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Lancer Group Recruits CFO for LifeSpeak
La Jolla, CA-headquartered search firm Lancer Group has recruited Matt Smolko as the new CFO of digital wellbeing platform LifeSpeak. “LifeSpeak is entering an exciting new chapter as organizations demand wellbeing solutions that are reliable, flexible, hyper-personalized, and proven to make a difference,” said Jason Campana, CEO of LifeSpeak. “Our newly expanded leadership team strengthens our ability to
JM Search Assists Eden Brothers with Recruitment of New CEO
JM Search, a senior-level talent provider serving private equity investors, portfolio companies, and Fortune 1000s, has assisted in the recruitment of Mike Hollenstein as CEO of Kian Capital Partners-backed Eden Brothers. JM Search’s consumer practice team members Liza Stokes, partner, and Avery (Loeffler) Jacob, vice president, led the assignment. “Mike brings over 20 years of merchandising
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 Moran Company Recruits CEO for The Arc of New Mexico
The Moran Company, an executive recruitment firm that specializes in the non-profit sector, has placed Tracie Fletcher as the new executive director of The Arc of New Mexico. Senior search consultant Bruce Scott led the assignment. “Tracie brings a 25-year track record of leadership in non-profit, government, and community organizations,” The Arc of New Mexico said in a
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?
Solomon Page Launches Retained Executive Search Practice
New York City headquartered executive search firm Solomon Page has launched a retained executive search practice dedicated to artificial intelligence leadership. The practice is led by managing director Ryan Kellner. The practice partners with organizations in financial services, healthcare, life sciences, and venture-backed technology to place chief AI officers, heads of AI, heads of data science, and
Ema Raises $77 Million in Funding
Enterprise adoption of artificial intelligence is moving beyond experimentation as companies look for tools that can deliver measurable outcomes across core business functions. As organizations seek to automate more complex workflows in areas such as HR, IT, and finance, investors are increasingly backing platforms designed to operate at enterprise scale rather than remain stuck in
The Counteroffer Dilemma: What Candidates Need to Know Before Resigning
Landing the job offer of your dreams should be the culmination of a successful search process. But for many professionals, one of the most difficult parts comes after the offer is accepted: telling a current employer they are leaving. A recent report from The Bridger Group examines how companies respond when valued employees resign and
True Launches Boutique Search Practice for Venture-Backed Companies
Global executive talent platform True has launched True Venture Studios, a boutique executive search practice serving founders and venture-backed companies across AI infrastructure, HardTech, SpaceTech, DefenseTech, Fintech, healthcare, and life sciences, among others. “True Venture Studios is our way of reasserting our roots, giving founders a dedicated team that moves at their speed and fights for the
Vetted Solutions Recruits CEO for GO2 for Lung Cancer
Washington, D.C.-based Vetted Solutions has placed David Benson as the new CEO of GO2 for Lung Cancer. “David is an exceptional leader with a deep commitment to improving the lives of people affected by cancer,” said GO2 board president Rick Sherlock. “His collaborative leadership style, strategic vision, and ability to build meaningful partnerships make him the right
TalentRise Assists Grassroots Gardens of WNY with Executive Director Search
TalentRise has assisted in the recruitment of Megan Kelly as the new executive director of Grassroots Gardens of WNY. “We’re thrilled to announce Meg Kelly as the new executive director of Grassroots Gardens WNY,” the organization said. “Meg brings experience to our garden network from her work with the region’s business and entrepreneurship community, and enters
Private Equity Firms Rethink Executive Hiring for Future Growth
PE investors routinely underwrite businesses based on their future state. For example, an investment thesis may assume a restaurant company will double its unit count, accelerate franchising, expand geographically, complete acquisitions, improve margins, or become significantly more institutionalized during the hold period. Executive hiring, however, often remains anchored to the present, according to a new
ON Partners Recruits CFO for Fortera
Partners Josh Nathanson and Chris Clements along with principal Alexis Rohe of ON Partners have placed Albert Luu as the new CFO of cement manufacturer Fortera in San Jose, CA. “Fortera is at a stage where the work we’ve done to prove the technology now has to be matched by our ability to finance and execute at scale,”
BoardWalk Consulting Assists Downtown Atlanta with CEO Search
BoardWalk Consulting has recruited Kyle Waide as the new CEO of Downtown Atlanta Inc. (DAI) to lead in its search for a CEO. The search was led by Sam Pettway, Crystal Stephens, and Patti Kish. The search committee began its work in April of 2026 under the leadership of Egbert Perry, CEO, Integral Group; longtime member of CAP and
SearchWide Global Recruits President and CEO for Visit California
SearchWide Global has helped to recruit Julie Coker as the new president and CEO of Visit California. She succeeds longtime leader Caroline Beteta, who announced her retirement earlier this year. The assignment was led by Mike Gamble, chairman, CEO, and co-founder of SearchWide. The appointment is the culmination of a comprehensive global search conducted in partnership
JM Search Expands Search Team
JM Search, a senior-level talent provider serving private equity investors, portfolio companies, and Fortune 1000s, has expanded with the additions of Amber Shockey as partner within its legal practice and Curtis Walker as principal within its media & telecommunications team. “Continued private equity investment across legal services, legal-adjacent businesses, and professional sports is elevating the importance of
Interim or Executive Search? Choosing the Right Leadership Solution
Interim leadership has moved well beyond being a stopgap solution for unexpected vacancies. As organizations face greater complexity, faster strategic shifts, and mounting pressure to deliver results, boards and CEOs are increasingly turning to experienced interim leaders as a flexible way to maintain momentum and address critical business needs. For executive search firms, that shift
Funk Associates Assists the University of North Florida with the Recruitment of Eighth President
Funk Associates has assisted in the recruitment of Michael P. Shannon as the eighth president of the University of North Florida (UNF). Past president Moez Limayem stepped down from his position in early 2026. “Mike Shannon is the leader who can build on UNF’s strong momentum and continue to elevate the University’s incredible impact across our
DHR Global Recruits President of Business Operations for the Pittsburgh Penguins
Talent advisory firm DHR Global has placed Marcel Braithwaite as president of business operations for the Pittsburgh Penguins. This search was led by Mike Gagliardi and Glenn Sugiyama of DHR’s sports practice. “Marcel is going to be a transformational hire for one of the NHL’s premier teams,” said Mr. Sugiyama, managing partner of DHR’s sports practice. “I had the
Mercuri Urval Expands International Public and ESG Expert Practice
Stockholm, Sweden-based executive search firm Mercuri Urval (MU) has expanded with the addition of former Danish government minister Astrid Krag to its international public and ESG expert practice. “With Astrid’s extensive experience in international public affairs, strong commitment to ESG and sustainability, and deep understanding of life sciences, she brings a valuable combination of expertise and
ZRG Partners Acquires N2Growth’s Spain Business
ZRG Partners has entered the Spanish market through the acquisition of the business formerly known as Blacksmith that had been doing business since 2023 under the umbrella of N2Growth. Through this integration, ZRG enters the Spanish market with an established local team and the goal of offering Spanish and international clients agile, high-touch advisory backed by
Family Offices Move Into Human Capital M&A
Altss’ latest ranking, The 50 Largest Family Offices in the World (2026), illustrates the scale family capital has reached. The 50 largest offices collectively manage an estimated $2.4 trillion, with the top 10 controlling more than $1.5 trillion. Twenty-eight of the top 50 are headquartered in North America, while private equity represents their largest average portfolio allocation
The Leadership Pipeline Crisis: AI’s Hidden Cost
Companies everywhere are celebrating leaner teams, faster execution, and higher productivity thanks to AI, according to HIRECLOUT. From a business perspective, the logic is easy to understand, according to Avetis Antaplyan, founder and CEO of HIRECLOUT. “Investors reward efficiency,” Mr. Antaplyan said. “Leaders are under pressure to do more with less. Automation is eliminating repetitive
Klein Hersh Recruits CFO for Sparrow Pharmaceuticals
Klein Hersh, a search firm focused on the life sciences and healthcare industries, has recruited George Eldridge as the new CFO of Sparrow Pharmaceuticals, a targeted cardiometabolic therapeutics company. “We are thrilled to welcome George to Sparrow at such an important time for our company,” said Robert Jacks, president and CEO of Sparrow Pharmaceuticals. “George
McCormack + Kristel Seeking Executive Director for NEXT Harm Reduction
McCormack + Kristel has been retained by NEXT Harm Reduction (NEXT Distro) to lead in its search for an executive director. This is a rare opportunity for a visionary leader and skilled fundraiser to take a nationally recognized organization with an urgent mandate and grow it to the scale the moment demands. Reporting to the board
Riviera Partners Expands Public Practice
San Francisco-based Riviera Partners, a recruitment provider specializing in C-level engineering, product, and design leader placements, has expanded with the addition of Archer McFall as a partner within its public practice serving large, publicly-traded companies and late-stage, pre-IPO companies. “Getting the right CTO, CIO, or chief AI officer in place, building the team structure around AI, making sure the
HelloSky Brings Its Graph of People, Investors, and Companies Into Claude and ChatGPT
Executive search firms are increasingly looking for ways to move beyond traditional databases and static candidate profiles as clients demand deeper market intelligence and faster, more precise insight into leadership talent. Advances in artificial intelligence are giving recruiters new tools to connect people, companies, investors, relationships, and career outcomes in ways that can strengthen candidate
Harris Search Associates Leading Senior Assignment for Carnegie Mellon University
Harris Search Associates has been retained by Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) to lead in its search for newly created role of associate vice president for research computing and data (AVP RCD). Jeffrey Harris and Ed Christ are leading the assignment. This role offers a unique opportunity to elevate and transform CMU’s research computing ecosystem positioning it to better support
Preng & Associates Assists SOGC, LLC with President Search
Following a comprehensive executive search, Houston-based Preng & Associates assisted in the recruitment of David French as the new president of SOGC, LLC. “Preng & Associates is proud to have supported this important leadership appointment and continues to partner with energy companies worldwide in identifying and securing transformative executive talent,” the firm said. Mr. French brings
NPAG Appoints Senior Advisor
Executive search firm NPAG has appointed André Blackman as senior advisor. In this new role, he will build and lead a practice focused on mission-driven innovation — connecting dynamic leadership talent and the development resources to keep that talent in seat, to founders and organizations solving problems that matter. “André brings a rare combination of strategic insight, storytelling
Bullhorn Extends Partnership with ManpowerGroup
Recruiting software provider Bullhorn has created an expanded partnership with global workforce solutions company ManpowerGroup to implement automation across 40 new markets over the next six years. This strategic move supports ManpowerGroup’s Diversification, Digitization, and Innovation (DDI) plan, enhancing the company’s ability to connect more people to meaningful work while improving service to its 100,000 clients worldwide.
McDermott & Bull Selected by Armand Agra to Recruit Chief Commercial Officer
Irvine, CA-based search firm McDermott & Bull has been retained by Armand Agra to lead its search for a chief commercial officer. The search is being conducted by what is known as the fit practice at the recruitment firm, which includes partner Jeff Black, associate principal consultant Jason Pinegar, associate consultant Trey Mullen, executive search consultant Kelly Nguyen,
KRW Associates Leads Double Police Chief Searches in Colorado
The public sector is in the midst of major transformation. It faces an array of challenges that range from shifting public expectations to budgetary pressures and a growing demand for operational efficiency. To successfully navigate these issues, government organizations need leaders who are focused, tenacious and adaptable, with the capacity to deal with significant scale,
Nonprofit Talent Expands with New Offerings and Executive Advisor
Pittsburgh-based search firm Nonprofit Talent has recently added James McDonald as executive advisor. It also announced a series of new service offerings. Mr. McDonald is the retired managing director for global philanthropy and employee programs at BNY Mellon. He also served as a director of BNY Mellon Foundation and president of the BNY Mellon Foundation
Meraki Executive Search & Consulting Names New Leader
Executive recruitment firms have made a number of top leadership appointments this past year, many focused on strategy, growth, branding efforts and operations. Hong Kong-based recruiting firm Meraki Executive Search & Consulting has recently named Nick Marsh as managing director. He is charged with leading the team and driving the continued growth of the company across the
Strong Hiring Intentions to Continue Into Second Quarter
U.S. employers are expecting hiring to pick up in the second quarter, with one in five planning to add staff, according to the latest “Employment Outlook Survey,” released today by ManpowerGroup. Employers in all U.S. regions and industry sectors are looking for headcount to grow. The upbeat forecast indicates that the uncertain political climate continues to have
Seasoned Recruiters Step Out to Focus on Coaching, Strategy and Analytics
Executive search firms and their consultants continue to enter new areas to assist clients that go well beyond recruiting – and sometimes well beyond the firms where they’re working. Two well-respected top executives in the recruitment industry – Mike Marino and Russ Riendeau – have recently stepped away from businesses they led for years to
Major, Lindsey & Africa Places General Counsel for Modine Manufacturing Company
Legal recruiting has largely been booming this year. Recently, recruiters Heather Fine and Michael Sachs from Major, Lindsey & Africa (MLA) helped place Sylvia A. Stein as vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary of Modine Manufacturing Company in Racine, WI. Ms. Stein joins Modine with 25 years of experience in the legal field. Most recently, she was the associate
Arlington Partners Lands CEO for Institutional Limited Partners Association
A variety of trade associations have turned to search firms in recent months to find new leaders. Arlington Partners International recently recruited Steven Nelson as CEO of the Institutional Limited Partners Association in Washington, D.C. Lisa Heidman, the firm’s founder and CEO, and Deborah Magidson, senior client partner, led the assignment. ILPA was seeking an
Ward Howell Names Kimberly Bishop Chairman of U.S. Advisory Board
Global recruiter Ward Howell International has named Kimberly Bishop as chairman of its U.S. advisory board. Based in New York, she will also collaborate across practices on key talent projects and executive searches. “We are delighted to welcome Kim to Ward Howell,” said Asad Haider, president – Americas, COO and member of the board. “The depth of experience that Kim brings
Gig Jobs Continue to Gain Traction
Today, a growing number of workers are opting for alternative employment models over traditional, full-time, permanent roles. Part-time, contingent, contract, temporary, freelance, independent contractor, on-demand online and platform working – call it what you will, they are all on the rise. Businesses and those who work for them want choice, flexibility and alternative ways of working
TalentRISE Releases Search Tool with Flexible Fee Options
As the executive search sector continues its shift beyond pure-play talent identification, recruiting firms have taken a more innovative approach to working with clients. For many, this has included everything from creating expanded service offerings to offering value-based pricing models. Flexibility, above all else, reigns supreme. While large search firms have offered a myriad of
Korn Ferry Tapped by Louisville to Find Athletic Director
Korn Ferry was recently selected by the University of Louisville to find its next athletic director. The previous AD, Tom Jurich, was fired in the wake of an FBI investigation into recruits being secretly paid to commit to playing for the school’s basketball team. The search firm is looking to fill the role by the end
Jorgenson Places CEO at One Acadiana
One Acadiana, a regional economic development group in Louisiana, named Troy Wayman as its new CEO following a national search conducted by Greensboro, NC-based Jorgenson Consulting. Jason El Koubi, who led the organization since it started two years ago, resigned last year. Todd Jorgenson, the search firm’s managing director and principal, headed the assignment. “Finding a
Boyden Adds Former CHRO in Milan
Executive search continues to be landing spot for HR executives looking for a career change. Just recently, Boyden added veteran human resources executive Michele Marchesan as a principal in the firm’s Milan office. In his 30-year career, Mr. Marchesan has overseen numerous searches for C-suite and senior level management throughout Europe, Asia and the U.S.
Unemployment Rate Remains at 18 Year Low
Employers added 313,000 jobs last month as the U.S. unemployment rate remained at an 18 year low of 4.1 percent, according to the most recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report. The January gain is the 89th consecutive month of job growth. The number of unemployed people was essentially unchanged at 6.7 million. Analysts had predicted job additions of
Turnkey Sports and Entertainment Finds Director of Athletics for UNC Charlotte
Specialist recruiters Turnkey Sports and Entertainment has placed Mike Hill as the next director of athletics at UNC Charlotte. Senior executive director Gene DeFilippo led the assignment. Mr. Hill previously served as executive associate athletics director for external affairs at the University of Florida. In addition to his marketing and fundraising roles during his 25 years
Herd Freed Hartz Finds New Leader for the Port of Seattle Commission
Herd Freed Hartz Executive Search Partners has recruited retired U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Stephen P. Metruck as the new executive director of the Port of Seattle Commission. The search involved outreach to community leaders and stakeholders, five employee forums and an innovative online survey. Candidates from around the region and across the country were reviewed in
CyberSN Launches New JobBuilder Service
Increasingly, organizations of all sizes are awakening to the perils posed by cyber attacks. For years, many groups tried to ignore the problem, dismissing cybersecurity as a concern only for the biggest, most high-profile entities, be they government or corporate. These days, more groups are coming to understand how ruinous such intrusions could be. This
Brussels-based Hightech Partners Names Five New Partners
Executive search firm Hightech Partners (HTP) has announced the appointment of five new partners: Eric Lonbois, Marc Verbruggen and Bernard De Groeve in Brussels, Stefano Tresca in London and Pierfilippo Roggero in Milan. “We are proud and extremely happy that a number of senior executives have chosen to join HTP,” said Raffaele Jacovelli, managing director
Wall Street Headcount Shrinking, But Recruiters Still See Opportunities
Competition among recruiters in the financial sector has always been fierce, and that’s no less true in 2018. Although the Great Recession is receding further away in the rearview mirror and things may soon be looking up in terms of regulations, search firms still have their work cut out for them in terms of winning,
B.E. Smith Retained by Prairie Lakes Healthcare System for CEO Search
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 are coming. This has produced a high demand
Livingston James Leads CEO Search for Scottish Football Association
The sports and entertainment field is one of the most active and fast-growing sectors for executive search businesses, with many C-suite-focused recruiting firms having been drawn to it. Recently, the Scottish Football Association retained the services of Livingston James to lead its search for a new CEO. Douglas Adam, director in the firm’s public sector and
Diversified Search Appoints Senior Advisor
Executive search firm Diversified Search, one of the top 10 executive recruitment firms in the U.S., has added Kyung H. Yoon as a senior advisor. She is expected to bring added strength to the firm’s innovation and transformation, consumer and retail, CEO and board practices. “Kyung marries two critical skill-sets,” said Dale E. Jones, CEO of Diversified Search. “She
Riviera Partners Names CEO
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: Riviera Partners has named Will Hunsinger as its CEO. Mr. Hunsinger has been part of the Riviera team for the past two years, serving as chief operating officer before his promotion. During
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
