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Why Speed is Critical in Executive Recruiting
Executive leadership vacancies rarely arrive at a convenient moment—and in a business climate defined by rapid change, shrinking decision windows, and relentless performance demands, the cost of an empty seat compounds quickly. What was once viewed as a manageable transition period can now undermine momentum across strategy, operations, and culture, especially when teams are already
Kingsley Gate Recruits Chief People Officer for The Vitamin Shoppe
Private equity-backed Kingsley Gate has helped to recruit Kate Vukelich as executive vice president and chief people officer of The Vitamin Shoppe. “It was a true pleasure to work with Sharon M. Leite, CEO of The Vitamin Shoppe to place Kate Vukelich as the company’s new chief people officer. “Kate will be an amazing addition to a
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.
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
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?
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
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,
AI-Powered Exits: A New Lever for PE to Maximize Value
A recent AlixPartners report highlights that AI can be instrumental in preparing portfolio companies for sale, especially in a soft deal market where well-prepared exits are harder to achieve. “AI can make preparation for sale faster and more comprehensive,” notes the report. “AI can be helpful in exit preparation, particularly when the deal market is soft
CohenTaylor Executive Search Expands Staff
Minneapolis-headquartered CohenTaylor Executive Search has strengthened its team with the appointments of Lindsay Polyak as vice president of executive recruiting and Maggee Nelson as an executive recruiter. Ms. Polyak brings 30 years of experience to CohenTaylor, spanning HR and organizational redesign, leadership development, change management and retained executive search. Previously, she ran her own firm,
ALSpective Expands In Africa
International consulting and search firm ALSpective Group has expanded in Africa with the addition of Helmi Brinis as managing partner and advisor in Tunisia. “Helmi Brinis has a wealth of experience in advising executives, including financial management and human resources in international groups and SMEs,” said Albert Hiribarrondo, president of the ALSpective Group. “We are proud to
Top 5 HR Trends to Watch
HR experts are now wearing multiple hats to help their employers adapt to a quickly changing workforce environment. The days when HR professionals were viewed as administrative paper pushers are finally gone, said Genevieve Douglas of Bloomberg Law. As a profession, human resources is undergoing a profound shift. Once solely focused on how to manage
TalentRISE Recruits CFO for Prism Healthcare Partners
Chicago-based executive search firm TalentRISE has placed Laura Witter-Johnson as chief financial officer of Prism Healthcare Partners. The assignment was led by J. James O’Malley, partner and executive search practice leader, and Beth Gordon, director for executive search. Prism was seeking a CFO who could help the organization with its strategy to continue profitable organic growth while looking at
Witt/Kieffer Seeks Diversity Leaders for Central Michigan and Ohio Universities
The role of chief diversity officer is expanding at universities across the country. It has, in fact, become one of the most important positions for shaping the vision, culture and very face of institutions of higher learning from coast to coast. It is also increasingly becoming a cabinet-level job, with a broad range of responsibilities
Gatti & Associates Expands Greater Boston Office
Executive search firm Gatti & Associates, a GattiHR company, has expanded with the additions of Peter McStravick as senior vice president and John Todd as vice president in the Medfield, MA office. “Peter’s deep experience in global executive search at two well-regarded firms supports our continued expansion in large markets and within the tech sector,” said Alice Koehn Benson, president and CEO at Gatti
Direct Recruiters Partners with Assessment Firm
Cleveland-based executive search firm Direct Recruiters Inc. (DRI) has formed a partnership with PRADCO, a talent assessment, development and management company. “With the ongoing data-driven environment we are experiencing, our partnership with PRADCO will assist us in our goal of providing customized solutions that help our clients hire top talent for mission-critical positions,” said Dan
Six Mistakes to Avoid When Building Your In-House Recruiting Function
For many companies, starting an in-house recruiting operation to find senior-level talent makes good sense. They can save money on search firm fees and take full control of their hiring destiny. What’s more, in-house recruiters have an advantage over external recruiters in that they fully understand their company’s brand, and its culture and goals, all
Development Guild DDI Seeking Development Officer for Farnsworth Art Museum
For non-profit organizations, these are challenging days. 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 chief development officer become all the more critical. Museums
Korn Ferry Helps Find New AD for University of Louisville
Korn Ferry recently assisted in the recruitment of Vince Tyra as the new vice president for intercollegiate athletics and athletics director for the University of Louisville. The former business executive becomes just the third athletics director for the Cardinals in the last 38 years. The previous AD, Tom Jurich, was fired in the wake of an FBI
Benchmark Executive Search Expands Advisory Board
Global spending on cybersecurity by companies and governments is expected to reach over $90 billion this year, according to information technology research advisory group Gartner. There are some 500,000 cyber attacks globally every day – with American companies experiencing billions of dollars in intellectual property theft, much of which goes either unnoticed or unreported. All
Momenta Partners Strengthens Staff with Veteran Lawyer
Zurich-based executive search firm Momenta Partners has expanded with the addition of Laura Westby as partner. She will assist the firm in growing the advisory, executive search and ventures business globally from offices in Basel, Switzerland and Minneapolis. Ms. Westby has more than 20 years’ experience driving commercial arrangements, strategic counsel and corporate development in deep technology sectors.
Big Challenges Ahead for Recruiting and Talent Sector
Across many parts of the globe, 2018 has started with a job market as robust as any in recent years. It’s been so strong that recruiters are being forced to get creative in order to fill all the position mandates coming their way. And they’re not the only ones. A new Korn Ferry report, in
Quick Leonard Kieffer Lands CNO for Illinois Valley Community Hospital
As the life sciences sector continues to expand and reconfigure itself, vanguard organizations in the field are looking to bolster their leadership ranks. In demand: multi-skilled executives, physician leaders and nurses who can effect change on many levels. Of the four major C-suite roles in the typical hospital, the chief nursing officer (CNO) has traditionally been
AGB Search Recruits President for Slippery Rock University
In recent months, a number of top universities have announced that they are looking for new, high-profile leaders to take them into new eras of fundraising, digitalization, sports and, in some cases, globalization. Several schools haven’t changed leaders in years or even decades, and their boards of trustees and search committees are finding an entirely
Ducatus Partners Announces U.S. Expansion
Executive search firm Ducatus Partners has expanded with the additions of Jonathan Verlander as partner and DeLynn Mitchell as principal to strengthen its U.S. team. They will be based in Houston. The firm says the hirings are part of its growth strategy which has been driven by a recovery in the energy markets and a resurgence in
Logan Development Group Partners With VisionFirst Advisors
Economic development consulting firm VisionFirst Advisors has formed an alliance with executive recruiters Logan Development Group. The partnership between the top-tier firms capitalizes on and expands the breadth of services offered across each company in talent acquisition, development and executive search. VisionFirst, headed by CEO and founder Gray Swoope, is a customer-driven consulting firm that develops
Executive Search Firms Seek to Make Data and Analytics Less Burdensome
Big Data is changing business everywhere. The explosion of available information in the past few years has created a seismic shift in how companies now operate and go to market. While most organizations already have vast amounts of information about their employees, few companies are truly using their own human capital analytics to the full
Pyramind Lands New Leader for the Central Pennsylvania Convention & Visitors Bureau
Falls Church, VA-based executive search firm Pyramind has recruited Jeffrey S. Vasser as the executive director of the Central Pennsylvania Convention & Visitors Bureau. He succeeds Betsey Howell, who retired last year after leading the organization for 35 years. Lori Miller had been serving as interim executive director. Hope Johnson, president and CEO of Pyramind, led the
Odgers Berndtson Names Head of Healthcare and Life Sciences Practices
Executive search firm Odgers Berndtson has continued its recent expansion with the addition of Michael T. Kelly to its Minneapolis office as vice chairman, global head of life sciences, and U.S. head of the healthcare and life sciences practices. “Mike brings to his clients personal attention and unparalleled access to an international talent base across all major
Atkinson Macleod Appoints Energy & Natural Resources Practice Leader
Atkinson Macleod Executive Search has named Chris Grange as director to lead its energy and natural resources business. His new role will allow the firm to expand its offerings in the energy, oil and gas and natural resources markets, focusing on Scotland, the U.K. and Europe. Mr. Grange, who is based in Aberdeen, Scotland, has
Top HR Leaders Say Companies Are Unprepared to Replace Them
Only 50 percent of chief human resources officers believe that their companies have a ready-now successor should they leave their job, according to a new survey of almost 400 CHROs and HR leaders by Salveson Stetson Group, a Hunt Scanlon Media Ranked Top 50 Healthcare and Life Sciences search firm. While eight out of 10 of those
Ventura Partners Finds New CMO for 5.11 Tactical
As business becomes more global and complex, and power shifts from producers of goods and services to consumers, the chief marketing officer’s job of planning and coordinating marketing activities has become more challenging, recruiters say. Yet executive search firms are seeing no shortage of assignments for this important C-level position. Ventura Partners recently recruited Dave Larson to
Korn Ferry Places CEO at Boston Beer Company
Boston Beer Company recently named former Peet’s Coffee chief executive Dave Burwick as its new leader. Korn Ferry conducted the search, which began a year ago. Mr. Burwick replaces longtime president and CEO Martin Roper, who announced that he will retire this year. The company’s board of directors had known for over a year that Mr.
Toft Group Names COO
Given the integration of technology into all facets of everyday life, the healthcare industry is hardly alone in facing technology-related issues. But these take on increased importance when they impact health, disease diagnosis, treatment and, ultimately, human longevity. Having the right leaders, especially those with vision and transformational skills, to sort through such complex challenges,
CMP Merges with The Frontier Group
CMP, a talent development and transition firm, has merged with Atlanta-based coaching firm The Frontier Group. Frontier, which has a 31-year track record of delivering individual career transition solutions, redeployment solutions and executive coaching, will operate under the CMP brand. Patrick Lynch, Frontier’s president, will stay on post-merger and assume the title of president, CMP Southeast
Top Recruiter Accused of Stealing Korn Ferry Trade Secrets Reports to Federal Prison
David Nosal, the onetime star Korn Ferry recruiter who was convicted of violating a federal anti-hacking law, has exhausted his decade-long efforts to stay out of prison and reported to the federal penitentiary in Atwater, CA on March 14. Mr. Nosal, who left Korn Ferry to found NGS Global, was charged back in 2008 with
Stanton Chase Recruits CEO for Sogebank
Stanton Chase International has placed Alex Fouquet as the new CEO of Sogebank, one of the largest commercial banks in Haiti. Mark Young, a director in the search firm’s Miami office, led the assignment. “This was a challenging search since Haiti has a very distinct culture and one that must be understood and respected by all
UConn Selects Parker Executive Search to Find Next Men’s Basketball Coach
In the wake of its recent firing of men’s basketball coach Kevin Ollie amid an investigation by the NCAA, the University of Connecticut has selected Atlanta-based Parker Executive Search to lead the search for a new coach. “It is unfortunate that this decision became necessary,” the university’s athletic director, David Benedict, said in a statement. “As with
Alta Associates Names Chief Resiliency Officer
Flemington, NJ-based search firm Alta Associates has expanded with the addition of Pam Stenson in the newly created position of chief resiliency officer. The firm plans to use Ms. Stenson’s extensive experience with chief information officers to help broaden its network and recruiting capabilities in the technology arena. Over the past 30 years, Alta Associates has become
Flashlight Partners Launches in Indiana
An array of new recruiting firms has been launching around the world in recent months. The latest: Flashlight Partners, an executive recruitment firm based in Carmel, IN, has opened for business. “I believe that one should live intentionally and not vicariously,” said founder and CEO Laura Latham, in a recent interview with Current in Carmel,
