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Workforce Trends 2026: Leaders Confront Burnout, Disengagement, and AI-Driven Change
As we look ahead to 2026, global business leaders are navigating a shared set of challenges: employee engagement is declining, burnout is rising, and the pace of change—driven by economic uncertainty, AI advancements, and evolving work models—continues to accelerate. DHR Global’s second annual Workforce Trends Report recently surveyed global leaders to understand how these forces
AI Talent: The Full Spectrum
In private equity, the game is to solve, acquire, optimize, professionalize, and ultimately exit. But when it comes to AI, that word — “solve” — belongs in quotes because AI isn’t a problem you fix, according to a recent report from Chris Benz, partner at Corsica Partners. “It’s a capability you continuously evolve,” the report
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
What Public Companies and Private Equity Can Learn from Each Other
The factors contributing to a CEO’s success can differ significantly between private equity-owned companies and publicly traded companies. CEOs who have led in both public and PE-backed environments tell Spencer Stuart in a new report that private equity is more focused on fast value creation and a successful exit, which often stands in sharp contrast
Caissa Global Opens In Germany
London-headquartered executive search firm Caissa Global has opened a new office in Berlin in the heart of the German capital to better serve its local clients. “Being on the ground in Berlin makes it easier to work more closely with our clients here as well as with local job candidates,” said Konstanty Sliwowski, Caissa Global founder and managing partner.
Here’s One Way to Diversify Your Boardroom
This past year, boardroom diversity in Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies increased for women and certain minority groups, according to the ‘Missing Pieces Report: The 2016 Board Diversity Census of Women and Minorities on Fortune 500 Boards,’ a multiyear study published by the Alliance for Board Diversity (ABD), collaborating with Deloitte. But minority men and women experienced
Odgers Berndtson Expands Leadership Services
Executive search firms continue their push into offering accessory services, from talent mapping and coaching to assessment and high performance team building. The latest entrant: Odgers Berndtson, which is expanding its leadership practice to include executive and team leadership assessment, coaching and onboarding. Organizational psychologist Dr. Robert Satterwhite is spearheading the new effort. “With a shortage
DHR International In Hunt for Athletic Director at University of Pittsburgh
Universities continue to turn to search firms to find athletic leadership. DHR is the latest recruiting outfit to be retained to fill an AD role: this time for the University of Pittsburgh. Glenn Sugiyama, DHR’s managing partner and global sports practice leader, is heading the assignment along with partner Pat Richter who spearheads the firm’s specialized
Chason Group Lands CEO for Athens Area Community Foundation
Executive search firm The Chason Group has placed Sarah H. McKinney as president and chief executive officer of the Athens Area Community Foundation. Past CEO Delene Porter recently announced her resignation. Tim Chason, the firm’s president, led the assignment. Candidates were chosen for interviews based on their previous positions and skills sets. Leadership, business acumen and development were identified early by
Eric Salmon & Partners Names Co-Leaders
Executive search firm Eric Salmon & Partners has announced that its long-standing president, Massimo Milletti, has handed over management of the search firm to two partners who will co-head the partnership. Sophie Wigniolle from the firm’s Paris office will lead the together with Raoul Nacke, a managing director in Frankfurt. “I am proud to announce that Sophie
Majority of Executives Would Not Take Job of U.S. President
A vast majority of corporate professionals would much rather take the helm of their own organization than become President of the United States, according to recent survey by Korn Ferry. In a survey of nearly 1,500 respondents, only 15 percent said they would choose being chief executive of the highest office in the land over being CEO
Professional Women Still Seek Equality Climbing the Corporate Ladder
It has been decades since professional women have pushed into the higher echelons of corporate management. Yet the ultimate objective of full equality eludes many of them. While corporate boards – and the recruiters who represent them in the marketplace – have implemented diversification initiatives, the C-suite nevertheless remains largely the domain of white men.
IES Consulting Leading Chief Legal Officer Search for Episcopal Church
Executive search firm IES Consulting has been retained by The Episcopal Church (TEC) in New York City to lead its search for a chief legal officer. Dr. George Conway, IES Consulting president, is leading the assignment. The position will function as the organization’s general counsel and report to its chair. The church’s chief legal officer will be responsible for
Taylor Winfield Places CEO at Softline
Executive search firm Taylor Winfield has placed Gordon Brooks as chief executive officer of Softline. The global CEO reports to the board of directors and will deal primarily with international business development, process optimization and structuring the company for rapid growth. Mr. Brooks has more than 30 years of software and services technology experience. Prior to joining Softline, he
Johnson Names Professional Services, M&A Practice Leader
Sydney-based executive search firm Johnson has appointed Warren Riddell as partner and leader of its professional services and mergers & acquisitions practices. Mr. Riddell is an advisor to professional services firms in Australia. During his corporate advisory career spanning 30 years, he has worked in private investment companies and professional services firms around the globe. In
Confidence In Economy Resulting In Bullish Hiring Projections
Another survey seems to continue to defy imagination, given President Trump’s tumultuous first three weeks in office. But according to Express Employment Professionals’ hiring trends survey, a full three quarters (76 percent) of North American businesses plan to hire more workers during the first quarter of 2017. Only nine percent plan to eliminate positions. The results are a
Storbeck / Pimentel Leading President Searches for Leading Colleges
The education sector continues to pump big fees into the coffers of executive search firms nationwide. Many academic recruiting specialists say business, in fact, has never been better. Even the smaller recruiting outfits have multiple assignments running concurrently, all at the senior levels, and if there’s any slowdown coming its to be found at the
Heidrick & Struggles Taps New Leader for U.K.’s High Speed Two
Heidrick & Struggles has placed Mark Thurston as chief executive officer of High Speed Two (HS2) Ltd., the company behind the U.K.’s planned £55 billion high-speed rail network. He is replacing Simon Kirby who has left to become the chief operating officer of Rolls Royce. Mr. Thurston, who will start with HS2 in the spring, has 30 years of
Argyll Scott Makes Acquisitions In Asia
Executive search firm Argyll Scott has acquired REED’s business entities in Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Financial terms of the acquisitions were not disclosed. “As a part of our ambitious global growth plans, we are committed to significantly increasing our marketshare within the APAC region,” said CEO John Hunter. “Given our success in the region to date, we
Battalia Winston Adds to Life Sciences Practice
Executive search firm Battalia Winston has expanded its recruiting team with the addition of Susan Oliver as partner in its life sciences practice. Ms. Oliver has more than 20 years of experience conducting executive and board level searches for companies in the biotech, medical device, and pharmaceutical industries. Drawing from her deep understanding of critical issues in the life
Kevin Chase In Hunt for AIDS Prevention Coalition Leader
UCHAPS, the Urban Coalition for HIV/AIDS Prevention Services, has picked Kevin Chase Executive Search Group to lead its national search for an executive director. Managing partner Kevin Chase is leading the assignment along with senior associate Catie DiFelice. Reporting to the board of directors, the chosen executive director will oversee the day-to-day operations and management of UCHAPS and
SearchWide Recruits CEO for National Association of Sports Commissions
Executive recruiting firm SearchWide has placed Alan Kidd as president and chief executive officer of the National Association of Sports Commissions (NASC). He succeeds Don Schumacher, who is relinquishing his title after 25 years as the only executive director the NASC has had. Mike Gamble, president and chief executive officer of SearchWide, led the assignment. The NASC CEO leads all operations
Herbert Mines Expands Search Staff, Redoubling Efforts to Find Retail Leaders
Executive search firm Herbert Mines Associates has expanded with the addition of recruiting veteran Russell Boyle as managing director. He joined the search firm late last year. Mr. Boyle has over 27 years of experience leading senior management and board of director searches as well as recruiting C-suite leaders and, in particular, chief financial officers. He is an
La Fosse Associates Forms Recruiting Alliance With Intelligent Partners
U.K.-headquartered executive search firm La Fosse Associates has formed an alliance with Intelligent Partners, a provider of research and education on alternative investments. Through the partnership, La Fosse will serve as a ‘talent partner’ to Intelligent Partners. The company turned to the search firm because of its expertise in the technology and digital sectors. Recruiting and retaining
NPAworldwide Adds New Member Firms Across North America and Asia
Member-owned recruitment network NPAworldwide has added five new member firms across North America and Asia. NPA now has close to 500 member offices across six continents. Membership in the network allows independent recruiters to serve their clients and candidates by partnering with other member firms on a split-fee basis. “Congratulations to each of our new members,” said Dave Nerz, president
This Recruiter’s Top Five Secrets for Landing Candidates
With the high demand for quality talent rising, candidates are in the driver’s seat in today’s job market. This means that companies, and the recruiters representing them, must move quickly when they find the right hire. Fred Medero, a managing partner at executive search firm Kincannon & Reed, offers up some leading strategies to help organizations
Slone Partners Lands Chief Medical Officer for Clinical Genomics
Executive search firm Slone Partners has placed Dr. Michael Dugan as chief medical officer of Clinical Genomics. Dr. Dugan is a well known biotechnology leader with extensive clinical experience in both commercial and academic settings. In his new role, Dr. Dugan will lead medical affairs and clinical trials, develop key opinion leader relationships, and build a scientific advisory board.
Howard Fischer Associates Recruits CEO for DataTorrent
Executive search firm Howard Fischer Associates (HFA) has placed Guy Churchward as president and chief executive officer of DataTorrent. Phu Hoang, the current CEO and DataTorrent co-founder, will remain with the company, reporting to the new CEO and continuing to serve on the company’s board of directors. Mr. Churchward is joining DataTorrent from Dell EMC where he serves
YouEarnedIt Secures $6.5 Million In Funding
Investors continue to pour money into new technology that aims to change the talent management game. YouEarnedIt, an SaaS company that is significantly altering how companies drive employee engagement and bottom line performance metrics, just closed $6.5 million in funding. YouEarnedIt’s HR technology platform aims to redefine the way companies engage with their employees. By providing a platform
TRANSEARCH Opens Another Office Paris
TRANSEARCH International is continuing its expansion with the addition of a new office in Paris. It will be headed by Anne Chevillotte, who has over 15 years of experience in executive search. She is joined partners Stephane Glowinski and Olivia Gallois and associate partner Nathalie Alexandre. Ms. Chevillotte specializes in manufacturing and business-to-business services. She covers searches in manufacturing (packaging, food, chemical, automotive, engineering, medical device)
Here’s the No. 1 Reason Workers Are Seeking New Jobs In 2017
The primary reason professionals are seeking new jobs in 2017 is to find a more challenging position. The quest for greater compensation comes in almost dead last as a reason to leave, according to a new global survey by Korn Ferry. In the survey of nearly 2,000 professionals, nearly three quarters (73 percent) said that if
Russell Reynolds Associates Seeking CFO for the British Council
The British Council has selected Russell Reynolds Associates to lead its search for a chief financial officer. Consultants Suzanne Bose-Mallick and Oliver Staple are leading the assignment. The CFO is a key strategic post within the British Council with a broad leadership remit extending across the global organization. As an executive director of the board, the incoming
Egon Zehnder Recruits India Stock Exchange CEO
Egon Zehnder has recruited Vikram Limaye as managing director and chief executive officer of the National Stock Exchange of India (NSE). The placement comes just two months after the sudden exit of Chitra Ramkrishna from the top post. The appointment of NSE’s chief is important as it comes ahead of the Exchange’s initial public offering. The search firm
JM Search Launches Chicago Office; Names Internal Recruiting Head
Next to New York and London, Chicago and its surrounding metropolis – commonly referred to as “Chicagoland” – has thrived for decades as a top recruiting hub. JM Search, a senior level talent provider serving private equity investors, portfolio companies and Fortune 1000s, has now established a presence here. “Chicago has always been a core market
David Barrett Partners Names Senior Advisor
Executive search firm David Barrett Partners has appointed Vanessa Bailey as a senior advisor. The appointment formalizes a collaboration that dates back over 15 years and provides the search firm with an expanded private equity practice to augment its search capabilities for family offices, traditional asset managers and endowments & foundations. Ms. Bailey has over 25 years of
