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McCormack+Kristel Recruits CEO for the Independent Film & Television Alliance
Following a highly competitive national search, McCormack+Kristel has placed Jackie Brenneman as president and CEO of the Independent Film & Television Alliance (IFTA). She succeeds Jean Prewitt, who is stepping down at the end of the month after 25 years leading the organization. “Jackie brings industry insight, legal and lobbying expertise, and a proven record of
Cooper Coleman Recruits Executive Director for San Diego Pride
Chicago-based Cooper Coleman LLC has assisted in the recruitment of KishaLynn Elliott as executive director of San Diego Pride. She becomes the first Black lesbian to serve as permanent executive director in the organization’s more than 50-year history. The national search was led by J. Michael Durnil, director of executive search at Cooper Coleman, in close partnership with
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.
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,
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?
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 year. “I
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
Allen Austin Launches Evidence-Based Leadership Assessment VantagePoint
Houston, TX-based search firm Allen Austin launch of VantagePoint, an evidence-based leadership assessment that helps organizations identify and develop high-potential leaders with greater clarity and confidence. VantagePoint is grounded in three decades of leadership advisory work and original research by Allen Austin chairman and CEO Rob Andrews. Over two years, Mr. Andrews interviewed more than 100 CEOs,
The CHRO’s New Mandate
Across industries, the organizational design structure has shifted from a traditional pyramid to an hourglass model. This is not a recent development, explained Slayton Search Partners’ John Doyle in a recent report. “Organizational efficiencies, increased technology and the first wave of Baby Boomer retirements began this transition nearly two decades ago,” he said. “Experienced leaders have been retiring. Internal pipelines have
AGB Search Recruits 11th President for Lewis University
Washington, D.C.-based recruitment firm AGB Search, which specializes in higher education leadership assignments, has helped to recruit Christopher Sindt as the 11th president of Lewis University. The Lewis University board of trustees recently announced that president David Livingston, will retire at the conclusion of the 2025–26 academic year. Melissa K. Trotta, Matthew J. Kilcoyne, and John Cech led the assignment. “After
Kincannon & Reed Assists CCI Prime with CFO Search
Kincannon & Reed (K&R), which exclusively focuses on food, agribusiness, and the related life sciences, has assisted in the recruitment of Jamie Broad as CFO of CCI Prime, bringing on a seasoned finance leader to support the company’s next phase of growth. “Jamie’s ability to connect financial insights to operational realities makes her an exceptional
EQU Advisors Seeking Senior Leader for Sarah Lawrence College
Executive search firm EQU Advisors was recently retained by Sarah Lawrence College to lead in its search for an associate vice president of enrollment. This executive will serve as a key member of the senior enrollment leadership team and a collaborative partner across the institution. This role is designed to strengthen coordination, elevate shared strategy, and support
Egon Zehnder Forms Alliance with IMD
Global leadership advisory firm Egon Zehnder and IMD, a leading business school in global executive education, have formed a strategic partnership to facilitate board directors’ personal growth and elevate board performance. The partnership combines IMD’s academic rigor and deep connections to global boards with Egon Zehnder’s expertise in leadership and board effectiveness. Together, they will co-create tailored
Why Boards Are Betting on New CEOs and How to Set Them Up to Win
A growing number of companies are entrusting the corner office to leaders stepping into the CEO role for the first time. As succession strategies evolve and executive talent markets tighten, boards are increasingly prioritizing leadership potential, adaptability, and strategic vision over prior CEO experience. Boards now face a new question: which qualities make a first-time CEO succeed,
The Leadership Reset: What AI is Exposing About Today’s Executives
For decades, leadership success was largely measured by experience, team size, and the ability to manage complex organizations. Today, artificial intelligence is changing that equation, and it is reshaping how boards, investors, and hiring executives evaluate leadership talent. As AI transforms how work gets done, organizations are discovering that competitive advantage is no longer determined
Greenwood Asher & Associates Recruits Provost for the University of Cincinnati
Miramar Beach, FL-based executive recruitment firm Greenwood Asher & Associates has assisted the University of Cincinnati (UC) in the recruitment of Rudolph Buchheit as executive vice president for academic affairs and provost. Andriel Dees and Julie Schrodt led the assignment for the search firm. His selection follows a national search led by a dedicated search committee that was informed by
HARTZ Search Assists Geisinger with Recruitment of CIO
Charlotte, NC-based HARTZ Search has helped to recruit Bill Bellando as executive vice president and chief information officer of Geisinger. He joins Geisinger after serving as senior vice president and chief information officer at Georgia-based Wellstar Health System from 2022 to 2026. In this role, Mr. Bellando oversaw information technology and digital initiatives across the health system.
Beecher Reagan Names Managing Director
Houston, TX-headquartered executive search firm Beecher Reagan has appointed David Rio as managing director. He will deepen the firm’s work with consulting and technology-enabled services clients across publicly traded, private partnerships, and sponsor-backed companies. “David is a great addition, who will do nothing but strengthen our capabilities and the client experience we deliver,” said Clark Beecher, co-founder and
When to Use an Executive Search Firm
Executive hiring is one of the few business decisions where the consequences compound for years. The right leader can accelerate growth, strengthen culture, improve execution, and create enterprise value far beyond their compensation package. The wrong leader can stall momentum, disrupt teams, and force organizations to spend valuable time and resources correcting course. As companies
Klein Hersh Recruits CEO for Corrixr Therapeutics
Klein Hersh, a search firm focused on the life sciences and healthcare industries, has placed Hilary M. Malone as the new CEO of Corrixr Therapeutics in Newark, DE. She succeeds Eric B. Kmiec, founder of Corrixr, who will continue to serve in his capacity as chief scientific officer and will remain actively engaged in the
RH Perry & Associates Assists Holyoke Community College with Provost Search
RH Perry & Associates recently helped to place Jessica Nicklin as provost and vice president for academic affairs at Holyoke Community College (HCC). Senior consultants Jessie Thompson and Levy Brown led the assignment. “Dr. Nicklin is a respected leader in higher education and an organizational psychologist, recognized for her strategic vision, collaborative leadership, and dedication to student, faculty, and institutional
TSI Group Fills Senior Position for Dixon Hard Chrome
Mississauga, ON-headquartered executive search firm TSI Group Inc. recently assisted in the recruitment of Corey A. Williams as general manager of aerospace and aircraft plating specialist Dixon Hard Chrome in Sun Valley, CA. TSI Group partnered with Dixon Hard Chrome to identify a highly accomplished general manager capable of leading the organization’s operations and supporting its continued
Spencer Stuart Acquires Dr. Bjørn Johansson Associates
Spencer Stuart has acquired Dr. Bjørn Johansson Associates, a Zurich-based, founder-led leadership advisory firm, through which Dr. Bjørn Johansson Associates will be integrated into Spencer Stuart. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. “Dr. Bjørn Johansson Associates is a highly respected market leader with deep relationships with many of the most iconic and important businesses and organizations in Switzerland
Kingsley Gate Unveils a New Approach to AI-Powered Executive Search
Under pressure to deliver faster results, deeper market intelligence, and stronger candidate outcomes, executive search firms and talent leaders are reevaluating the tools and processes that have long defined the profession. Advances in artificial intelligence are accelerating that shift, creating new possibilities for how searches are scoped, executed, and managed from start to finish. Yet
Growth Happens When Human Capital is the Priority
Every growth story eventually reaches an inflection point where the business becomes more complex than the systems that built it. Revenue can grow quickly, markets can expand, and opportunities can multiply—but sustainable performance depends on an organization’s ability to evolve its leadership, decision-making, and talent infrastructure at the same pace. The companies that navigate these
Shelli Herman and Associates Tapped by Mystic Aquarium to Lead CEO Search
Los Angeles-based Shelli Herman and Associates was recently selected by Mystic Aquarium to lead in its search for a new president and CEO. The organization seeks an experienced, mission-driven CEO to lead the organization into its next chapter, defined by expanded conservation impact, philanthropic growth, and deeper community relevance. Reporting to the board of trustees, this
Furst Group Recruits President and CEO of Blessing Health System
Furst Group, which serves the healthcare and insurance industries, recently helped to recruit Mike Trachta as the president and CEO of Blessing Health System. “The board sought a leader who could shape long-term strategy, strengthen key partnerships, and preserve Blessing Health’s independence while advancing operational excellence and financial stewardship,” Furst Group said in a LinkedIn
Hunt Scanlon Reports ‘M&A Whiplash’ As Policy Uncertainty Sets In
In EY-Parthenon’s latest Deal Barometer, the message is clear: expect a more subdued M&A environment this year. After a strong rebound in 2024, the market is losing steam as macro headwinds begin to bite. Deal volumes for transactions over $100 million are forecast to rise just one percent in 2025, following a 19 percent gain last year.
Ridgeway Partners Expands Leadership Team
Boston-headquartered executive search firm Ridgeway Partners has expanded with the addition of Julie Zadow to its leadership team. She joins the firm with over 20 years of leadership experience in marketing, talent strategy, culture mapping and organizational design. Ms. Zadow will be based in Boston. “Julie brings a true customer-first lens to the growth of Ridgeway
The Expanding CEO Role in Talent Acquisition
Talent management has reached new heights. Its value across the enterprise has risen to unprecedented levels of importance, a direct correlation to the state of the employment market but also, arguably, the natural evolution and elevation of human resources. “The innovation and widespread adoption of HR technology across the human capital ecosystem has sophisticated the
Witt Kieffer Seeks Provosts for Elon and Central Michigan Universities
Executive recruitment firm Witt/Kieffer has been selected to find provosts for both Elon University and Central Michigan University. Elon University, located in North Carolina, is seeking a provost and vice president for academic affairs. Senior partner Lucy Apthorp Leske and associate Veena Abraham are leading the search for Witt/Kieffer. As the chief academic officer, the
Association Strategies Lands CEO for the American Society of Appraisers
As the economy continues to strengthen, hiring in the non-profit sector has been gaining momentum. In the past decade, employment in the sector grew by 17 percent. The non-profit sector has also become a hot area for corporate executives looking to switch careers. According to executive recruiters, business managers and executives are turning to the non-profit
New Street Group Acquires Wickland Westcott
Consulting and people solutions business, New Street Group, has announced its acquisition of London-based executive search and leadership consultancy Wickland Westcott. Financial terms of the deal were undisclosed. Wickland Westcott provides executive search, leadership and management consultancy services. With over 40 years of experience, Wickland Westcott blends commercial judgement with psychological expertise to enhance organizational and individual
How to Prepare for Next Generation Board Talent
Roughly 50 percent of S&P 500 companies will be replaced in the next 10 years — a reality that reflects a complex landscape of emerging risks, as well as the immense pressure on today’s companies to innovate or be left behind. As investors and market pressures drive organizations to become more digital, more global and
Korn Ferry Seeks Head Basketball Coach for Vanderbilt
Just a few months after recruiting Vanderbilt University’s athletic director, Korn Ferry has been asked to find the school’s next head basketball coach. Bryce Drew, whose teams had a record of 40-59 over his three years at the helm, was let go last month. “Vanderbilt is committed to competing at the highest levels on and
Herbert Mines Tapped by Lumber Liquidators to Find CFO
New York-based executive recruiter Herbert Mines Associates has been selected by Lumber Liquidators Holdings, a specialty retailer of hardwood flooring, to spearhead its search for a new CFO. Martin D. Agard will step down from the company effective Friday to accept a new role with a company in Florida. Timothy J. Mulvaney, the company’s chief accounting officer, has been named interim CFO.
Human Capital Group Adds Former Chief People Officer to Staff
The executive search field continues to be a welcoming landing pad for HR executives looking for a career change. Recently, the Human Capital Group, based in Nashville, TN, expanded with the addition of former HR executive David Alexander as managing director. Based in the firm’s Dallas office, he is charged with supporting the firm’s ongoing growth of
Kingsley Gate Partners Acquires Latin American Search Firm
Acquisitions continue to make big news in the executive search industry. In an effort to expand its global presence, Kingsley Gate Partners recently acquired Latin American executive search firm CPGroup Latam. Financial terms of the deal were undisclosed. “We’re excited to welcome our Latin American colleagues,” said Nancy Albertini, senior partner, Office of the CEO, Kingsley Gate Partners.
Defining Leadership by Gender, Generations and Geographies
Traditional gender stereotypes about men’s and women’s roles in the workplace and at home have helped to create overarching assumptions about what truly matters to each gender when it comes to careers, how to define great leadership, and expectations about diversity in the workplace. Many of us have also been quick to define entire generations
Parker Executive Search Lands President for Colorado State University
Atlanta-based recruitment firm Parker Executive Search has helped move the current provost of West Virginia University (WVU) Joyce E. McConnell to a new role as the 15th president of Colorado State University (CSU). She will succeed Tony Frank, who begins serving as chancellor of the CSU System July 1. Rico Munn, chair of the CSU system board of governors, described Ms. McConnell
Protis Global Finds President for INDUS Holding Co.
Executive search firm Protis Global has placed Joe Bayern as president of INDUS Holding Co. Mr. Bayern will oversee the day-to-day operations of the Salinas, CA-based cannabis company, reporting to Robert Weakley, founder and chief executive officer, and the board of directors. Mr. Bayern joins INDUS from global beverage company VOSS of Norway. In his eight years
InveniasPartners Appoints President
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: InveniasPartners, a Chicago-based healthcare executive search and talent advisory services firm, named Joseph E. Fournier as vice chairman and president. He joined the firm as a partner and chief people
Eric Salmon & Partners Expands in Singapore
Executive search consultants are seeing an increase in hiring mandates from around the world. To meet the demand, they continue to develop new practices and hire new recruiters. Recently, Paris-headquartered executive search firm Eric Salmon & Partners strengthened its office in Singapore with the addition of Brindha Bal as a partner. The office now has six partners on
Growing Influence of Private Equity Pushing Recruiters to Deliver Value, Not Just People
To thrive in today’s executive search market, recruiting firms must take “extreme ownership” of client needs, said Rick DeRose and Kevin O’Neill, managing partners of the executive search firm Acertitude, in a new report by Invenias, a global provider of cloud-based software for executive search firms. As internal talent teams have grown more sophisticated and capable,
Diversified Search Recruits CEO for Martha’s Table
Following a national talent hunt, Diversified Search placed former Obama administration official Kim Ford as the new president and CEO of Martha’s Table, a food access and education not-for-profit. The Washington, D.C.-based charity’s current leader, Patty Stonesifer, recently announced that she plans to retire this summer after six years in the role. Leading the national search were Dale E.
McCormack+Kristel Seeks Executive Director for East Bay Community Law Center
Executive search firm McCormack+Kristel has been selected by the East Bay Community Law Center in Berkeley, CA to find its next executive director. “This is an opportunity for an accomplished, entrepreneurial leader to join a growing mission-driven non-profit organization dedicated to education and social justice,” said McCormack+Kristel. “The successful candidate will become a part of a distinguished
Ward Howell Opens Office in Houston
Global recruiter Ward Howell International has opened a new office in Houston and the addition of Thomas W. Dowdy, as partner, to lead it. He becomes a member of the firm’s energy practice. Mr. Dowdy worked for the predecessor firm of the current Ward Howell, in Russia, in the 1990s. “We are excited to welcome Tom back to
Wilton & Bain Joins Inclusive Culture Pledge
Diversity and inclusion in the workplace is becoming increasingly important for both employers and employees. Research has shown that diverse businesses are 35 percent more likely to financially outperform their industry’s national average. For potential job hunters, 67 percent now consider a diverse workforce to be an important factor when considering job offers. Recently, London-based
A Bright and Busy Future for Executive Recruiters
A tight labor market with low unemployment means companies are struggling to find qualified talent, costs associated with talent acquisition are rising and a lengthy hiring process is now the rule, not the exception. Recent surveys of hiring managers and individuals just completed from CareerBuilder, Inavero and the American Staffing Association (ASA) identified these major
Boyden Places CEO for CHEO Research Institute
Global executive search firm Boyden has placed Jason Berman as the new chief executive officer and scientific director of the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) Research Institute and vice president for research of CHEO in Ottawa, Ontario. Dr. Berman, who starts his new role August 1, currently works for the Izaak Walton Killam Hospital
Blair Search Partners Recruits CEO for the San Diego Foundation
San Diego-based Blair Search Partners has recruited Mark Stuart as the new president and chief executive officer for the San Diego Foundation. Principal Trevor Blair led the assignment. The national search, which drew more than 1,000 candidates, began last year when Blair Search was appointed to assist the foundation board search committee. “The foundation board and I
Jobplex Appoints Partner
Jobplex, the Chicago-based partner company of DHR International, has expanded with the addition of Claire Sylvestre as partner. Prior to joining Jobplex, Ms. Sylvestre served as director and executive international recruiter for YER USA in Chicago. In this role, she spearheaded business development functions and ran all aspects of recruitment functions to source new clients and candidates.
Ccentric Group Forms Alliance with Wavelength
Sydney-headquartered executive search firm Ccentric Group has established a partnership with Wavelength, one of Australia’s largest medical recruitment agencies. “The companies share the same values of being dedicated to client needs, a strong focus on quality and service, and attracting and retaining the best employees,” said Wayne Bruce, founder and director of Ccentric Group. “It
Why Cannabis Companies Need Purpose Driven Leaders
Investors poured $10 billion into cannabis in North America in 2018, twice what was invested in the last three years combined. The North American market is expected to reach more than $16 billion in 2019. While talent deficits are a problem in every industry, the marijuana field is exceptionally short on senior-level leaders who can
Fogler Consulting Seeking Head Basketball Coach for UNLV
With NCAA college basketball’s “March Madness” in full swing, some schools that have been left on the sidelines are looking to find new coaches to help their teams climb back into the competition. The University of Las Vegas, Nevada (UNLV), for one, recently enlisted executive search firm Fogler Consulting to lead the search for its next
Young Mayden Finds New Leader for the Houston Bar Association
Legal recruiting continues to be a hot area for search firms. Lawyers employed by government agencies in particular have been on the move as a result of changes in government administrations, according to analysts at Hunt Scanlon Media. Employment of lawyers is projected to grow 10 percent through 2022. Demand for legal work is expected to be
IRC Global Adds 20/20 Foresight Executive Search
Global search consortiums continue to add new members across the global. The latest: IRC Global Executive Search Partners (IRC) just added Chicago-based 20/20 Foresight Executive Search as its fifth member firm in the U.S. 20/20 Foresight primarily serves companies involved in the real estate, financial services and service industries. It was established by Bob Cavoto in
Heidrick & Struggles Announces Promotions
Recruiters in the search industry continue to climb the executive ladder within their respective firms. Executive search, leadership consulting and culture shaping services provider Heidrick & Struggles has promoted 14 partners and 25 principals in its search and consulting businesses globally. “Our consultants are working with our clients to build the best leadership teams around the world,” said Krishnan
Greenwood / Asher & Associates Finds President for University of South Florida
A number of top colleges around the country are looking for high-profile leaders to take them into the future. In most cases, executive recruiting firms have had a hand in some aspect of the search and selection process. Greenwood / Asher & Associates has recruited Steven Currall as the president of the University of South Florida (USF). If approved by







