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Five Questions with MJ Scott, Incoming CEO of Kirk Palmer Associates
Kirk Palmer Associates (KPA) an independent executive search firm dedicated exclusively to retail and consumer brands, this past July appointed search industry veteran MaryJeanne (MJ) Scott as its new CEO. A seasoned leader with more than 25 years in retail and executive search, Ms. Scott brings expanded capabilities to KPA’s global operations with a focus
Unemployment Rises to Four-Year High
Employment rose by 64,000 in November as the U.S. unemployment rate stands at 4.6 percent, according to the most recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report. Employment rose in healthcare and construction in November, while federal government continued to lose jobs. The delayed employment report for November and a partial update for October published by the Labor Department’s Bureau
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.
JDG Associates Retained by the Institute for Defense Analyses for General Counsel Search
Rockville, MD-based executive search firm JDG Associates has been retained by the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA) to lead its search for a general counsel based in Alexandria, VA. Reporting directly to the president and CEO, the general counsel serves as IDA’s chief legal officer and secretary of the Corporation, with responsibility spanning legal counsel and
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?
CarterBaldwin Assists Ideal Tridon Group with Chief Information Officer Search
CarterBaldwin Executive Search has helped to recruit Shane Dacus as chief information officer of Ideal Tridon Group, a portfolio company of Nautic Partners and global provider of engineered clamps, brackets, fittings, and metal framing systems. Mr. Dacus brings more than 25 years of technology leadership across industrial, manufacturing, and PE-backed platforms, with a consistent record of elevating IT
Lindauer Recruits CEO for Penn State Alumni Association
Lindauer has placed Reggie Bustinza as associate vice president for alumni relations and chief executive officer of the Penn State Alumni Association. He was selected after a nationwide search to succeed Paul Clifford, who departed Penn State in January 2025. The search was led by Lindauer executive vice president Faith Montgomery and senior consultant Raegan Harvey in partnership with Penn State. “Lindauer
Why M&A Success Is Ultimately a Talent Challenge
In its latest market intelligence findings, The Role of HR in M&A: 5 Golden Rules for CHROs, Spencer Stuart argues that many transactions fail not because of flawed strategy, but because of shortcomings in leadership, culture, talent retention, and organizational execution. While financial and operational diligence often dominate deal planning, the firm’s research suggests that people-related
Greenwood Asher & Associates Leading Chief Marketing Officer Search for the College of Charleston
Miramar Beach, FL-based executive recruitment firm Greenwood Asher & Associates (GA&A) is currently seeking a chief marketing officer and vice president for marketing and communications for the College of Charleston. Kyle Pybus-Jerome and Jeremy Duff are leading the assignment. The College of Charleston seeks a strategic and innovative marketing executive to lead an integrated marketing and communications enterprise that
EMA Partners India Acquires Recruitment Process Outsourcing Services Provider Taggd
Executive search and leadership recruitment platform EMA Partners India has acquired recruitment process outsourcing services provider Taggd in an all-cash deal valued at Rs 113 crore. The all-cash acquisition aims to create an integrated talent recruitment platform offering executive search, professional search and AI-powered recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) solutions at scale. Taggd will continue to
NGS Global Expands in London
Wilmington, DE-headquartered executive search firm NGS Global has expanded with the additions of Daniel Yeates and George Balfour as managing directors in London. “Daniel and George are accomplished executive search professionals with deep expertise in the technology and digital sectors,” said David Nosal, chairman and managing partner. “They each bring outstanding client and candidate relationships built over decades
Leadership Challenges Intensify as Organizations Confront AI, Talent, and Economic Uncertainty
Organizations are operating in an increasingly complex environment where economic uncertainty, workforce challenges, AI adoption, and digital transformation are converging to reshape leadership priorities. Kestria’s second annual global leadership survey builds on the themes that emerged in last year’s research; highlighting how rapidly the leadership landscape continues to evolve. Based on responses from more than
Riviera Partners Acquires Lateral Labs
San Francisco-based Riviera Partners, a recruitment provider specializing in C-level engineering, product, and design leader placements, has acquired Lateral Labs, a specialized recruiting firm serving top AI startups. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. “The acquisition comes as companies remain challenged to meet the demand of organizational AI readiness,” the firm said. “Adding Lateral Labs positions Riviera Partners
Marovi Assists Congruex with CFO Search
Working in partnership with Atlanta-GA-based Marovi, Congruex, a provider of digital infrastructure engineering and construction services, appointed Jim Stanley as CFO. He reports to Congruex’s co-founder, president, and CEO, Kevin O’Hara. The appointment comes amid strong and sustained growth at Congruex as it plans to continue to capitalize on macro tailwinds, including AI and data center
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
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,
Hunt Scanlon and HSiQ Spotlight New Approach to Recruiter Training
As the executive search industry faces mounting pressure to improve performance and consistency, firms are increasingly reevaluating how recruiters are trained and developed. Hunt Scanlon and its HSiQ talent intelligence advisory unit recently launched a new Recruiter Performance Training Program designed to bring greater structure, commercial rigor, and scalability to recruiter development in an industry long driven by
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
Forces Shaping the 2025 Dealmaking Boom
The latest EY Merger Monthly forecasts an uptick in U.S. M&A activity, driven by favorable macroeconomic conditions, regulatory shifts, and an increasing appetite for strategic deals. “U.S. M&A activity is expected to build further momentum in 2025,” the report notes, “driven by falling interest rates, strong economic expansion, substantial uninvested capital, and the imperative for business transformation.”Despite
Robert Half Q2 Revenue Falls 2.7 Percent
Robert Half International Inc./ (NYSE:RHI) posted second quarter revenues of $1.31 billion, a 2.7 percent decrease from revenues of $1.34 billion during the same quarter last year. This matched Wall Street expectations. The Menlo Park, CA-based recruiting company recorded a second quarter profit of $80 million, or 64 cents per share, compared to earnings of $92 million, or 71 cents per share, last year.
How to Build Client Relationships One by One
Building a relationship with a new client starts with a conversation. That sounds obvious and simple enough. Yet that conversation is a significant event. Maybe it is the beginning of a single transactional assignment. Or maybe it is the start of a rewarding partnership that will go on for years. In either case, said Greg
JDG Associates Finds New Leader for COPAFS
Executive search firm JDG Associates has placed John H. Thompson as executive director of the Council of Professional Associations on Federal Statistics (COPAFS). He succeeds Katherine Smith Evans, who led the organization since 2012. Principal Paul Belford headed the assignment. Mr. Thompson comes to COPAFS from the U.S. Census Bureau where he served as director since 2013. Previously, he spent
Stanton Chase Names Head of Natural Resources and Energy Practice In Dubai
Stanton Chase International continues its recent expansion with the addition of Dale Zankl as the director of its natural resources and energy practice for the Middle East. He will be based out of the firm’s offices in Dubai, where he will consult with new and existing clients on their leadership challenges in regard to natural
Catalyst Advisors Completes Three Biopharma CEO Searches
In the biopharma industry, the evolution from clinical trials to regulatory approval and taking a product to market is perhaps the biggest inflection point in a growth company’s trajectory, even more so, in some cases, than an IPO. Because this shift demands a new set of organizational competencies, experience and structure, companies preparing for commercialization
Russell Reynolds Associates Names Financial Services Practice Co-Leader
Russell Reynolds Associates has named Mary-Caroline Tillman as co-leader of its global financial services practice. Based in New York, Ms. Tillman works closely with chairpersons, chief executive officers and senior leadership teams in the financial services industry. She has led CEO search and succession projects across different countries and regions, including Australia, Asia, Europe, the U.K.
ManpowerGroup Records Global Q2 Revenue Gain; U.S. Drops Seven Percent
ManpowerGroup / (NYSE:MAN) posted revenues of $5.17 billion, an increase of three percent, compared to revenues of $5.1 billion a year ago. Five analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $5.03 billion. French revenue rose 11 percent in constant currency. The country is ManpowerGroup’s largest single market. Meanwhile, Italian revenue increased 25.2 percent in constant currency, and Mexican revenue jumped
Heidrick & Struggles Records Q2 Revenue Gain; Launches Heidrick Consulting
Executive search, leadership consulting and culture shaping services provider Heidrick & Struggles International / (NASDAQ:HSII) has posted revenues of $152.2 million for the second quarter, an increase of 2.3 percent from the same period last year. Executive search net revenue increased 2.9 percent year over year, or $3.8 million, to $134.5 million from $130.7 million in the 2016 second quarter. Search revenues increased two
Phillips Oppenheim Recruits Director for Obama Presidential Museum
Executive search firm Phillips Oppenheim has placed Louise Bernard as the director of the Barack Obama Presidential Museum in Chicago. Principal Sarah James and partner Becky Klein led the search. Ms. Bernard is looking to play a crucial role in helping former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama firm up and design the programming
TeamJobs Names Head of Newly Created Executive Search Division
U.K.-headquartered recruiting company TeamJobs has appointed search veteran Sally Bennett to head its new executive search division. Ms. Bennett, a former executive recruitment director with 13 years of industry experience, will spearhead the firm’s advance into executive recruitment, sourcing candidates from senior manager to board level, both nationally and internationally. “TeamJobs is fast establishing itself as a
Generation X Remains a Dynamic Workplace Phenomenon
With so much attention directed at upstart Millennials, employers may be overlooking their employees from the 40-something generation. New research out of the U.K. shows that employees from Generation X mirror many of the workplace trends of their younger counterparts in terms of switching jobs, demanding diverse skill-sets and forging careers or part-time gigs from
Storbeck/Pimentel Leads President Search for Indiana State
Executive search firms continue to reap the benefits of an active education sector, which many academic recruiters say has never been busier. Even smaller recruiting outfits have multiple assignments running concurrently, all at the senior levels. If any slowdown is coming, it most likely will be found at the talent identification stage. With so much
TechnoPro Holdings Acquires Boyd & Moore Executive Search
TechnoPro Holdings has acquired Tokyo-based Boyd & Moore Executive Search. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Boyd & Moore is a global executive recruitment firm operating primarily in the technology sector, serving multinational clients. The agency also offers recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) and market mapping. With $1 billion in revenue and more than
U.S. Employers Expect More Hiring for Remainder of 2017
A record number of hiring managers in the U.S. anticipate bringing aboard more employees in the next six months, according to the semi-annual hiring survey from DHI Group, an online career resource and talent acquisition platform for technology professionals and other select professional communities. The expected rise in hiring comes at a time when unemployment is
Koya Lands New Leader for National Wildlife Refuge
Top leaders for non-profit concerns remain in demand and Koya Leadership Partners has the latest big catch in the sector. Molly Brennan, a founding partner at the firm, has recruited Geoffrey Haskett as the president of the National Wildlife Refuge Association. The organization was seeking an experienced, dynamic, and strategic leader to guide it through a time
True Search Names Cybersecurity Practice Leader
With cybercrime costing industry around the world hundreds of billions of dollars each year, funding for cybersecurity companies could break records this year. Just recently, executive recruiter True Search, which was recently recognized as one of the Top 50 search firms in the Americas as ranked by Hunt Scanlon Media, named Austin Krissoff to lead its cybersecurity practice from its Boston office. The
Fewer Women Fill Seats on Boards, Heidrick & Struggles Study Reveals
For those who have been striving for women to achieve their fair share of seats on corporate boards, a recent Heidrick & Struggles report – ‘Board Diversity at an Impasse?’ – was no doubt disheartening. In 2016, the report said, Fortune 500 companies filled 421 vacant or newly-created board seats with independent directors, a new
Cejka Finds New CEO for the Oregon Clinic
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 current reform efforts, and whatever changes President Donald J. Trump may produce. This
Russell Reynolds Associates Leading CFO Search for Energizer
Chief financial officers continue to be in high demand. Finding them is keeping many of the nation’s top recruitment operations busier than ever. In one recent assignment, Russell Reynolds Associates was tapped by Energizer Holdings to lead its search for a new CFO. Brian K. Hamm, the current CFO, is leaving the company to pursue
Witt/Kieffer Announces Promotions
Executive search firm Witt/Kieffer has announced 10 promotions in its expanding search practices. These promotions follow the appointment of Andrew Chastain to CEO, replacing Charles “Chuck” W.B. Wardell. “During this time of unprecedented change across industries, we are thrilled to recognize these professionals who have helped our clients to build successful, thriving leadership,” said Mr. Chastain. “They each bring a
Signium Continues Expansion
Executive search firm Signium U.K. has named Andrew Dawson as director of its industrial practice, Paul Surridge as global head of leadership consulting, and Dominique Graham as global head of legal and professional services. “The recognition of Paul’s international expertise in leadership consulting is a real compliment to the impact he has made in less than 12 months
Seven Points That Best-In-Class HR Functions Have In Common
Identifying what companies have the best HR functions is no simple task. The needs of businesses vary depending on everything from size and complexity, to the culture of the organization, to whether a company is run as one overall entity or a collection of autonomous divisions. Egon Zehnder, the third largest executive recruitment firm in
ZRG Partners Acquires HM Long Global Partners
ZRG Partners, the fastest growing search firm in the U.S., has continued its aggressive expansion with the acquisition of life sciences specialist HM Long Global Partners. As part of the asset acquisition agreement, Helga Long, formerly the chair and CEO of HM Long/ RSVP Group, is joining ZRG Partners. Ms. Long is considered one of the
Association Strategies Seeking New Leaders for Non-Profits
Non-profit recruiting specialist Association Strategies has been tapped by the Dredging Contractors of America and the Forging Industry Association to lead in searches for an executive director/ CEO and a president respectively. Founded in 1986, Association Strategies provides executive search, organizational assessment and transition management services exclusively to non-profit organizations. The firm also offers succession planning, board
Jordan Search Consultants Finds CEO for Medical Group
Healthcare is among the most rapidly growing employment fields, according to analysts at Hunt Scanlon Media, which tracks trends in the executive search and leadership solutions space. So it is that the need for recruiting firms to deliver top-drawer leaders throughout the sector has only grown. Recently, O’Fallon, MO-based executive recruiting firm Jordan Search Consultants recruited Ray Williams
Cognitive Talent Partners Opens to Serve Private Equity Companies
Anuj Dhawan, former director and partner at Positive Moves Consulting, an angel investor in a Seattle-based healthcare IoT business, has founded executive search firm Cognitive Talent Partners LLP. Based in Gurgaon, Haryana, India, the firm provides executive search services to private equity funds, banks, consumer lending clients and global technology corporations. Mr. Dhawan said he started
Hiring Pressures Mount As Talent Supply Tightens
The global workforce is changing rapidly. Skills shortages, new models of engagement and demographic shifts, as well as economic and political forces, are pushing companies to re-think their approaches to securing critical skills. As talent and business leaders look to the future, a strategic understanding of the forces of change is essential. Allegis Group, a
Nolan Partners Leading CEO Search for USA Triathlon
USA Triathlon (USAT), the national governing body for the sport of triathlon, has enlisted executive search firm Nolan Partners to help find its next chief executive officer. Chad Biagini, managing director of North America for the recruiters, is leading the assignment. USAT is looking for a strong business leader with a proven background of driving engagement, affinity
Academic Search Seeking Provost for Saint Mary’s College
Colleges and universities across the country are preparing for September and a new academic year. For many of them, that means commencing searches that will deliver high-profile leaders to lead them into a new era of fundraising, digitalization, sports and, in many cases, globalization. Among the latest, Saint Mary’s College, is seeking its next provost and
BarkerGilmore Expands Coaching and Advising Team
BarkerGilmore, a New York-based boutique executive search firm specializing in building corporate legal and compliance teams, has added Maureen Brundage to its coaching and advising team. She joins a group of former general counsel and chief compliance officers that collectively offer a range of advising and coaching services for legal and compliance departments. Ms. Brundage is former
Amrop Adds Member Firm in Singapore
Amrop, a partnership of recruiting firms operating from 80 offices in 52 countries throughout Asia, EMEA and the Americas remains in growth mode. It recently added Singapore-based executive search firm Reed Hamilton as a member firm. Founded in 2011 and led by Jason Reed Wagner, the firm currently has six consultants and offers professional and
