DAILY NEWSWIRE - TOP STORIES
Daily Newswire
Lindauer Assists Destination Imagination with CEO Search
Lindauer has assisted in the recruitment of Mark Giordono as the new CEO of Destination Imagination, Inc. in Blackwood, NJ. She succeeds Michele Tuck-Ponder, who served as CEO for eight years. The assignment was led by Megan Abbett, assistant vice president, and vice president and managing director Maureen Huminik. “Mark understands the power of creativity in learning, leadership, and problem-solving,” said
Acertitude Fills Senior Finance Post for Sixth Street Growth
Acertitude has assisted in the recruitment of Rebeca Sanchez Sarmiento as finance operating partner of Sixth Street Growth. The search was led by co-founder and managing partner, Rick DeRose, and senior partner, Scott Carberry. “Acertitude is proud to have partnered with Sixth Street in the appointment of Rebeca Sanchez Sarmiento as finance operating partner,” the firm said
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.
The Moran Company Recruits CEO for The Arc of New Mexico
The Moran Company, an executive recruitment firm that specializes in the non-profit sector, has placed Tracie Fletcher as the new executive director of The Arc of New Mexico. Senior search consultant Bruce Scott led the assignment. “Tracie brings a 25-year track record of leadership in non-profit, government, and community organizations,” The Arc of New Mexico said in a
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?
Solomon Page Launches Retained Executive Search Practice
New York City headquartered executive search firm Solomon Page has launched a retained executive search practice dedicated to artificial intelligence leadership. The practice is led by managing director Ryan Kellner. The practice partners with organizations in financial services, healthcare, life sciences, and venture-backed technology to place chief AI officers, heads of AI, heads of data science, and
Ema Raises $77 Million in Funding
Enterprise adoption of artificial intelligence is moving beyond experimentation as companies look for tools that can deliver measurable outcomes across core business functions. As organizations seek to automate more complex workflows in areas such as HR, IT, and finance, investors are increasingly backing platforms designed to operate at enterprise scale rather than remain stuck in
The Counteroffer Dilemma: What Candidates Need to Know Before Resigning
Landing the job offer of your dreams should be the culmination of a successful search process. But for many professionals, one of the most difficult parts comes after the offer is accepted: telling a current employer they are leaving. A recent report from The Bridger Group examines how companies respond when valued employees resign and
True Launches Boutique Search Practice for Venture-Backed Companies
Global executive talent platform True has launched True Venture Studios, a boutique executive search practice serving founders and venture-backed companies across AI infrastructure, HardTech, SpaceTech, DefenseTech, Fintech, healthcare, and life sciences, among others. “True Venture Studios is our way of reasserting our roots, giving founders a dedicated team that moves at their speed and fights for the
Vetted Solutions Recruits CEO for GO2 for Lung Cancer
Washington, D.C.-based Vetted Solutions has placed David Benson as the new CEO of GO2 for Lung Cancer. “David is an exceptional leader with a deep commitment to improving the lives of people affected by cancer,” said GO2 board president Rick Sherlock. “His collaborative leadership style, strategic vision, and ability to build meaningful partnerships make him the right
TalentRise Assists Grassroots Gardens of WNY with Executive Director Search
TalentRise has assisted in the recruitment of Megan Kelly as the new executive director of Grassroots Gardens of WNY. “We’re thrilled to announce Meg Kelly as the new executive director of Grassroots Gardens WNY,” the organization said. “Meg brings experience to our garden network from her work with the region’s business and entrepreneurship community, and enters
Private Equity Firms Rethink Executive Hiring for Future Growth
PE investors routinely underwrite businesses based on their future state. For example, an investment thesis may assume a restaurant company will double its unit count, accelerate franchising, expand geographically, complete acquisitions, improve margins, or become significantly more institutionalized during the hold period. Executive hiring, however, often remains anchored to the present, according to a new
ON Partners Recruits CFO for Fortera
Partners Josh Nathanson and Chris Clements along with principal Alexis Rohe of ON Partners have placed Albert Luu as the new CFO of cement manufacturer Fortera in San Jose, CA. “Fortera is at a stage where the work we’ve done to prove the technology now has to be matched by our ability to finance and execute at scale,”
BoardWalk Consulting Assists Downtown Atlanta with CEO Search
BoardWalk Consulting has recruited Kyle Waide as the new CEO of Downtown Atlanta Inc. (DAI) to lead in its search for a CEO. The search was led by Sam Pettway, Crystal Stephens, and Patti Kish. The search committee began its work in April of 2026 under the leadership of Egbert Perry, CEO, Integral Group; longtime member of CAP and
SearchWide Global Recruits President and CEO for Visit California
SearchWide Global has helped to recruit Julie Coker as the new president and CEO of Visit California. She succeeds longtime leader Caroline Beteta, who announced her retirement earlier this year. The assignment was led by Mike Gamble, chairman, CEO, and co-founder of SearchWide. The appointment is the culmination of a comprehensive global search conducted in partnership
JM Search Expands Search Team
JM Search, a senior-level talent provider serving private equity investors, portfolio companies, and Fortune 1000s, has expanded with the additions of Amber Shockey as partner within its legal practice and Curtis Walker as principal within its media & telecommunications team. “Continued private equity investment across legal services, legal-adjacent businesses, and professional sports is elevating the importance of
Interim or Executive Search? Choosing the Right Leadership Solution
Interim leadership has moved well beyond being a stopgap solution for unexpected vacancies. As organizations face greater complexity, faster strategic shifts, and mounting pressure to deliver results, boards and CEOs are increasingly turning to experienced interim leaders as a flexible way to maintain momentum and address critical business needs. For executive search firms, that shift
Funk Associates Assists the University of North Florida with the Recruitment of Eighth President
Funk Associates has assisted in the recruitment of Michael P. Shannon as the eighth president of the University of North Florida (UNF). Past president Moez Limayem stepped down from his position in early 2026. “Mike Shannon is the leader who can build on UNF’s strong momentum and continue to elevate the University’s incredible impact across our
DHR Global Recruits President of Business Operations for the Pittsburgh Penguins
Talent advisory firm DHR Global has placed Marcel Braithwaite as president of business operations for the Pittsburgh Penguins. This search was led by Mike Gagliardi and Glenn Sugiyama of DHR’s sports practice. “Marcel is going to be a transformational hire for one of the NHL’s premier teams,” said Mr. Sugiyama, managing partner of DHR’s sports practice. “I had the
Mercuri Urval Expands International Public and ESG Expert Practice
Stockholm, Sweden-based executive search firm Mercuri Urval (MU) has expanded with the addition of former Danish government minister Astrid Krag to its international public and ESG expert practice. “With Astrid’s extensive experience in international public affairs, strong commitment to ESG and sustainability, and deep understanding of life sciences, she brings a valuable combination of expertise and
ZRG Partners Acquires N2Growth’s Spain Business
ZRG Partners has entered the Spanish market through the acquisition of the business formerly known as Blacksmith that had been doing business since 2023 under the umbrella of N2Growth. Through this integration, ZRG enters the Spanish market with an established local team and the goal of offering Spanish and international clients agile, high-touch advisory backed by
Family Offices Move Into Human Capital M&A
Altss’ latest ranking, The 50 Largest Family Offices in the World (2026), illustrates the scale family capital has reached. The 50 largest offices collectively manage an estimated $2.4 trillion, with the top 10 controlling more than $1.5 trillion. Twenty-eight of the top 50 are headquartered in North America, while private equity represents their largest average portfolio allocation
The Leadership Pipeline Crisis: AI’s Hidden Cost
Companies everywhere are celebrating leaner teams, faster execution, and higher productivity thanks to AI, according to HIRECLOUT. From a business perspective, the logic is easy to understand, according to Avetis Antaplyan, founder and CEO of HIRECLOUT. “Investors reward efficiency,” Mr. Antaplyan said. “Leaders are under pressure to do more with less. Automation is eliminating repetitive
Klein Hersh Recruits CFO for Sparrow Pharmaceuticals
Klein Hersh, a search firm focused on the life sciences and healthcare industries, has recruited George Eldridge as the new CFO of Sparrow Pharmaceuticals, a targeted cardiometabolic therapeutics company. “We are thrilled to welcome George to Sparrow at such an important time for our company,” said Robert Jacks, president and CEO of Sparrow Pharmaceuticals. “George
McCormack + Kristel Seeking Executive Director for NEXT Harm Reduction
McCormack + Kristel has been retained by NEXT Harm Reduction (NEXT Distro) to lead in its search for an executive director. This is a rare opportunity for a visionary leader and skilled fundraiser to take a nationally recognized organization with an urgent mandate and grow it to the scale the moment demands. Reporting to the board
Riviera Partners Expands Public Practice
San Francisco-based Riviera Partners, a recruitment provider specializing in C-level engineering, product, and design leader placements, has expanded with the addition of Archer McFall as a partner within its public practice serving large, publicly-traded companies and late-stage, pre-IPO companies. “Getting the right CTO, CIO, or chief AI officer in place, building the team structure around AI, making sure the
HelloSky Brings Its Graph of People, Investors, and Companies Into Claude and ChatGPT
Executive search firms are increasingly looking for ways to move beyond traditional databases and static candidate profiles as clients demand deeper market intelligence and faster, more precise insight into leadership talent. Advances in artificial intelligence are giving recruiters new tools to connect people, companies, investors, relationships, and career outcomes in ways that can strengthen candidate
Harris Search Associates Leading Senior Assignment for Carnegie Mellon University
Harris Search Associates has been retained by Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) to lead in its search for newly created role of associate vice president for research computing and data (AVP RCD). Jeffrey Harris and Ed Christ are leading the assignment. This role offers a unique opportunity to elevate and transform CMU’s research computing ecosystem positioning it to better support
Preng & Associates Assists SOGC, LLC with President Search
Following a comprehensive executive search, Houston-based Preng & Associates assisted in the recruitment of David French as the new president of SOGC, LLC. “Preng & Associates is proud to have supported this important leadership appointment and continues to partner with energy companies worldwide in identifying and securing transformative executive talent,” the firm said. Mr. French brings
NPAG Appoints Senior Advisor
Executive search firm NPAG has appointed André Blackman as senior advisor. In this new role, he will build and lead a practice focused on mission-driven innovation — connecting dynamic leadership talent and the development resources to keep that talent in seat, to founders and organizations solving problems that matter. “André brings a rare combination of strategic insight, storytelling
Driving Growth Through Specialized Talent Acquisition
The Bridger Group is a 57-year-old executive search firm working exclusively in the building products and commercial interior products industries. The firm focuses on identifying top candidates for roles in sales, sales management, and executive positions within these sectors. Jordan Underwood, managing partner at The Bridger Group, recently joined Hunt Scanlon Media to discuss the
Toft Group Expands Leadership Team
Executive search firm Toft Group Executive Search has added Lucy Lu to its leadership team as senior vice president. She will support Toft Group’s entrepreneurial client base in northern California. Ms. Lu previously served as chief commercial officer for iNDx Lifecare Inc., a point-of-care diagnostic startup, and SVP of corporate and business development at Crescendo Bioscience. She previously
Four HR Roles That Matter Most
Chief executives increasingly recognize the positive impact that HR can have on talent attraction and retention, setting company culture, and defending the bottom line. Consequently, they are demanding more and more from their top C-suite HR leaders, particularly chief talent officers and CHROs, who are responding by elevating their functional performance to deliver more for
Search Firms Strengthen Industrial Practices By Turning to Rivals
Korn Ferry has added Patrick Walsh to its global industrial search practice. He will be based in the company’s Minneapolis office. Mr. Walsh joins Korn Ferry from Spencer Stuart, where he was a leader and significant contributor to the firm’s growth in Minneapolis and the industrial market worldwide. Focused on recruiting board directors, general management leaders and financial
Bradbury Miller Leading CEO Search for Enoch Pratt Free Library
Executive search firm Bradbury Miller Associates, formerly known as Gossage Sager Associates, has been retained by Enoch Pratt Free Library of Baltimore City to lead its search for a new chief executive officer. Dan Bradbury, Bradbury Miller managing partner, is leading the assignment. The library’s CEO is one of the most historically significant librarian positions in the country.
CPS HR Consulting Finds New Leader for the Coastal Commission
Executive search firm CPS HR Consulting has placed Jack Ainsworth as executive director of the Coastal Commission. In his new role, he will lead the agency in its continuing mission to protect and enhance the California coast. Mr. Ainsworth is the commission’s fifth executive director in four decades and will lead a current staff of 156 people
Stanton Chase Creates New Leadership Team In India
Four Stanton Chase executives have stepped up to lead the firm’s push into India: Amit Agarwal, Ashwini Prakash, Mala Chawla, and Sripad KN. They will share ownership and leadership responsibilities across the country. The four consultants will play a hands-on role in originating and executing searches. Their pan-India, multi-sector experience will connect their extensive networks on a
Employees Will be Easy to Lose and Hard to Hire in 2017
It’s become clear over the last several years that the job market has been not only recovering, but transitioning. Consequently, the latest changes wrought have given way to an entirely new type of candidate profile, report recruiters from the field. Interestingly, working professionals themselves are leading the way — and they’ve become all too aware
Young Mayden Tapped by New York State Bar to Find New Leader
Executive search firm Young Mayden was recently retained by the New York State Bar Association to lead its search for a new executive director. Pamela McDevitt is expected to be named to the post within the next few days. Search firm founder Barbara Mayden, who specializes in executive searches for the legal community, led the assignment. The executive director is
Egon Zehnder Leading CEO Search for Autodesk
Autodesk has tapped executive search and leadership solutions firm Egon Zehnder to find its next chief executive officer. Carl Bass is stepping down after serving for more than a decade as the 3D software company’s CEO. Mr. Bass’ resignation occurs less than a year after the company made a deal with two of its activist investors to change things up. As
JM Search Expands Into Seattle and Los Angeles
JM Search, a senior level talent provider serving private equity investors, portfolio companies and Fortune 1000s, continues to expand its footprint across the U.S., this time to Seattle and Los Angeles. The expansion is being led by Kevin Kernan, a former software executive and executive recruiter who joined the firm as a partner in 2016.
Frazer Jones Opens In Milan
Executive search firm Frazer Jones, part of The SR Group, has opened a new office in Milan. This will be the SR Group’s second offering in Italy following its Taylor Root subsidiary launch in early 2016. Frazer Jones will focus on the HR market in Italy and will also take on searches in Southern Europe. The team will
Noetic Search Lands CEO for Duke of Edinburgh Foundation
Noetic Search has recruited Elizabeth Higgins-Beard as chief executive officer of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation – USA. The organization promotes a prestigious U.K.-based personal development award for youth around the world. Rhyan Zweifler, president of the Chicago recruitment firm, led the assignment. Ms. Higgins-Beard will be responsible for leading and managing the award in the U.S. Based in Chicago, her main focus will be to scale and raise awareness
ZRG Partners Expands In Seattle, Calgary and Frankfurt
Executive search firm ZRG Partners continues to be in growth mode. The firm recently named Allen Brady and Peter Gremillion as managing directors its industrial practice group as well as Jill Schofield as managing director and head of its global mining practice. In addition to his industrial experience, Mr. Brady will add sector depth to ZRG’s aerospace and defense team providing West
Benchmark Executive Search Recruits Chief Security Officer for SSL MDA Holdings
Benchmark Executive Search has placed Phil Robinson as the new chief security officer of SSL MDA Holdings. Jeremy King, president of Benchmark, led the assignment. Mr. Robinson will report to the senior vice president, chief legal and compliance officer and work in partnership with the senior management team and the government security committee at SSL MDA.
Norman Broadbent Names Executive Search Head
U.K.-headquartered recruiter Norman Broadbent has appointed Tim Hammett as managing partner and head of executive search. Mr. Hammett has a 17 year track record in the field and an in-depth knowledge of the C-level market. Most recently, he was a partner with Wilton & Bain in London. He entered search in 2000 and has worked at
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







