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Slone Partners Appoints Partner, Fractional Talent
Life sciences-focused search firm Slone Partners has named George Quinn as partner, fractional talent. In this position, Mr. Quinn will play a crucial part in advancing Slone Partners’ fractional talent solutions – connecting startup and growth-stage life sciences and healthcare organizations with seasoned leaders and functional experts on a flexible, on-demand basis. “George’s depth of experience, strategic mindset, and
How to Improve Your HR Executive Search Process
Securing the right HR leader requires more than a traditional hiring process—it demands the same rigor, clarity, and strategic discipline used for any major business decision. Organizations that consistently make strong HR executive hires treat the search as an enterprise priority, aligning stakeholders early, sharpening evaluation criteria, and building a candidate experience that attracts top
Executive Recruiters Pull Off Another Remarkable Year, Remain Bullish for 2023
Hunt Scanlon Media has released its annual rankings of leading executive recruiters. In the U.S. and globally, billions of dollars poured into the high-end recruiting sector in 2022, a result of continued pentup demand for senior-level leaders and their key reports.
Anthem Executive Assists the University of Montevallo With President Search
Anthem Executive has assisted in the recruitment of Michelle R. Johnston as the first female president of the University of Montevallo (UM). Michael Ballew, Scott Watson, Mike “JR” Wheless, and Florene Stawowy led the assignment. Dr. Johnston has served as the president of Georgia Southwestern State University since 2024. Prior to her current presidency, she served as president of three other higher education
GDPR – The Perfect Time to Refresh Your Database
As executive search firms grapple with the complexities of GDPR, many are concerned that the new regulation will mean deleting thousands of records built up over many years. Surely there must be an alternative?
Mercuri Urval Appoints Non-Executive Director
Stockholm, Sweden-based executive search firm Mercuri Urval (MU) has announced that Jan Sasse, partner at AlterInvest, was named as non-executive director to the MU group board. He will join the current board members Cecilia Strand, Mieke Weijenberg, Cecilia Beer, Richard Moore, and chairman Roger Hagafors. “We are pleased to welcome Jan Sasse as non-executive director of the MU
M&A Becomes a Capability-Driven Acquisition Strategy
EY-Parthenon is forecasting an eight percent increase in U.S. deal volume for transactions exceeding $100 million in 2026, underscoring how central M&A remains to corporate strategy. Yet beneath the headline numbers sits a more important story. The role of acquisitions is evolving. Companies are no longer pursuing deals primarily for scale or market share. Increasingly,
The Hidden Challenges Every First-Time CEO Faces
The corner office has never been more accessible—or more demanding. As boards increasingly turn to a new generation of leaders to navigate disruption, growth, and transformation, first-time CEOs are stepping into roles that require a fundamentally different set of skills than those that propelled them to the top. While many arrive with impressive track records,
Myers McRae Assists Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology with Provost Search
Following a nationwide search, Macon, GA-based Myers McRae Executive Search and Consulting has assisted in the recruitment of Richie Roberts as provost of Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology. Kenny Daugherty and Brianna Douglas led the assignment. Dr. Roberts’ selection was guided by a search committee of OSUIT administrators, faculty, staff and students, which was assisted by national search firm Myers McRae. “The entire
Lancer Group Recruits Chief Technology Officer for Minitab
La Jolla, CA-headquartered search firm Lancer Group has recruited Kevin Gordon as chief technology officer of Minitab. “We’re excited to welcome Kevin Gordon as chief technology officer at Minitab,” the company said. “This is an exciting step forward in the evolution of our technology strategy and will help accelerate innovation across our organization and solutions platform.” “Kevin brings
Friisberg & Partners International Names Managing Partner of its Copenhagen Office
Fribourg, Switzerland-headquartered Friisberg & Partners International has expanded with the addition of Birgitte Olrik as managing partner of its Copenhagen office, strengthening the firm’s presence in the Nordic region and supporting the continued execution of our international growth strategy. “The future of executive search belongs to firms that combine exceptional local expertise with international reach,” said Zoltán Pethő,
Attracting the Right CHRO Starts with the Right Job Description
Hiring a head of HR is one of the most consequential leadership decisions an organization can make, yet many companies struggle to define the role in a way that reflects their actual needs. The most effective job descriptions go beyond qualifications and responsibilities, offering candidates a clear picture of the challenges, priorities, and business objectives
Coulter Partners Recruits Chief Medical Officer for Neumirna Therapeutics
Life sciences recruiting specialist Coulter Partners has placed Ferenc Tracik as chief medical officer of Neumirna Therapeutics. “Neumirna has reached an inflection point: the question is no longer whether the science works, but how quickly we can translate it into an option for patients with urgent unmet need. Ferenc has the experience to get us there,” said Ellen
McCormack + Kristel Seeking CEO for Central New York ON RAMP
McCormack + Kristel is currently seeking a CEO for Central New York ON RAMP. New York State Empire State Development (ESD) recently engaged CenterState Corporation for Economic Opportunity (CenterState CEO), an business leadership and economic development organization, to lead, incubate, and launch the Central New York One Network for Regional Advanced Manufacturing Projects (ON RAMP). The
Bespoke Partners Appoints Leader of People and HR Practice
San Diego, CA-headquartered Bespoke Partners recently named Dani Pfeiffer as a partner leading the people and human resources leader recruiting practice serving both software and industrials sector companies. She will lead dedicated recruiting teams on searches for talent executives for private equity portfolio companies for the software and SaaS clients served by Bespoke Partners and industrial clients served by Industra Talent Partners,
Wilson Forms New Alliance with Poetry to Advance AI capabilities
Global talent solutions provider Wilson has formed a new partnership with Poetry to strengthen its AI-enabled recruitment capabilities. The collaboration supports Wilson’s continued focus on embedding technology into its RPO delivery model through Wilson Workspace, its technology ecosystem. “We’re excited to announce our new partnership with Poetry,” said Charles Faigle, chief delivery officer at Wilson. This
What Executive Candidates Want From Employers Today
The executive talent market today has fundamentally shifted and senior leaders are evaluating employers through a far more demanding lens. They no longer weigh opportunities primarily on compensation or title; they assess the total leadership experience: governance, culture, organizational stability, purpose, autonomy, flexibility and long-term growth, according to a report from Kestria. “To attract and retain
WittKieffer Retained by Roosevelt University for President Search
Oak Brook, IL-based WittKieffer has been retained by Roosevelt University in Chicago to lead in its search for its seventh president. Ali Malekzadeh is retiring after being with the school since 2015. Senior partner Christine Pendleton, consultant Sandra Chu, senior associate Maya Holt-Brockenbrough, and senior advisor Ray Crossman. Roosevelt University seeks a student-centered president who is committed
Buffkin / Baker Acquires HR-Focused Benson Executive Search
Partner-led executive search firm Buffkin / Baker has acquired Boston, MA-based Benson Executive Search, a boutique firm focused on the human resources sector. Financial terms of deal were not disclosed. The acquisition strengthens Buffkin / Baker’s HR functional capabilities and gives the firm a stronger presence in the Northeast. “We’re thrilled to welcome Benson Executive Search to
SPMB Recruits Fills Senior Finance Position for Uber
Steven Popper of SPMB Executive Search has placed Wendy Drummond Craig as senior director, technical accounting, reporting, and M&A at Uber. In her new role, she will oversee teams responsible for technical accounting matters, SEC reporting, and accounting for mergers and acquisitions. “Wendy brings an extraordinary combination of technical accounting expertise, SEC reporting experience, and strategic advisory leadership
True Launches AI Capability Index for Executive Assessment
Global executive talent platform True has launched the True AI Capability Index, a proprietary framework that predicts executive performance in the AI-transformation age. “We are entering a phase where relationship depth and judgment matter more than ever,” said Brad Stadler, co-founder and CEO of True Platform. “The cost of finding names is decreasing. True’s advantage lies in our ability
AI-Native Talent Won’t Fix AI-Foreign Organizations
As artificial intelligence moves from experimentation to enterprise-wide adoption, organizations are grappling with a fundamental question: what does it actually mean to become AI-native? While the term has quickly entered the business lexicon, many leaders are still struggling to define the capabilities, operating models, and cultural shifts required to make that vision a reality. “Some
ZRG Partners Acquires Fortium
ZRG Partners has acquired Fortium, a Dallas-based search firm that provides fractional, interim, and project-based CIO, CTO, and CISO leadership. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. “Companies are making more nuanced decisions about leadership than they did even a few years ago, particularly in technology,” said Mark Viner, leader of interim solutions & project
Lochlin Partners Recruits SVP of HR for the National Association of Corporate Directors
Lochlin Partners has placed Marian Stevens as senior vice president, human resources of the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) in Washington, D.C. “Marian’s deep experience in talent development, organizational effectiveness, and culture will help NACD to continue building the internal capabilities needed to support our growth and deliver on our mission,” said Peter Gleason, president and CEO of
JDG Associates Tapped by Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute to Find New Leader
Rockville, MD-based executive search firm JDG Associates has been retained by the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI) to lead its search for a new president and CEO. The Chicago-based institute, the leading technical institute and trade association for the precast, prestressed concrete industry in North America, seeks a visionary and collaborative executive to succeed its long-serving chief executive,
IIC Partners Adds New Member Firm in New Zealand
IIC Partners Executive Search Worldwide has added Auckland, New Zealand-based Infinitas as its newest member firm expanding its capabilities across the Asia-Pacific region. “I am thrilled to welcome Infinitas to IIC Partners,” said Christine Hayward, executive director of IIC Partners. Their people-first philosophy, tech-enabled search processes, and talent advisory capabilities deeply align with our mission to transform
Hiring for the Culture You Don’t Yet Have
For much of the past decade, organizations have invested heavily in strategy, technology and operational efficiency to navigate an increasingly complex business environment. Yet despite these investments, many transformation initiatives continue to fall short of expectations. The differentiator is rarely the strategy itself. More often, success depends on whether leadership teams have the right people
BoardWalk Consulting Leading CEO Search for Downtown Atlanta Inc.
BoardWalk Consulting has been tapped by Downtown Atlanta Inc. (DAI) to lead in its search for a CEO. The search is being led by Sam Pettway, Crystal Stephens, and Patti Kish. The organization is seeking a leader who can help define what the next generation of Downtown Atlanta will become. This is a leadership opportunity of unusual scale and
Peña Search Assists To Be Like Me with the Recruitment of Executive Director
Peña Search recently assisted in the recruitment of Lauren Rowe as the new executive for To Be Like Me (TBLM) in Dallas, TX. Travis Hillier, Carlos González Peña, and Thaise Pereira led the assignment. She replaces To Be Like Me founder Hollis Owens, who has served as executive director since 2018 and initiated the search for her replacement last
BroadView Talent Partners Tapped by Baltimore Community Lending for President/CEO Search
BroadView Talent Partners was recently retained by Baltimore Community Lending, Inc. (BCL) to lead in its search for a new president and CEO. Tracy McMillan, Robyn Quinn, and Donna Young are leading the assignment. The CEO is the strategic, operational, and external leader of Baltimore Community Lending, responsible for driving the organization’s next era of growth and
How PE Firms Are Evolving In 2025
Private equity is experiencing a shakeout, where scale and specialization are becoming defining factors for success. The industry is seeing capital consolidate among top firms, making it increasingly difficult for mid-sized and emerging managers to raise funds. Bain & Company’s Global Private Equity Report 2025 highlights that “capital will continue to consolidate in the hands
CEO Confidence Dips Slightly But Remains Positive
The Conference Board’s latest measure of CEO confidence, which had increased in the first quarter of 2018, declined slightly in the second quarter. The measure now reads 63, down from 65 in the first quarter of 2018. A reading of more than 50 points reflects more positive than negative responses. “CEO Confidence declined slightly in the
Coulter Partners Lands CEO for Ovizio Imaging Systems
Global executive search firm Coulter Partners has placed Emilie Viey as the new CEO of Ovizio Imaging Systems, a life science imaging technology company. Philip Mathuis, who co-founded Ovizio, recently stepped down. Philipp Buis, Coulter’s executive director, led the assignment. Dr. Viey will lead Ovizio’s further development as solution provider for imaging applications in life sciences.
RSR Partners Expands Asset Management Practice
Greenwich, Conn.-based RSR Partners, a retained executive search and leadership consulting firm, has expanded its asset management practice with the addition of industry veteran Michael D. Fitzgerald. In his role as a managing director, Mr. Fitzgerald is charged with launching the firm’s presence in Boston, a strategically important expansion of RSR Partners’ geographical reach. “Mike
An Up-Close Look at the Transformational Role of the CHRO
The HR role has transitioned tremendously over the past 20 years, as the function has gained in stature and prominence. But evolution in such a role does not necessarily come about by major changes and careful planning for the future. Even minor shifts can trigger a chain of events that have significant long-term impact on
Jorgenson Consulting Seeking CEO for Brunswick and Glynn County Economic Development Authority
Greensboro, NC-based Jorgenson Consulting is leading the search for a new president and CEO for the Brunswick and Glynn County Economic Development Authority in Brunswick, GA. Mel Baxter, the organization’s current leader, announced in March that he would be stepping down. He said he will stay on until his replacement is in place. Todd Jorgenson, the
SpenglerFox Appoints Country Manager for Poland
London-headquartered executive search firm SpenglerFox has named Maciej Kotowicz as country manager for Poland. “It is with great pleasure that I announce our latest addition to the SpenglerFox Group, Maciej Kotowicz,” said Jens Friedrich, CEO of SpenglerFox. “Maciej will be based in Warsaw, one of our firm’s strategic hub locations and drive further growth in Central Europe as part of
A Look Into Who is Driving the Gig Economy
Today’s business environment is vastly different from just five years ago. Success is no longer measured by a company’s longevity or headcount. Today, the business currency is agility and innovation. Technology has forever transformed how work gets done, and the flexible workforce has changed who does it. Flexibility has evolved from being singularly defined as
Workers Prefer Age-Diverse Organizations
Eighty-six percent of global workers surveyed prefer working in a multi-generational team environment, according to the newly-released Q2 Randstad Workmonitor study. Age-diverse organizations allow them to come up with more innovative ideas and creative solutions, they said. Collaboration between generations is considered mutually beneficial at their company, said 85 percent of the participants. With regard
Allegis Partners Finds New CHRO for PAR Technology Corp.
Executive recruiters are in hot pursuit of chief human resources officers and other senior-level HR leaders across the nation. The best HR chiefs are seen as integral strategic advisors to the C-suite, and the ones in demand are those who are sounding boards for CEOs. Why is there such pent-up demand for top flight HR experts?
U.S. Hiring Remains Strong, Unemployment Rate Rises Slightly
Employers added 213,000 jobs last month as the U.S. unemployment rate rose slightly to four percent from an 18-year low of 3.8 percent, according to the most recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report. The June gain is the 92nd consecutive month of job growth. The number of unemployed people rose to 6.6 million. The results surpassed the forecasts of
Spelman Johnson Seeks New Police Chief for Tulane University
Higher education recruitment firm Spelman Johnson has been selected to find the next police chief for Tulane University in New Orleans. The search is being led by search associate Heather Larabee. The school’s previous chief, Joey Bishop, resigned this spring in the wake of a local television station’s revelations that the police department had tried
ON Partners Appoints Leader of Supply Chain Recruiting Practice
Executive search firm ON Partners has named longtime supply chain veteran Heidi Hoffman as partner and leader of its supply chain practice. She will be based in the firm’s Atlanta office. Considered a pioneer in the recruitment of senior supply chain executives, Ms. Hoffman specializes in the recruitment and development of senior executives in strategic sourcing, procurement, manufacturing,
18 Lean Recruiting Tips and Tricks Heading into Summer
Hiring is on the rise, competition is fierce and time is of the essence. Today’s recruiters must be able to meet their goals quickly and effectively, despite limited resources. “A lean recruiting approach can help you achieve that essential efficiency – whether by leveraging available assets, capitalizing on new (or existing) technology, or eliminating bottlenecks
Reffett Associates Forms Recruiting Alliance with First Responders Network Authority
Executive search firm Reffett Associates has been chosen by the First Responders Network Authority (FirstNet) to help recruit and select the senior leadership group and board of directors for its public-private partnership with AT&T. This broadband network will be dedicated to America’s police, firefighters and emergency medical services. The FirstNet network will cover all 50
Major, Lindsey & Africa Finds General Counsels for Elanco Animal Health and American Tire Distributors
Legal recruiting has largely been booming this year and, to that end, search firm Major, Lindsey & Africa (MLA) recently filled general counsel positions for Elanco Animal Health and American Tire Distributors (ADT). Michael B. Sachs and Heather Fine of MLA’s Midwest in-house practice group placed Michael-Bryant Hicks as general counsel and secretary at Elanco Animal Health, a division of Eli
Pivot Management Partners Names Leader of Collegiate Sports Recruiting Practice
Executive search specialist for the sports and entertainment market Pivot Management Partners (PMP) has expanded with the addition of Peter Roby as senior client partner to lead its recently launched collegiate sports practice. The practice will focus on searches for athletic directors, coaches and senior professional positions on behalf of universities and NCAA conferences. “In
Vector Talent Resources Appoints Leader of Executive Search Division
Vector Talent Resources, a Vienna, VA-based staffing solutions provider serving the Washington, D.C., area, has acquired CXO Resources and appointed the boutique’s founder, Sue Butler, as managing director, Vector Executive Search. Financial terms of the deal were undisclosed. Ms. Butler joins Vector with over 25 years of experience working with senior management at the C-level as a consultative professional. She has
HR Leaders Cite Engagement and Culture as Top Priorities
HR leaders across the U.S. have a renewed focus on talent management this year. The second annual report from Paychex, a provider of integrated human capital management solutions for payroll, HR, retirement, and insurance services, both reaffirmed HR’s critical role in shaping company strategy and revealed a sharpened focus on talent management activities that have
ESGI Places Technology Veteran at SAIC
The federal government continues reaching out to Silicon Valley for solutions to help address its critical technology challenges in areas like cyber, data analytics, cloud migration and big data. To keep pace, federal contractors responsible for helping bring these solutions to government are searching for executives and companies to help lead this effort. Executive search
Russell Reynolds Associates Seeks CEO for Canada’s SCALE AI
Russell Reynolds Associates has been enlisted to find the new CEO for SCALE AI, Canada’s artificial intelligence supercluster, dedicated to building the next-generation intelligent supply chain. It is one of five superclusters selected by the Canadian government as part of its recent innovative to spur innovation between research and industry. The search is being conducted
Jamesbeck Global Partners Forms Executive Coaching Alliance
Investment management-focused executive search boutique Jamesbeck Global Partners has formed a partnership with Megan Staczek, who has nearly 25 years of experience as a leadership trainer, organization development consultant and executive coach. Ms. Staczek’s expertise will enhance Jamesbeck’s offerings to clients, further bolstering its growing role as a beginning-to-end partner in human capital solutions, said the firm. Ms.
IIC Partners Adds New Member Firm in Liverpool
IIC Partners Executive Search Worldwide continues its recent expansion with the addition of The Orcid Partnership in Liverpool, England as its newest member firm. Orcid Partnership becomes the organization’s third office in the U.K. and will strengthen IIC Partners’ consumer & retail practice across the EMEA region. The firm is a senior executive and non-executive
Diversity Recruiting: Supply, Demand and the Matchmaking Process
Diverse boards make better decisions and lead to improved company performance. Yet despite the research, validation and prodding by institutional investors and state and city government as well as all types of social and non-profit organizations, a revealing 1,805 companies out of 3,192 (companies from the Fortune 1000 and Russell 3000) in a gender diversity
Cejka Places CEO at Meeker Memorial Hospital & Clinics
Cejka Executive Search, a specialist recruiter serving the healthcare space, recruited current Swift County Benson Health Services leader Kurt Waldbillig as the new CEO for Meeker Memorial Hospital & Clinics (MMHC) in Litchfield, MN. He succeeds Kyle Rasmussen who retired in May. Executive vice president and managing principal Mark Madden led the assignment. Mr. Waldbillig is
RM Nephew and Associates Finds Two Executives for Madison Square Garden
Executive recruitment firm RM Nephew and Associates has placed two new executives for the Madison Square Garden Co. (MSG) as MSG undergoes a major strategic and global transformation. Both searches were led by Robert Nephew, managing partner, and Denise Amari, partner and head of the financial officers practice. John Walsh was named MSG’s senior vice president
Penrhyn Elects Three New Board Members
Penrhyn International, a global network of executive search firms, has elected three new members to its board of directors. Yanouk Poirier is managing partner at Leaders International in Canada and current chair of Penrhyn’s technology, media & telecoms group. “He brings his entrepreneurial expertise, multifaceted profile and talent for communication to help national and international business leaders to achieve their
Data Privacy Laws and How They Might Affect You
Last month, the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) went into effect. While certain issues are still being resolved, the law will have a tremendous impact on how companies, government agencies and, yes, executive search firms across the E.U. – including the U.K. – handle personal data. GDPR also affects U.S. recruiting firms and
McCormack+Kristel Leading CEO Search for the San Diego LGBT Community Center
Executive search firm McCormack+Kristel has been retained by the San Diego Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center to lead its search for a chief executive officer. Delores Jacobs is stepping down from the role after 17 years. Managing partner Joseph McCormack and partner Michelle Kristel are leading the assignment. The San Diego LGBT Community Center is one
Buffkin / Baker Tapped by UNC to Find Dean
Executive recruitment firm Buffkin / Baker, is leading the search for a new dean for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s (UNC) graduate school. Spearheading the search are Martin M. Baker, managing partner, and Chelsie Whitelock, principal. The university wants someone with a distinguished record of scholarly achievement and professional credentials consistent with the
The RSA Group Names CEO
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: The RSA Group, which is based in London and focuses on the life sciences sector, has appointed executive chairman Nick Stephens as its CEO. Alex Bennett recently stepped down
Ryan Search & Consulting Develops Healthcare Focus
Franklin, TN-headquartered executive search firm Ryan Search & Consulting recently expanded into the healthcare space with the addition of Steve Shores as a senior consultant. “With the healthcare industry in the throes of immense upheaval, it has become essential to find the right leaders who know the industry well and can guide the full range
