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Occam Global Fills Senior Post for Variant Bio
New York City-based executive search firm Occam Global has recruited Craig T. Basson as chief medical officer and president of R&D of Variant Bio, a genomics-driven AI drug discovery company in Seattle, WA. “Craig’s career uniquely spans deep human genetics, rigorous clinical science, and successful drug development at scale,” said Andrew Farnum, chief executive officer of Variant Bio. “His
ECA Partners Expands Healthcare and Life Sciences Practices
Santa Monica, CA-based search firm ECA Partners has named Ryan March and Allison Chappelle as senior directors within the its healthcare & life sciences practice. “Both appointments reflect ECA’s strategic expansion in the healthcare sector and reinforce its commitment to delivering specialized expertise to private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies,” the firm said. “Together, they strengthen ECA’s
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.
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
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?
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,
Women Founders Gain Ground in Human Capital M&A
A meaningful shift has been unfolding across the executive search industry. Over the past decade, a growing number of highly specialized boutiques have been founded and led by women, many of whom built successful careers within larger firms before launching businesses of their own. What is becoming increasingly clear is that investors are paying attention.
Private Equity Recruiting – Return on Investment: Creating Value with Talent
Talent has become a defining driver of performance in private equity, shaping how firms manage risk, execute strategy, and deliver sustained returns. As deal cycles tighten and value creation depends increasingly on operational excellence, leadership quality and organizational design are no longer secondary considerations — they are central to how firms source, underwrite, and scale
AGB Search Seeking Chief Information Technology Officer for Slippery Rock University
Washington, D.C.-based recruitment firm AGB Search, which specializes in higher education leadership assignments, has been retained by Slippery Rock University to lead in its search for a chief information technology officer (CITO). Kimberly Templeton, Margaret Plympton, and Anne Hoffman are leading the assignment. This leader serves as the University’s senior technology executive, providing strategic vision, leadership, and executive
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
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,
Leadership Strategies for Challenging Times
Non-profit leaders face unique challenges in today’s world. From financial and broader economic uncertainty to changing policy and evolving societal needs, the pressure to deliver meaningful change during a period of insecurity can feel immense, according to a recent report from DHR Global. Within these challenges lie decisions for leaders to make as they determine
Korn Ferry Taps NBA Executive for Vanderbilt Athletic Director Post
Universities continue to turn to executive search firms to find new athletic directors. Recently, Korn Ferry placed Malcolm Turner as the new vice chancellor for athletics and university affairs and athletics director of Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. The current AD, David Williams, is retiring in May. Jed Hughes, who heads Korn Ferry’s sports practice, led
DHR International Recruits Chief Supply Chain Officer for Michaels Companies
DHR International recently placed Mike West as the new chief supply chain officer at the Michaels Companies. Managing partners Marcey Rubin Stamas and Frank Spencer led the assignment. Mr. West most recently served as senior vice president of supply chain field operations at Lowe’s. In that role, he led operations for the company’s regional and flatbed
Recently Launched Carpe Diem Partners Expands
Recognized as one of the “Most Powerful Women in California” by the National Diversity Council, Mona Ameli has joined newly formed executive search firm Carpe Diem Partners. She will lead the diversity & inclusion practice and serve as a managing partner. “With the addition of Mona to our team, Carpe Diem Partners becomes the only certified
Panorama Adds ALSpective to Roster
Panorama, a global network of independent executive search firms, has added international consulting and search firm ALSpective Group as its newest member firm. ALSpective is an international executive search firm offering leadership consulting, governance and strategy. The firm has offices in Paris, Geneva and Tunis. Albert Hiribarrondo serves as the group’s managing partner and CEO. Mr. Hiribarrondo
H2 Talent Launches to Serve Marijuana Industry
Talent deficits exist in every field. But the marijuana industry is exceptionally short on senior-level leaders who can come in and cross-pollinate their functional and sector skill-sets. H2 Talent in Boulder, CO, is the latest recruiting entrant to serve cannabis companies looking for senior talent. The search firm was launched specifically to provide C-suite and
Caldwell Places CFO at Lifesize
Chief financial officers continue to be in high demand. Finding them is keeping many of the nation’s top recruitment operations busier than ever. In recent months, search firms of all varieties have placed CFOs at various companies. Recently, Toronto-based executive search firm Caldwell recruited Matt Hibbard as the new CFO of Lifesize, a global provider of video collaboration
Biophysical Society Taps Sterling Martin for Executive Officer
The Biophysical Society has retained Sterling Martin Associates to help find its next executive officer. The Rockville, MD-based non-profit is seeking a senior executive leader within a scientific, professional society or other professional membership association. Leading the assignment for Sterling Martin are David S. Martin, CEO and managing partner; Leigh Beal, senior associate; and Tricia
NPAworldwide Adds Nine 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 nine new member locations as it continues to
Kilpatrick Group Acquires BFK HR Consulting
Leading-edge professionals are in high demand within the fashion market, according to recruiters. To help fill that need, global executive search firm Kilpatrick Group SA recently acquired Lugano, Switzerland-based BFK HR Consulting, a consulting company specializing in human resources with a focus on ICT applied to fashion. In 2019, the firm further plans to launch
Hunt Scanlon Media’s Top 10 Recruiting Stories of 2018
Looking back through more than a thousand recruiting stories published over the course of 2018, picking the 10 most important was no small job. Hunt Scanlon Media tracked every little change, every small movement and, above all, lots of big progress. Truth be told, our choices for this year are a beacon for what lies ahead in
Reffett Associates Tapped to Find New Leader for First Responders Network
Executive search firm Reffett Associates has been selected by the First Responders Network Authority (FirstNet) to assist in the recruitment and selection of the agency’s executive director and CEO. The search is being led by Eric Reffett, managing director of the recruitment firm’s Washington, D.C., office. The incoming leader will be responsible for all day-to-day operations for
Coulter Partners Finds Chief Commercial Officer for Nanoform
Global executive search firm Coulter Partners has placed Christian Jones as chief commercial officer of Helsinki-based drug particle engineering and nanotechnology company Nanoform. Client partner Eskil Westh led the assignment. The appointment comes at a pivotal time in Nanoform’s growth, having recently completed a EUR 7 million funding round for investment in its technology and talent hiring. The
Taplow Consulting France Acquires Aptimen Managers
Executive search, coaching and management consulting firm Taplow Consulting France has acquired Aptimen Managers, an interim management consultancy. The acquisition comes after nearly a decade of the organizations working together to offer clients complementary services. The addition of Aptimen gives Taplow Consulting France a 1,000-interim managers network and provides its clients with a global offering,
The Everest Group Opens Office in Lake Tahoe
Glendora, CA-headquartered executive search firm the Everest Group has expanded with the opening of a new office in Lake Tahoe in Zephyr Cove, NV. “The new office in Lake Tahoe will allow for close proximity to Nevada, where we are seeing an influx of fulfillment centers with the growth of e-commerce over the past few
Hunt Scanlon’s Top Five Private Equity Recruiting Stories of 2018
No client sector demands such top-end service from its search partners as private equity. Portfolio companies represent some of the most innovative, well-funded and high-growth concerns in all of business. As a result, much of the talent that private equity firms seek are highly-charged change agents — a professional breed that is growing more difficult to
CarterBaldwin Recruits President for Trinity Western University
CarterBaldwin Executive Search and Trinity Western University have announced the appointment of Mark Husbands as the university’s next president. Bill Peterson, co-leader of the firm’s non-profit and academic search practice, led the assignment. Dr. Husbands was selected by the board of governors as their unanimous first choice after an extensive search, which included the involvement of
Development Guild DDI Seeks Chief Development Officer for UP Education Network
Executive recruitment firm Development Guild DDI, which focuses on the non-profit sector, has been retained to find a chief development officer for Boston-based UP Education Network, a school management organization. The assignment is being led by Katharine Kaplan, vice president of the search firm. The chief development officer is responsible for leading all fundraising efforts
The Atlantic Group Opens New Office on Long Island
Executive search firm the Atlantic Group has opened its newest office in Melville, NY. The firm, which was founded in 2006, has enjoyed significant growth in recent years and continues to expand and open new locations, to meet increased demand for its services. “The (firm) has established a reputation for identifying and recruiting the right
Signium Names Life Sciences Practice Group Leader
Executive search consortium Signium has appointed Consuelo Pizzo, director in Signium Italy’s Milan office, as life sciences global practice leader. Ms. Pizzo takes over from Signium Germany’s Angela Westdorf, who co-founded the practice in 2008 and took on sole leadership of it in 2013. Ms. Westdorf will continue as a Signium board member, and as part of
Hunt Scanlon’s Top 5 U.K. to U.S. Headhunting Expansions of 2018
With the curtain coming down on 2018, we looked back through our archives over what was by all accounts a noteworthy year for search firms from outside the U.S. setting up shop in America. With the U.K.’s departure from the European Union fast approaching, Hunt Scanlon Media has kept a close eye on recruitment firms
Private Equity Recruitment Firm, CXO Source, Launches in Texas
The private equity sector is hot for talent and that demand has led to a growing number of recruitment firms that specialize in the sector opening for business, and creating or expanding their specializations in recent months. A recent survey by Hunt Scanlon Media shows more than 100 search firms, and countless more recruiters themselves,
Greenwood / Asher Launches Chancellor Search for University of Arkansas
Greenwood / Asher & Associates is helping to find the next chancellor for the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith (UAFS). Former chancellor Paul Beran left the school in August to accept a position with the South Dakota Higher Education Board of Regents. Margaret Tanner, associate provost for academic affairs at the Fort Smith campus and search
McCormack+Kristel Seeks CFO for Metro Wellness & Community Centers
Executive search firm McCormack+Kristel has been selected by Metro Wellness & Community Centers in Tampa to lead its search for a new chief financial officer. Managing partner Joseph McCormack and partner Michelle Kristel are leading the assignment. Reporting to the CEO, the CFO directs the finance functions of the organization and is responsible for the fiscal management of all federal, state and city
Heidrick Consulting Announces Expansion
Executive search, leadership consulting and culture shaping services provider Heidrick & Struggles International has expanded its Heidrick Consulting segment with the addition of two new partners and two principals. “We continue to build and grow our business to better meet the demands of our clients globally,” said Andrew LeSueur, global managing partner of Heidrick Consulting. “The addition of
Hunt Scanlon’s Top 10 Search Assignments of 2018
With 2018 drawing to a close, we looked back through our archives over what was by all accounts a remarkable year for first-rate search assignments. Hunt Scanlon Media tracked hundreds of them. From CEO placements to those covering the bandwidth of the C-suite, our editorial team gleaned the best from every industry sector and functional discipline to
Koya Leadership Search Heading CHRO Search for Skidmore College
Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY has turned to Koya Leadership Partners to find its next chief human resources officer (CHRO). Managing director Andy Evans, vice president Beth Schaefer and consultant Charlotte Harris are leading the search. Skidmore is seeking a forward thinking, proactive and collaborative leader to play an important role in providing strategic and
Cejka Executive Search Retained by Arkansas Health Network to Find CMO
Paul Esselman, senior executive vice president and managing director at Cejka Executive Search, is helping to find a chief medical officer for Arkansas Health Network, a physician-driven, clinically integrated network that spans the state. The CMO will serve as a key member of the network’s management team to provide leadership in advancing Arkansas Health Network’s
Caldwell Adds Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Council to Offerings
Toronto-based executive search firm Caldwell has launched a diversity and inclusion advisory council service for clients. The offering is designed to provide strategic insight, external accountability and guidance in developing diversity and inclusion strategy and programs, and help align goals, people and processes, said the firm. “Countless studies and statistics have been published showing the
Cornerstone International Group Opens Offices in Zurich and Brussels
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. Cornerstone International Group, a global executive search and leadership development firm, recently
ZRG Partners Taps New Funding, Eyes Further Growth
ZRG Partners, one of the fastest growing global boutique executive search firms, will soon announce the completion of a recapitalization with RFE Investment Partners, a lower middle-market private equity firm with a long history of investing in growth companies. Rochelle Park, NJ-based ZRG’s current capital partner, Northcreek Mezzanine, is exiting the investment after four years.
Kevin Chase Executive Search Lands Leader for Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund
Los Angeles-based Kevin Chase Executive Search Group has placed Andrea “Andy” Hong Marra as the new executive director for the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund (TLDEF) in New York City. She succeeds Dolph Ward Goldenburg who has served as interim executive director since February. Managing partner Kevin Chase led the assignment along with senior associate Catie DiFelice. Over
