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The Talent Studios Recruits CEO for 2WAY Media
The Talent Studios has placed Joe Ruffolo as chief executive officer at 2WAY Media, a category-defining interactive digital media platform building the future of live, participatory content. The search was led by The Talent Studios’ Jeremy Cohen and Katlyn Maloney. “Joe is a rare leader who understands how to build modern media businesses while staying deeply connected to storytelling and audience trust,” said Mark
JM Search Places CEO at Whistle Express
JM Search, a senior-level talent provider serving private equity investors, portfolio companies, and Fortune 1000s, has assisted in the recruitment of Luke Byerly as the new CEO of Whistle Express in Charlotte, NC. Jim Ipema and Andrew Pressman led the assignment. As part of this transition, José Costa has stepped down as CEO and will continue
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.
Academic Search Seeking Provost for James Madison University
Education-focused executive recruitment firm Academic Search has been selected by James Madison University to lead in its search for a new provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. Senior consultant Ann Die Hasselmo, consultant Christopher Butler, and associate consultant Kate Cusimano are leading the assignment. The school seeks an innovative and responsive leader to serve as its next provost and senior
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?
ForceBrands Appoints Head of Executive Search
ForceBrands, a hiring and talent solutions partner for the consumer industry, has strengthened its executive search practice with the addition of Brian Waivada. He will lead the team and oversee the practice’s continued expansion. “This appointment builds on the strength and momentum of our executive search practice,” said Rob Ganjon, CEO of ForceBrands. “We’ve spent
Potential vs. Performance: Rethinking the Leadership Pipeline
Being a successful business leader has always been associated with a fast-paced management style, but today more than ever, leaders must constantly adapt and be prepared to navigate rapid change. Leadership roles across organizations of all types have become increasingly complex, requiring the ability to balance competing priorities at the same time. In this environment,
DHR Global Grows Sports Practice with Jobplex’s Acquisition of Ascension Sports Partners
Jobplex, the Chicago-based partner company of DHR Global, has acquired Ascension Sports Partners, an executive search and talent advisory firm specializing in sports, entertainment, and collegiate athletics. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Ascension founder and president Dan Rossetti joins Jobplex as a partner, working alongside DHR’s sports practice. “This acquisition marks an important expansion of
Russell Reynolds Associates Tapped by the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization to Lead CEO Search
Global leadership advisory firm Russell Reynolds Associates has been retained by the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO) to lead in its search for a new president and chief executive officer. Andrew Kriegler, its inaugural president and CEO, has informed the board of directors that he will not be seeking a further term. The board has commenced the
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
Solomon Page Launches AI 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
Creating a Purpose-Driven Culture
Culture can often feel elusive—something we all sense but find difficult to define. However, it plays a crucial role in shaping how organizations operate and thrive, according to a recent report from TalentRise’s Kristen Fox. “We create culture through the thoughtful intersection of mission, vision, and values. By delving into cultural design, we can gain clarity on
Heidrick & Struggles In CEO Hunt for National Association of Realtors
[Heidrick & Struggles has been retained by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) to lead its search for a new chief executive officer. After 36 years of service, CEO Dale Stinton is retiring from the association. The NAR is America’s largest trade association, representing more than 1.2 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real
Vetted Solutions Leading Executive Director Search for NAPHSIS
[Executive search firm Vetted Solutions LLC has been retained by NAPHSIS (National Association for Public Health Statistics and Information Systems) to lead its search for a new executive director. Vice presidents Nancy Green and Evelyn Savage are leading the assignment. The executive director of the association oversees governance and business operations for this $2.2 million organization
The Advocates Opens Office In Houston
[Denver-based executive search firm The Advocates has opened a new office in Houston and named Miriam McHenry to lead the new location. “It’s the perfect time to plant roots in the Houston market,” said Marcus Ollig, president and founder. “We have been strategically assisting our clients in Houston for some time and have forged many wonderful relationships there.” “Texas
PRAXI Alliance Adds New Member Firm In Turkey
Global search consortium PRAXI Alliance Worldwide Executive Search has added Istanbul-headquartered executive search firm Talent Smart as its newest member firm. The PRAXI Alliance global network now spans four continents, 21 countries and 58 offices worldwide. Talent Smart is a newcomer to executive recruiting, focused on growing its presence thanks to its strong position in assessment and development through
Six Secrets to Hiring Top Talent
As competition for talent intensifies this year, it is more important than ever for hiring managers to make precise and sound decisions when bringing new people onboard. A recent study by Jobvite outlines six ways for hiring managers and recruiters to better leverage their skills to recruit and retain talent in 2017. Here they are, along
Rosenzweig & Co. Places Ombudsman for Beer Store
[Rosenzweig & Co. has assisted The Beer Store (TBS) in the placement of Charles Dougall as Ontario’s first beer ombudsman. Founding partner, Jay Rosenzweig and David Stinson, director of research, led the search. The foreign-owned consortium, which operates more than 470 retail outlets throughout the Canadian province, said Mr. Dougall will mediate operational disputes between the
Jacksonville Jaguars Tap Korn Ferry for Head Coach
[Korn Ferry has been retained by the Jacksonville Jaguars to lead its search for a new head coach. Jed Hughes, the firm’s vice chairman and global sports sector leader, is leading the assignment. The Jaguars recently fired Gus Bradley with two games left in the season and replaced him on an interim basis with Doug Marrone, who
Bradley-Morris Acquires RecruitMilitary
Bradley-Morris, Inc. (BMI), a recruiting firm focused on the placement of military veterans, has acquired Loveland, OH-based RecruitMilitary (RM). Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. The combined entity will be the largest military recruiting company in the U.S., offering employers access to more than one million military job seekers via services that include recruiting,
EMA Partners Opens New Office In London
[EMA Partners International, a global partnership of executive search professionals, has opened a new office in London with the additions of managing partners Alison Ryan and Phil Sharp, who combined bring more than 35 years of experience in executive search. Ms. Ryan has assisted organizations across market sectors identify executive talent for a range of functions, including finance, sales,
JBA Executive Recruitment Adds Broadcast Recruiting Specialist
U.K.-based search firm JBA Executive Recruitment has added broadcast and technology specialist Sally Wallington as a partner. Ms. Wallington has had more than 25 years of experience in the industry, having worked with both broadcasters and technology providers during her career. Previously, she served as vice president of sales and business development for the U.K. and Western Europe
The 10 Biggest Recruiting Assignments of 2016
As the year now draws to a close, it turns out that when we looked back through our archives 2016 was simply a remarkable year for first rate search assignments. Hunt Scanlon Media tracked hundreds of them. From CEO placements to those covering the bandwidth of the C-suite, our editorial team gleaned the best from every industry sector
Hunt Scanlon’s 10 Most Popular Recruiting Stories of 2016
As the most widely read single source of news and information in the human capital sector, Hunt Scanlon Media had quite a reputation to live up to this year. Our editorial, social media and brand development teams produced hundreds of stories in 2016 – all geared to our massive audience of CHROs, talent acquisition professionals
Hunt Scanlon’s 10 Most Important Recruiting Stories of 2016
Hunt Scanlon Media covered a lot of terrain in 2016 – and so picking our 10 most important stories will likely go down as the most difficult task our editorial team handled this year! Great comebacks, globalization, new assessment tools to review, new service offerings, Brexit, polls & surveys to analyze, talent pipelining, the influential
Hunt Scanlon’s 10 Best Interviews of 2016
If Hunt Scanlon Media has one best kept secret, it is the vast professional and tightly focused network that we communicate with every day, both on and off the grid. Hunt Scanlon provides daily market intelligence briefings and data analytics to an expanding universe of global talent acquisition leaders – 72 percent of them on
Hunt Scanlon’s Five Biggest Recruiting Deals of 2016
If this past year is any guide, the sector we have all come to call colloquially as the ‘headhunting’ industry will continue to morph into a nine-headed hydra, and then some. Recruiting, yes, is still a massive piece of the talent puzzle that executive recruiters assemble every day for clients ranging from sports teams and
2017 Talent Trend Predictions
Based on insights from recruitment experts around the globe, the Futurestep division of Korn Ferry shared its 2017 predictions for talent acquisition. The list reflects trends that have emerged during the past 12 months as well as those predicted to dominate during the coming year. According to Futurestep CEO Byrne Mulrooney, there is a common theme that ties
The Christopher Group Retained By Cal State Fullerton
[Executive search firm The Christopher Group has been selected by California State University, Fullerton to lead its search for a vice president of human resources, diversity and inclusion. Thomas Christopher, chief executive officer and managing partner, and Jeff Wilbanks, recruiting director, are leading the assignment. “We will be focusing on sourcing sitting HR heads, in large academic
Evolving Dynamics of Recruiting In Life Sciences
As the life sciences sector evolves, this specialized area of executive recruiting is changing as well. For Adam Bloom, president of The Stevenson Group, his expanding role as talent evaluator has elevated in importance due to shifting market forces that have resulted in heightened demand for executives with cross-industry and multi-functional expertise. In the following interview, Mr. Bloom describes the wide
Private Equity Concern Acquires Search Firm
Executive search firm Sonoma Consulting, Inc. has been acquired by Chicago-based private equity firm Highlands Ventures. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. With offices in Naperville, Chicago, Tyson’s Corner, and Hyderabad, India, Sonoma Consulting serves over 100 national and international companies. Its clients range from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies globally. Its business is comprised of two divisions focused
Heidrick & Struggles Recruits CEO for Lands’ End
[Heidrick & Struggles has placed Jerome Griffith as chief executive officer of Lands’ End. After only two years on the job, Federica Marchionni has stepped down. The company considered both internal and external candidates. Lands’ End, which was spun off from Sears in 2014, tapped Ms. Marchionni to help transform the retailer into a global lifestyle brand.
Influencing Workplace Culture Through Employee Recognition
As employers look for ways to deal with the challenges of low employee retention and high turnover, a new survey released from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and social recognition solutions provider Globoforce shows more organizations are tying employee recognition efforts to their core values. According to SHRM’s survey, ‘Influencing Workplace Culture Though
Neumann Executive Search In Hunt for Chief Diversity Officer
[Neumann Executive Search Partners has been retained by Ithaca College to lead in a national search for a chief inclusion and diversity officer. Vice president Tom Phillips and principal Beth Schaefer are leading the assignment for the recruitment firm. Ithaca’s search committee will be chaired by Dr. Brian Dickens, who’s currently vice president of human resources. Campus visits
Huntbridge Recruits CEO for MIBOR REALTOR Association
[Washington, D.C.-headquartered executive search firm Huntbridge, Inc. has placed Shelley Specchio as chief executive officer of the MIBOR REALTOR Association. She will succeed Steve Sullivan, who is retiring at the beginning of 2017 after 26 years. “The nationwide search for our new CEO presented us with many excellent candidates, and the decision was not easy,” said Roger Lundy,
DHR International Expands Financial Services Practice
[Executive search firm DHR International has added Janice Abert as a partner in its financial services practice group. She will be based in the firm’s New York office. Ms. Abert specializes in placing distribution professionals and brings more than 20 years of executive recruiting experience in asset management sales and marketing to the firm. In joining DHR, Ms.
Amrop Adds Five Recruiters
[Amrop, a partnership of recruiting firms operating from 76 offices in 54 countries throughout Asia, EMEA, and the Americas, has expanded its staff with the addition of five new recruiters to its global team of search consultants. Jan Derk Bauerman has been named principal and head of the firm’s real estate practice in Germany. He has
Workers Looking to Ring In New Year With New Careers
As the New Year approaches, organizations can expect their employees to be weighing options for a career change. According to the latest WorkSphere survey from Spherion, New Year’s resolutions for 62 percent of American workers includes making a professional change, and while this can include things like overall performance improvement, learning a new professional skill, negotiating a
Reffett Associates Recruits VP of HR for the Seattle Mariners
[Executive search firm Reffett Associates continues to work with the Seattle Mariners to fill executive roles. This time it has placed Lisa Winsby as the club’s new vice president of human resources. She succeeds Marianne Short, who has announced her retirement. Seattle-based managing director, Marshall Reffett, led the search with assistance from Angel Rodriguez, a managing director in Dallas. The
Hobson Leavy Leading Earthquake Commission CEO Search
[Executive search firm Hobson Leavy has been retained by the Earthquake Commission (EQC) to lead its search for a new chief executive officer. Ian Simpson announced he will be stepping down from the role at the end of the year to take on the CEO role at GNS Science. Search firm founder and partner Stephen Leavy and associate partner Jo Baxter
upLIFT HR Launches In New York
Executive search firm upLIFT HR has been launched in New York by veteran human resources executive Talia Salvati. The firm was created to partner with small and large scale companies holistically to create, structure and recruit its HR teams. It works with purpose-driven companies to find dynamic and nimble HR leaders who can drive their company’s vision and
Locum Leaders Names President
[AMN Healthcare Services, a provider of healthcare workforce solutions and staffing services, has appointed healthcare recruiting veteran Bonnie Britton as president of its interim search specialist Locum Leaders. Ms. Britton brings a background in leadership and business development, including more than 15 years related to healthcare recruiting. Her management experience across healthcare, marketing, advertising and IT
Assessment Tools to Play Bigger Role In Hiring
Managers today estimate that one-in-five employees should not have been hired, according to a new study by CEB, a best practice insight and technology company. This may be because applicants didn’t meet basic requirements (65 percent won’t), the cultural fit with the organization wasn’t there or the hiring manager lacked the evidence-based tools to make a good decision. Fortunately,
