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Daily Newswire
Executive Search in 2026: Why Human Judgment Still Matters
As AI “agentification” pushes more work into software, the executive search industry is being forced to justify its value beyond simply filling roles. The case for its future rests on something algorithms and internal networks often struggle to protect: independent judgment in high-stakes hiring—especially when speed, alignment, and culture become so dominant that they quietly
WittKieffer Acquires Assets of Ross & Company
Oak Brook, IL-based WittKieffer has acquired the assets of Ross & Company. Financial terms of deal were not disclosed. Founder Larry Ross will join WittKieffer as senior partner and lead partner for private equity. “This combination accelerates WittKieffer’s leadership in building boards and executive teams for healthcare and life sciences investors and their portfolio companies,” the firm said.
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.
CFOs as Strategic Architects: Navigating Transformation in Financial Services
Financial services organizations, generally, are facing a new competitive market, regulatory challenges and a constant struggle to manage cost and efficiency, recruiters tell Hunt Scanlon Media. This requires strategic leaders, both men and women, with a multidimensional skill-set and competencies that often go above and beyond any typical job description. CFOs play a pivotal role
Korn Ferry Posts 17 Percent Revenue Increase
Korn Ferry (NYSE:KFY) has posted 2018 fiscal third quarter revenues of $448 million, a 17 percent increase compared to revenues of $381.9 million a year ago. Wall Street expected revenues of $416.5 million. Organic growth occurred in all three lines of business as compared to last year, with Futurestep growing 29.4 percent, executive search expanding 18.1 percent, and
BoardWalk Consulting Seeks CEO for Charlottesville Area Community Foundation
BoardWalk Consulting, an Atlanta-based executive recruitment firm, has been selected to find the new CEO for the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation (CACF) in Virginia. Anne Scott, who led the foundation for four years, stepped down in October. Sam Pettway, BoardWalk’s founding director, is leading the search. Ayanna Grady-Hunt, a senior associate, is spearheading the research. The
Heidrick & Struggles Lands New CEO for Diebold Nixdorf
Heidrick & Struggles has placed former D+H Corp. executive Gerrard Schmid as the new president and CEO of Diebold Nixdorf. He replaces Andreas W. Mattes, who recently stepped down. Mr. Schmid is a seasoned corporate executive with previous public-company CEO experience and a track record of delivering value in a transforming environment. He has more
DSP Executive Search Opens in Cambridge, MA
Leaders at the best companies know that diversity matters. Not only are the companies that pay attention to such matters rewarded with better financial returns, but they gain perspectives and insights that would otherwise be lost to them. It is also an area that search firms have been highly focused on. To that end, diversity-focused
Nolan Partners Names Global Head of Media and Entertainment
Executive search firm Nolan Partners has expanded with the addition of Andrew Moss as its global head of media and entertainment. He will work out of the firm’s London office, where he will focus on expanding Nolan Partners’ media and entertainment properties around the globe, with specific focus on Europe and the U.S. “Andrew has been a rainmaker
Here’s How Businesses Are Fighting to Hold onto Their Best Talent
Soft skills are the top priority for talent development leaders, according to a new study by LinkedIn Learning, the “2018 Workplace Learning Report,” which offers a holistic overview of learning in today’s workplace. “In the age of automation, adaptability rules,” said the report. “While maintaining technical fluency will be important, demand for soft skills will
RiseSmart Launches New Career Transition Service
RiseSmart, a provider of contemporary career transition services – a space which more search firms are looking at entering – has announced a new service called RiseSmart Express, a suite of career transition solutions and workshops tailored for small and medium businesses. The service helps companies provide soft landings for impacted employees by quickly connecting them to
Phillips Oppenheim Seeks New Leader for the National Arts Club
With the economy strong, hiring in the non-profit sector continues to gain momentum. Recently, the 120-year old National Arts Club (NAC) in New York City enlisted non-profit search specialist Phillips Oppenheim to lead its search for a new executive director. Becky Klein and Mark Tarnacki are spearheading the search. NAC is looking for a leader to
ADK Finds New Leader for Louisville Regional Airport Authority
ADK Consulting & Executive Search has placed Dan Mann as the new executive director for the Louisville Regional Airport Authority (LRAA) in Kentucky. He succeeds C.T. Miller who retired this month. “We are extremely pleased that an airport executive with Dan’s experience, vision and accomplishment will take on this important leadership role,” said Jim Welch, chairman
Horton Adds New Partner in Hungary
Executive search consultants are seeing an increase in hiring mandates from around the world. To meet demand, they continue to develop new practices, hire recruiters and open locations. Among them, Horton International has added executive search firm Performan Group in Hungary. Performan Group was founded in 2003 by managing partners Sandor Szekely and Erika Gombos and provides executive search
Michigan State University Close to Picking Search Firm for Top Role
In the wake of the sex abuse scandal involving sports doctor Larry Nassar, which forced the president of Michigan State University (MSU) to step aside, the school now faces the challenge of finding a new leader. President Lou Anna Simon resigned in January over the school’s handling of accusations against the former U.S. gymnastics and
Spencer Stuart Places Former Taco Bell CEO at Chipotle
Struggling to win back customers after multiple foodborne illness outbreaks, Chipotle Mexican Grill has hired former Taco Bell CEO Brian Niccol as its new leader. Spencer Stuart led the search, which called for finding a CEO with proven turnaround expertise. Steve Ells, the restaurant chain’s founder, is stepping down and will become executive chairman. “Bringing in
ZRG Partners Acquires Epsen Fuller Group
Acquisitions continue to make news in the recruiting industry and recent activity appears to be carrying over into 2018. ZRG Partners, the fastest growing search firm in the U.S., has acquired certain assets of the Epsen Fuller Group. Financial terms of the transaction were undisclosed. As part of the asset acquisition agreement, Thomas Fuller, formerly the managing partner
IRC Global Expands in Hong Kong
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. Just recently, IRC Global Executive Search Partners (IRC) expanded with the addition of
Hudson Global Records Eight Percent Revenue Gain
Talent Solutions company Hudson Global Inc. / (NASDAQ:HSON) posted 2017 full-year revenues of $456.7 million, an eight percent increase from revenues of $422.7 million a year ago. The New York-based recruiting company recorded a net loss of $2.9 million, or nine cents per basic and diluted share, compared with net loss of $8.8 million, or 26 cents per basic and diluted share,
Here’s How Artificial Intelligence Will Change the Way You Recruit
How often have you said to yourself, “There just aren’t enough hours in the day?” In an industry that moves as fast as talent recruitment, lack of time is a serious problem. Recruiters are spread so thin that 75 percent of applicants never receive a response after submitting a resume. The bigger problem for recruiters
SearchWide Assists USA Archery in CEO Hunt
SearchWide recently recruited Rod Menzer as the CEO of USA Archery in Colorado Springs, CO. He had held the position since Denise Parker left to join the U.S. Olympic Committee in September. Mark Gnatovic, senior vice president at SearchWide, led the assignment. “After an exhaustive search, which uncovered an exceptional set of candidates, the board of USA
Reflektive Receives $60 Million in Funding
Investment dollars continue to pour into new technology designed to change the talent management industry. The latest: Reflektive, an HR analytics and employee engagement platform, has raised $60 million in Series C funding. The round was led by TPG Growth, the global middle market and growth equity platform of alternative asset firm TPG. Existing investors Andreessen Horowitz and Lightspeed Venture
Kirby Bates Associates Adds Former Chief Nursing Officer
Executive search firm Kirby Bates Associates has expanded with the arrival of veteran chief nursing officer Judy Hayes as vice president of executive search and interim leadership. Ms. Hayes described her experience as a nurse leader as perfect preparation for her role at the Bala Cynwyd, PA-headquartered recruiter. “Matching culturally complementary candidates to our client organizations is a natural
N2Growth Expands Into South Africa
N2Growth, a King of Prussia, PA-based management consulting and executive search firm, has acquired an interest in the Landelahni Group, an executive search and leadership development firm based in South Africa. Financial terms of the transaction were undisclosed. Sandra Burmeister, CEO and co-founder of Landelahni, will now serve as N2Growth’s regional president covering Africa. Founded in 1996,
Here’s Why Succession Planning Matters
For companies, failure to prepare for the future can be costly at best, disastrous at worst. Yet succession planning remains one of the top challenges facing businesses today. One recent study, in fact, found that more than half of companies surveyed do not have a strong candidate prepared in the event of a CEO transition.
Koya Leadership Partners Heads CEO Search for New Bedford Whaling Museum
The New Bedford Whaling Museum, the familiar name for the 115-year-old Old Dartmouth Historical Society, has enlisted non-profit specialists Anne McCarthy and Erin Reedy of Koya Leadership Partners to find its next president and CEO. Koya described the assignment as an opportunity to help steer a vibrant and healthy organization into the future. The new CEO
DHR International Recruits CFO for Southwestern Energy
DHR International has placed Julian Bott as the new executive vice president and chief financial officer of Southwestern Energy in Houston. DHR managing partners Rick Walker and Jeff Smith headed the assignment. “We welcome Julian to Southwestern Energy,” said Bill Way, the organization’s president and chief executive officer. “We are fortunate to have the addition of
Sagency Acquires Coaching Firm Success Energetics
Fargo, ND-headquartered executive search firm Sagency has acquired coaching firm Success Energetics and appointed its founder and CEO Brian Rinke as director. Mr. Rinke has over 26 years of corporate business experience and has served as an executive and leadership coach for over 10 years. He works with corporate executives, business owners, entrepreneurs and private individuals
Kennedy Executive Search Expands Into South Africa
Kennedy Executive Search & Consulting, a network of independent executive search firms, has expanded into South Africa with the addition of Evolve Executive Search in Johannesburg. This becomes Kennedy’s first African partner for the network. Evolve was founded in 2011 and is headed by Adam Ginster. The firm executes high-end search assignments throughout South Africa and more
How to Retain High Performing Employees
A strong focus on employee retention strategies is vital for any company that wants to keep high-performers engaged, motivated and loyal. This means taking time to understand people and their behaviors as well as identifying the engagement and reward strategies that will promote their happiness and loyalty, says Tara Finlay, co-founder of executive search firm
Turnkey Search Fills CFO Position for the Milwaukee Brewers
Sports and entertainment recruitment firm Turnkey Search has placed Daniel Fumai as the new chief financial officer of the Milwaukee Brewers. He replaced Bob Quinn who left the organization at the end of last year. Mr. Fumai joins the organization from ANC Sports Enterprises, where he served as executive vice president of finance and chief operating officer
Lancer Group Finds Leader for Boston Consulting Group’s Southeast Asia Tech Practice
The Lancer Group, a La Jolla, CA-based executive search firm, has placed Luc Grimond as partner and managing director at the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), a strategic management consulting firm. He joins the firm’s Southeast Asia technology advantage practice in Singapore. In his role for BCG, Mr. Grimond is responsible for helping clients across a
Taylor Strategy Partners Names President
Executive recruitment firms have made a number of top leadership appointments this past year, many focused on strategy, growth, branding efforts and operations. The latest: Columbus, OH-headquartered firm Taylor Strategy Partners has appointed Mike Gamble as its new president. Mr. Gamble has been instrumental to Taylor Strategy Partners’ growth since joining the firm as vice president of business development
Korn Ferry Names APAC Head for Transformation and Transaction Practice
Korn Ferry has expanded with the addition of Sharad Vishvanath as APAC regional head for its transformation and transaction (M&A) practice. Mr. Vishvanath brings to Korn Ferry over 20 years of experience across banking and consulting and has worked in multiple countries. He was previously with AU Small Finance Bank, a start-up bank in India
Heidrick & Struggles Posts 2017 Revenues amid Departures and New Hires
Executive search, leadership consulting and culture shaping services provider Heidrick & Struggles International / (NASDAQ:HSII) posted global revenues of $621.4 million in 2017, a 6.7 percent increase from revenues of $582.4 million the year before. The Chicago-headquartered recruiter – the third largest in the Americas as ranked by Hunt Scanlon Media – reported a loss of $48.6 million, or $2.60 per share, on the year.
