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Talent Harbour Group Acquires Goldbeck Recruiting
Talent Harbour Group, a full-service Canadian talent management and executive search firm and part of the JL Davis Enterprises family office, has acquired Goldbeck Recruiting. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. “The acquisition strengthens Talent Harbour’s position as a leading national executive search and talent management platform delivering executive search, recruiting, leadership development, coaching,
Mercuri Urval Partners with Bell Oaks Executive Search
Stockholm, Sweden-based executive search firm Mercuri Urval (MU) has formed an alliance with Atlanta-based Bell Oaks Executive Search. “Cooperating with a highly reputable, and well established executive search firm such as Bell Oaks, represents a significant milestone for our organization, both internationally and within the U.S.,” said Darcie Murray, head of Americas, MU. “This will not only
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.
EMA Partners India Acquires Recruitment Process Outsourcing Services Provider Taggd
Executive search and leadership recruitment platform EMA Partners India has acquired recruitment process outsourcing services provider Taggd in an all-cash deal valued at Rs 113 crore. The all-cash acquisition aims to create an integrated talent recruitment platform offering executive search, professional search and AI-powered recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) solutions at scale. Taggd will continue to
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?
NGS Global Expands in London
Wilmington, DE-headquartered executive search firm NGS Global has expanded with the additions of Daniel Yeates and George Balfour as managing directors in London. “Daniel and George are accomplished executive search professionals with deep expertise in the technology and digital sectors,” said David Nosal, chairman and managing partner. “They each bring outstanding client and candidate relationships built over decades
Leadership Challenges Intensify as Organizations Confront AI, Talent, and Economic Uncertainty
Organizations are operating in an increasingly complex environment where economic uncertainty, workforce challenges, AI adoption, and digital transformation are converging to reshape leadership priorities. Kestria’s second annual global leadership survey builds on the themes that emerged in last year’s research; highlighting how rapidly the leadership landscape continues to evolve. Based on responses from more than
Riviera Partners Acquires Lateral Labs
San Francisco-based Riviera Partners, a recruitment provider specializing in C-level engineering, product, and design leader placements, has acquired Lateral Labs, a specialized recruiting firm serving top AI startups. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. “The acquisition comes as companies remain challenged to meet the demand of organizational AI readiness,” the firm said. “Adding Lateral Labs positions Riviera Partners
Marovi Assists Congruex with CFO Search
Working in partnership with Atlanta-GA-based Marovi, Congruex, a provider of digital infrastructure engineering and construction services, appointed Jim Stanley as CFO. He reports to Congruex’s co-founder, president, and CEO, Kevin O’Hara. The appointment comes amid strong and sustained growth at Congruex as it plans to continue to capitalize on macro tailwinds, including AI and data center
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
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
Why CHROs Are Playing a More Active Role in CEO Succession
Boards see the benefits of involving the CHRO, with their people skills and intimate knowledge of the company’s talent pool, not to mention the crucial role they play in broader C-suite succession planning and as a conduit to conversations around the top table. The CHRO is central to building leadership pipelines and ensuring smooth executive
Acertitude Places CFOs for DexKo Global
Executive search firm Acertitude has recruited Jeff Richard as DexKo Global’s new chief financial officer and Derek Peabody as CFO of the company’s subsidiary, Dexter. The two finance leaders are critical hires for DexKo, which seeks to grow aggressively both organically and through acquisitions. Kevin O’Neill, founder and managing partner of Acertitude, led both searches, partnering closely
Strategic Government Resources Seeks Two New Police Chiefs in Pennsylvania
In separate assignments, Keller, TX-based executive search firm Strategic Government Resources (SGR) has been chosen to find new police chiefs for two municipalities in Pennsylvania, Newtown Township and Edinboro. Newtown Township, in Bucks County, has a population of about 20,000. The community is looking for a chief of police with exceptional leadership and management skills
Ridgeway Partners Continues Expansion
London-headquartered executive search firm Ridgeway Partners has expanded with the addition of Katie Thomas as a partner. “We are delighted to welcome Katie to the Ridgeway team,” said Sue O’Brien, managing partner at Ridgeway Partners. “Every industry challenge needs effective leadership, so we see the retail and broader consumer service sectors as a growth opportunity under Katie’s direction. With her relationships merging with our
Attracting Top Talent in the Age of AI
Artificial intelligence is quickly emerging as a game-changer for recruiting – enabling organizations to more readily identify and hire candidates. It is enabling search firms to find and evaluate talent with greater accuracy and speed. New recruitment technology can sift through tremendous amounts of data to identify top prospects exponentially faster than any individual, or
Lochlin Partners Finds Chief Policy Officer for the American Bankers Association
Executive search firm Lochlin Partners has placed Naomi Camper as chief policy officer for the American Bankers Association (ABA) in Washington, D.C. She started her new position on Monday. Lochlin’s managing partners Patrick Friel and Liza Wright led the assignment. “I am thrilled that Naomi has agreed to join ABA at this important moment for the
NETcon Taps Sheffield Search to Find CEO
New Zealand-headquartered executive recruiting firm Sheffield Search has been selected by power transmission company NETcon to lead its search for a new chief executive officer. The assignment is being led by Nick Gee, manager of Sheffield’s South Island operation. “This role offers both challenge and great opportunity with the chance to shape an organization as
Human Capital Group Adds Healthcare Veteran
Nashville, TN-based the Human Capital Group has expanded with the addition of healthcare veteran Paul Cleckner as managing director. Mr. Cleckner brings more than 25 years of senior operating and leadership experience in healthcare and technology. Most recently, he served as chief operating officer of Saint Thomas Health and prior to that was VP of operations
Global Healthcare Services Creates New Recruitment Platform
Rocky River, OH-headquartered executive search firm Global Healthcare Services (GHS) recently detected a disturbing trend within the sector it serves: Hospitals were struggling with employee retention, from staff to leadership roles, with the C-suite’s annual turnover as high as 20 percent in recent years. GHS saw an opportunity to implement a recruitment platform called IRIS
3 Ways Assessments Can Go Wrong and How to Get Them Right
With the accelerated pace of change and constant potential for disruption, the costs of getting important leadership decisions wrong – whether for selecting senior leaders, leadership development or succession planning – have never been higher. Despite these risks, many organizations underestimate the importance of a robust assessment process, according to a new report issued by Spencer
Grace Blue Lands New Leader for VCU Brandcenter
Grace Blue has placed Vann Graves as the new executive director of the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Brandcenter. He takes over the role from Helayne Spivak, who left the school in May. “Along with my colleagues, I am delighted that Vann Graves is coming to VCU Brandcenter as its new executive director,” said Michael Rao,
Russell Reynolds Associates Places CEO at CropLife America
CropLife America (CLA), the leading association for the U.S. crop protection industry, has chosen former National Pork Board executive Chris Novak as its CEO. Russell Reynolds Associates assisted on the assignment. Mr. Novak will start his new role on Aug. 20. “I’m pleased to announce that Chris Novak has been selected by our board’s search committee
NPAworldwide Adds 10 New Member Firms Across the U.S.
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 10 new member locations across the
Indeed Acquires Resume.com
Job aggregator Indeed recently acquired Resume.com, an online service for creating personalized resumes. Financial terms of the deal were undisclosed. Over 3.5 million job seekers use Resume.com, creating more than 40,000 resumes every week, and accessing timely career resource information. Indeed will continue to operate resume.com and enable job seekers to build, download, and print personalized
The Digital Future of Recruiting: 5 Solutions to Improve Hiring and Retention
In today’s competitive recruiting market, search firms must be nimble and efficient. One way to get there: Invest in digital tools to hire and onboard best-in-class professionals. Many organizations still use manual or paper-based processes, which are slow, expensive, and error-prone, resulting in inefficient operations and compliance risks. A new report by DocuSign found that
SearchWide Finds New Leader for the Augusta Convention and Visitors Bureau
After suffering a massive hit during the Great Recession, employment and hiring within the travel, hotel and hospitality industry continues to rebound. Last year, according to one set of survey metrics, the industry added 527,000 jobs (2.6 million since 2004). That number is likely to increase this year as global tourism and traveling in general are
Eastman & Beaudine Leading Athletic Director Search for University of South Florida
Executive search firm Eastman & Beaudine has been retained by the University of South Florida (USF) to lead its search for a new athletic director. Scott Kull, USF’s deputy athletic director for external operations, has been named interim AD while the school looks to replace Mark Harlan, who recently stepped down. “USF Athletics has gained tremendous momentum over the past
Heidrick & Struggles Launches Cross-Industry Innovation Network
Executive search, leadership consulting and culture shaping services provider Heidrick & Struggles has launched a new cross-industry corporate innovation network that it is calling the Game-Changer Collaborative (GCC). The GCC enables members to collaborate around emerging technologies, external innovation opportunities and approaches to accelerating innovation in their organizations, said the Chicago-based firm. The GCC includes several
Executive Search Veteran Stephanie Pinson Dies
Stephanie Pinson, president of executive search firm Gilbert Tweed International, has died. Ms. Pinson, born May 23, 1936, had been with the New York City-based recruitment provider since 1981 and was a member of its board of directors. She had in-depth experience as a search consultant to the highly complex insurance industry, where she specialized
How Predictive Analytics Promotes Better Decision Making and Efficiency
At most major corporations, it is critical for the head of HR to be an extremely strong strategic and trustworthy adviser to the CEO, the board of directors and senior management. That means not just filling leadership positions with the current needs of the organization, but being able to look to the future in terms
McDermott & Bull Leading Two Chief Officer Searches for Scooter’s Coffee
Scooter’s Coffee, one of the largest and fastest growing brands in the specialty coffee business, has retained Irvine, CA-based search firm McDermott & Bull to lead its search for a new chief commercial officer and chief development officer. The search is being conducted by what is known as the fit practice at the recruitment firm, which includes partner
Ratliff & Taylor Seeks Next President for Leadership Akron
Independence, OH-based executive search firm Ratliff & Taylor has been chosen to find the next president for Leadership Akron. The search is being led by senior consultant Patti Shumay and senior vice president and practice leader Linda J. Gray. The non-profit’s previous leader, Mark Scheffler, departed earlier this year to become executive director of the
MediaLink Names Leader of Executive Search Division
MediaLink, an Ascentia-owned advisory company, has appointed Trish Shortell as managing director, executive search, based in its New York office. In her role, she will lead the firm’s executive search practice and will report to Michael Kassan, MediaLink’s chairman and CEO. “Trish is widely sought-after in our industry for her thought leadership and counsel on
Amrop Appoints Leader of Costa Rica Operations
Amrop, a partnership of recruiting firms operating from 75 offices in 48 countries throughout Asia, EMEA and the Americas, remains in growth mode with the addition of Adrián Chinchilla as leader of its operations in Costa Rica. He assumes the title of partner and general manager and will lead the search for senior executives and
Korn Ferry Stock Surges to Record High on Close of Fiscal Year Report
Korn Ferry (NYSE:KFY) has posted 2018 fiscal year-end revenues of $1.767 billion, an increase of 12.9 percent from $1.57 billion in 2017. The organic growth was driven by all three lines of business with Futurestep growing 22.1 percent, executive search expanding 14.8 percent, and Hay Group increasing 8.4 percent. It’s been an amazing run for Korn Ferry
Polachi Finds Chief People Officer for Bottom Line Technologies
Talent acquisition strategies at many large companies have become as complex as their balance sheets. At most companies the chief human resource officer plays a vital role in overseeing an organization’s broad-based workforce. The chief people officer, on the other hand, typically goes beyond overseeing an organization’s people policies. The focus instead is on building talent
RSR Partners Finds Executive Director for Race Team Alliance
Greenwich, Conn-based executive search firm RSR Partners has placed Jonathan Marshall as executive director of the Race Team Alliance (RTA), an association of Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series teams. Principal Dany B. Berghoff spearheaded the search. Mr. Marshall is former chief operating officer and general counsel of the World Surf League. He has also worked
Kincannon & Reed Appoints New Practice Leaders
Executive search firm Kincannon & Reed continues its global expansion with the addition of five managing partners, bringing its partner group to 12 members. The new managing partners join a partner team that includes Gregory Duerksen, Jon Leafstedt, Fred Medero, David Turner, Ellen von Fange, Gary Weihs and Michael Whitney. “We are thrilled and delighted that these
Pedersen & Partners Launches Board Services Practice Group
Executive search firm Pedersen & Partners has opened a new board services practice group. Alberto Bocchieri, partner and co-head of Iberia & Latin America, has been named its new leader. He previously served as a partner with Neumann International prior to joining Pedersen in 2011. “We are aware that aligning the skillsets of board members with corporate strategy,
BoardWalk Consulting Finds New Leader for Presbyterian Mission Agency Board
Following an expansive national search, Atlanta-based executive recruitment firm BoardWalk Consulting has placed Rev. Dr. Diane Moffett as the new executive director of the Presbyterian Mission Agency Board (PMAB), one of six agencies of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). The search was led by managing director Kathy Bremer. “Diane is a multi-dimensional leader and author whose decades
CEOs See Highest Compensation Increase Since Great Recession
In an environment of double-digit growth in shareholder return and corporate income, CEOs at the largest companies in the U.S. last year received the highest compensation increases since the recession, according to a new report by Korn Ferry. “Even with the anticipation of the CEO pay ratio disclosure mandate, so far we haven’t seen it
Caldwell Launches Value Creation Advisory Services
Toronto-based executive search firm Caldwell has announced the launch of an offering that pairs clients with agile executive talent on an as-needed basis. The firm describes its new Value Creation Advisory Solutions offering as a unique, flexible and cost-effective approach to creating value and solving core business challenges that require external expertise. It is part of







