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Bespoke Partners Recruits CEO for OfficeRnD
San Diego, CA-headquartered Bespoke Partners has placed Matt Keenan as the new CEO of OfficeRnD. He succeeds co-founder Miro Miroslavov, who after 10 years of leading the company will step into the role of executive chairman. Jenny Gray and Dakota Horn led the assignment. “Appreciation to Blue Star Innovation Partners for trusting Bespoke’s CEO, Board, and P&L Practice
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
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.
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
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?
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,
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
Friisberg & Partners International Names Managing Partner of its Copenhagen Office
Fribourg, Switzerland-headquartered Friisberg & Partners International has expanded with the addition of Birgitte Olrik as managing partner of its Copenhagen office, strengthening the firm’s presence in the Nordic region and supporting the continued execution of our international growth strategy. “The future of executive search belongs to firms that combine exceptional local expertise with international reach,” said Zoltán Pethő,
Attracting the Right CHRO Starts with the Right Job Description
Hiring a head of HR is one of the most consequential leadership decisions an organization can make, yet many companies struggle to define the role in a way that reflects their actual needs. The most effective job descriptions go beyond qualifications and responsibilities, offering candidates a clear picture of the challenges, priorities, and business objectives
Coulter Partners Recruits Chief Medical Officer for Neumirna Therapeutics
Life sciences recruiting specialist Coulter Partners has placed Ferenc Tracik as chief medical officer of Neumirna Therapeutics. “Neumirna has reached an inflection point: the question is no longer whether the science works, but how quickly we can translate it into an option for patients with urgent unmet need. Ferenc has the experience to get us there,” said Ellen
McCormack + Kristel Seeking CEO for Central New York ON RAMP
McCormack + Kristel is currently seeking a CEO for Central New York ON RAMP. New York State Empire State Development (ESD) recently engaged CenterState Corporation for Economic Opportunity (CenterState CEO), an business leadership and economic development organization, to lead, incubate, and launch the Central New York One Network for Regional Advanced Manufacturing Projects (ON RAMP). The
Bespoke Partners Appoints Leader of People and HR Practice
San Diego, CA-headquartered Bespoke Partners recently named Dani Pfeiffer as a partner leading the people and human resources leader recruiting practice serving both software and industrials sector companies. She will lead dedicated recruiting teams on searches for talent executives for private equity portfolio companies for the software and SaaS clients served by Bespoke Partners and industrial clients served by Industra Talent Partners,
Wilson Forms New Alliance with Poetry to Advance AI capabilities
Global talent solutions provider Wilson has formed a new partnership with Poetry to strengthen its AI-enabled recruitment capabilities. The collaboration supports Wilson’s continued focus on embedding technology into its RPO delivery model through Wilson Workspace, its technology ecosystem. “We’re excited to announce our new partnership with Poetry,” said Charles Faigle, chief delivery officer at Wilson. This
Advancing Women in Leadership: How Far Have We Come?
If research highlights the benefits of diverse leadership perspectives in fostering innovation, growth, and financial success, why do women remain underrepresented in senior business leadership roles globally? What barriers do women face in getting to the top, and what propels the careers of women who do? When Spencer Stuart explored these questions five years ago
Brigham Hill Consultancy Finds One School Leader, Seeks Two More
Independent schools continue to be a wellspring of assignments for recruitment firms that specialize in the non-profit sector. Brigham Hill Consultancy has been particularly busy in recent months, taking on and filling leadership roles for a cross-section of private schools from across the country. The Dallas-based recruiter recently filled the head of school role for
Kincannon & Reed Lands CEO for Willowood USA
Executive search firm Kincannon & Reed has placed Tony Arnold as CEO of Willowood USA in Broomfield, CO. He replaces Brian Heinze, who founded the company and led the business since its inception in 2009. Managing partners Jon Leafstedt and Gary Weihs led the assignment. “I want to welcome Tony to the Willowood team,” said Kevin Mitchell,
Boyden Expands Global Social Impact Recruiting Practice
Executive search firm Boyden has strengthened its global social impact search practice with the addition of Jessa Chupik and Nick Chambers as partners. Ms. Chupik is a higher education and public-sector recruitment expert. She has made hundreds of senior placements, primarily in the public and not-for-profit sectors, having recruited across Canada’s top universities and colleges, governments and
Russell Reynolds Associates Acquires Zygos Partnership
Russell Reynolds Associates has acquired London-based Zygos Partnership, a U.K.-based board and CEO advisory firm. Financial terms of the deal were undisclosed. Founded by Julia Budd in 2002, Zygos Partnership specializes in the appointment of chief executives, chairmen, chief financial officers and non-executive directors for listed companies or the equivalent privately, family or mutually owned businesses. “Zygos and
Human Capital Leaders Turning to Flexible Workforce in Record Numbers
More than half of human capital leaders from around the world expect to transfer one third of their permanent positions to contingent roles in the near future, according to Randstad Sourceright’s new Talent Trends report. Based on a survey of more than 700 global human capital leaders, Randstad Sourceright found that 61 percent of employers plan to
The Hawkins Company Appoints EVP
Recruiters in the search industry continue to climb the ladder within their respective firms. The latest: Los Angeles-based executive search firm The Hawkins Company has promoted Brett Byers to executive vice president. She will continue to provide executive search services to clients in the corporate, government, non-profits and education sectors. “Brett is a proven leader
Coulter Partners Finds Chair for Cell Medica
Executive search firm Coulter Partners has placed Annalisa Jenkins as chair for Cell Medica, a leader in next generation cellular immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer. “Everyone talks about board and sector leadership diversity – here we see another excellent female chair appointed and are proud to have been involved in this transatlantic search,” said Bianca Coulter,
Gans, Gans & Associates Tapped by Lucas Metropolitan Housing Authority
Executive search firm Gans, Gans & Associates has been retained by the Lucas Metropolitan Housing Authority (LMHA) in Toledo, OH, to lead its search for a new chief financial officer. Executive recruiter Ernest Barefield is heading the assignment. At LMHA, the CFO role essentially directs all financial and accounting operations and internal and external audits. The CFO will assist
Signium Expands Into Seoul
Executive search firm Signium has continued its expansion with the opening of a new office in Seoul, South Korea. The office will provide search and leadership consulting services for Korean local conglomerate and multinational corporations. Mann-Hyun Han has been named managing partner of Signium Korea. “Throughout the last two decades, Korea has successfully achieved rapid economic growth with traditional
Hiring to Ramp Up Quickly Heading Into 2018
U.S. employers expect hiring to pick up in the first quarter of next year, with 21 percent planning to add staff between January and March, according to the latest “Employment Outlook Survey,” released today by ManpowerGroup. Employers in all U.S. regions and industry sectors expect headcount to grow. The upbeat forecast indicates that the uncertain political
Egon Zehnder Lands CEO for Infosys
India-based IT company Infosys has appointed former Capgemini executive Salil S. Parekh as managing director and CEO. The company enlisted Egon Zehnder to work with its nominations and remunerations committee to find its next leader. He replaces Vishal Sikka, who abruptly resigned in August. Mr. Sikka was the first outsider in the company’s history to hold the top leadership post.
Alexander Whitehead Places Artistic Director at Arts Club Theater
Theatrical, film and music organizations have been turning to executive search firms in recent months to find new leaders. Among them, Alexander Whitehead Executive Search has placed Ashlie Corcoran as the new artistic director at Vancouver’s Arts Club Theater Company. Bill Millerd, who helped lead the organization for more than 40 years, will step down as
Odgers Berndtson Opens in Dublin
Executive search firm Odgers Berndtson has continued its growth and expansion plans with the opening a new office in Dublin. The move will enhance the firm’s capacity to support global companies looking to establish new centers of operation in Europe in readiness for Brexit, according to Odgers. The new location will be led by Damian Ringwood, who
Bó Lè Associates Appoints New 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: Hong Kong-headquartered search firm Bó Lè Associates has announced that Pierre Zhuang has resigned as CEO and the board named David Chan, managing director and its Shanghai office head, as its new
Artificial Intelligence to Transform Workplace Sooner Than Expected
We are entering a massive workplace shift that will be marked by rapid advances in automation and artificial intelligence. New research from McKinsey & Co. finds that between 75 million and 375 million workers globally will have to switch occupational categories and learn new skills in just the next 12 years because of automation and the
Korn Ferry Lands GM for the Cleveland Browns
Korn Ferry has recruited John Dorsey as the new general manager of the Cleveland Browns. Jed Hughes, a Korn Ferry vice chairman and global sports sector leader, led the assignment. “We are thrilled to have John Dorsey lead our football operations,” said owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam. “John has been immersed in the NFL for 26 years, won
Human Capital Consultants Places CHRO at Henry Jackson Foundation
Executive recruiters are in hot pursuit of chief human resources officers (CHRO) and other senior-level HR leaders across the nation. The best HR chiefs are seen as integral strategic advisors to the C-suite, and the ones in demand are those who are sounding boards for CEOs. Why is there such pent up demand for top
Ward Howell International Launches Private Equity Recruiting Practice
Global recruiter Ward Howell International has launched a private equity search practice which includes partners Asad Haider, Hank Flores, John Pothin, Mark Bradley and Sonia Prais. Collectively, the team has experience in consumer, industrial, technology, energy, luxury and Omni channel retail businesses. Mr. Flores is a partner at Ward Howell, where he co-leads the CPG practice for the
Stanton Chase Names Three Practice Leaders
With an increasing global presence, Stanton Chase International continues to fortify its supply chain, logistics & transportation practice group. It recently named three new global sector leaders: Alvaro Gazda (Toronto, supply chain), Gregory Nazarian (Dubai, warehousing), and Robert Frei (Zurich, freight forwarding). “We have assembled industry leaders who understand the ever-increasing importance of getting products
Unemployment Rate Remains at 17-Year Low
Employers added 228,000 jobs last month as the U.S. unemployment rate remained at a 17 year low of 4.1 percent, according to the most recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report. The number of unemployed persons was essentially unchanged at 6.6 million. Wall Street economists were forecasting nonfarm payroll gains of 195,000 in November. Employment continued to trend up
AETHOS Consulting Group Places President and CEO at WATG
Hospitality advisory and executive search firm AETHOS Consulting Group has recruited Anthony Mallows as president and CEO of WATG, one of the world’s leading integrated design firms. He replaces Mike Seyle, who left the global architectural design firm earlier this year. Ken Greger, an AETHOS Consulting Group partner based in Portland, OR, led the global assignment. “AETHOS conducted
Machine Learning Company Infinia ML Turns to Goodwin Executive Search for CEO
Raleigh, NC-headquartered Goodwin Executive Search has placed Robbie Allen as CEO at Infinia ML, an advanced machine learning company that delivers transformative automation solutions and predictive analytics to Fortune 500 businesses. Managing partner Bill Goodwin led the assignment. Mr. Allen, who will be based out of the company’s Durham, NC office, rounds out a founding team of AI experts with experience
Zingaro, Fidler, Wolfe and Co. Joins Forces with Deans Executive Search & Consulting
Recruiting firms Zingaro, Fidler, Wolfe and Co., and Deans Executive Search & Consulting have formed a strategic alliance. Larry Deans, president of Deans, has extensive healthcare industry experience in senior-level leadership roles in human resource and general management with Baxter Healthcare, BASF Pharma, Beverly Enterprises, US Oncology, Golden Living and Avalon Healthcare. “The alliance with
AIMS Expands in Singapore
AIMS International has recently expanded with the addition of Jonathan Khoo as managing partner for AIMS Singapore. Mr. Khoo brings a wealth of experience in executive search as well as executive management across the industrial sectors, notably transport and engineering and IT & telecommunications and life sciences, among others. “Jonathan has a comprehensive understanding of clients’ challenges across the region,” said Adarsh Matta,
Korn Ferry Posts 10 Percent Revenue Gain
Korn Ferry (NYSE:KFY) has posted 2018 fiscal second quarter revenues of $443 million, a 10 percent increase compared to $401.9 million a year ago. The results exceeded Wall Street expectations. Three analysts surveyed by Zacks had expected $421.1 million. Growth was achieved in all thee major lines of business: Futurestep (16.7 percent) executive search (13.2 percent) and Hay
Options Group Names Former Heidrick CEO as Vice Chairman
New York-based global financial recruiting specialist Options Group has named former Heidrick & Struggles CEO L. Kevin Kelly as vice chairman. Mr. Kelly is currently chief executive of Halo Privacy, a cyber security and consulting firm focusing on advanced secure communications. He has been instrumental in growing Halo’s footprint and projecting its reputation in the cybersecurity space. In
TalentRISE Names Director of Executive Search
Chicago-based executive search firm TalentRISE has promoted search associate Beth Gordon to director of executive search. “Time and again across multiple industries, even with our toughest searches, Beth always finds a way to identify the top talent to fill critical organizational roles for our clients,” said J. James O’Malley, TalentRISE partner and executive search practice leader. “Her
Polachi Finds New CFO for TimeTrade
Chief financial officers continue to be in high demand. Finding them is keeping many of the nation’s top recruitment operations busier than ever. One recent example is Polachi Inc.’s recent placement of Sean Bridgeo as senior vice president of operations and CFO of TimeTrade in Tewksbury, MA. “Sean is a highly motivated executive and we are thrilled
IIC Partners Reappoints Vice Chairs
IIC Partners Executive Search Worldwide has reappointed three vice chairs to its board during its global conference held in London. Bhavishya Sharma was reappointed as board director and vice chair for Asia Pacific. Mr. Sharma is managing director of Athena Executive Search & Consulting in New Delhi and has served on the IIC Partners board of
Hiring for Potential or Experience?
It’s one of the biggest questions asked by first-time hiring managers: Is it better to hire people based on their experience or their potential? A cursory Google search reveals that the most popular answer to this question is “potential.” Most hiring experts seem to think that hiring someone for what they could do in the
Noetic Search Seeks New Leadership for Santa Barbara and Treehouse Humane Societies
Executive search firm Noetic Search has been tapped by the Santa Barbara Humane Society in California and Tree House Humane Society in Chicago to lead their respective searches for new executive directors. Rhyan Zweifler, Noetic’s founder and president, and Jane Luiso, vice president, are leading both searches. The Santa Barbara Humane Society (SBHS) is looking for
