DAILY NEWSWIRE - TOP STORIES
Daily Newswire
AI Adoption Linked to Stronger Revenue Growth Across Executive Search Firms
Macroeconomic conditions were unpredictable and labor markets remained sluggish in 2025, but many firms were able to find success in this challenging market. One way was with AI, which revolutionized the recruitment industry in 2025. Top-performing firms are four times as likely to be using AI, and 55 percent have seen KPIs increase more than
2026: A Year of Intentional Growth for HR Leadership
Global markets are moving out of a period defined by uncertainty and into one that favors disciplined execution. Organizations are no longer waiting for perfect conditions before acting; instead, they are recalibrating how they grow, where they invest, and which leaders they rely on to deliver results. In this environment, HR leadership is becoming increasingly
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.
SearchWide Global Recruits President and CEO for Visit California
SearchWide Global has helped to recruit Julie Coker as the new president and CEO of Visit California. She succeeds longtime leader Caroline Beteta, who announced her retirement earlier this year. The assignment was led by Mike Gamble, chairman, CEO, and co-founder of SearchWide. The appointment is the culmination of a comprehensive global search conducted in partnership
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 Search Team
JM Search, a senior-level talent provider serving private equity investors, portfolio companies, and Fortune 1000s, has expanded with the additions of Amber Shockey as partner within its legal practice and Curtis Walker as principal within its media & telecommunications team. “Continued private equity investment across legal services, legal-adjacent businesses, and professional sports is elevating the importance of
Interim or Executive Search? Choosing the Right Leadership Solution
Interim leadership has moved well beyond being a stopgap solution for unexpected vacancies. As organizations face greater complexity, faster strategic shifts, and mounting pressure to deliver results, boards and CEOs are increasingly turning to experienced interim leaders as a flexible way to maintain momentum and address critical business needs. For executive search firms, that shift
Funk Associates Assists the University of North Florida with the Recruitment of Eighth President
Funk Associates has assisted in the recruitment of Michael P. Shannon as the eighth president of the University of North Florida (UNF). Past president Moez Limayem stepped down from his position in early 2026. “Mike Shannon is the leader who can build on UNF’s strong momentum and continue to elevate the University’s incredible impact across our
DHR Global Recruits President of Business Operations for the Pittsburgh Penguins
Talent advisory firm DHR Global has placed Marcel Braithwaite as president of business operations for the Pittsburgh Penguins. This search was led by Mike Gagliardi and Glenn Sugiyama of DHR’s sports practice. “Marcel is going to be a transformational hire for one of the NHL’s premier teams,” said Mr. Sugiyama, managing partner of DHR’s sports practice. “I had the
Mercuri Urval Expands International Public and ESG Expert Practice
Stockholm, Sweden-based executive search firm Mercuri Urval (MU) has expanded with the addition of former Danish government minister Astrid Krag to its international public and ESG expert practice. “With Astrid’s extensive experience in international public affairs, strong commitment to ESG and sustainability, and deep understanding of life sciences, she brings a valuable combination of expertise and
ZRG Partners Acquires N2Growth’s Spain Business
ZRG Partners has entered the Spanish market through the acquisition of the business formerly known as Blacksmith that had been doing business since 2023 under the umbrella of N2Growth. Through this integration, ZRG enters the Spanish market with an established local team and the goal of offering Spanish and international clients agile, high-touch advisory backed by
Family Offices Move Into Human Capital M&A
Altss’ latest ranking, The 50 Largest Family Offices in the World (2026), illustrates the scale family capital has reached. The 50 largest offices collectively manage an estimated $2.4 trillion, with the top 10 controlling more than $1.5 trillion. Twenty-eight of the top 50 are headquartered in North America, while private equity represents their largest average portfolio allocation
The Leadership Pipeline Crisis: AI’s Hidden Cost
Companies everywhere are celebrating leaner teams, faster execution, and higher productivity thanks to AI, according to HIRECLOUT. From a business perspective, the logic is easy to understand, according to Avetis Antaplyan, founder and CEO of HIRECLOUT. “Investors reward efficiency,” Mr. Antaplyan said. “Leaders are under pressure to do more with less. Automation is eliminating repetitive
Klein Hersh Recruits CFO for Sparrow Pharmaceuticals
Klein Hersh, a search firm focused on the life sciences and healthcare industries, has recruited George Eldridge as the new CFO of Sparrow Pharmaceuticals, a targeted cardiometabolic therapeutics company. “We are thrilled to welcome George to Sparrow at such an important time for our company,” said Robert Jacks, president and CEO of Sparrow Pharmaceuticals. “George
McCormack + Kristel Seeking Executive Director for NEXT Harm Reduction
McCormack + Kristel has been retained by NEXT Harm Reduction (NEXT Distro) to lead in its search for an executive director. This is a rare opportunity for a visionary leader and skilled fundraiser to take a nationally recognized organization with an urgent mandate and grow it to the scale the moment demands. Reporting to the board
Riviera Partners Expands Public Practice
San Francisco-based Riviera Partners, a recruitment provider specializing in C-level engineering, product, and design leader placements, has expanded with the addition of Archer McFall as a partner within its public practice serving large, publicly-traded companies and late-stage, pre-IPO companies. “Getting the right CTO, CIO, or chief AI officer in place, building the team structure around AI, making sure the
HelloSky Brings Its Graph of People, Investors, and Companies Into Claude and ChatGPT
Executive search firms are increasingly looking for ways to move beyond traditional databases and static candidate profiles as clients demand deeper market intelligence and faster, more precise insight into leadership talent. Advances in artificial intelligence are giving recruiters new tools to connect people, companies, investors, relationships, and career outcomes in ways that can strengthen candidate
Harris Search Associates Leading Senior Assignment for Carnegie Mellon University
Harris Search Associates has been retained by Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) to lead in its search for newly created role of associate vice president for research computing and data (AVP RCD). Jeffrey Harris and Ed Christ are leading the assignment. This role offers a unique opportunity to elevate and transform CMU’s research computing ecosystem positioning it to better support
Preng & Associates Assists SOGC, LLC with President Search
Following a comprehensive executive search, Houston-based Preng & Associates assisted in the recruitment of David French as the new president of SOGC, LLC. “Preng & Associates is proud to have supported this important leadership appointment and continues to partner with energy companies worldwide in identifying and securing transformative executive talent,” the firm said. Mr. French brings
NPAG Appoints Senior Advisor
Executive search firm NPAG has appointed André Blackman as senior advisor. In this new role, he will build and lead a practice focused on mission-driven innovation — connecting dynamic leadership talent and the development resources to keep that talent in seat, to founders and organizations solving problems that matter. “André brings a rare combination of strategic insight, storytelling
Sheffield Haworth Adds Private Equity & Growth Venture Portfolio Assets Veteran
Global leadership advisory and executive search firm Sheffield Haworth has expanded with the addition of Michael McDonnell as managing director, private equity and growth venture portfolio assets. He is based in the New York office and works within the technology sector practice. “We are thrilled to welcome Michael to the team,” said Paul Gillespie, managing director of the
Leadership Needs Shift in a Changing Federal Market
Executive search across the federal contracting, government services, defense, and technology sectors is entering a new phase as companies look for more sophisticated ways to evaluate leadership beyond résumés, references, and past performance. In markets where specialized experience, relationships, and an understanding of complex government customers can be critical, the challenge is not simply identifying
Private Equity Rollup Wave Reshapes Executive Search
What may once have looked like a series of isolated transactions is increasingly taking on the shape of a broader industry shift. As capital moves into the sector and firms rethink where they have true competitive strength, the pattern is becoming harder to ignore. “A year ago, I would have called this a prediction, today,
HARTZ Search Seeking Chief Revenue Officer for Geisinger
Charlotte, NC-based HARTZ Search was recently retained by Geisinger to lead in its search for a chief revenue officer. This executive will direct, manage, and implement programs to ensure efficient revenue management operations and sufficient cash flow to support Geisinger operations and strategic initiatives. The role is responsible for identifying, analyzing, reducing, and resolving revenue management issues
Kincannon & Reed Places Executive Director for the Pennsylvania Dairymen’s Association
Kincannon & Reed (K&R), which exclusively focuses on food, agribusiness, and the related life sciences, has assisted in the recruitment of Patrick Carney as the new executive director of the Pennsylvania Dairymen’s Association. Dave Smith stepped down from his executive role after leading the association for more than 30 years. “Patrick pairs dairy industry knowledge with
Noto Group Expands Global Consumer Practice
Portland, OR-headquartered executive search firm Noto Group has expanded with the additions of Kirsty Schofield and Cody Johns as senior partners in its global consumer practice. “Cody and Kirsty bring highly complementary experience, deep consumer sector expertise, and a genuine connection to how we work,” said Sara Spirko, managing partner of Noto Group. “Both understand that finding
millionways Brings a New Behavioral Intelligence Lever to Executive Recruiters
Hunt Scanlon Ventures this week completed its investment in millionways, a New York-headquartered company that builds a behavioral intelligence layer of AI for human agent workforces, utilizing a proprietary Large Psychology Model called Thorsten-4. The platform focuses on understanding human signals, motives, and behavior patterns, with applications used across AI governance, executive hiring, talent management,
AI Governance Jobs Platform Builds Early Momentum Through Privacy-First Model
AI-Governance-Jobs.com, operated by GRC Careers LLC and led by founder and CEO F. Jay Hall, has built its model combining specialized career content, organic search visibility, and privacy-focused architecture. The company’s latest executive summary reports 134,499 organic impressions over a recent 28-day period, achieved roughly three months after launch — without advertising. As demand grows
Blue Rock Human Capital Assists Linfield University with the Recruitment of Dean of the School of Business
Blue Rock Human Capital has helped to recruit Isaac Wanasika as the new dean of the School of Business at Linfield University. “Blue Rock Human Capital was pleased to work with Linfield University to identify their new dean of the School of Business,” said Jacquelyn Elliot, president and COO of Blue Rock Human Capital. “Today’s higher
CIO Partners Leading Cybersecurity Search for Flexsteel Industries
CIO Partners was recently retained by Flexsteel Industries in Dubuque, IA, to lead in its search for director of cybersecurity. This role partners closely with IT, executive leadership, legal, compliance, operations, and external security partners to reduce cyber risk, strengthen business resilience, and ensure the organization is prepared to prevent, detect, respond to, and recover
Bridging Talent Gaps Across HR, Private Equity, Higher Education
In today’s complex talent environment, organizations across industries are facing a growing (and increasingly urgent) challenge: navigating critical talent gaps. Whether you’re scaling a portfolio company in private equity, rebuilding your human resources function, or filling a leadership void in higher education, the stakes are high, according to a new report from Blue Rock Search’s Ruben
CarterBaldwin Lands Executive Director for Atlanta Land Trust
Atlanta-headquartered CarterBaldwin Executive Search has placed former MARTA executive Amanda Rhein as executive director of the Atlanta Land Trust. Associate partner Derek Broyard led the assignment. “Amanda has the strategic leadership skills we need to take the Atlanta Land Trust’s delivery and stewardship of permanently affordable housing near the Atlanta BeltLine and other targeted communities to the next
PFM Executive Search Places CEO at Fraser Health
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. A number of healthcare organizations have turned to executive search firms to find new leaders in recent months. Recently, Vancouver, British Columbia-based PFM Executive Search placed Victoria Lee as president and CEO of Fraser
Crenshaw Appoints President
Executive recruitment firms have made a number of top leadership appointments this year, many focused on strategy, growth, branding efforts and operations. The latest: New York City-based recruiting firm Crenshaw Associates has named talent and workforce industry leader Margaret-Ann Cole as its new president. She will lead new product development, business development and service delivery. “Margaret-Ann is
Kennedy Executive Search Adds New Partner in Washington, D.C.
Kennedy Executive Search & Consulting, a network of independent executive search firms, has added Washington, D.C.-headquartered executive search firm TH Bender as its 15th member partner firm. The network now has offices in Amsterdam, Budapest, Copenhagen, Denver, Frankfurt, Johannesburg, London, Milan, Monaco, Oslo, Paris, Prague, Sydney, Vienna and Washington, D.C. TH Bender focuses on the executive
Big Impact on Hiring Expected from Mid-Term Election
As Americans prepare for the mid-term elections tomorrow, a new Korn Ferry survey reveals that executives expect the outcome to have a big impact on the workplace. Seventy-five percent of the executive respondents from across a wide range of industries say the outcomes will affect their company’s future hiring decisions, and nearly a quarter (23 percent) said the results
Ignite Search Partners Finds CFO for Rockwell Medical
CFOs 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. Greenwich, Conn-based executive recruiting firm Ignite Search Partners recently recruited Angus Smith as the new chief financial officer of NASDAQ-traded Rockwell
Ross & Company Recruits CEO at Cota Inc.
Executive search firm Ross & Company has placed Michael Doyle as president and CEO of Cota Inc., a real-world data and analytics company based in New York. “As we continue to scale and deliver on the promise of our technology, the addition of Mike Doyle to lead our team is a significant win for our partners, customers and oncology
Caldwell Adds Oil and Gas Recruiting Specialist in Houston
Toronto-based executive search firm Caldwell announced a major enhancement to its recruiting capabilities in the oil and gas sector with the addition of Kenneth Baillie as a partner in its industrial practice, based in Houston. “Kenny is one of the pre-eminent oil and gas executive search recruiters in the market today,” said Dave Winston, managing partner of Caldwell’s industrial practice. “He possesses a
Jensen Partners Founder Completes Management Buyout
Sasha Jensen, founder and CEO of Jensen Partners, has completed a management buyout of her business. As part of the transaction, Jensen Partners will initiate a comprehensive growth plan to expand operations through a series of new hires and services. “The tremendous growth in private markets investing and the growing demand for sophisticated marketing professionals
Unemployment Rate Remains Unchanged as Employers Add 250,000 Jobs
Employers added 250,000 jobs last month as the U.S. unemployment rate was unchanged at 3.7 percent, according to the most recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report. Wall Street analysts had expected an increase of about 195,000. The September gain is the 96th consecutive month of job growth. The number of unemployed people stands at 6.1 million. The
Options Group, On Track for Record Year, Expands Partnership
Options Group, headquartered in New York and with offices in 14 major markets around the world, is on track for a record year. Revenues and headcount are way up, according to a spokesman. The search firm, a global talent provider to the financial services sector, offers market intelligence, talent mapping and strategic consulting advice to
DRG Search Seeks President for Maine Seacoast Mission
Executive recruitment firm DRG Search has been selected to find the next president for the Maine Seacoast Mission, a social services organization in Bar Harbor, ME. Mary Wheeler, senior vice president for DRG, is leading the assignment. The mission’s president is charged with providing strong directional leadership and will be expected to discern, prioritize and
The Chason Group Finds New CEO for the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce
Economic and community development organizations continue to turn to executive search firms to find new leaders. Executive search firm The Chason Group recently placed Colin T. Martin as president and CEO of the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce in Fayetteville, GA. Kim Schnoes has been serving as interim president of the chamber and will assist with the transition
Hudson Global Posts Near 12 Percent Revenue Increase
Hudson Global Inc. / (NASDAQ:HSON) posted second quarter revenues of $17.1 million, up 11.6 percent in constant currency, from a year ago. By region, Hudson Asia Pacific led the charge, recording a revenue gain of 23 percent and Hudson Europe experienced revenue growth of 13 percent. Hudson America, meanwhile, struggled, posting a revenue decrease of 11 percent. The New
CBS in Talks with Recruiting Firms for CEO Search
CBS has begun the process of finding a new CEO after the departure of Les Moonves following sexual misconduct allegations. The company has held preliminary discussions with Heidrick & Struggles, Korn Ferry and Spencer Stuart about helping with the search, according to sources. The search is expected to kick off in earnest in the next few weeks. In the
Turnkey Search Expands with Veteran Media Executive
Turnkey Search, a subsidiary of Turnkey Sports & Entertainment, has added longtime media executive Rick Alessandri as managing director and general manager to its media practice. In this role, he will oversee talent recruitment & executive search for media, digital and tech companies, as well as for non-media entities, including leagues, teams, venues, events and
Management Consultants for the Arts Lands CEO for Society for the Performing Arts
Following a wide-ranging nationwide search, Stamford, Conn-based executive search firm Management Consultants for the Arts has placed Meg Booth as the new CEO of the Society for the Performing Arts (SPA), Houston’s prestigious non-profit presenting arts organization. She takes over from longtime leader June Christensen, who is retiring at the end of the year. “Meg is a dynamic and
Bailey Fisher Finds New CEO for Undo
U.K.-headquartered life sciences specialist Bailey Fisher Executive Search has placed Barry Morris as the new CEO of Undo, a pioneer in the development of new software execution record and replay technology. He takes over the role from co-founder Greg Law, who will now focus on the company’s chief technology officer. “We have achieved our early stage goals,” said
Gaines International Names Chicago Office Co-Leader
Shadin Maali has re-joined executive search firm Gaines International as a principal and co-leader of its Chicago location. She will lead the office with Donna Gaines, who founded the firm and recently returned to the fold as well. “I am pleased to welcome Shadin back to Gaines International in a new leadership capacity,” said Ms.
How to Improve Your Candidate Screening Process
Recruiting in a candidate driven market can be tricky. With the help of developing technologies like artificial intelligence, automation and mobile applications, candidates can apply to multiple positions at many different organizations in no time at all. With candidates applying to more places more quickly, you either keep up or miss out on the ones
Salveson Stetson Group Lands VP of HR for ActiveDay
Executive recruiters are in hot pursuit of chief human resource officers 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 to
Gans, Gans & Associates Seeks New Leader for the St. Louis Housing Authority
Executive search firm Gans, Gans & Associates has been retained by the St. Louis Housing Authority to lead its search for a new executive director. Executive recruiter Ernest Barefield is heading the assignment. The incoming leader will be responsible for leading the development and implementation of the St. Louis Housing Authority’s vision, mission and strategic goals. The new
BarkerGilmore Opens Industrial Practice
Over the past several years, New York-based boutique search firm BarkerGilmore has experienced a surge in demand for executive search, coaching and advising services throughout the industrial and manufacturing sectors. In response, and to increase the value delivered to its clients, the firm has opened an industrial practice and named co-founder and managing partner Bob Barker as
Panorama and TGCL Join Forces
International executive search and leadership advisory partnerships Panorama and The Global Community for Leaders (TGCL) have join forces to consolidate their presence across five continents. “The merger aligns synergetic geographic footprints, with TGCL bringing critical mass in Europe and Latin America to Panorama’s strength in America, Asia, and Oceania,” said the organizations in a statement.
Heidrick & Struggles Posts 17 Percent Revenue Gain
Executive search, leadership consulting and culture shaping services provider Heidrick & Struggles International/(NASDAQ:HSII) posted second quarter net revenues of $187.6 million, an increase of 17.4 percent from $159.8 million in the 2017 third quarter. The results topped Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of three analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for revenues of $175.8 million. The Chicago-headquartered
Michelle Whiting & Associates Recruits CEO for Pacific Chorale
Michelle Whiting & Associates, a specialist in recruiting leaders for non-profit organizations, has placed Andrew Brown as the new CEO of Costa Mesa, CA-based Pacific Chorale, a professional choir. He replaces Elizabeth Pearson, who left the choir earlier this year. The firm was seeking an energetic, creative and experienced arts administrator to leverage the group’s artistic reputation and to elevate
Furst Group Finds President for St. Mary’s Health System
Following an extensive nationwide search, Furst Group recruited Steven C. Jorgensen as president of St. Mary’s Health System and senior vice president of Covenant Health in Lewiston, ME. “St. Mary’s Health System has provided compassionate, high-quality care to Lewiston and the surrounding community for 130 years,” said David Lincoln, CEO of Covenant Health. “Steve’s expansive
Ladders Inc. Rolls Out Instant Call Feature for Recruiters
Ladders Inc., a career website for $100,000-plus jobs, today announced a feature of its mobile recruiter site that allows recruiters to instantly call candidates simply by tapping the phone number on the profile. Tap2Call, described as the first of its kind among job recruitment platforms, is designed to give recruiters speed and ease of access.
DHR International Continues Expansion with New Partner in London
Chicago-based search firm DHR International has continued its recent expansion with the addition of Daniel Hall as managing partner in London. Mr. Hall focuses on the executive recruitment and assessment of industrial and consumer professionals. His hiring affirms DHR’s commitment to rebuilding its London presence, said the search firm. DHR’s London office will consist of Mr. Hall
Why Building Talent Starts with Good Succession Planning
Making the right talent investments are critical components of planning for a prosperous and profitable future. But many organizations struggle to determine how and where to focus their succession planning efforts, according to a new report by executive search firm Robinson Resource Group. The firm says that whether you’re selecting which new product to develop, which business
Haley Associates Recruits President for Methodist University
Higher education search firm Haley Associates has placed Stanley Wearden, a visionary with a proven record of excellence in academics, communications and leadership, as president of Methodist University in Fayetteville, NC. The university’s previous president, Ben E. Hancock, recently retired after seven years in the role. The search was led by principal Katherine Haley. “The board of trustees is excited to have
