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Daily Newswire
hyrUP Acquires Evolve Partners
hyrUP, an executive search and recruiting firm specializing in accounting, finance, technology, and operations, has acquired boutique search firm Evolve Partners. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. “Our mission has always been to combine speed, precision, and partnership in how we help companies hire,” said Andrew Feldman, co-founder and co-CEO of hyrUP. “Evolve Partners shares
LHH Opens New Search Practice in the U.S.
LHH, a global provider of interconnected talent solutions and a division of the Adecco Group, has launched its new retained executive search practice in the U.S. Aram Lulla is the newly appointed executive search leader, U.S., at LHH. “Leadership mobility is accelerating at a pace we haven’t seen before,” said Nicole Gable, LHH U.S. country
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
Bespoke Partners Launches AI-Powered Talent Market Mapping Platform
San Diego, CA-headquartered Bespoke Partners has released Bespoke Executive Index, a talent market mapping platform using AI to analyze and validate the backgrounds of senior executives in software and SaaS. “Today we are reinventing executive search,” said Eric Walczykowski, CEO of Bespoke. “The Bespoke Executive Index is the authoritative source of data on the accomplishments and experience
Vetted Solutions to Fill Top Post for International Accreditation Service
Executive search firm Vetted Solutions LLC has been tapped by the International Accreditation Service (IAS) to find its next president. Chuck Ramani announced he will retire as the organization’s president in 2018. Vetted Solutions president and founder, Jim Zaniello, and executive recruiter Michelle Smith are leading the assignment. The IAS, a member of the International Code Council (ICC) Family of Companies,
McAleer Gray Lands CEO for The Space Foundation
Denver-based executive search firm McAleer Gray has recruited retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Thomas Zelibor as chief executive officer of The Space Foundation. Founding partners Terrance McAleer and Brad Gray led the five-month national search assignment. Past CEO Elliot Pulham resigned in October and was replaced on an acting basis by the Colorado Springs-based non-profit’s chief operating officer, Shelli Brunswick. In his
Major, Lindsey & Africa Expands In Texas
Major, Lindsey & Africa (MLA) has expanded with the addition of George J. Hittner in its Houston office as a managing director in the firm’s partner practice group. With his wealth of market knowledge, Mr. Hittner will enhance MLA’s foothold in the Texas legal industry. “George has spent practically his entire life in the Texas legal
IIC Partners Expands Into Eastern Europe, Adding 45th Member Firm
IIC Partners Executive Search Worldwide has added CEO Search into membership. The firm, located in Sofia, expands IIC Partners’ global reach into Bulgaria, an emerging market for the executive search industry. Bulgaria has an emerging market economy in the upper middle income range, where the private sector accounts for more than 80 percent of GDP. Its labor force is comprised of
Heidrick & Struggles Names Interim Leader; CEO Takes Medical Leave
Heidrick & Struggles’ CEO Tracy Wolstencroft will take a three month medical leave of absence from the nation’s No. 3 executive search outfit. He is undergoing treatment of a benign lung condition. The Chicago-headquartered recruitment concern has appointed Krishnan Rajagopalan as acting CEO. Mr. Rajagopalan is an executive vice president and managing partner based in Heidrick’s Washington, D.C.
Korn Ferry Recruits Head Basketball Coach for Georgetown
Basketball legend Patrick Ewing is returning to his alma mater, Georgetown University, to serve as head coach of its men’s basketball team. He was recruited into the position by Korn Ferry. He replaces John Thompson III, the son of Mr. Ewing’s college coach, John Thompson, who was fired after 13 years as head coach. Mr. Ewing comes back
Wheless Partners Names Indianapolis Office Leader
Executive search firm Wheless Partners has strengthened its search staff with the addition of former corporate leader Dr. Juan Suarez to lead its Indianapolis office as a senior partner. He will focus on higher education and the industrial sectors. Dr. Suarez brings a unique blend of global experience in marketing and communications, corporate responsibility, information technology and strategic
Accelent Lands CEO for JOOR
JOOR, a leading online global marketplace for wholesale fashion buyers, has tapped longtime retail, e-commerce and marketplace executive Kristin Savilia as its new chief executive officer with the assistance of executive search firm Accelent. She replaces Mona Bijoor, who is moving on to pursue other opportunities. Accelent managing director, John Boehmer, led the assignment. Ms. Savilia previously spent 11 years
Boyden Expands In Sweden
In an effort to further strengthen its capabilities in the Nordic region, search firm Boyden has announced an expansion in Stockholm. Peter Krenander, Rickard Ericson and Michael Rooslien will join Boyden Sweden managing partners Katarina Brixéus, Ulf Bergström, Marie Corell and Per Fornander as part of the firm’s continued expansion in Northern Europe. In addition, an expanded research team
Why Companies Remain Indifferent to Millennials In the Workplace
New data from the 2017 ‘Millennial Hiring Trends Study,’ by MRINetwork indicates that among the executive, managerial and professional ranks misconceptions about what is important to Millennials, and a lack of urgency about their roles in the workplace, are preventing many employers from gaining traction with this younger generation. Despite these shortcomings, the study reveals that
Fairfield University Turns to Russell Reynolds Associates to Find New Leader
A number of top schools around the country have announced they are looking for new, high profile leaders to take them into the future. In just about every case, executive recruiting firms have been involved in some aspect of the search and selection process. Fairfield University turned to Russell Reynolds Associates last fall to find its ninth president. Rev. Jeffrey
USA Swimming Picks Two Search Firms for CEO Hunt
Chelsea Partners and Reffett Associates have been selected to find USA Swimming’s new president and chief executive officer. The nationwide search to replace Chuck Wielgus, who is retiring, is being led by Andy Knox, managing director at Los Angeles-based Chelsea Partners, and Bill Reffett, managing partner at Reffett Associates in Seattle. The search is expected to be completed
ALSpective Expands Leadership Consulting Business
Executive search firm ALSpective has expanded with the addition Debray Sandelin as a partner and advisor. Her appointment reinforces the development of the firm’s leadership consulting business, including the launch of the first ALSpective Executive Assessment Center. With 12 years of experience in career coaching, with a strong focus in the distribution and consumer products sector,
AltoPartners Expands In Australia
AltoPartners, an international alliance of independent executive search firms and leadership consultants, has announced that Camden Partners has merged with two other independent search firms to begin trading in Australia as AltoPartners. The merger, according to the international consortium, enhances the practice group and sector coverage of its Australia team, and establishes the foundation for future offices in Melbourne
Bridging the Skills Gap With Insiders
Since the financial crisis of 2008, there has been an emergent skills gap that has plagued almost every industry. While organizations have implemented a series of measures to improve oversight of labor costs and value returns, they have focused more on improving the quality of talent acquisition than they have on sustaining employee performance. And
Spencer Stuart Brings Lawsuit Against Recruiter and Korn Ferry
On Friday, Crain’s reported that Spencer Stuart filed a lawsuit against its former global automotive practice leader, Francois Truc, who left the firm in December, and the rival search firm he joined last month, Korn Ferry. According to the suit, Mr. Truc and Korn Ferry “are attempting to dismantle Spencer Stuart’s global automotive practice and move that business lock, stock
Caldwell Recruits Cybersecurity Expert From Russell Reynolds Associates
Executive search firm Caldwell Partners International has named Matt Comyns as managing partner of its cybersecurity search practice. He will be based in the firm’s Stamford, Conn office. Mr. Comyns has a distinct and well-regarded focus on recruiting chief information security officers and next-level-down top lieutenants in information security for large global corporations and fast growing private companies,
crawfordconnect Leading Foundation CEO Search
Executive search firm crawfordconnect has been retained by The Kitchener and Waterloo Community Foundation in Ontario to lead its search for a new president and chief executive officer. Past CEO Rosemary Smith recently stepped down from her post. Senior search consultant Liz Latimer is leading the assignment. “Based on community stakeholder feedback, The Kitchener and Waterloo Community Foundation
Goodwin Executive Search Lands CEO for Field2Base
Raleigh, NC-headquartered Goodwin Executive Search has placed Tom Bright as chief executive officer at Field2Base. Managing partner Bill Goodwin led the assignment. In his new role, Mr. Bright will be responsible for leading an existing team and aggressively growing revenues through the building of a robust marketing and sales team. A primary task will be to ensure
AIG Selects Egon Zehnder to Find Next CEO
American International Group (AIG) has tapped executive search and leadership solutions firm Egon Zehnder to find its next chief executive officer. Peter D. Hancock, president and CEO, recently informed the board of directors of his intention to resign. Shares of the company were up 1.75 percent in trading after AIG released the news. The incoming CEO will be its sixth since 2005. As
DHR International Leading CIO Search for the State of Alaska
Recruiters specializing in the investment function continue to report that demand for executive level ‘high impact’ investing talent is on the rise. Against that backdrop, DHR International has just been retained by the State of Alaska to lead its search for a new chief investment officer (CIO). Carol Hartman, the search firm’s managing partner of financial services North America,
Executive Recruiter Joins Hunt Club
Veteran search consultant Ali Smith has joined referral recruiting service Hunt Club, where she will oversee Midwest operations, regional go-to-market initiatives, account management, and the customer service / delivery function for the firm. “We’re all really excited to have Ali join the team,” said Nick Cromydas, Hunt Club CEO. “I know she’ll add immediate value to our
Momenta Partners Expands With Three Recruiters
Executive search firm Momenta Partners has expanded with the addition of three new recruiters. Emma Valdivia, who joins the firm as a partner, has more than 12 years of experience leading high profile client searches across the industrial and technology markets. She has executed more than 40 Fortune 100 placements, while supporting critical leadership hires for
Atkinson Macleod Executive Search Opens In Scotland
Search industry veterans Ian Macleod and Paul Atkinson have joined forces to form Atkinson Macleod Executive Search. The firm will focus on board and senior executive level searches for the private and public sectors. While the firm is opening its doors during a period of economic and political uncertainty across the U.K., Mr. Macleod said
A CHRO View on Building Great Teams, From Inside and Out
Managing a large workforce at any company is no easy task. But when that workforce is 32,000 strong, it requires the steady hand of a top human resource leader who will keep everyone motivated, engaged, intact and forward thinking. And that’s across 160 countries encompassing every cultural nuance imaginable. This is the domain of Michael
Spencer Stuart Recruits CEO for Alexion Pharmaceuticals
Executive search firm Spencer Stuart has placed Ludwig N. Hantson Ph.D., as chief executive officer of Alexion Pharmaceuticals. He replaces David Hallal who recently resigned for personal reasons. Dr. Hantson brings to Alexion a strong record of developing diverse rare disease pipelines and commercializing innovative and life-transformative therapies at industry-leading companies. Most recently, he served as president and
HVS Launches Outpost to Serve African Hotel Industry
Tourism’s importance as a driver of the South African economy is increasing and that has led global hospitality consulting firm, HVS, to launch HVS Executive Search Africa, based in Cape Town. The new outpost will focus on corporate positions, general managers and department heads in the hotel industry across the continent. “One of the challenges of
Kennedy Executive Search Names Technology Practice Leader
Kennedy Executive Search & Consulting, a network of independent executive search firms, has named Wayne Redovian as leader of its technology search practice. In his new position, he will coach and guide Kennedy’s executive search operations around IT leadership roles across North America and Europe. Mr. Redovian, managing partner and vice president of operations and marketing, has been with
Neal Lucas to Find New Leader for IoD
Neal Lucas Executive Search has been retained by the Institute of Directors (IoD) in Ireland to lead its search for a new executive director. The incoming leader will develop and be accountable for the delivery of a local strategy to grow the organization’s membership in Northern Ireland. The new director will establish the IoD as
12 Reasons Why Companies Hire Executive Search Firms
Employers typically use an executive search firm when a top job opening is important enough, senior enough and when discretion is at a premium. These three factors warrant the investment of bringing in a search firm. And an investment it is. Retaining a recruiting firm will likely cost a minimum of $75,000, but that figure
Burtch Works Fills Chief Data Scientist Role for Upside Travel
Executive search firm Burtch Works has placed Adam Holmes as chief data scientist at Upside Travel, Priceline founder Jay Walker’s new startup that uses big data to optimize travel deals for business travelers. Founder and managing director, Linda Burtch, led the assignment. Mr. Holmes will spearhead the company’s use of terabytes of data delivered daily from online hotel and airline reservation
