DAILY NEWSWIRE - TOP STORIES
Daily Newswire
Kestria Adds New Member Firm in Portugal
Kestria, formerly known as IRC Global Executive Search Partners, has added Thrive Partners in Portugal as its newest member firm. “In Thrive Partners, we’ve found a partner that allows us to strengthen our portfolio by adding the important Portuguese market,” said Stepan Motejzik, Kestria’s global alliance director. “From our very first interaction, we’ve felt a mutual
Top 10 Executive Search M&A Deals for 2025
M&A activity in the human capital sector is holding up well despite a choppy macro backdrop, with deal interest staying steady even as founders weigh risk more carefully. In Hunt Scanlon Media’s latest polling, a majority of executive search firm owners signaled they would consider a transaction, underscoring how succession planning, scale pressures, and shifting
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.
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,
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?
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
Allen Austin Launches Evidence-Based Leadership Assessment VantagePoint
Houston, TX-based search firm Allen Austin launch of VantagePoint, an evidence-based leadership assessment that helps organizations identify and develop high-potential leaders with greater clarity and confidence. VantagePoint is grounded in three decades of leadership advisory work and original research by Allen Austin chairman and CEO Rob Andrews. Over two years, Mr. Andrews interviewed more than 100 CEOs,
The CHRO’s New Mandate
Across industries, the organizational design structure has shifted from a traditional pyramid to an hourglass model. This is not a recent development, explained Slayton Search Partners’ John Doyle in a recent report. “Organizational efficiencies, increased technology and the first wave of Baby Boomer retirements began this transition nearly two decades ago,” he said. “Experienced leaders have been retiring. Internal pipelines have
AGB Search Recruits 11th President for Lewis University
Washington, D.C.-based recruitment firm AGB Search, which specializes in higher education leadership assignments, has helped to recruit Christopher Sindt as the 11th president of Lewis University. The Lewis University board of trustees recently announced that president David Livingston, will retire at the conclusion of the 2025–26 academic year. Melissa K. Trotta, Matthew J. Kilcoyne, and John Cech led the assignment. “After
Kincannon & Reed Assists CCI Prime with CFO Search
Kincannon & Reed (K&R), which exclusively focuses on food, agribusiness, and the related life sciences, has assisted in the recruitment of Jamie Broad as CFO of CCI Prime, bringing on a seasoned finance leader to support the company’s next phase of growth. “Jamie’s ability to connect financial insights to operational realities makes her an exceptional
EQU Advisors Seeking Senior Leader for Sarah Lawrence College
Executive search firm EQU Advisors was recently retained by Sarah Lawrence College to lead in its search for an associate vice president of enrollment. This executive will serve as a key member of the senior enrollment leadership team and a collaborative partner across the institution. This role is designed to strengthen coordination, elevate shared strategy, and support
Egon Zehnder Forms Alliance with IMD
Global leadership advisory firm Egon Zehnder and IMD, a leading business school in global executive education, have formed a strategic partnership to facilitate board directors’ personal growth and elevate board performance. The partnership combines IMD’s academic rigor and deep connections to global boards with Egon Zehnder’s expertise in leadership and board effectiveness. Together, they will co-create tailored
Why Boards Are Betting on New CEOs and How to Set Them Up to Win
A growing number of companies are entrusting the corner office to leaders stepping into the CEO role for the first time. As succession strategies evolve and executive talent markets tighten, boards are increasingly prioritizing leadership potential, adaptability, and strategic vision over prior CEO experience. Boards now face a new question: which qualities make a first-time CEO succeed,
The Leadership Reset: What AI is Exposing About Today’s Executives
For decades, leadership success was largely measured by experience, team size, and the ability to manage complex organizations. Today, artificial intelligence is changing that equation, and it is reshaping how boards, investors, and hiring executives evaluate leadership talent. As AI transforms how work gets done, organizations are discovering that competitive advantage is no longer determined
Greenwood Asher & Associates Recruits Provost for the University of Cincinnati
Miramar Beach, FL-based executive recruitment firm Greenwood Asher & Associates has assisted the University of Cincinnati (UC) in the recruitment of Rudolph Buchheit as executive vice president for academic affairs and provost. Andriel Dees and Julie Schrodt led the assignment for the search firm. His selection follows a national search led by a dedicated search committee that was informed by
HARTZ Search Assists Geisinger with Recruitment of CIO
Charlotte, NC-based HARTZ Search has helped to recruit Bill Bellando as executive vice president and chief information officer of Geisinger. He joins Geisinger after serving as senior vice president and chief information officer at Georgia-based Wellstar Health System from 2022 to 2026. In this role, Mr. Bellando oversaw information technology and digital initiatives across the health system.
Growth and M&A Activity to Surge Across Recruitment Sector In 2025
Hunt Scanlon Media has released its annual rankings of leading executive search firms, giving the sector its first official performance review on last year’s activity. In the U.S. and globally, billions of dollars poured into the high-end recruitment sector in 2024, despite an economically challenging year. “The recruiting sector found stability and recovery in 2024
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,
Creating Clear Paths for Leaders Demands Discipline and Preparation
For companies big and small, the consequences of failing to establish a clear plan for future leadership can be staggering. One need only consider recent headlines about changes at the top at companies like Ralph Lauren Corp. and J. Crew to see the effect of poor succession planning on a business – from stunted growth
AGB Search Tapped by University of Guam to Find New President
Academic institutions continue to pump big fees into the coffers of executive search firms nationwide. Many academic recruiting specialists say business has never been better. Even smaller recruiting outfits have multiple assignments running concurrently, all at the senior levels, and if there’s any slowdown coming it is to be found at the talent identification stage.
Koya Leadership Partners Places CEO at New Bedford Whaling Museum
The New Bedford Whaling Museum, the familiar name for the 115-year-old Old Dartmouth Historical Society, has named Amanda D. McMullen as its new president and CEO. Anne McCarthy and Erin Reedy of non-profit specialists Koya Leadership Partners led the assignment. Ms. McMullen assumes her new role on May 7. “With a strong record of leadership and accomplishments, Amanda
Scout Exchange Secures $100 Million in Funding
Investment dollars continue to pour into new technology designed to change the talent management industry. The latest: Scout Exchange, a recruitment marketplace connecting employers with specialized recruiters, has received $100 million in funding from TRI Ventures, the investment vehicle of recruiting industry veteran John Chuang. The funding will accelerate growth of Scout’s recruitment marketplace, which has been
Amrop Continues Global Expansion
Amrop, a partnership of recruiting firms operating from 75 offices in 48 countries throughout Asia, EMEA and the Americas remains in growth mode. It recently added four new partners. Alexandra Long joins Amrop and will lead the technology practice in Australia. She brings deep knowledge and expertise in the area, with recent experience including roles as
As CFOs Gain in Stature, Succession Plans to Replace Them Falter
As with all things in the business world, the role of a CFO has evolved over the past 10 years. Gone are the days of the CFO being the top accountant focused on the timely and accurate recording of transactions to generate a set of financial statements in accordance with GAAP. While the accuracy of
Lionheart Children’s Academy Taps FaithSearch Partners for VP of Talent Management
Executive search firm FaithSearch Partners has been retained by Lionheart Children’s Academy in Arlington, TX to lead its search for a vice president of talent management. Vice chairman Greg Barnes is spearheading the assignment along with John Williams, vice president of the firm’s mission enterprise team. Lionheart is seeking a leader to provide overall talent acquisition strategy and facilitate
D. Hilton Associates Finds New Leader for Congressional Federal Credit Union
These are critical days for credit unions. The U.S. has nearly 6,000 of them, with more than $1.2 trillion in assets, according to the National Credit Union Administration. But with the steady retirement of Baby Boomers, among other factors, the cooperatives are facing the loss of more than 4,000 chief executive officers and senior managers
Sheffield Haworth Acquires Gillamor Stephens
London-based executive recruitment firm Sheffield Haworth has acquired Gillamor Stephens, a digital and technology sector recruiting specialist. The firm’s work focuses on hiring board-level executives for both publicly listed and venture capital/private equity backed technology businesses in the U.K. and across Europe. As part of the acquisition, Gillamor Stephens will become Sheffield Haworth’s newly created global
TillmanCarlson Appoints Partner
Recruiters in the search industry continue to climb the ladder within their respective firms. Another example: Executive search firm TillmanCarlson has named Conor Leamy as partner. “Conor has been an instrumental member of the team over the last five years and his promotion is well deserved,” said Kelly Carlson, CEO. “We’ve differentiated our firm by creating a
Artificial Intelligence Changing the Role of Recruiters
Artificial intelligence is transforming the face of workforces around the world. For executive recruiters and human resources departments, it has meant a growing number of new, specialized roles to fill and untapped talent to discover. Once feared as making the role of the recruiter impersonal and robotic, AI today gives recruiters the information they need
RSR Partners Launches Search to Find CEO for USA Rugby
Executive recruitment firm RSR Partners has been enlisted to find the new chief executive officer for USA Rugby. Dan Payne, the rugby group’s current leader, announced last month that he will be stepping down in July, after the Rugby World Cup Sevens in San Francisco. Based in Lafayette, CO, USA Rugby is the national governing
Parker Executive Search Assists UCF in President Search
The University of Central Florida (UCF) has named an internal candidate, provost Dale Whittaker, to succeed president John C. Hitt, who is retiring this summer after 26 years in the top role. Atlanta-based recruitment firm Parker Executive Search assisted in the search. Dr. Whittaker’s thorough knowledge of the university and its culture played a big part of
NPAworldwide Adds Six New Member Firms
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 six new member locations in the U.S. as it
