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Daily Newswire
How AI Is (and Isn’t) Changing Search
In boardrooms and talent discussions alike, the conversation around AI has quickly shifted from curiosity to expectation. Organizations are no longer asking whether to use AI in executive search, but how to use it responsibly and effectively. This shift is forcing firms to rethink not just their tools, but their philosophy—how they evaluate leadership, how
Shelli Herman and Associates Recruits Chief Experience Officer for the Saint Louis Zoo
Los Angeles-based Shelli Herman and Associates has placed Kirby Meyer as chief experience officer (CXO) at the Saint Louis Zoo. This is a brand-new executive leadership on the Zoo’s executive team focused on shaping a unified, strategic approach to all external engagement functions. In this role, Ms. Meyer will oversee the Zoo’s creative services, events, guest experience, marketing,
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.
Coulter Partners Strengthens Global Leadership Team
Life sciences recruiting specialist Coulter Partners has expanded with the additions of Carlos Gómez-Arnau, Doug Roberts, and Stuart Penney as client partners. “These strategic hires further strengthen the firm’s international presence and reinforce its commitment to supporting clients across key healthcare, life sciences, and biotechnology markets,” Coulter Partners said. The appointments expand Coulter Partners’ capabilities across Europe and North
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?
Cornerstone International Group Opens New Office in Jakarta
Cornerstone International Group has opened a new office in Jakarta, a strategic gateway to expand its retained executive search and leadership advisory practice across Indonesia and the wider Southeast Asian region. Leading the new office is Nadya Soetedja, founder of Inspire Recruitment Indonesia and a veteran of more than 20 years across executive recruitment, consulting, talent
Why CEOs Leave — and What Boards Can Do About It
CEO turnover is placing greater pressure on boards to think about leadership retention long before a search becomes necessary. For executive search firms, that means helping clients look beyond succession planning to understand the factors that influence whether a high-performing leader stays, disengages, or ultimately decides to leave. “Over the past two decades of placing
Occam Global Recruits CFO for Tortugas Neuroscience
New York City-based executive search firm Occam Global has recruited Ramzi Benamar as CFO of Tortugas Neuroscience, a clinical-stage biotech company developing medicines for central nervous system (CNS) disorders. “Ramzi brings meaningful capabilities and an understanding of the life sciences industry,” said Jeff Jonas, CEO of Tortugas. “He has had a documented and successful track record of
McDermott + Bull Recruits General Counsel for Corning Credit Union
Irvine, CA-based McDermott + Bull has assisted in the recruitment of Rachel Carlson Toth as vice president and general counsel at Corning Credit Union. This executive search was completed by McDermott + Bull president Brandon Biegenzahn, partner Courtney Wade, and executive recruiter Ella Canning. Ms. Toth brings more than a decade of in-house legal and business leadership experience
WittKieffer Elects New Chair
Oak Brook, IL-based WittKieffer has elected Angelique David as chair of its board of directors, succeeding L. Thomas Richards, who completed a distinguished tenure as board chair and concluded more than a decade of service on the firm’s board. “We are honored to have Angelique David serve as board chair for WittKieffer,” said Andrew P. Chastain, WittKieffer
Caldwell Appoints Leader of Global HR Practice
Toronto-based Caldwell has named John Staines as a partner and leader of the firm’s global HR practice. “We’re pleased to welcome John to Caldwell to lead our human resources practice,” said Chris Beck, CEO. “John’s addition, together with Ali Palmer’s recent arrival in London, strengthens our global human resources practice and our ability to serve clients
With millionways Investment Hunt Scanlon Ventures Backs the Future of AI-Powered Talent Platforms
Hunt Scanlon Ventures (HSV) has spent the last several years building an investment portfolio around a central conviction: as AI becomes embedded across the human capital and private markets ecosystem, the greatest opportunities will extend beyond automation and productivity. The next generation of platforms, according to Hunt Scanlon, will increasingly help organizations make better decisions
In NYSE Interview, HelloSky CEO Alex Bates Explains the ‘Moneyball’ Approach to Executive Search
Artificial intelligence is reshaping how executive search firms identify and evaluate leadership talent, but the technology alone is not replacing the judgment that experienced recruiters bring to senior-level hiring. Instead, the opportunity increasingly lies in combining better data and targeting with the intuition, pattern recognition, and relationship skills that have long defined successful executive search.
Academic Search Retained by William Penn University to Find Next President
Education-focused executive recruitment firm Academic Search has been retained by William Penn University (WPU) to lead in its search for a new president. The search is being led by senior consultant and Dan DiBiasio and consultant Andrea Cowsert. President John Ottosson will retire in June 2027 after more than a decade of leadership, leaving William Penn poised for further growth and
McCormack + Kristel Recruits CEO for Resource Center
McCormack + Kristel recently placed Christopher Wagley as CEO of He will join Resource Center in November 2026 following an extensive national search prompted by the planned retirement of long-standing CEO Cece Cox in early 2027. “The board is thrilled to welcome Christopher Wagley as the next CEO of Resource Center,” said Chris LaGrone, board
Lindauer Forms Alliance with Cedars-Sinai to Grow Development Team
Lindauer and Cedars-Sinai, one of the largest non-profit academic medical centers in the U.S., have form an alliance in an effort to expand its development team and build the infrastructure needed to sustain that growth. In preparation for an ambitious new philanthropic campaign and to help Cedars-Sinai respond to the evolving needs of the communities it serves, the
The Last Mile of Executive Search: Turning Candidate Conversations Into Defensible Shortlist Decisions
As executive search becomes more data-driven, firms are under growing pressure to show clients not only who made the shortlist, but why. That is putting greater emphasis on consistent evaluation, clearly defined criteria, and stronger evidence around leadership capability, risk, and fit. The shift is also creating a larger role for AI in helping search
TurnkeyZRG Leading Chief Commercial Officer Searches for the University of Kentucky and the Indianapolis Colts
College athletics is moving into a new era as the business of sports continues to evolve, making commercial leadership increasingly important and creating new opportunities for experienced executives. As universities and professional teams place greater emphasis on revenue growth, partnerships, fan engagement, and brand strategy, the chief commercial officer role is becoming increasingly central to
TOC Arts Partners Seeking Chief Marketing Officer for by Brooklyn Academy of Music
New York City-based TOC Arts Partners was recently retained by Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM). The search is being led by senior strategist Brenna Thomas. The CMO will lead marketing, creative services, ticketing, audience research, revenue forecasting, communications, and brand storytelling for an organization that showcases both emerging artists and modern icons. The chief marketing officer
ADK Consulting & Executive Search Recruits CFO for SkyCity
ADK Consulting & Executive Search has helped to recruit Basil O. Dosunmu as the new CFO of SkyCity, a purpose-built consortium for the transformative U.S. Virgin Islands Port Authority (VIPA) Airports. Linda Frankl, director, senior practice leader, led the assignment. Mr. Dosunmu brings more than 30 years of financial and executive leadership experience, with extensive
Stevenson Search Partners Names Head of Life Sciences Tools and Services
Fort Lee, NJ-based Stevenson Search Partners, a global life science executive search firm and a Hunt Scanlon Top 50 ranked search firm, has named Allen Reed as partner and head of life sciences tools and services. “Allen’s breadth of experience will be a key asset to Stevenson,” said Kris Steen, president, executive search at Stevenson Search Partners. “His
Spencer Stuart Expands CEO and Board Advisory Capabilities Around Succession and Value Creation
Spencer Stuart has strengthened its global CEO and board advisory offering with the appointment of Colin Graham as global head of its board and CEO practice and with additions of Sandy Ogg and Chris Gagnon. “CEOs and boards face an increasingly complex leadership agenda where creating value depends on connecting the right leaders to the most
Funk Associates Retained by Troy University to Assist Chancellor Search
Funk Associates has been retained by Troy University to lead in its search for a new chancellor. The Troy University board of trustees has appointed a 14-member search committee. Gibson Vance, president pro tempore of the board of trustees, will chair the committee, which includes representatives from the board of trustees, senior administration, faculty, the
TalentRise Assists the Buffalo Center for Arts and Technology with CEO Search
TalentRise has assisted in the recruitment of Denise Harris as president and CEO of the Buffalo Center for Arts and Technology (BCAT). The search follows the planned retirement of the organization’s current CEO, who has provided dedicated leadership to BCAT and its community mission for nearly 10 years. “Denise stood out early in a thorough search, and it
Lochlin Partners Recruits CHRO for Communities Foundation of Texas
Lochlin Partners has placed DeLancey Johnson as chief human resources officer of Communities Foundation of Texas (CFT). “Delancey brings new perspective, experience, and leadership to CFT as we continue building a culture that supports our mission and our staff experts,” said Wayne White, president and CEO of Communities Foundation of Texas. “His depth of experience leading
HTP Group Expands in Europe and Transatlantic Markets with Four Partner Appointments
HTP Group has expanded with the additions of François Carloni, Diego Chinnì, Sandrine Lebouc, and Chloë Sonnois as partners. These appointment marks a significant milestone in HTP Group’s international growth, strengthening its capabilities across France, Italy, and Switzerland, while establishing its first-ever dedicated bridge to the North American market. “We are thrilled to welcome Chloë, Diego,
Fractional CHRO vs. Interim HR Leader: Key Differences and When to Hire Each
As organizations grow, restructure, prepare for investment, or navigate leadership change, many realize they need experienced HR leadership – but not always in the same way. That’s where fractional CHRO and interim HR solutions come in, according to a recent Talent Connections report. “While these terms are often grouped together, they solve very different business
Greenwood Asher & Associates Leading General Counsel Search for Illinois State University
Miramar Beach, FL-based executive recruitment firm Greenwood Asher & Associates (GA&A) was recently selected by Illinois State University to lead in its search for a general counsel. Kyle Pybus-Jerome and Jim Johnsen are leading the assignment. Reporting directly to the president and serving as a member of the president’s cabinet, the general counsel will serve as the University’s chief
ESGI Potomac Recruits CFO for MTSI
ESGI Potomac recently assisted in the recruitment of Ashutosh Gokhale as executive vice president and CFO of Modern Technology Solutions, Inc. (MTSI). “We welcome Ashutosh Gokhale as our new executive vice president and chief financial officer,” said Kevin Robinson, MTSI president and CEO. “As MTSI continues its growth trajectory, Ashutosh’s leadership, financial expertise, and strategic perspective
Marovi Targets Executive Search’s Evaluation Gap With AI-Driven Platform
Atlanta-GA-based Marovi has shared details of its market momentum and customer experience. Core to Marovi’s success is its proprietary evaluation intelligence engine, which weights every candidate against role-specific requirements and generates scorecard comparisons and curated shortlists before the interviewing process commences. Executive search has long been a high-stakes, challenge-filled endeavor, where misalignment can cause significant disruption. Ensuring
Accelerate Growth in Private Equity with Smarter Talent Strategies
The private equity (PE) landscape has significantly transformed, marked by longer hold periods and more roll-up deals due to rising borrowing costs and fewer mid-sized companies available for acquisition. The traditional approach of quick three to five year exits through financial engineering and C-suite changes is no longer viable. Through this transformation, leadership and talent
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
