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Unemployment Falls to 4.4 Percent as 50,000 New Job Added
Employment rose by 50,000 in December as the U.S. unemployment rate fell to 4.4 percent, according to the most recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report. Employment continued to trend up in food services and drinking places, healthcare, and social assistance. Retail trade lost jobs. The number of unemployed people, at 7.5 million, changed little in December.
7 Questions to Ask When Choosing an International Recruiter
International recruiting quickly becomes a different game altogether—one where local networks, cultural fluency, and trusted on-the-ground connections often matter more than the tools or tactics employers rely on at home. However, many employers do not like working with recruitment companies, according to a report from NPAworldwide. “In markets that employers know well and have social
Executive Recruiters Pull Off Another Remarkable Year, Remain Bullish for 2023
Hunt Scanlon Media has released its annual rankings of leading executive recruiters. In the U.S. and globally, billions of dollars poured into the high-end recruiting sector in 2022, a result of continued pentup demand for senior-level leaders and their key reports.
EMA Partners India Acquires Recruitment Process Outsourcing Services Provider Taggd
Executive search and leadership recruitment platform EMA Partners India has acquired recruitment process outsourcing services provider Taggd in an all-cash deal valued at Rs 113 crore. The all-cash acquisition aims to create an integrated talent recruitment platform offering executive search, professional search and AI-powered recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) solutions at scale. Taggd will continue to
GDPR – The Perfect Time to Refresh Your Database
As executive search firms grapple with the complexities of GDPR, many are concerned that the new regulation will mean deleting thousands of records built up over many years. Surely there must be an alternative?
NGS Global Expands in London
Wilmington, DE-headquartered executive search firm NGS Global has expanded with the additions of Daniel Yeates and George Balfour as managing directors in London. “Daniel and George are accomplished executive search professionals with deep expertise in the technology and digital sectors,” said David Nosal, chairman and managing partner. “They each bring outstanding client and candidate relationships built over decades
Leadership Challenges Intensify as Organizations Confront AI, Talent, and Economic Uncertainty
Organizations are operating in an increasingly complex environment where economic uncertainty, workforce challenges, AI adoption, and digital transformation are converging to reshape leadership priorities. Kestria’s second annual global leadership survey builds on the themes that emerged in last year’s research; highlighting how rapidly the leadership landscape continues to evolve. Based on responses from more than
Riviera Partners Acquires Lateral Labs
San Francisco-based Riviera Partners, a recruitment provider specializing in C-level engineering, product, and design leader placements, has acquired Lateral Labs, a specialized recruiting firm serving top AI startups. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. “The acquisition comes as companies remain challenged to meet the demand of organizational AI readiness,” the firm said. “Adding Lateral Labs positions Riviera Partners
Marovi Assists Congruex with CFO Search
Working in partnership with Atlanta-GA-based Marovi, Congruex, a provider of digital infrastructure engineering and construction services, appointed Jim Stanley as CFO. He reports to Congruex’s co-founder, president, and CEO, Kevin O’Hara. The appointment comes amid strong and sustained growth at Congruex as it plans to continue to capitalize on macro tailwinds, including AI and data center
Brettschneider Executive Search Seeking Inaugural SVP of Advancement for Wilmington University
New York City-based Brettschneider Executive Search has been retained by Wilmington University (WilmU) to lead in its search for an inaugural senior vice president of advancement to lead the University’s next phase of philanthropic growth. Reporting to WilmU president LaVerne Harmon, the SVP will partner closely with the president, board and University leaders to advance the University’s strategic
August Leadership Expands in London
August Leadership has expanded with the addition of Honor Pollok as a partner in London. Ms. Pollok brings over 20 years of executive search and leadership experience. She has led numerous high-profile placements in chair, non-executive director, CEO and the full spectrum of C-suite roles. Her search expertise spans key commercial, financial, creative, human resource, functional,
Hunt Scanlon and HSiQ Spotlight New Approach to Recruiter Training
As the executive search industry faces mounting pressure to improve performance and consistency, firms are increasingly reevaluating how recruiters are trained and developed. Hunt Scanlon and its HSiQ talent intelligence advisory unit recently launched a new Recruiter Performance Training Program designed to bring greater structure, commercial rigor, and scalability to recruiter development in an industry long driven by
Building Team Alignment in an Era of Continuous Change
Ask any team to describe its top strategic priorities and you will often get as many answers as there are people in the room. The problem is not that the strategy hasn’t been communicated, according to recent report from AIIR Consulting. “The problem is that it was communicated into an environment that has since shifted
Isaacson, Miller Helps Recruit 28th President for Texas A&M
Boston-based Isaacson, Miller has assisted in the recruitment of Susan Ballabina as the 28th president of Texas A&M. Andy Lee and Julie Filizetti, led search with Raul Bernal and Luciano Zuniga, and Madeline Fitzpatrick. The members of the Board of Regents conducted a national search that produced a strong pool of candidates. Dr. Ballabina emerged through that process based on her experience, her understanding of
BarkerGilmore Recruits General Counsel for American Credit Acceptance
Boutique search firm BarkerGilmore, which specializes in building corporate legal and compliance teams, has placed Debra Noll as general counsel at American Credit Acceptance. The search was led by Stephen Bell and Alison Waters. “Deb is exceptionally well-positioned to support American Credit Acceptance as it continues to grow and adapt in a complex environment,” BarkerGilmore said in a LinkedIn
Kincannon & Reed Appoints VP of Marketing and Business Development
Kincannon & Reed (K&R), which exclusively focuses on food, agribusiness, and the related life sciences, has expanded with the addition of Dan Evans as vice president of marketing and business development. “Dan brings a strong background in building brands, driving growth, and connecting strategy to execution,” said Stephanie Liska, president of Kincannon & Reed. “Throughout his career,
Women Founders Gain Ground in Human Capital M&A
A meaningful shift has been unfolding across the executive search industry. Over the past decade, a growing number of highly specialized boutiques have been founded and led by women, many of whom built successful careers within larger firms before launching businesses of their own. What is becoming increasingly clear is that investors are paying attention.
Private Equity Recruiting – Return on Investment: Creating Value with Talent
Talent has become a defining driver of performance in private equity, shaping how firms manage risk, execute strategy, and deliver sustained returns. As deal cycles tighten and value creation depends increasingly on operational excellence, leadership quality and organizational design are no longer secondary considerations — they are central to how firms source, underwrite, and scale
AGB Search Seeking Chief Information Technology Officer for Slippery Rock University
Washington, D.C.-based recruitment firm AGB Search, which specializes in higher education leadership assignments, has been retained by Slippery Rock University to lead in its search for a chief information technology officer (CITO). Kimberly Templeton, Margaret Plympton, and Anne Hoffman are leading the assignment. This leader serves as the University’s senior technology executive, providing strategic vision, leadership, and executive
The Talent Studios Recruits Chief Marketing Officer for Pura Vida Miami
The Talent Studios has recruited Bruno Cardinali as chief marketing officer of Pura Vida Miami, the premium all-day café and lifestyle brand focused on health, wellness and community. The search was led by Katlyn Maloney and Jeremy Cohen. Mr. Cardinali brings more than two decades of marketing leadership across fast casual, foodservice, beverage, and global consumer brands. Most recently, as
JM Search Expands Technology and Financial Services Practices
JM Search, a senior-level talent provider serving private equity investors, portfolio companies, and Fortune 1000s, has expanded with the additions of Wes Chisholm as partner and Laura Bennstrom and Charles Telep as principals within its technology and financial services practices. Mr. Chisholm and Mr. Telep join the firm’s technology practice while Ms. Bennstrom joins both the financial
How The Tolan Group Navigated the Downturn and Remained Focused
For many executive search firms, 2024 and 2025 tested resilience in ways few could have predicted. At The Tolan Group (TTG), they experienced the same pressures felt across the industry. Slower decision cycles, delayed starts, and a noticeable dip in portfolio company hiring activity. Yet through that uncertainty, one thing remained constant: our commitment to
Korn Ferry Reports Seven Percent Q4 and Full-Year Revenue Growth, Led by Double-Digit Gains in Professional Search & Interim
Korn Ferry (NYSE:KFY) has posted Q4 fiscal-year revenues of $759.8 million, a year-over-year increase of seven percent and five percent at constant currency. This was led by Professional Search & Interim up 14 percent, followed by Executive Search and Consulting, both up seven percent and RPO up five percent. During the fourth quarter, revenues rose by
Lock Search Group Leading CEO Search for Atlas Sign & Awning
Toronto-headquartered executive recruitment firm Lock Search Group is currently seeking a new CEO for Atlas Sign & Awning. For over 30 years, Atlas Sign & Awning has helped businesses across Canada and the United States stand out through custom commercial signage, awnings, and branded architectural elements. Based in Langley, BC, they’ve built a strong reputation for quality
Anthem Executive Assists the University of Montevallo With President Search
Anthem Executive has assisted in the recruitment of Michelle R. Johnston as the first female president of the University of Montevallo (UM). Michael Ballew, Scott Watson, Mike “JR” Wheless, and Florene Stawowy led the assignment. Dr. Johnston has served as the president of Georgia Southwestern State University since 2024. Prior to her current presidency, she served as president of three other higher education
Mercuri Urval Appoints Non-Executive Director
Stockholm, Sweden-based executive search firm Mercuri Urval (MU) has announced that Jan Sasse, partner at AlterInvest, was named as non-executive director to the MU group board. He will join the current board members Cecilia Strand, Mieke Weijenberg, Cecilia Beer, Richard Moore, and chairman Roger Hagafors. “We are pleased to welcome Jan Sasse as non-executive director of the MU
M&A Becomes a Capability-Driven Acquisition Strategy
EY-Parthenon is forecasting an eight percent increase in U.S. deal volume for transactions exceeding $100 million in 2026, underscoring how central M&A remains to corporate strategy. Yet beneath the headline numbers sits a more important story. The role of acquisitions is evolving. Companies are no longer pursuing deals primarily for scale or market share. Increasingly,
The Hidden Challenges Every First-Time CEO Faces
The corner office has never been more accessible—or more demanding. As boards increasingly turn to a new generation of leaders to navigate disruption, growth, and transformation, first-time CEOs are stepping into roles that require a fundamentally different set of skills than those that propelled them to the top. While many arrive with impressive track records,
Myers McRae Assists Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology with Provost Search
Following a nationwide search, Macon, GA-based Myers McRae Executive Search and Consulting has assisted in the recruitment of Richie Roberts as provost of Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology. Kenny Daugherty and Brianna Douglas led the assignment. Dr. Roberts’ selection was guided by a search committee of OSUIT administrators, faculty, staff and students, which was assisted by national search firm Myers McRae. “The entire
Lancer Group Recruits Chief Technology Officer for Minitab
La Jolla, CA-headquartered search firm Lancer Group has recruited Kevin Gordon as chief technology officer of Minitab. “We’re excited to welcome Kevin Gordon as chief technology officer at Minitab,” the company said. “This is an exciting step forward in the evolution of our technology strategy and will help accelerate innovation across our organization and solutions platform.” “Kevin brings
How to Identify Leadership Potential in Private Equity Acquisitions
Private equity firms excel at finance and technology but too often lag in talent strategy, particularly in portfolio company management. While many private equity firms already assess leaders through interviews and track record analysis, these methods can miss critical predictors of success, according to a new report from Hogan Assessments, a global provider of personality
Gilman Partners Seeks New Leaders for Two Kentucky-Based Non-Profits
The non-profit sector has gained economic strength in recent years, making it the third largest employer in the country. Nearly two million not-for-profits employ 10.7 million people and produce $1.9 trillion in revenue. In the past decade, employment in the sector grew by 17 percent. With demand for non-profit talent at an all-time high, search firms have
University of Illinois Taps Greenwood/Asher in Hunt for Chief Diversity Officer
Chief diversity officers are now considered part of every competitive organization’s senior management team and institutions of all types are lining up to bring these highly sought after leaders on board. Search firms, for their role, are well equipped and well-networked throughout the space. One sector that has increased its demand for top-drawer diversity leadership
Bourne Executive Search Launches in the U.K.
An array of new recruiting firms has been launching around the world in recent months. The latest: Bourne Executive Search in Suffolk, England recently opened its doors for business. “I believe in quality over quantity, and this is especially applicable in senior level recruitment,” said founder and director Charlotte Bourne, in a recent interview with the East
Kumabe HR Seeks Investment Officer for Hawaii Employees’ Retirement System, Honolulu
The $16.3 billion Hawaii Employees’ Retirement System, Honolulu, has retained the services of executive search firm Kumabe HR to find its next chief investment officer. Vijoy Chattergy, who served in the role since 2012, recently left the organization. Reportedly, the pension fund had been selling put options, benefitting from the low volatility of the stock market.
Furst Group Lands New President for the Health Plan Alliance
As the healthcare industry continues its transformation, talent management remains a high priority. The shortage of physicians and other clinicians is one matter. But healthcare organizations must also fill new and expanding leadership roles to carry out strategic initiatives in response to reform efforts, and whatever changes Republicans in Washington, D.C. may deliver. This has
Calibrate Legal Names Chief Client Officer
Calibrate Legal has expanded with the addition of Susan Van Dyke as chief client officer. Her background includes over two decades of legal marketing and communications experience in-house, as a consultant and in the C-suite. “In Susan, we’ve found a fellow advocate for our marketing/BD colleagues, and a seasoned peer advisor for our clients in the C-suite
EMA Partners Expands Into Argentina
EMA Partners International, a global partnership of executive search professionals, has strengthened its presence in the Americas with the addition of recruiting firm Airaldi Smart Human Connections in Buenos Aires. Lucrecia Airaldi has been appointed as the managing partner for EMA Partners Argentina. Ms. Airaldi is the founder of Airaldi Smart Human Connections, the predecessor firm for
Exploring the Growing Importance of Chief Talent Officers
As the war for talent continues to forge onward, designing and implementing a robust talent strategy has become critical for companies to succeed and compete. Organizations are strengthening their internal talent management capabilities under the stewardship of the chief talent officer. In a recent survey by Dallas-based executive search firm Pearson Partners International, 60 percent
Caldwell Partners Lands CFO for Compassus
Executive search firm Caldwell Partners International has placed Bradley Wear as the new executive vice president and CFO of Compassus, a nationwide network of community-based hospice. Neal Maslan and John Blank, both partners in the firm’s life sciences and healthcare practice, led the search. “As a national leader in hospice, palliative and home healthcare, it is imperative
Park Square Executive Search Recruits CEO for Exogenesis Corporation
Boston-based recruiting firm Park Square Executive Search has recruited Dmitry Shashkov as president and CEO of Exogenesis Corp. He replaces company co-founder Richard Svrluga, who will continue to serve Exogenesis during the transition. “We are very pleased to have Dmitry accept our offer to lead Exogenesis to its next level of growth and development,” said Mike Powell,
Amidst Restructuring, Frederickson Partners Announces VP Promotions
As part of an organizational restructuring, Frederickson Partners, a global HR executive search, consulting and outplacement firm, has announced the promotion of two longtime employees, Devin Schroeder and Rosemary Belden, to vice presidents. The firm, formerly Frederickson Pribula Li, cited the pair’s “outstanding leadership in critical HR searches” for the promotions. As part of the
Odgers Interim Expands to Poland
The pressure has never been greater for organizations to deliver strong business results in less time and with fewer resources while mitigating the risk of hiring the wrong leaders. To that end, a number of companies have been turning to temporary leaders to fill their C-suite needs and executive search firms are stepping up. Odgers
What Workers Want May Surprise You
Contrary to what is generally thought, the traditional way of working – meaning, at the office during open hours – is still preferred among respondents of the latest Randstad Workmonitor report. Globally, 68 percent shared this sentiment, with India (85 percent) at the highest end and the Netherlands (47 percent) at the lowest end. Workers
Polachi Fills Board Positions for Progress Software
Executive search firm Polachi Inc. has placed Sam King and Angela Tucci as new members of the board of directors at Progress Software in Bedford, MA. The board, through its nominating and corporate governance committee, and with the assistance of Polachi, selected Ms. King and Ms. Tucci from a large pool of highly qualified individuals, including candidates suggested by the company’s shareholders. The
McCormick Group Places Director of National Security at Buchanan & Edwards
The McCormick Group, an Arlington, VA-based executive recruitment firm, has helped to place Timothy J. Healy as director of national security for Buchanan & Edwards, an information technology consulting company. Principal Tim Ward conducted the search. Mr. Healy, a Marine Corps veteran who served in various roles with the FBI for more than 25 years,
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
