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CAA Executive Search Recruits CEO for USA Gymnastics
CAA Executive Search has recruited Kyle Albrecht as the new CEO of USA Gymnastics. In collaboration with CAA Executive Search, the group vetted candidates for three months. “Congratulations Kyle Albrecht, being named as the next CEO of USA Gymnastics,” Jason Hanold, president of CAA Executive Search, said in a LinkedIn post. “Thank you for the partnership Kathryn
Arts Consulting Group Recruits COO for the Bruce
Boston-based search firm Arts Consulting Group (ACG) has placed Nathan Smallwood as the new chief operating officer of the Bruce Museum (the Bruce) in Greenwich, Conn. Todd Ahrens and Josyanne Roche, vice presidents at the firm, led the assignment. “Nathan Smallwood’s background and expertise made him an obvious choice for the Bruce,” said Mary-Kate O’Hare, Susan E. Lynch executive
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
The New Race for Talent in Life Sciences and Healthcare
The life sciences and healthcare industries are experiencing unprecedented growth, creating intense competition for top-tier talent in an increasingly complex and tech-driven landscape. As the demand for highly specialized roles rises—spanning biotech, data science, and digital health—organizations must rethink their leadership strategies to stay ahead. At the forefront of this evolution, Mattson & Company/GMiQ is
Search Veteran Peter Alan Rabinowitz Dies at 74
Peter Alan Rabinowitz, founder of executive search firm PAR Associates, died on Saturday in Boston. He was 74 years old. Over the course of his career, Mr. Rabinowitz worked closely with senior corporate officers and boards to evaluate their business needs, define leadership roles and governance structures and ultimately, assist in the selection of key
Ebb and Flow of Stock Market Dictates Whether Senior Leaders Stay or Go
Competition among recruiters in the financial sector has always been fierce, and that’s no less true in 2018. Although the Great Recession is receding further away in the rearview mirror and things may soon be looking up in terms of regulations easing, search firms still have their work cut out for them in terms of
Korn Ferry Leads CEO Search for American College of Cardiology
The American College of Cardiology (ACC) has selected Korn Ferry to work alongside a search committee tasked with selecting its next CEO. The assignment is underway and is expected to be completed by late summer. Shalom Jacobovitz, who led the organization for five years, left the college in January to head a new biopharmaceutical company. Leading the search
Onstott Group Finds Chief Strategy Officer for Mimecast
The Onstott Group, a Wellesley, MA-based search firm, has placed Christina Van Houten as chief strategy officer of Mimecast Limited, an email and data security company. Managing director Scott Tucker led the assignment. “Almost every organization is struggling to build truly sustainable cyber resilience,” said Peter Bauer, CEO of Mimecast. “Maintaining security, governance and operational resilience across an evolving
Optimum Talent Expands Executive Search Practice
Optimum Talent has announced the addition of three new recruitment professionals to its executive search practice. Ryna Young, Chris Heselton and Angus McComb further strengthen the lineup of the Toronto-based firm. “Attracting established executive search professionals like Ryna, Chris, and Angus to Optimum Talent says a lot about our firm’s growing reputation,” said Peter Zukow,
Kennedy Executive Search Appoints Managing Director EMEA
Kennedy Executive Search & Consulting, a network of independent executive search firms, has named Carl Lens as managing director EMEA. Mr. Lens is co-founder and owner of Kennedy’s Dutch partner office Lens, Executive Search based in Amsterdam. Before founding his firm, he was global head of healthcare for London-based recruitment firm Nicholson. Prior to his
Hanold Associates Undertakes Five CHRO Assignments
Executive recruiters are in hot pursuit of chief human resources officers (CHRO) 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
TillmanCarlson Lands New CIO for Wintrust Financial
Executive search firm TillmanCarlson has placed Tony Buttrick as the chief information officer for Wintrust Financial Corp. in Chicago. Mr. Buttrick previously served as the CIO of Flagstar Bank for three years preceded by 10 years with Bank of America in several global technology and risk management positions. Before joining B of A, he spent three years
Davies Park Executive Search Seeks CEO, CFO for Fort McKay First Nation
Canada-based Davies Park Executive Search has been enlisted to find both the next chief executive officer and chief financial officer for Fort McKay First Nation (FMFN), an Indian government in Alberta. Davies Park partner Allan Nelson and senior consultant Sonny Kapoor are leading the searches. As the most senior management employee within the corporate structure,
Summit Recruitment & Search and Kama Kazi Africa Merge
Summit Recruitment & Search and Kama Kazi Africa Ltd. have merged to become the largest recruitment firm in East Africa, offering staffing solutions across the African continent at all levels. Based in Nairobi, Kenya, Summit has primarily conducted executive search assignments in a large variety of specialized sectors, serving clients across East Africa, South Africa
The Q Works Group is Acquired by Veteran Search Consultant
Acquisitions continue to make news in the recruiting industry, with a number of notable purchases playing out this year. The Q Works Group Inc., an affiliate of MRINetwork, was recently acquired by veteran search consultant Michael Clegg. Financial terms of the deal were undisclosed. Joe Woerner, the founder and previous president of Q Works, retired
CHRO Influence Expands in Promoting Corporate Diversity
Plenty of organizations say they are looking to change the makeup of their workforce in terms of ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and age, but in the end many fall far short. It’s 2018, and the view from the C-suite and boardroom still looks nothing like the ethnically and racially diverse world outside. Statistics provided by
University of Kansas Picks Korn Ferry to Find New Athletics Director
The University of Kansas has turned to Korn Ferry to help find its next director of athletics. Sheahon Zenger was recently relieved from his duties. Jed Hughes, who leads Korn Ferry’s sports practice, is heading the assignment. Sean Lester, the school’s deputy athletics director, will serve as interim director while the search is being conducted. “Athletics continues
Hobson Leavy Places CEOs for Dairy Goat Cooperative and My Food Bag
New Zealand executive search firm Hobson Leavy recently placed chief executive officers for two organizations, finding leaders for the Dairy Goat Cooperative (DGC), which manufactures goat milk nutritional formula for infants, and My Food Bag, a meals home delivery service. David Hemara won the top job at Hamilton, New Zealand-based DGC, replacing Tony Giles, who
Coulter Partners Continues Global Expansion
Global executive search firm Coulter Partners recently made eight new appointments in the U.S., Denmark and at their London headquarters. In the U.S., Noah Parekh joins as client partner in Cambridge, MA, while Lisa Pieper has been appointed consulting partner in Palo Alto, CA, and Adrienne Slutzky joins as project coordinator in Short Hills, NJ. In London,
WilsonHCG Appoints Executive Search Leader for EMEA
Global talent solutions provider Wilson Human Capital Group Inc. (WilsonHCG) has expanded its executive search division with the appointment of director Phil Brakewell. He will serve as leader of the EMEA region. Mr. Brakewell has more than 14 years of talent acquisition leadership experience and most recently served as head of executive search for ResourceBank. Prior to that,
Want to Attract Talent? Follow These Top Guidelines
In today’s digital age, it’s easy for anyone to become a company’s advocate or critic. No matter your industry, the internet has given a new voice to the masses. When thinking about your company’s hiring practices, it’s crucial to consider the experience your candidates are having from start to finish. There will come a time
Harris Search Associates Lands CIO for the University of Tennessee
Universities have long depended on executive search firms to help with their leadership needs, but these days the higher education sector is broadening its efforts to find more specialized leaders. As a result, search firms have expanded their niche offerings in the sector, identifying diversity officer, athletic directors, coaches and any number of other top
Pekarsky & Co. Tapped by the Calgary Airport Authority to Find General Counsel
The Calgary Airport Authority has tapped recruiting firm Pekarsky & Co. to lead its search for a new general counsel. Founding partner Adam Pekarsky is heading the assignment. Reporting to the authority’s vice president of finance and the CFO, the general counsel will be responsible for the delivery of internal services and managing the delivery of
IMSA International Executive Search Adds Three European Members
IMSA International Executive Search, a global search network, has added three new member companies. The firms, based in the Czech Republic, Hungary and Norway, will strengthen IMSA’s presence in Europe and fulfill its growth strategy for this year. IMSA Czech Republic will be represented by Nováček & Partners, a consulting company focusing on executive search, candidate
Witt/Kieffer Continues Expansion
Executive recruitment firm Witt/Kieffer has strengthened its search staff with the addition of Jennifer Chase as managing director of its life sciences practice. Based in Boston, she will support the recruitment of positions across the life sciences spectrum, with a particular emphasis on emerging biopharmaceutical and medical device and diagnostics firms, as well as established international life
How to Accelerate C-Suite Transitions
Organizations are investing significant time and resources in developing future C-suite leaders. Given the profound impact executives in these key roles have on business performance, it only makes sense. After all, hiring any senior-level leader represents a tremendous opportunity for value creation, or the potential for great harm, for a company. Yet surprisingly little attention
Aspen Leadership Group Finds New Leader for Christopher Street West
Aspen, CO-based search firm Aspen Leadership Group has placed Madonna Cacciatore as the new executive director of Christopher Street West (CSW), the non-profit that organizes the gay rights LA Pride Festival and Parade. Senior consultant Tim Child led the assignment. The recruitment firm conducted the search on behalf of the CSW board of directors and the organization’s
Development Guild DDI Places Major Gifts Officer at the Pine Street Inn
These are challenging days for non-profit organizations. Declining support from government sources, increased demand for their services and competition for donor dollars are just a few of the issues that charitable organizations must overcome to stay afloat each year. So it is that roles like the major gift officer become all the more critical. Simply
Centerstone Executive Search & Consulting Launches Aerospace, Defense and Security Search Practice
Arlington, VA-based Centerstone Executive Search & Consulting has expanded its services with a new vertical practice focused on the aerospace, defense and security industries. The firm has tapped Jim Donnelly, a federal contracting industry veteran with more than 25 years of talent acquisition experience in this sector, as managing director of the new practice. “Expanding our offerings
ISPA International Search Partners Association Adds Member Firm in China
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. Recently, ISPA International Search Partners Association, added China-based recruiting firm RMG Selection as
5 Ways to Improve Employee Retention
Of all the challenges that come with running a business, one that often goes overlooked is employee retention, this according to a new report by MJS Executive Search. Hiring managers and CEOs often consider getting the right people in the door to be the most crucial aspect of talent management, but the truth is that
Vetted Solutions Finds New Leader for the American Brain Tumor Association
The American Brain Tumor Association (ABTA), a national advocacy organization committed to funding brain tumor research and providing education and information on all tumor types, has named Ralph DeVitto as its new president and CEO. Vetted Solutions’ president and founder Jim Zaniello and vice president Catherine Brown led the assignment. The organization was a seeking
Greenwood / Asher & Associates Recruits New Provost for Wright State
The hunt for university leadership has been heating up, especially with searches for provosts. Just recently, Greenwood / Asher & Associates recruited Susan Edwards as the new executive vice president for academic affairs and provost of Wright State University in Fairborn, OH. Thomas Sudkamp is stepping down from his role at the end of June. President Jan
Odgers Berndtson Expands in Western Canada
Executive search firm Odgers Berndtson has continued its recent expansion – this time in Western Canada – marked by the recent appointment of Stephen Diotte to partner and head of leadership services for the Western region, as well as the firm’s new Canadian energy sector expert. Mr. Diotte has deep consulting experience in working with leaders globally around talent and
Datacenter People Launches Executive Search Division
U.K.-headquartered recruiting organization Datacenter People has formed a new executive search subsidiary, Portman Partners, to focus on C-level leadership and senior executive roles within the datacenter industry worldwide. “This is a new chapter in the growth of the firm” said Peter Hannaford, founder of Datacenter People. “We’re well established and have built a loyal following
