PWCVB) in Rhode Island. Searchwide senior vice president Kellie Henderson spearheaded the assignment. Ms. Adamo replaces Martha Sheridan who accepted a similar position in Boston. “Kristen was selected after a thorough and
DHR International Acquires OBEN Search
Acquisitions continue to make big news in the executive search industry. Chicago-based search firm DHR International has continued its recent expansion with the acquisition of OBEN Search, a boutique recruiter for the oil and gas industries. The firm’s founder, Michael Wing, joins DHR as managing partner in the oil and gas industries sector practice. Mr. Wing brings
NPAworldwide Adds Seven 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 seven new member locations as it continues to
7 Reasons Why Companies Hire Search Firms
In times of change, a crucial executive-level appointment can mean the difference between success and catastrophe. Last time, your company may have kept this critical search in-house, leveraged its own network or hired a contingency recruiter. But, mistakes were made, and you now know that a bad hire to a crucial position can have detrimental
ZRG Partners Acquires Dowd Associates
ZRG Partners, a fast growing executive search firm, has continued its expansion with the acquisition of certain assets of Dowd Associates, an executive search firm focused on the financial officer’s space. The deal’s financial terms were undisclosed. As part of the asset purchase agreement, Dowd Associates’ president and CEO Rich Dowd will join ZRG as
The RSA Group Recruits CEO for Clasado BioSciences
Persistent talent shortages and the need to develop and retain employees with critical business and technology skill-sets will continue to challenge global life sciences companies for the foreseeable future, according to Deloitte’s global sector outlook on life sciences. Navigating this new world of work requires a dramatic change in strategies for leadership, talent and human
PFM Executive Search Tapped by Canucks Autism Network to Find CEO
Vancouver, British Columbia-based PFM Executive Search has been selected by Canucks Autism Network (CAN) to lead in its search for a new CEO. PFM partners George Madden and Shelina Esmail are leading the assignment. “As the new CEO of the Canucks Autism Network you literally will change people’s lives for the better through leadership focused on
GRMSearch Opens New Office in Johannesburg
Many companies with global strategies have been looking to Africa recently as the new frontier for business. Improved political environments, above average growth and the rich opportunities waiting in a continent are raising considerable interest. This has led to the growth of executive search firms in the region. Hong Kong-headquartered executive search firm GRMSearch recently strengthened
Transitioning a Search to a Recruiting Firm
It is fairly common for an organization to undertake a leadership recruitment on its own, and later in the process seek the services of an executive search firm. This can happen for many reasons. It may be that the search committee wants to take a fresh approach, to reach out to a broader segment of
Turnkey Search Recruits Chief Commercial Officer for the New York Giants
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, helped recruit former Charlotte Hornets executive Pete Guelli as chief commercial officer of the New York Giants. Len Perna, Turnkey’s president, founder and CEO, led the assignment. “The New York Giants
Russell Reynolds Associates Assists Kent State in Selecting New President
Russell Reynolds Associates has assisted Kent State University in its selection of the school’s provost, Todd Diacon, as its new president. He succeeds Beverly J. Warren, who is stepping down after five years in the job. The Kent State board of trustees appointed a 16-member search committee, chaired by trustee Shawn Riley, and launched a national
Virginia United Methodist Foundation Picks Kittleman & Associates to Find President
Chicago-based search firm Kittleman & Associates has been enlisted to find a new president for the Virginia United Methodist Foundation. Principal Megan Lewis is leading the search. The organization is seeking an executive with the interest and ability to build a strong, supportive culture and to both manage and lead within the organization. The Virginia
Signium Adds New Board Members
Executive search consortium Signium has elected Peter de Jong based in Amsterdam and Felipe Rivelles in Mexico City as new members of its board of directors. Mr. de Jong has been appointed as vice president of marketing while Mr. Rivelles becomes vice president for the Americas region “Signium is building on its long experience in the industry
Heidrick & Struggles Posts 7.2 Percent Revenue Increase
Executive search, leadership consulting and culture shaping services provider Heidrick & Struggles International/(NASDAQ:HSII) posted first quarter revenues of $171.6 million, a 7.2 percent increase from revenues of $160.1 million the same period a year ago. The results surpassed Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of three analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for revenues $170.6
Arts Consulting Seeks Executive Director for Silkroad
Boston-based executive search firm Arts Consulting Group (ACG) has been enlisted to find an executive director for Silkroad, an arts and musical collective created by famed cellist Yo Yo Ma. President Bruce D. Thibodeau is leading the assignment. Silkroad’s executive director will be charged with leading the non-profit’s local, national and international strategic direction and ensure programmatic
The Lancer Group Recruits CEO for Motility Software Solutions
The Lancer Group, a La Jolla, CA-headquartered executive search firm, recently placed Brad Rogers as CEO of Motility Software Solutions in Altamonte Springs, FL. Past CEO George Naspo has moved to the role of executive chairman of the board of directors. “It is an exciting time for Motility,” said Mr. Naspo. “This past year we established
RSR Partners Names Head of Sport & Entertainment Recruiting Practice
Greenwich, Conn-based RSR Partners has named Drew Cloud as head of the firm’s global sport and entertainment leadership practice. Based in New York City, Mr. Cloud focuses on recruiting senior leaders and providing human capital advisory services across the global sport ecosystem. The sport and entertainment practice includes team members with deep expertise in human capital, board services, marketing,
Wilton & Bain Expands Global People and Culture Practice
London-based executive search firm Wilton & Bain has expanded with the addition of Tim Baker as a partner and leader of the firm’s global people and culture practice. “As we continue to grow our business globally the people and culture practice plays an important part in our success,” said Lisa Peacock-Edwards, managing partner. “With Tim joining
Wells Fargo Taps Spencer Stuart to Find CEO
Wells Fargo & Company’s board of directors has retained executive search firm Spencer Stuart to recruit a new chief executive officer. The banking giant is looking to hire a leader, preferably a woman, to take on the challenges of the organization’s tainted public image and regulatory issues, according to sources in the executive search industry and
Parker Executive Search Lands Basketball Coach for Northern Kentucky University
With the assistance of Atlanta-based Parker Executive Search, Northern Kentucky University has chosen Darrin Horn as its new men’s head basketball coach. For coach John Brannen left the school to take on the head basketball coach role at the University of Cincinnati. “Throughout the hiring process, it became clear that Darrin was the right fit to lead
Jordan Search Consultants Seeks Two Key Leaders for Springfield Clinic
O’Fallon, MO-based executive recruiting firm Jordan Search Consultants (JSC) is seeking two key leaders, chief financial officer and chief information officer, for the Springfield Clinic in central Illinois. Executive search consultant Adam Rockey is leading both assignments. Springfield Clinic is one of the largest private multispecialty clinics in Illinois. The vice president/ chief financial officer search will
