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From Experimentation to Infrastructure: How AI is Redefining Executive Search
What was once considered “experimental” technology (AI-powered sourcing, workflow automation, and predictive analytics) has quickly become foundational, according to a recent Cluen survey. It found that a majority of firms are not only adopting these tools but reshaping entire business models around them. Yet with maturity comes new challenges. How do you balance speed with
NU Advisory Partners Recruits Chief People Officer for A Place for Mom
NU Advisory Partners has recruited Michelle Deitchman as the new chief people officer for A Place for Mom in Seattle, WA. “Congratulations Michelle Deitchman on joining A Place for Mom as chief people officer,” NU Advisory Partners said in a LinkedIn post. “We look forward to seeing your deep HR expertise, business acumen, and dynamic leadership drive
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.
U.S. Adds 162,000 Jobs in August as Unemployment Holds at 4.1 Percent
Employment increased by 162,000 in August as the U.S. unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.1 percent, according to the most recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report. The number of unemployed people, at 7.0 million, changed little in August. Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rate for people who are Asian declined to 3.2 percent in August.
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?
WittKieffer Recruits President and CEO for the American Hospital Association
Oak Brook, IL-based WittKieffer has placed Steve Walsh as the new president and CEO of the American Hospital Association (AHA). Andrew Chastain, Paul Bohne, and Keshia Harris led the assignment. “Following a thoughtful national search, the board unanimously selected Steve Walsh to serve as the next president and CEO of the American Hospital Association,” said Marc L. Boom, chair of the AHA
Egon Zehnder Appoints Global Leader of HR Practice
Global leadership advisory firm Egon Zehnder has named Ayşe Güçlü Onur as global leader of its human resources practice. She succeeds Rafael Altavini, who helped expand the practice’s work with leaders, teams and organizations navigating transformation and change. “This appointment comes as companies and boards increasingly look to CHROs to help shape business strategy, lead transformation, build leadership
The Industry’s Profit Conversion Problem — And Why Going AI-Native is the Way Out
The recruiting industry is not short on revenue. Fee revenue at the 50 largest executive search firms in the U.S. and Americas jumped 11 percent last year, topping $6.69 billion, according to Hunt Scanlon‘s 2026 annual rankings. Across broader staffing, the picture is more muted, but revenue is still flowing. The problem is what happens
BoardWalk Consulting Leading CEO Search for the National Breast Cancer Coalition
BoardWalk Consulting was recently retained by the National Breast Cancer Coalition (NBCC) to lead in its search for a new CEO. The search is being led by Crystal Stephens and Terri Kohan. This is a rare opportunity: to lead one of the most respected and independent voices in breast cancer advocacy, building on three decades of momentum. Reporting
GHP Search Partners with Ascend Learning on Board Member Appointments
GHP Search, formerly known as Greenwich Harbor Partners, was recently tapped by Ascend Learning to assist in growing both the Ascend Learning board of directors and the Ascend Charter Schools board of trustees. New members of the Ascend Learning board identified by GHP include Robert Childs, retired EVP, strategic initiatives at American Express and Amy Mbagwu-Bagolini, a founding leader of Amazon’s Streaming TV advertising business. Richard Young Jr, director,
FMG Leading Adds Healthcare Strategy and Transformation Expert
Human capital advisory firm FMG Leading has expanded with the addition of healthcare strategy and transformation expert Doug Van Wie as managing director. The firm explained that the addition further aligns FMG Leading’s capabilities with the needs of investor-backed organizations looking to add value and mitigate risk as they deploy purpose-driven capital into the rapidly evolving healthcare system.
Caldwell Launches Global Financial Institutions Group Practice
Toronto-based Caldwell has launch its global financial institutions group (FIG) practice, bringing together the firm’s financial services capabilities under a single, globally coordinated practice. “This is more than a change in name,” said Chris Beck, chief executive officer of Caldwell. “It reflects the scale, connectivity, and depth of the practice we have built globally, as well as
M&A in the Search Industry: How Consolidation Is Reshaping Who Wins
M&A activity is becoming an increasingly important force across the executive search sector as investors and larger platforms look for opportunities to expand capabilities, sector expertise, and geographic reach. For independent firms, the trend is placing greater scrutiny on how effectively their businesses are structured, managed, and positioned for the future. Against this backdrop, search
Korn Ferry Completes Acquisition of AMS
Korn Ferry (NYSE:KFY) has completed its acquisition of U.K.-headquartered AMS from OMERS Private Equity. The combined organization brings together two highly complementary organizations across geographies and industries with a shared commitment to drive business performance. The collective firm will have more than 16,000 colleagues. In accordance with the terms of the acquisition agreement and in the
Myers McRae Helps Pensacola State College Select Finalist for President Role
Macon, GA-based Myers McRae Executive Search and Consulting has assisted Pensacola State College (PSC) with the selection of J. Alex Kelly as the finalist to become it’s next president. The committee’s recommendation followed a national search led by Kenny Daugherty of Myers McRae Executive Search and Consulting. The search attracted 107 qualified applicants from across the country. The committee selected
Potrero Group Recruits CEO for Center for Volunteer & Nonprofit Leadership
San Francisco-based leadership consulting and search firm Potrero Group has placed Karen Strolia as the next CEO of Center for Volunteer & Nonprofit Leadership (CVNL) in San Rafael, CA. She succeeds longtime CVNL CEO Linda Jacobs, who led the organization for 25 years. “The board is thrilled to welcome Karen as CVNL’s next chief executive officer,” said Luana Vaetoe,
Marovi Appoints Head of Engineering
Atlanta-GA-based Marovi has expanded with the addition of Ebubechukwu “Don” Enwerem as head of engineering. “Over the past few years, Don has had several engineering terms with Amazon Robotics – work estimated to save millions in operational costs. In between stints, he was building with Marovi. When the opportunity came to continue with Amazon, Don chose
As Executive Search Accelerates, Judgment Becomes the Differentiator
Executive search firms are under pressure to demonstrate value earlier than ever. Clients increasingly expect firms to understand the market, identify credible candidates, and begin calibrating on potential profiles before a search has even formally launched. AI and new data tools are helping firms meet those demands. Tasks that once took days can now be
Fractional vs. Full-Time Executives: The Real Math for Mid-Sized Growing Companies
As mid-sized companies grow, one of the more consequential leadership decisions is determining when fractional executive support is sufficient and when the business requires a full-time leader. A recent ExactSearch.AI report examined the economics behind that decision, finding that the answer often depends less on compensation than on the level of ownership, accountability, and organizational
Lindauer Recruits Chief Development Officer for C-SPAN
Following a national search, Lindauer has assisted in the recruitment of Adele Hixon-Day as the first chief development officer of C-SPAN. The search is being led by Lindauer vice president Maureen Huminik, senior vice president Bob Giannino, and senior consultant Taylor Beard. “Adele joins C-SPAN at a pivotal moment,” said C-SPAN CEO Sam Feist. “For decades, the cable and satellite, and recently
Pyramind Recruits President and CEO for The SkillSource Group
Following a national search, Falls Church, VA-based executive search firm Pyramind has placed Clifford Yee as president and CEO of The SkillSource Group, Inc. (SSG), fiscal sponsor of Virginia Career Works – Northern. He succeeds interim executive officer Seema Jain, following a leadership transition supported by SkillSource’s staff, board, and community partners. “Cliff has a strong
Buffkin / Baker Acquires Fortra Search
In an effort to strengthen its venture capital and private equity search capabilities, Buffkin / Baker has acquired Fortra Search, a boutique retained executive search firm focused exclusively on executive sales and revenue leadership. The firm has also named its founder Andy Grosso as partner. “We’re thrilled to welcome Andy to Buffkin / Baker,” said Jackson Ross, partner
The Role of the CFO in PE-Backed Businesses
The role of the CFO in private equity-backed businesses has shifted materially in recent years. Historically a function for financial stewardship, the CFO role is now defined by operational accountability, value creation and the ability to translate investment strategy into outcomes. A recent report from U.K.-based executive search firm The Barton Partnership (TBP). The study examined how
JDG Associates Seeking Executive Director for the National Coalition for Assistive and Rehab Technology
Rockville, MD-based executive search firm JDG Associates was recently selected by the National Coalition for Assistive and Rehab Technology (NCART) to lead its search for a new executive director. The position is remote and may be based anywhere in the United States, with proximity to the Washington, D.C. area considered a plus. NCART stands at a pivotal moment, with active,
Calibre One Assists Cibus with CEO Search
Calibre One has helped to recruit board member Craig Wichner as the new CEO for NASDAQ-traded Cibus, Inc. in San Diego, CA. Peter Beetham, who has served as the company’s interim CEO, will continue his role as the company’s president and chief operating officer. Concurrently, both Mr. Wichner and Dr. Beetham resigned from the Cibus board of directors as part
Shelli Herman and Associates Recruits CEO for OneOC
Los Angeles-based Shelli Herman and Associates has placed Bonni Pomush as the new president and CEO of OneOC. She will succeed Tim Strauch, who will remain president and CEO through December 31, 2026, before retiring from OneOC after 19 years of service and leadership. “Bonni’s record of organizational transformation, collaborative leadership, and community engagement makes her exceptionally
NPAworldwide Forms Alliance with Dimensional Search Associates
Member-owned recruitment network NPAworldwide has formed a strategic partnership with the Sanford Rose Associates family of companies, including Dimensional Search. “This partnership brings together two strong organizations with complementary strengths and a shared commitment to helping independent recruiting firms succeed,” NPAworldwide said. “For NPAworldwide, the agreement represents a meaningful extension of its mission to connect independent recruiting
Scaling Growth Through Transformative Talent
High-growth environments can compress time, magnify decisions, and expose leadership gaps in an instant. As companies move through periods of rapid expansion, the ability to build and evolve the right leadership team becomes increasingly critical to sustaining momentum and creating long-term value. Across private equity, venture capital, and technology-driven businesses, organizations are rethinking how they
Crist|Kolder Associates Recruits CFO for Allstate
Crist|Kolder Associates has recruited Christian Lown as executive vice president and chief financial officer of The Allstate Corporation. “Chris’s leadership and capital markets expertise will enable us to continue increasing Property-Liability market share and expand protection provided to customers,” said Tom Wilson, president and CEO of The Allstate Corporation. With more than 25 years of senior
Protis Global Appoints Co-Presidents
Consumer packaged goods-focused executive search and advisory firm Protis Global has named Skye Miller and Isabel Cosby as co-presidents in a planned generational leadership transition as the company positions itself for its next phase of growth. Bert Miller, who co-founded the firm in 1995, moves from chairman and CEO of Protis Global to chairman. He will continue as founder
Growth and M&A Activity to Surge Across Recruitment Sector In 2025
Hunt Scanlon Media has released its annual rankings of leading executive search firms, giving the sector its first official performance review on last year’s activity. In the U.S. and globally, billions of dollars poured into the high-end recruitment sector in 2024, despite an economically challenging year. “The recruiting sector found stability and recovery in 2024
Odgers Berndtson Continues U.S. Expansion
Odgers Berndtson has expanded with the additions of Lisa DeConto, Jane Swan, and Brad Pierce. Ms. DeConto joins the firm as a partner and will serve clients in the financial services sector. She will continue to leverage her 20-plus years of experience in asset management and focus on recruitment across the spectrum of asset management roles, including
Heidrick & Struggles Lands Chief Investment Officer for SURS
Executive search firm Heidrick & Struggles has recruited Douglas C. Wesley as chief investment officer of Illinois State Universities Retirement System (SURS). The organization announced last year the retirement of past CIO Danial Allen. Mr. Wesley has been SURS’ deputy CIO since 2005 and has been with the retirement system for 19 years. SURS is an agency in
Snodgrass Partners Forms Four New Alliances
Executive search firm Snodgrass Partners has formed four new partnerships in an effort to broaden the leadership, recruiting and consulting solutions it currently provides to collegiate athletic programs. “We are incredibly excited about each of our new allied partners,” said the search firm’s president, Tom Jacobs. “I have had the privilege of working with each one
Employers Report Strongest Q2 Hiring Outlook In 10 Years
Forty five percent of U.S. employers plan to hire full-time, permanent employees in the second quarter – a significant jump from 34 percent last year and the highest percentage for the quarter dating back to 2007, according to CareerBuilder‘s latest forecast. Temporary hiring is also expected to experience a double-digit boost year-over-year with nearly half of
JDG Associates Lands CEO for NAHRO
Executive search firm JDG Associates has placed Adrianne Todman as chief executive officer of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO). Principal Paul Belford led the assignment. Ms. Todman is currently executive director of the District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA), the region’s largest affordable housing provider, where she manages more than $400 million in affordable housing
PFM Executive Search Recruits Chief Marketing Officer for Tourism Victoria
PFM Executive Search has placed Paul Hawes as chief marketing officer of destination marketing organization Tourism Victoria. Mr. Hawes has more than 22 years of progressive tourism marketing and sales experience, and arrives in Canada after leading Destination New South Wales (Australia) to successfully expand its presence in the European market. He had overall accountability for marketing
Korn Ferry and The Rockefeller Foundation Form Alliance
Korn Ferry has partnered with The Rockefeller Foundation’s “100×25” campaign, a multi-faceted effort uniting organizations to help achieve the goal of advancing 100 women to the top role at Fortune 500 companies by 2025. The goal of the alliance is to develop a nuanced understanding of the common strengths and areas of development that companies should focus on
Caldwell Partners Posts Q2 Revenue Decline of 9.3 Percent
Executive search firm Caldwell Partners International posted second quarter revenues of $13.7 million (Canadian), a 9.3 percent decline from a year ago when the firm recorded revenues of $15.1 million. Second quarter net income was $267,000 ($0.13 per share), as compared to a loss of $764,000 ($0.38 per share) in the comparable period a year earlier. The
For One Recruiter, Pot Industry Has High Possibilities
Legal marijuana is now a near $7 billion business in the U.S., and sooner or later some enterprising headhunter was going to stumble upon it. Enter Dan Ogden. His recruiting joint, Delta 9 Search, is devoted exclusively to finding senior level executives for the cannabis industry. In its first four months of operation, business has
E.A. Hughes & Co. Places Chief Digital Officer at Citizen Watch America
Executive search firm E.A. Hughes & Co. has placed former Ralph Lauren executive Barbara Garces as chief digital officer (CDO) of Citizen Watch America. Recruiting partner Ann MacCarthy led the assignment. In this new role, Ms. Garces will lead the development and implementation of the company’s digital strategy across all Citizen Watch brands, including Citizen, Bulova, Caravelle, Frederique Constant, and
Spencer Stuart Lands CFO for Entercom Communications
Chief financial officers continue to be in high demand and hunting them down is keeping many of the nation’s top recruitment operations busier than ever. In one recent assignment reflective of this growing appetite for finance leaders, search firm Spencer Stuart recruited Richard J. Schmaeling as executive vice president and chief financial officer of Entercom Communications Corp. He
Tatum Executive Search Names Recruiting Principal
Tatum, an interim services and executive search firm, has named Winston Chou as principal of Tatum Executive Search. Based in New York, he will be responsible for leading executive search engagements and managing client relationships in North America, focusing on financial leadership functions and partner-level roles for professional services clients. Mr. Chou has built an extensive track record in executive recruiting working
Piper Pritchard Acquires Helix Associates In the U.K.
Legal executive search firm Piper Pritchard has acquired executive recruiters Helix Associates. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Helix Associates will rebrand to PP Associates and the combined business will offer a seamless fee earner recruitment service to law firm clients. It will provide non-legal professionals across all functions, and interim legal and non-legal professionals to
Heidrick & Struggles Begins CEO Hunt for Mondelez International
Mondelez International, known for brands like Oreo cookies, Trident gum and Ritz crackers, has retained Heidrick & Struggles to lead its search for a new chief executive officer. No timetable has been set for the company’s next incoming leader to be named. Longtime CEO and chairman Irene Rosenfeld has come under fire by activist investors Bill Ackman and Nelson Peltz as
Harvard Group International Recruits Chief Development Officer for After-School All-Stars
Executive search firm Harvard Group International has placed Mandy Nelson as the first ever chief development officer (CDO) of After-School All-Stars (ASAS). Managing director and non-profit practice leader Cyndi Court led the search. Ms. Nelson is a seasoned non-profit development professional with more than 20 years of experience leading campaigns, programs, and people. She was a
Ward Howell Adds Retail & Lifestyle Practice Group Partner
Executive search firm Ward Howell International has named Sonia Prais as a partner in the firm’s retail, beauty & lifestyle practice group. Based in Orange County, she will be working out of Ward Howell’s California and New York offices. Ms. Prais brings 20 years of experience in executive search, having worked in the U.S. and across Europe and
Preston & Partners Expands South Charlotte Office
Executive search firm Preston & Partners has expanded with the addition of three new executive recruiters in its South Charlotte office. “We are very pleased to be expanding both location and services as new team members come onboard. Our clients and candidates will benefit from the depth and experience of these team additions,” said Gary
Goldbeck Recruiting Forms Alliance with Merc Saudi
Vancouver, BC-based executive search firm Goldbeck Recruiting has formed a partnership with Merc Saudi, an international recruitment firm headquartered in Guadalajara, Mexico with extensive recruiting operations throughout Latin America and the Middle East. MERC provides recruiting services to an expansive number of sectors, including accounting & finance; automotive; banking; business support; constructive & engineering; facilities management; financial services;
Board Director Outlook Remains Bullish
A strong majority of board directors (68 percent) have a ‘very definite’ optimistic look on the future, anticipating their company’s financial outlook to improve over the coming two years compared to the past two. Fifty six percent expect their businesses to perform better than their rivals in the coming two years, while a third (35 percent) expect
Residential Mortgage Services Taps WinterWyman for Chief Accounting Officer
Executive search firm WinterWyman has been retained by Residential Mortgage Services (RMS) to lead its search for a chief accounting officer (CAO). Senior vice president and partner Ken Martin is leading the assignment. The incoming CAO will provide financial insight to RMS in order to drive better strategy formulation, decision making and tactical execution. He or she will also collaborate
Chrisman & Company Finds CEO for First NBC Bank
Executive search firm Chrisman & Company has placed Carl J. Chaney as chief executive officer of New Orleans-headquartered First NBC Bank. Longtime leader and founder, Ashton Ryan Jr., recently stepped aside as CEO. The bank is using the opportunity to separate the roles of CEO and president; Mr. Ryan will continue on as president. Founding search firm partner
EMA Partners Forms Partnership With Decision Dynamics
EMA Partners International, a global partnership of executive search professionals, has formed a joint venture with Decision Dynamics AB, a global provider of solutions for leadership and talent management. EMA will get access to Decision Dynamics’ tools, which it will deploy across all of its leadership search engagements and also through its leadership consulting practice, to offer solutions
Talengo Expands Healthcare Practice
Executive search firm Talengo has named Rosa García-Tizón as director of its healthcare recruiting practice. Ms. García-Tizón began her professional career in the healthcare sector, where she occupied different positions in Abbott’s hospital and pharmaceuticals divisions. In 2005 she led the business and human resources strategy for the Hospira project, the first spin-off from Abbott. Over
Why Amazon Remains Prime Hunting Ground for Headhunters
Egon Zehnder has assisted BAMTech, the $3.5 billion live digital streaming service, in naming Michael Paull as its new chief executive officer. The company is a recent spin-off of MLB Advanced Media in which Disney acquired a $1 billion stake to launch ESPN’s multi-sport subscription streaming service. He replaces Bob Bowman, MLB’s president of business and media,
ZRG Partners Fastest Growing Search Firm In the Americas
ZRG Partners posted revenues in its Americas region of $18.6 million last year, a 67 percent rise and a large enough increase to make it the fastest growing search firm in the region, according to the latest statistics report soon to be released from Hunt Scanlon Media. ZRG currently has 42 consultants across 14 offices global offices, with global
Russell Reynolds Associates Tapped to Find Center for Human Drug Research CEO
The Center for Human Drug Research (CHDR) has retained Russell Reynolds Associates to lead its chief executive officer search. Jacques Bouwens, leader of the search firm’s global healthcare practice, is currently on the hunt for candidates with proven scientific track records. Reporting to the organization’s board of trustees, the chosen CEO will be the key member of
Focus Search Partners Names Technology Practice Partner
Focus Search Partners, the executive search division of talent solutions provider Vaco, has named Steve Finder as managing partner of its global technology and financial officers practice. Based in San Francisco, he will lead a team of consultants and add new market sectors, including additional depth in enterprise software, space/frontier technology and cybersecurity. Mr. Finder has more than 20
Johnson Executive Search Adds Former HR Executive to Its Ranks
Johnson Executive Search has expanded with the addition of former human resources executive Stephanie Owens as a recruiting advisor. Ms. Owens specializes in placing middle and senior level marketing, business development and communications talent in law firms across the U.S. She has spent the majority of her career as a human resources and people operations executive
Private Equity Firm In Talks to Acquire CareerBuilder
Private equity firm GTCR LLC is in exclusive talks to acquire CareerBuilder for more than $1 billion. The sale would allow CareerBuilder’s owners – TV station operator Tegna Inc., broadcasting company Tribune Media Company and newspaper group The McClatchy Company – to cash out from a non-core business. GTCR has prevailed in an auction for CareerBuilder,
Witt/Kieffer Tapped by University of Illinois to Lead Provost Search
Academic institutions continue to turn to executive recruiters for leadership guidance. The latest: the University of Illinois has selected Witt/Kieffer to lead its search for a new provost for its Urbana campus. The recruiting firm, one of nine under contract by the Illinois Public Higher Education Cooperative to perform administrative, academic and medical searches, will be paid $121,600
Sterling Martin Associates In Hunt for Two Association Leaders
Executive search firm Sterling Martin Associates is currently seeking new leaders for The Association of Progressive Rental Organizations and The International Safety Equipment Association. Managing partner David S. Martin, along with senior recruiters Leigh Beal and Kahti Motley, is leading both assignments. The Association of Progressive Rental Organizations The Association of Progressive Rental Organizations (APRO) has retained Sterling Martin to
