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Daily Newswire
The Modern Board’s Evolution: Why Governance Is Becoming More Human
The role of the board is being redefined by forces that can’t be managed through compliance alone—technology acceleration, rising stakeholder expectations, cultural fragility, and constant reputational exposure. As governance moves closer to the center of strategy and long-term value creation, boards are being called to operate less like auditors and more like leadership partners, bringing
Crist|Kolder Associates Recruits CFO for Marathon Petroleum Corp.
Crist|Kolder Associates has helped to recruit Maria A. Khoury as executive vice president and chief financial officer of NYSE-traded Marathon Petroleum Corp. (MPC). She will succeed John J. Quaid, who will remain with the company for a period of transition. “Maria’s deep financial operations expertise and broad industry experience from 25 years as a global finance business
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 Evolution of Executive Recruiting in the Age of AI
Artificial Intelligence is revolutionizing executive search by enhancing the efficiency of research, candidate sourcing, and assessment processes. AI-powered tools analyze vast datasets to identify potential candidates, assess their qualifications, and predict how well someone might fit a role, according to article from global talent provider True’s Josh Withers. “Talent mapping, once a drawn-out process, is now
CarterBaldwin Places President at Tim Tebow Foundation
The Tim Tebow Foundation, a non-profit global service for children, has named Steve Biondo as its new president with the assistance of CarterBaldwin Executive Search. He replaces Erik Dellenback, the foundation’s first executive director, who led the organization for seven years. The firm’s founding partner Price Harding headed the assignment. “We are excited for Steve
Closing the Deal with Candidates in the Life Sciences Sector
The competitive landscape of the life sciences industry is transforming executive recruiting. “Growing pressure to rapidly advance scientific discovery and expand market share is making the competition to attract top talent as fierce as ever,” this according to a new report authored by Dan Strauss, client partner and head of the pharmacovigilance and risk management
Acertitude Places Chief Technology Officer at DRB Systems
Executive search firm Acertitude has recruited Richard Harris as the new chief technology officer of DRB Systems, a provider of technology-enabled devices and software solutions to the car wash industry. Senior partner Scott Carberry headed the search. Mr. Harris was identified, evaluated and placed in 58 days. DRB is a portfolio company of New Mountain
NGS Global Continues Expansion
Executive search firm NGS Global has continued its recent expansion with the addition of Chris Pearce, a former member of the Australian House of Representatives, as managing partner with its Oceania team in Melbourne, Australia. Mr. Pearce is a highly-experienced professional in both the commercial and public sectors. The firm said that his background “aligns perfectly with
Here’s 3 Keys to Successful Executive Recruiting
Just about every business publication today, it seems, is talking about the impact of the growing talent shortage on both individual organizations and the overall economy. Research suggests that roughly 40 percent of employers are currently experiencing hiring difficulties. What’s more, 76 percent of hiring decision-makers surveyed for a recent Glass Door report said that
Bridge Partners Places Head of Global Talent at Acumen
Recruitment firm Bridge Partners has placed HR veteran Anna Stillwell as head of global talent at Acumen, a New York City-headquartered non-profit impact investment fund. Partner and co-founder Tory Clarke led the search. Ms. Stillwell joined Acumen from the Wikimedia Foundation, where she was a leader in talent and culture. In that role, she played a crucial
Knightsbridge Robertson Surrette Places President and Vice Chancellor at Mount Allison University
College and universities around the world are facing new and growing challenges. Financial woes, enrollment concerns, and debates over free speech, among other issues, are all keeping leadership at institutions of higher learning on edge these days. For some schools, survival is even on the line. Recruitment of the right leaders, and choosing a search
Century Group Opens in Denver
El Segundo, CA-based executive search firm Century Group has opened a new office in Denver, marking its fifth location. Managing director Peter Nelson will lead the firm’s efforts in the region. “We have been identifying new locales for expansion,” said Ron Proul, CEO. “Denver is one of those that allow the group concept to service the region’s
Rialto Recruitment to Add New Office, Eyes Further Expansion
Rialto Recruitment | Atlantae Executive Search, a technical and scientific focused search firm based in Niel, Belgium, is continuing to expand. The firm recently announced plans to open a third branch in either East Flanders or West Flanders by this summer. It is expecting further growth by the end of the year. The firm recently
Five Things to Consider When Creating a Company Culture
Human resources executives and recruiters have been using the term “cultural fit” – generally defined as the ability of an employee to fit with the core beliefs, attitudes and behaviors that make up an organization – for a decade or two. And culture shaping is now seen as one of the most important drivers to
Slone Partners Recruits CFO for Vermillion
Executive search firm Slone Partners has placed Bob Beechey as the new CFO of Vermillion Inc., a bio-analytical solutions company focused on gynecologic disease. “Bob is a brilliant financial mind whose experience managing the business and commercial aspects of healthcare companies will prove invaluable to Vermillion,” said Tara Kochis-Stach, president of Slone Partners. Mr. Beechey has served
Jordan Search Consultants Seeks Chair for Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine
O’Fallon, MO-based executive recruiting firm Jordan Search Consultants has been selected to find the next chairperson for the Department of Family and Internal Medicine at the Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine (COM). Reporting to the dean of the medical college, the new department chairperson will be responsible for executing functions related to the administrative, educational
Kingsley Gate Partners Continues Expansion
Executive search firm Kingsley Gate Partners has continued its recent expansion with the addition of Lindsey Burton as a vice president. She is based in the firm’s New York office. As a member of the firm’s financial services practice, Ms. Burton also supports business development and candidate identification across financial services and technology. Ms. Burton has a background
New Zealand Search Firms Join Forces
New Zealand-headquartered executive search firms SandriWalsh Limited in Wellington and Rosenberg Executive Search Limited in Auckland have merged to create SWR Group NZ Limited. SWR covers all leadership roles, permanent and contract, from directors and C-suite on down. Directors Graeme Sandri and Tony Walsh as well as research consultant Suzannah Moller are based in Wellington,
Older Workers Continue to Postpone Retirement . . . Here’s Why
Although the economy has vastly improved, older workers are still hitting the brakes on their retirement plans. According to a CareerBuilder survey, 53 percent of workers aged 60 and over say they are postponing retirement, with 57 percent of men putting their golf game on hold compared to 48 percent of women. Four in 10
Noetic Search Recruits New Leader for Santa Barbara Humane Society
Executive search firm Noetic Search recently recruited animal welfare veteran Kerri Burns as the new executive director of the Santa Barbara Humane Society (SBHS). After leading the organization for more than a decade, Peggy Langle was fired last year after the board reportedly lost confidence in her performance. Rhyan Zweifler, Noetic’s founder and president of Noetic, and vice president
RSR Partners Lands CEO for New Olympic Museum
Executive recruitment firm RSR Partners has placed Christopher Liedel, a former head of a Smithsonian Institution division, as CEO of the new United States Olympic Museum and Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs, CO. He will start in his new role on May 15. “Chris Liedel is the perfect combination of experienced leader, entrepreneur and strategic thinker that
NextOPP Search Launches Program to Aid Domestic Violence Survivors
NextOPP Search, a Stamford, Conn-based executive recruitment firm, has launched a new social responsibility platform in which the firm provides employment services to a survivor of domestic violence for every candidate it places. “Hire One Help One,” as the program is known, is an effort to break the cycle of domestic violence, said the firm.
Inspired-Search Expands to Switzerland
Amsterdam-headquartered executive recruiting firm Inspired-Search has opened a new office in Geneva. The Swiss office will be managed by Jan Paul Olijslager, who has more than 15 years of experience working in different countries and in different positions in the transport, logistics and supply chain industry “We’re extremely pleased with Jan Paul joining Inspired-Search and with
Unemployment Rate Falls to 3.9 Percent
Employers added 164,000 jobs last month as the U.S. unemployment rate dropped to a 19-year low of 3.9 percent, according to the most recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report. The April gain is the 91st consecutive month of job growth. The number of unemployed people dipped to 6.3 million. Analysts had expected the unemployment rate to drop to
Fisher Leadership Seeking CEO for Multiple Sclerosis Ltd.
Australian executive search firm Fisher Leadership has been enlisted by Blackburn, Victoria-based Multiple Sclerosis Ltd. to lead its search for a new CEO. Managing partner Liz Jones is spearheading the search for someone to “lead the organization through its next significant stage of transformation and growth,” said the recruitment firm. The new CEO will be
Spencer Stuart Seeks New Board Members for Noble Group
Spencer Stuart has been enlisted by Noble Group in Hong Kong to find new board members including a chairman and four or more independent non-executive directors. Noble Group said in a statement that it expects Spencer Stuart to recruit “world-class talent to oversee the recovery to the business, provide governance and administer risk management.” The
Heidrick & Struggles Launches Disruptive Innovators Team
Heidrick & Struggles has launched a “disruptive innovators team” to “advise companies on the cusp of rapid growth, breakthrough innovation and market disruption.” Tim Alexander Lüdke has been named leader and global managing partner of the firm’s new practice. “The disruptive innovators team will serve as a catalyst leveraging expertise from practices throughout the firm to help a
de JAGER Executive Search Partners with Interim Specialist
Australian-headquartered de JAGER Executive Search has formed an alliance with Interim Executive Search in Sydney. Kris de Jager, founder and managing director of de JAGER Executive Search, said he was excited about joining forces with Interim Executive and its founder, Phil Tuck. “Our firms are extremely aligned, in terms of the values we share and our
For Most Women CEOs, Simple Encouragement Showed the Way to the Top
Two-thirds (65 percent) of the 57 leading women CEOs interviewed and assessed for a new Korn Ferry Institute study had no idea they could become the head of their company until a boss or mentor encouraged them. Before that, they gave less attention to moving their career forward and more to meeting business targets and
SearchWide Seeking New CEO for Augusta Convention and Visitors Bureau
After suffering a massive hit during the Great Recession, employment and hiring within the travel, hotel and hospitality industry has begun to rebound. In the 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
Livingston James Recruits CEO for the Scottish Football Association
The sports and entertainment field is one of the most active and fast-growing sectors for executive search businesses, with many C-suite-focused recruiting firms having been drawn to it. Recently, Livingston James placed Ian Maxwell as the new CEO of the Scottish Football Association (SFA). He replaces Stewart Regan, who resigned three months ago. Douglas Adam,
Riviera Partners and Alpha Advisors Join Forces
Search firms continue to join forces. The latest: San Francisco-headquartered Riviera Partners has merged with Alpha Advisors, a boutique search firm specializing in senior information technology and quantitative talent for financial services and technology clients. Its founder and executive search veteran Jeff Campbell has joined Riviera to drive continued expansion. He will lead Riviera Partners’ new Atlanta
Caldwell Appoints Financial Services Practice Co-Leader
Executive search firm Caldwell, which recently dropped the word “Partners” from its name, expanded its global financial services practice leadership team by appointing Glenn Buggy to join Paul Heller as co-leader of the practice. With over two decades of executive search experience, Mr. Buggy focuses on recruiting senior executives in financial services legal, compliance, anti-financial crimes, regulatory risk, and
C-Suite Leaders Not Collaborating Effectively
We are witnessing seismic changes in the workforce, the workplace and the technologies used in the world of work. Amid concerns about automation, the need for new skills, an aging workforce and tightening labor markets, the make-or-break issue facing companies this year is the need for realignment in the C-suite to focus on business’ evolving
Ventura Partners Leading AD Search for University of Utah
University of Utah president Ruth V. Watkins has confirmed that Ventura Partners has been chosen to lead its search for a new athletic director. Chris Hill recently announced that he plans to retire this spring after 31 years on the job. Chad Chatlos, sports practice leader at Ventura Partners, will work closely with Ms. Watkins and
