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Daily Newswire
How Executives Are Using AI to Gain a Competitive Edge
Private equity firms are increasingly evaluating chief executive candidates through a new lens: digital fluency and the ability to translate emerging technologies into enterprise value. As artificial intelligence moves from experimentation to implementation across industries, leadership teams are expected to move beyond curiosity and into disciplined execution. For incoming CEOs, demonstrating practical command of AI
Reinforcing Leadership at Historically Black Colleges
Presidential turnover has become an increasingly urgent issue across higher education, but the stakes are especially high at historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). As HBCUs navigate rising enrollment demand, heightened fundraising expectations, and growing public visibility, leadership continuity is emerging as a critical factor in long-term institutional strength. Yet many campuses continue to face
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.
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
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?
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
Sheffield Haworth Adds Private Equity & Growth Venture Portfolio Assets Veteran
Global leadership advisory and executive search firm Sheffield Haworth has expanded with the addition of Michael McDonnell as managing director, private equity and growth venture portfolio assets. He is based in the New York office and works within the technology sector practice. “We are thrilled to welcome Michael to the team,” said Paul Gillespie, managing director of the
Leadership Needs Shift in a Changing Federal Market
Executive search across the federal contracting, government services, defense, and technology sectors is entering a new phase as companies look for more sophisticated ways to evaluate leadership beyond résumés, references, and past performance. In markets where specialized experience, relationships, and an understanding of complex government customers can be critical, the challenge is not simply identifying
Private Equity Rollup Wave Reshapes Executive Search
What may once have looked like a series of isolated transactions is increasingly taking on the shape of a broader industry shift. As capital moves into the sector and firms rethink where they have true competitive strength, the pattern is becoming harder to ignore. “A year ago, I would have called this a prediction, today,
HARTZ Search Seeking Chief Revenue Officer for Geisinger
Charlotte, NC-based HARTZ Search was recently retained by Geisinger to lead in its search for a chief revenue officer. This executive will direct, manage, and implement programs to ensure efficient revenue management operations and sufficient cash flow to support Geisinger operations and strategic initiatives. The role is responsible for identifying, analyzing, reducing, and resolving revenue management issues
Kincannon & Reed Places Executive Director for the Pennsylvania Dairymen’s Association
Kincannon & Reed (K&R), which exclusively focuses on food, agribusiness, and the related life sciences, has assisted in the recruitment of Patrick Carney as the new executive director of the Pennsylvania Dairymen’s Association. Dave Smith stepped down from his executive role after leading the association for more than 30 years. “Patrick pairs dairy industry knowledge with
Noto Group Expands Global Consumer Practice
Portland, OR-headquartered executive search firm Noto Group has expanded with the additions of Kirsty Schofield and Cody Johns as senior partners in its global consumer practice. “Cody and Kirsty bring highly complementary experience, deep consumer sector expertise, and a genuine connection to how we work,” said Sara Spirko, managing partner of Noto Group. “Both understand that finding
millionways Brings a New Behavioral Intelligence Lever to Executive Recruiters
Hunt Scanlon Ventures this week completed its investment in millionways, a New York-headquartered company that builds a behavioral intelligence layer of AI for human agent workforces, utilizing a proprietary Large Psychology Model called Thorsten-4. The platform focuses on understanding human signals, motives, and behavior patterns, with applications used across AI governance, executive hiring, talent management,
AI Governance Jobs Platform Builds Early Momentum Through Privacy-First Model
AI-Governance-Jobs.com, operated by GRC Careers LLC and led by founder and CEO F. Jay Hall, has built its model combining specialized career content, organic search visibility, and privacy-focused architecture. The company’s latest executive summary reports 134,499 organic impressions over a recent 28-day period, achieved roughly three months after launch — without advertising. As demand grows
Blue Rock Human Capital Assists Linfield University with the Recruitment of Dean of the School of Business
Blue Rock Human Capital has helped to recruit Isaac Wanasika as the new dean of the School of Business at Linfield University. “Blue Rock Human Capital was pleased to work with Linfield University to identify their new dean of the School of Business,” said Jacquelyn Elliot, president and COO of Blue Rock Human Capital. “Today’s higher
CIO Partners Leading Cybersecurity Search for Flexsteel Industries
CIO Partners was recently retained by Flexsteel Industries in Dubuque, IA, to lead in its search for director of cybersecurity. This role partners closely with IT, executive leadership, legal, compliance, operations, and external security partners to reduce cyber risk, strengthen business resilience, and ensure the organization is prepared to prevent, detect, respond to, and recover
Leadership Strategies for Challenging Times
Non-profit leaders face unique challenges in today’s world. From financial and broader economic uncertainty to changing policy and evolving societal needs, the pressure to deliver meaningful change during a period of insecurity can feel immense, according to a recent report from DHR Global. Within these challenges lie decisions for leaders to make as they determine
Direct Recruiters Finds CEO for Idaho Milk Products
Cleveland-based executive search firm Direct Recruiters Inc. (DRI) has placed Daragh Maccabee as chief executive officer of Idaho Milk Products. Kent Giddings is retiring after a seven-year tenure. Cherie Shepard led the assignment. “In our CEO search, we were looking to fill the role with someone to set the tone for the entire company, with industry
ZRG Continues With Expansion Plans
ZRG Partners, the fastest growing search firm in the U.S., has continued its expansion plans with the hiring of Melissa Oszustowicz as managing director in Minneapolis. She becomes a member of the firm’s healthcare services practice, where she will continue to support key clients in the region and partner with projects globally. She will also work in
Search Veteran Brad Shaffer Dies Suddenly at 65
Brad Shaffer, an accomplished executive recruiter and management development consultant for many years, died suddenly on November 9 at his home near Asheville, NC. He was 65 years old. Mr. Shaffer was CEO of both Parallax Ventures, in Arden, NC, and, earlier, the Shaffer Consulting Group, in the Los Angeles area. Over his career, Mr.
What Makes Successful CEOs
What makes a CEO effective? That question has been studied extensively, yet we still know fairly little about how CEOs behave day-to-day and how that behavior translates into success or failure. New research from Harvard Business Review looks at data from over 1,000 chief executives and the financial performance of their companies to explore what
Came | Sweeney Finds CEO for Sterilis
Executive search firm Came | Sweeney has placed Michael K. McGarrity as chief executive officer of Sterilis LLC. He replaces Bob Winskowicz who stepped down last month and remains on the company’s board of directors. Managing partners Peter Sweeney and Paul Came led the assignment. “The board of Sterilis had set a high bar for the new
Caldwell Partners Recruits Security Expert for Unisys
Executive search firm Caldwell Partners International has recruited recognized security expert and thought leader Jonathan Goldberger as vice president of global security for Unisys Corporation in Blue Bell, PA. Jim Bethmann, managing partner and leader of Caldwell’s TMT & IT services and information security practices, led the search. “The Unisys security services team is laser-focused on the needs of
Vaco Acquired by Private Equity Firm
Acquisitions continue to make big news in the executive search industry. Now, executive search firm Vaco has been acquired by Stamford, Conn-based private equity firm Olympus Partners. Founded in 2002 by Jerry Bostelman, Jay Hollomon, and Brian Waller, Vaco partnered with its first private equity partner, Quad-C Management, three years ago. Since then, the firm has experienced significant growth through extending
Armstrong Craven Appoints CEO
Executive recruitment firms have made a number of top leadership appointments since the start of the year, many focused on strategy, growth, branding efforts and operations. The latest: U.K.-headquartered Armstrong Craven, a specialist executive search and intelligence consultancy, has named Tom Mason as its new chief executive officer. Mr. Mason previously served as senior vice president at
5 Tips to Help Executives Make Successful Career Transitions
The failure of a new leader can cost an organization dearly – most estimates put the price at more than double the executive’s compensation. Add in an estimated new leader failure rate of close to 50 percent and it’s easy to see the inherent difficulty of leadership transitions. Even with a stellar selection process, the
Major, Lindsey & Africa Lands General Counsel for Wellesley College
Major, Lindsey & Africa (MLA) has placed Karen Jensen Petrulakis in the newly created role of general counsel at Wellesley College. Managing directors Ronald Ciardiello and Heather Fine led the search along with partner Paul Williams. Ms. Jensen Petrulakis will serve as the principal legal officer for the college with overall responsibility for the vision and leadership of
The Chason Group Finds Executive Director for Henry County Development Authority
Economic and community development organizations continue to turn to executive search firms to find new leaders. Executive search firm The Chason Group recently placed Leonard Sledge as the new executive director of the Henry County Development Authority. He replaces Charlie Moseley who resigned in May. Tim Chason, the search firm’s president, led the assignment. During the search process,
True Talent Advisory Taps Former Heidrick Veteran as CFO
True Talent Advisory, a global platform for innovative human capital products and services, has named former Heidrick & Struggles veteran Korhan Kivanc as its new chief financial officer. Mr. Kivanc will oversee the financial strategy and operational efficiency of True Talent Advisory’s portfolio of companies including executive search firm True; leadership development products and services firm Synthesis; talent relationship
AltoPartners Adds New Member Firm in Lisbon
AltoPartners, an international alliance of independent executive search firms and leadership consultants, has added Lisbon, Portugal-based executive search firm Talent Search as its newest member firm. The organization now has 59 offices in 37 countries. Talent Search, which has an additional office in Luanda, Angola, was founded and is led by José Caetano Silva. He has over
Three Trends That Will Shape the Future of Talent
The potential for job losses due to advances in technology is not a new concern among the global workforce. But over the past few years, fears of technology-driven job losses have emerged with advances in “smart automation” – the combination of artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and other digital technologies. The impact of innovation is already
DHR Places Chief Trust Officer at BMO Private Bank
DHR International has recruited former Fifth Third Bank executive Amy Griman as chief trust officer of BMO Private Bank in Chicago. Leading the search was Carol Hartman, the search firm’s managing partner of financial services North America, along with partner Melissa Hatfield. “BMO Private Bank was seeking a leader who could create a culture of growth and
Lochlin Partners Finds Chief for U.S.-China Strong Foundation
The U.S.-China Strong Foundation, a global non-profit committed to strengthening U.S.-China ties, has named John L. Holden as CEO. The organization enlisted the services of executive search firm Lochlin Partners to find him. He replaces Eugene Huang, who served as acting CEO since January. Lochlin’s managing partner Liza Wright led the assignment. “The U.S.-China Strong Foundation board was searching
Leadership Capital Group Adds Veteran Search Consultant
Westport, Conn-based executive search firm Leadership Capital Group has expanded with the addition of Jennifer Rosenthal as a partner. With 25 years of executive search and human capital experience, Ms. Rosenthal is an expert in talent acquisition and assessment, management development and organization design. The firm described Jennifer as experienced at and passionate about helping management and
Agilium Worldwide Expands Into Norway
Global recruiting consortiums continue to take advantage of a resurgence in certain geographic areas. Among them, Agilium Worldwide Norway AS has recently been established in Drammen, Norway. Jon Steen has joined the group and will serve as managing partner of the new location. The new operation will focus on four talent areas: executive (recruitment of board of
Federal Reserve Bank of New York Picks Two Search Firms to Find Next President
After eight years in the job, William C. Dudley will be retiring early in 2018 from his post as president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York – one of the most high profile positions in the U.S. Federal Reserve System. In an unusual matchup, recruitment firms Spencer Stuart and Bridge Partners
Alford Executive Search Finds New Leader for the Illinois Library Association
Alford Executive Search recently placed Diane Foote as the executive director of the Illinois Library Association (ILA). Her predecessor, Robert P. Doyle, is retiring after 20 years in the role. “Diane emerged early as a top candidate in a pool of highly qualified professionals in the library, association and general non-profit arenas,” said Heather Eddy, president
E.A. Hughes Names Head of Los Angeles Office
Executive search firm E.A. Hughes & Co. has appointed Bob Marchant as vice president and director of its Los Angeles office. “Patience pays off, and after knowing of Bob and his unique consultative abilities for many years I am very happy that he decided to join the E.A. Hughes family,” said Elaine Hughes, CEO of E.A. Hughes
Heidrick & Struggles Names New Leadership in the Americas
Executive search, leadership consulting and culture shaping services provider Heidrick & Struggles International has named new leadership in the Americas with the appointments of Dominique Hansen as head of investment management and Renee Neri as head of asset management. Based in the Toronto office, Ms. Hansen will also serve as head of the firm’s CEO and board of directors practice
Orthoexecutive and Crowther Ballantyne Associates Merge
Orthopedic and spine-focused executive search firm Orthoexecutive and Crowther Ballantyne Associates have merged. The firms’ founders, Matt Woods and Gavin Crowther, look to bring enhanced executive search and recruitment solution for their clients. The collaboration of the U.K.-based operations brings together 33 years’ experience in executive search, and 18 years’ experience in the medical device industry in sales
Marlin Hawk Builds Winning Strategy on Finding Transformational Leaders
Six years ago, London-based Marlin Hawk sent Mark Oppenheimer, then just 27, to New York to establish an across-the-pond outpost for the enterprising leadership advisory firm. He had four years of experience as a researcher and the faith and support of his bosses back home. But when he stepped off the plane in America, Mr.
DRG Executive Search Seeks Development Officer for Shatterproof
DRG Executive Search has been retained by Shatterproof, an addiction prevention non-profit, to lead its search for a new chief development officer (CDO). DRG managing partner David Hinsley Cheng is leading the search along with senior consultant Carmel Napolitano. Reporting to the CEO, the CDO is a newly created role charged with developing and executing Shatterproof’s
Sterling Martin Associates Places New Leaders at Denver-Based Non-Profits
The non-profit sector has gained economic strength in recent years, making it the third largest employer in the country. Nearly two million not-for-profits employ 10.7 million people and produce $1.9 trillion in revenue. In the past decade, employment in the sector grew by 17 percent. With demand for non-profit talent at an all-time high, search firms have
Lucas Group Names Managing Director of Legal Practice
Executive search firm Lucas Group has strengthened its Chicago-based legal practice with the addition of Carolyn Aberman as its new managing partner for legal recruitment. “With two decades of combined experience as a practicing lawyer and successful legal recruiter, Carolyn Aberman has a deep understanding of Chicago’s legal marketplace,” said Steven Lynch, GM legal at Lucas Group. “Aberman’s
Alexander Hughes Names New Leaders in Nordic and Greater China Regions
Paris-headquartered search firm Alexander Hughes has named Evan Tolstoj Hansen as head of the Nordic region and Nicolas Musy as managing partner for Greater China. With the strong and still growing economy in Northern Europe and in particular in the Nordic countries, the demand for top-level talent acquisition is strong and growing. To meet these
Hiring Executives to Increase Investment in Diversity Programs
New efforts toward improving diversity are on their way over the coming year, according to a new report by Glassdoor. One in three (35 percent) hiring decision-makers expect to increase investment in diversity and inclusion and only three percent expect it to decrease. The remainder said they have no plans to change. The report, which
Kittleman & Associates Leading CEO Search for National Basketball Retired Players Association
Chicago-based executive search firm Kittleman & Associates has been retained by the National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA) to find a new CEO. Principal Megan Lewis is leading the assignment for Kittleman. The organization is seeking a proven leader with a career in a similarly sized or larger national association who can help chart a path forward with
ADK Consulting & Executive Search Seeks New Leader for Louisville International Airport
ADK Consulting & Executive Search has been retained by Louisville International Airport to lead its search for a new executive director. The executive director serves as the top aviation/airport executive in the airport system. The incumbent directs the overall management of the airport system, typically including its capital, real property, human resources and other assets, according to







