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Daily Newswire
Academic Career & Executive Search Recruits CFO for the Cleveland Institute of Art
Academic Career & Executive Search (ACES) has assisted in the recruitment of Melanie Walker as vice president of business affairs and chief financial officer of the Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA). Jennifer Muller, managing partner, led the search. “We’re thrilled to welcome Melanie as CIA’s next vice president of business affairs and CFO,” said president and CEO
August Leadership Expands in Dubai
August Leadership has expanded with the addition of Shazeaa Ingar as a partner, based in Dubai. “Shazeaa is an experienced organizational psychologist and leadership advisor with a strong track record supporting boards, CEOs, and senior executives across global markets,” August Leadership said in a LinkedIn post. “She brings deep expertise in executive assessment, board effectiveness, and
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.
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
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?
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
What Executive Candidates Want From Employers Today
The executive talent market today has fundamentally shifted and senior leaders are evaluating employers through a far more demanding lens. They no longer weigh opportunities primarily on compensation or title; they assess the total leadership experience: governance, culture, organizational stability, purpose, autonomy, flexibility and long-term growth, according to a report from Kestria. “To attract and retain
WittKieffer Retained by Roosevelt University for President Search
Oak Brook, IL-based WittKieffer has been retained by Roosevelt University in Chicago to lead in its search for its seventh president. Ali Malekzadeh is retiring after being with the school since 2015. Senior partner Christine Pendleton, consultant Sandra Chu, senior associate Maya Holt-Brockenbrough, and senior advisor Ray Crossman. Roosevelt University seeks a student-centered president who is committed
Buffkin / Baker Acquires HR-Focused Benson Executive Search
Partner-led executive search firm Buffkin / Baker has acquired Boston, MA-based Benson Executive Search, a boutique firm focused on the human resources sector. Financial terms of deal were not disclosed. The acquisition strengthens Buffkin / Baker’s HR functional capabilities and gives the firm a stronger presence in the Northeast. “We’re thrilled to welcome Benson Executive Search to
SPMB Recruits Fills Senior Finance Position for Uber
Steven Popper of SPMB Executive Search has placed Wendy Drummond Craig as senior director, technical accounting, reporting, and M&A at Uber. In her new role, she will oversee teams responsible for technical accounting matters, SEC reporting, and accounting for mergers and acquisitions. “Wendy brings an extraordinary combination of technical accounting expertise, SEC reporting experience, and strategic advisory leadership
True Launches AI Capability Index for Executive Assessment
Global executive talent platform True has launched the True AI Capability Index, a proprietary framework that predicts executive performance in the AI-transformation age. “We are entering a phase where relationship depth and judgment matter more than ever,” said Brad Stadler, co-founder and CEO of True Platform. “The cost of finding names is decreasing. True’s advantage lies in our ability
AI-Native Talent Won’t Fix AI-Foreign Organizations
As artificial intelligence moves from experimentation to enterprise-wide adoption, organizations are grappling with a fundamental question: what does it actually mean to become AI-native? While the term has quickly entered the business lexicon, many leaders are still struggling to define the capabilities, operating models, and cultural shifts required to make that vision a reality. “Some
ZRG Partners Acquires Fortium
ZRG Partners has acquired Fortium, a Dallas-based search firm that provides fractional, interim, and project-based CIO, CTO, and CISO leadership. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. “Companies are making more nuanced decisions about leadership than they did even a few years ago, particularly in technology,” said Mark Viner, leader of interim solutions & project
Lochlin Partners Recruits SVP of HR for the National Association of Corporate Directors
Lochlin Partners has placed Marian Stevens as senior vice president, human resources of the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) in Washington, D.C. “Marian’s deep experience in talent development, organizational effectiveness, and culture will help NACD to continue building the internal capabilities needed to support our growth and deliver on our mission,” said Peter Gleason, president and CEO of
JDG Associates Tapped by Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute to Find New Leader
Rockville, MD-based executive search firm JDG Associates has been retained by the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI) to lead its search for a new president and CEO. The Chicago-based institute, the leading technical institute and trade association for the precast, prestressed concrete industry in North America, seeks a visionary and collaborative executive to succeed its long-serving chief executive,
IIC Partners Adds New Member Firm in New Zealand
IIC Partners Executive Search Worldwide has added Auckland, New Zealand-based Infinitas as its newest member firm expanding its capabilities across the Asia-Pacific region. “I am thrilled to welcome Infinitas to IIC Partners,” said Christine Hayward, executive director of IIC Partners. Their people-first philosophy, tech-enabled search processes, and talent advisory capabilities deeply align with our mission to transform
Hiring for the Culture You Don’t Yet Have
For much of the past decade, organizations have invested heavily in strategy, technology and operational efficiency to navigate an increasingly complex business environment. Yet despite these investments, many transformation initiatives continue to fall short of expectations. The differentiator is rarely the strategy itself. More often, success depends on whether leadership teams have the right people
BoardWalk Consulting Leading CEO Search for Downtown Atlanta Inc.
BoardWalk Consulting has been tapped by Downtown Atlanta Inc. (DAI) to lead in its search for a CEO. The search is being led by Sam Pettway, Crystal Stephens, and Patti Kish. The organization is seeking a leader who can help define what the next generation of Downtown Atlanta will become. This is a leadership opportunity of unusual scale and
Peña Search Assists To Be Like Me with the Recruitment of Executive Director
Peña Search recently assisted in the recruitment of Lauren Rowe as the new executive for To Be Like Me (TBLM) in Dallas, TX. Travis Hillier, Carlos González Peña, and Thaise Pereira led the assignment. She replaces To Be Like Me founder Hollis Owens, who has served as executive director since 2018 and initiated the search for her replacement last
BroadView Talent Partners Tapped by Baltimore Community Lending for President/CEO Search
BroadView Talent Partners was recently retained by Baltimore Community Lending, Inc. (BCL) to lead in its search for a new president and CEO. Tracy McMillan, Robyn Quinn, and Donna Young are leading the assignment. The CEO is the strategic, operational, and external leader of Baltimore Community Lending, responsible for driving the organization’s next era of growth and
Secure Your Company’s Future with a CEO Succession Plan
In today’s dynamic business world, CEO succession planning is crucial. To navigate challenges and seize opportunities, companies must ensure smooth leadership transitions. A strong plan fosters stability, drives growth, and aligns CEO development with long-term goals. A recent report from DHR Global’s Justin Menkes explores how to approach CEO succession planning, including best practices, and
DF Brown & Associates Keeps It a Family Affair With New Hire
Lawrenceville, GA-based DF Brown & Associates has expanded with the addition of Garrett Brown as vice president and principal. It’s a move that the 19-year-old executive search firm is touting as the arrival of a “second generation” of leadership since Mr. Brown’s father, David, is its founder. In addition to more than 10 years of
PRAXI Alliance Adds Member Firm in Madrid
Global search consortium PRAXI Alliance Worldwide Executive Search has added Madrid-based executive search firm Development Systems SA as a member firm. The PRAXI Alliance global network now spans four continents, with more than 30 countries and 70 offices worldwide. Development Systems serves clients in Spain, Portugal, Brazil, Mexico and Chile. The firm is led by CEO
Papa John’s Pizza Enlists Pollard Search Group to Find CMO
As business becomes more global and complex, and power shifts from producers of goods and services to consumers, a chief marketing officer’s job of planning and coordinating marketing activities has become more challenging, according to recruiters. But executive search firms are having no shortage of assignments for this important C-level position. The latest instance: Papa John’s Pizza
Nolan Partners Drafts CEO for British Swimming
With the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympic Games on the horizon, executive search firm Nolan Partners has assisted British Swimming in the placement of Jack Buckner as chief executive officer. He succeeds David Sparkes, who retired after 23 years with the organizations. Partner Andy Taylor led the search. Mr. Buckner, who is currently CEO of
Savannah Group Launched by Former Boyden U.K. Team
The U.K. office of global search firm Boyden has launched a new executive search and interim management business called Savannah Group. The firm said that companies increasingly want to support and enhance their in-house capabilities by aligning them with specific parts of the search process. “In the last 12 months, we have spent a lot of
Witt/Kieffer Names Co-Leaders of Healthcare Practice
Recruiter Witt/Kieffer has named Paul Bohne and Donna Padilla as co-leads of the firm’s healthcare practice, effective July 1. They succeed Andrew P. Chastain, who was promoted to CEO in March. “Our work helps strengthen and improve communities by helping build successful, thriving healthcare organizations,” said Mr. Bohne. “Alongside Donna and with our outstanding team, we plan to continue
Mlegal Group Expands in San Francisco Bay Area
Employment of lawyers is projected to grow 10 percent through 2022. Demand is expected to be robust as individuals, businesses and all levels of government require legal services to meet the expansion of global economies. This has led to search firms in the sector being in full growth mode. Recently, executive search firm Mlegal Group expanded
Companies Are Ill Prepared for Digital Transformation
Driven by the ongoing digital revolution as well as demographic, political and social forces, almost 90 percent of HR and business leaders rate building the organization of the future as their top priority. In its 2017 Global Human Capital Trends report, ‘Rewriting the Rules for the Digital Age,’ Deloitte issues a call-to-action for companies to
Quick Leonard Kieffer Lands President for North Carolina Hospital Association
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, executive recruiters Quick Leonard Kieffer placed Stephen J. Lawler as president
Spencer Stuart Places CEO at SHRM
After an extensive search, the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) has named Johnny C. Taylor as president and CEO. The organization enlisted Spencer Stuart to find its new leader. Since 2010, SHRM has been led by Henry G. Jackson, who announced his retirement this past January. Mr. Taylor is the second attorney to lead the organization and the
Search Inc. Establishes Education Practice
New York-based Search Inc. has launched an education practice that will be led by two individuals whom the firm said will bring “fresh perspectives in the fast changing educational market.” The team of Elisa Calabrese and Wendy Weiler will be supported by researchers and recruiting professionals with more than 20 years of search experience. Dr. Calabrese,
InterSearch Announces New Board Members
InterSearch Worldwide, a global network of executive search firms, has expanded its board with the additions of Frank Schelstraete, Micheál Coughlan, Andrea Magnabosco and Samantha Robinson as directors. Peter Waite will continue to serve as chairman of the board until May 2018. “I’m delighted that some of the next generation with excellent executive search experience
Financial Advisory Firms Struggle to Attract and Keep Young Talent
Even with strong demand, the wealth management industry is having trouble attracting and retaining top performers, especially younger talent. For every eight advisors that retire, in fact, only three are trained to replace them, according to one study. “It has never been more important to build a pipeline of next generation advisors, but Millennials generally
Senn Delaney Names Chief Customer Officer
Customers matter. It sounds simple, and obvious. But these days, companies are coming to better accept and understand that concept and weave it into their strategic vision. So it is that businesses of all kinds are increasingly bringing aboard chief customer officers (CCO), the most effective of whom wield influence across an organization and into
Hanold Associates Places CHRO at Vulcan
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 such pent up demand for top flight
Caldwell Partners Places Chief Data Officer at eHealth
Executive search firm Caldwell Partners International has assisted in the placement of Ian Kalin as chief data officer of eHealth. John Blank, co-leader of the recruiter’s life sciences and healthcare practice, led the search along with consultant Mark Dillard. “I’m very pleased to announce Ian’s appointment as chief data officer, a role well served by his extraordinary
Foster & Associates Extends Executive Coaching Services
Mike Mimnaugh has joined Westport, CT-based executive search firm Foster & Associates as a managing director, where he will conduct senior executive coaching assignments including on-boarding, executive assessments, outplacement services, as well as executive search assignments. Mr. Mimnaugh is an experienced consultant who is recognized for leading and guiding senior executive and cross-cultural teams during
Unemployment Rate Falls to 16-Year Low
Employers added 138,000 jobs last month as the U.S. unemployment rate fell to 4.3 percent, the lowest since 2001, according to the most recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report. During the month, the number of workers unemployed dropped to 6.9 million. May marked the 78th straight month of job growth in the U.S. Economists polled by Reuters had
McDermott & Bull taps CCO for Technology Credit Union
McDermott & Bull has placed Mike Floyd as executive vice president, chief credit officer with Technology Credit Union (Tech CU), which serves upwards of 80,000 members in the San Francisco area. Conducting the search was Brandon Biegenzahn, president of the Irvine, CA-based search firm and co-chair of the financial institutions practice; Michelle Davis, an associate
RPA Inc. Recruits Two University Presidents
As the academic year winds down, a number of colleges and universities across the country are already preparing for September. For many of them, that means opening searches that will deliver high profile leaders to take them into a new era of fundraising, digitalization, sports and, more often the case, globalization. Among the latest, executive search
Wilton & Bain Secures Funding
London-based executive search firm Wilton & Bain has secured investment from Beechbrook Capital to fund a management buyout as the firm targets further domestic and international growth. The amount of funding was not disclosed. As the firm expects demand for its services to grow in the coming months, Wilton & Bain plans to further expand its global
NGS Global Opens New Office in Norway
Executive search firm NGS Global has expanded its reach into the Scandinavian region by opening an office in Norway. The location will be overseen by managing partners Stig-Rune Reese and Hard Olav Bastiansen. Previously, Mr. Reese and Mr. Bastiansen were founding partners of A`HEAD Search & Selection. They have both worked with executive positions in the private
Job Seekers Divided On Future Job Prospects
Finding a new job can be tough, and it’s been even tougher this year, according to almost half (46 percent) of the employees surveyed for the “2017 Job Seeker Nation Study,” recently released by recruiting software firm Jobvite. But that’s hardly the entire story. In many ways, how well people fare in their job search
SRi Tapped to Find New Leader for Sydney FC
The Sydney Football Club has retained executive search firm SRi to lead the hunt for its next chief executive officer. Managing partner Jonathan Harris is spearheading the assignment. With CEO Tony Pignata leaving at the end of the season, the Sydney FC board is looking for a leader to help the organization move forward. “Our aim
Greenwich Harbor Partners Find Head of eCommerce for GoBe
Executive search firm Greenwich Harbor Partners has placed Sam Bloomberg-Rissman as head of eCommerce for GoBe, a newly launched subsidiary of Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. The enterprise provides travel experiences in 97 countries and 895 cities. Mr. Bloomberg-Rissman, who will report to CEO Billy Campbell, is based in Miami. Mr. Bloomberg-Rissman previously worked in progressive positions at
Stanton Chase Names Leader of Industrial Practice Group
Bernard Layton, managing director of the Chicago office of Stanton Chase International, has been named practice leader for the firm’s global industrial practice group. Mr. Layton will oversee activity related to Stanton Chase’s global presence in the industrial sector. “Bernard is an outstanding leader and has distinguished himself as an exemplary search consultant with a
Acertitude Acquires Olive Avenue Search Partners
The wave of M&A activity among executive search firms continues. The latest deal: Acertitude has acquired Los Angeles-based Olive Avenue Search Partners. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Olive Avenue’s founders, Gwen Sabo and Joann Maciejewski, bring deep expertise in the development of research capabilities, training and development, and identifying and engaging top talent.
Onboarding Strategies Fall Short
Seeing less than desirable performance from your new employees or your department? It just may be your onboarding process – or lack thereof. According to a recent CareerBuilder survey, over a third of employers (36 percent) lack a structured onboarding process, and a significant number are reporting costly consequences. Forty-one percent of these employers said
Alexion Picks Spencer Stuart to Fill Top Leadership Posts
On the heels of finding its new CEO, Spencer Stuart is being brought back in by Alexion Pharmaceuticals to lead searches for a CFO and head of research and development. R&D chief Martin Mackay will retire at the end of this year and CFO Dave Anderson, whose short-lived tenure began last December with the departure of
ON Partners Finds New CEO for Rackspace
Executive search firm ON Partners has recruited Joe Eazor as the new chief executive officer of Rackspace, a managed cloud company. Rackspace president Jeff Cotten has served as interim CEO since the company’s previous chief executive, Taylor Rhodes, departed in early May. Co-founder and managing partner Tim Conti and partner Seth Harris led the assignment. Mr. Eazor will be
Adam-Bryce Expands Technology Expertise
Raleigh, NC-based executive search firm Adam-Bryce has expanded its C-level recruitment services with the addition of Mary Ott Price as a new partner. Given her background in recruiting chief information, technology, security officers and their leadership teams, Ms. Price deepens the group’s already potent talent lineup. Ms. Price began her executive search career in New
