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Wray Executive Search Appoints Managing Partners
Wray Executive Search, a provider of executive search and advisory services in the restaurant, foodservice, retail, and franchise industries, has announced a planned leadership transition designed to support long-term continuity and growth. Current partners Kevin Stockslager and Ray Kelley have been named managing partners, while longtime CEO and managing partner Bob Gershberg will remain involved
Vardis Finds PE CEOs Under Pressure, But Optimistic
The Private Equity CEO Report from Vardis, based on a survey of 1,200 chief executives of PE-backed companies, paints a picture of resilience paired with constraint. Seventy percent of CEOs say company performance is “as expected” or better, yet exit activity remains muted, with 2025 tracking as the slowest year for PE exits since 2017, despite a
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.
Why Succession Planning Is Critical to Reducing Leadership Risk
Most organizations have something they refer to as a succession plan — a spreadsheet, a nine-box grid updated once a year and then put away, or an annual HR review. But very few can answer the question that truly matters: if a critical leader left tomorrow, would the organization be able to keep executing? That’s
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?
Rokos Group Seeking Chief Medical Officer for Center for Elders’ Independence
Newport Beach, CA-based executive search firm Rokos Group has been selected by Center for Elders’ Independence (CEI) to lead in its search for a chief medical officer. Reporting to the president and CEO, the chief medical officer will serve as CEI’s senior physician executive and a full member of the executive leadership team. This is a strategic
ADK Consulting & Executive Search Assists the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority with CEO Search
ADK Consulting & Executive Search recently assisted in the recruitment of Cris Jensen as the new president and CEO of the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority (RTAA). Rod Dinger led the assignment. “It is my honor to announce the board has chosen Cris Jensen to serve as the next president and CEO, and his contract negotiations are currently underway,” said Shaun Carey, chair of
How CEOs Can Overcome Setbacks and Emerge Stronger
Executive search firms are increasingly being called upon to assess more than a candidate’s track record of growth, transformation, and financial performance. As boards search for CEOs capable of leading through persistent uncertainty, resilience has become a critical component of the leadership profile. Search consultants are placing greater emphasis on how executives have responded to
Occam Global Recruits CFO for eGenesis
New York City-based executive search firm Occam Global has placed Glenn Vraniak as CFO of eGenesis, a biotechnology company developing human-compatible engineered organs for transplantation. “eGenesis is entering a pivotal stage in our evolution as we prepare to advance our programs through clinical development and lay the foundation for future commercialization,” said Mike Curtis, CEO of eGenesis.
Maven Partnership Names Partner and Consultants
Global talent advisory firm Maven Partnership has recently promoted Tom Chambers to partner, Seb Coughlin as consultant, and George Roberts to consultant. “We are delighted to announce the well-deserved promotions of several exceptional individuals here at Maven Partnership, Will Hannaford, chief executive officer. “We’re committed to the growth and development of our people, and it’s fantastic to
The Execution Era: How Transformation Is Reshaping Private Equity
Most PE value creation plans don’t fail on strategy. They fail between the plan and the doing. With longer holds and less forgiving exit windows, delivery discipline is carrying more of the return, according to a new report from Wilton & Bain’s Jack Syred and James Royall. The report reflects patterns Wilton & Bain has
JDG Associates Retained by the Institute for Defense Analyses to Lead VP of Corporate Operations Search
Rockville, MD-based executive search firm JDG Associates has been tapped by the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA) to lead its search for their vice president of corporate operations, based in Alexandria, VA. IDA seeks a seasoned operational and business transformation leader to modernize systems, processes, and service delivery across the organization. Serving as a corporate officer and
Modern Executive Solutions adds Partner to Lead Growth of M1 Talent Community
Atlanta-based talent consultancy Modern Executive Solutions has appointed Bria Bass as as partner, where she will lead the continued growth and expansion of the M1 Talent Community across North America and Europe. “Bria brings a rare combination of executive advisory, deep community-building experience, and an exceptional ability to connect leaders in meaningful ways,” said Mark Oppenheimer, CEO
AI Is Rewriting the Executive Hiring Playbook
Insight Partners’ latest research suggests the AI era is creating a new executive hiring playbook. Based on more than 400 executive searches and interviews with over 1,400 leadership candidates, the firm’s talent team argues that many of the characteristics defining today’s strongest product and engineering leaders would have been viewed as weaknesses only a few years
FMG Leading Acquires Market Intelligence And Strategic Advisory Firm BroadBranch Advisors
Human capital advisory firm FMG Leading has acquired market intelligence and strategic advisory firm BroadBranch Advisors. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. “In today’s high-pressure landscape, translating forward-looking intelligence into action faster and more effectively is critical for our clients, especially in the investor-backed healthcare space,” said Matt Brubaker, chairman and CEO of FMG Leading. “By
PARC Street Group Places Chief Operating Officer for Mission Valley Bank
PARC Street Group has assisted in the recruitment Amanda Connell as chief operating officer at Mission Valley Bank. This search was completed by PARC Street Group senior executive search consultant Michelle Davis, executive recruiter Tabassum Nagpurwala, and executive search associate Priscilla Chacon. Ms. Connell brings more than 15 years of progressive leadership experience across community
Hunt Scanlon and HSiQ Build a New Performance Model for Executive Recruiters
As the executive search industry faces growing pressure to deliver stronger and more consistent results, firms are reassessing how recruiters are trained, developed, and prepared to meet changing client demands. A few months ago, Hunt Scanlon and its HSiQ Talent Intelligence advisory unit introduced the Recruiter Performance Training Program, a practical, execution-focused system designed to
U.S. Payrolls Fall by 23,000 in July as Unemployment Rate Dips to 4.1 Percent
Employment fell by 23,000 in July as the U.S. unemployment rate stood at 4.1 percent, according to the most recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report. The number of unemployed people, at 6.9 million, changed little in July. Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rates for teenagers (12.1 percent) and people who are Hispanic (4.6 percent) declined
Parker Remick Expands with New Partner
Seattle, WA-based Parker Remick has appointed Adam Szepkouski as partner of consulting excellence. The firm explained that this hire reflects a broader push to refine execution and scale delivery as demand for senior technology leaders accelerates. The appointment comes at a time of structural change in technology leadership. AI is reshaping how technology organizations are built and
The Data Migration Paralysis Problem: Why Firms Stay on Old Platforms Too Long
Technology has become a defining competitive advantage for executive search firms, yet many organizations continue to rely on aging platforms that no longer innovate. While artificial intelligence, automation, and data-driven workflows are reshaping the industry, the hesitation to replace legacy systems often leaves firms struggling with inefficiencies that quietly accumulate over time. The greatest obstacle
Recruiterflow Offers Four-Step Playbook for Building an AI-Native Search Firm
Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how executive search firms identify talent, manage information, engage candidates, and serve clients. But adopting an AI-powered platform alone does not make a recruiting organization AI-native. The larger challenge is integrating technology across the search lifecycle in ways that improve decision-making, strengthen execution, and allow consultants to devote more attention
Kirk Palmer Associates Recruits Chief Merchandising Officer for Belk
Retail-focused executive search firm Kirk Palmer Associates has helped to recruit Molly Taylor as chief merchandising officer at retailer Belk, where she will lead merchandising strategy and vision across all product categories. Melissa Sussberg and Alexa Liebman led the assignment. Ms. Taylor is a merchandising executive with over 30 years of experience connecting topline vision to bottom-line performance
The Forces Reshaping Executive Search
As organizations face accelerating business transformation, leadership succession, and rapid advances in artificial intelligence, the demands placed on executive search firms continue to evolve. Clients are looking for more than candidate identification—they increasingly expect strategic guidance, deeper market intelligence, and advisors capable of helping them navigate an increasingly complex leadership landscape. Those themes emerged consistently
Bryant Group Fills Senior Position for the University of Washington
Dallas-based executive search and talent development firm Bryant Group has assisted in the recruitment of Justin Michalka as vice president for university development at the University of Washington (UW). The search was led by firm president Chris Bingley. “I’m delighted to welcome Justin to the University of Washington,” said Mary Gresch, senior vice president for university advancement. “He is a
SPMB Expands Financial Officer and Private Equity Practices
SPMB Executive Search has appointed Christy Mihos as a partner in the firm’s financial officer and private equity practices. “Christy is one of the most accomplished CFO search practitioners in the market, and we are thrilled to welcome him to SPMB,” said Dave Mullarkey, managing partner at SPMB. “His track record of advising PE firms and technology companies on
Executive Talent Market Faces New Pressures as AI and Private Equity Reshape Leadership Demand
The executive talent market continues to tighten as private investment accelerates, experienced leaders retire, and organizations compete for executives capable of driving growth and transformation. At the same time, artificial intelligence is changing the capabilities companies expect from senior leaders, while consulting and private equity firms rethink how they build leadership teams and evaluate potential.
Carpenter Legal Search Recruits General Counsel for Park Corporation
Legal recruiting remains an active area for executive search firms as corporations, law firms, government agencies, and other organizations compete for experienced legal talent. Employment of lawyers is projected to grow four percent from 2024 to 2034, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, with approximately 31,500 openings expected each year as employers add
Signium Opens New Office in Hamburg, Germany
Executive search consortium Signium has opened a new office in Hamburg, Germany. The new office is led by Moritz Drerup, managing partner, who joined Signium with more than a decade of executive search experience and a highly focused practice in technology and AI leadership. The Hamburg office represents a natural evolution for Mr. Drerup’s established executive search practice, combining his specialist expertise with the reach,
Executive Search Strategies for Leadership Success
As organizations navigate rapid change, leadership decisions have become increasingly consequential, placing greater pressure on executive search firms to identify candidates who can deliver both immediate impact and long-term value. Success at the highest levels depends on far more than filling a vacancy—it requires a disciplined search strategy that combines market intelligence, rigorous assessment, and
Leverage AI in Your Job Search: When to Use It and When Not To
Artificial intelligence has been changing the way people search for jobs. From optimizing resumes to preparing for interviews, AI has become a valuable resource for candidates looking to streamline the process. The key is knowing how to use it effectively, according to a recent report from New York City headquartered executive search firm Solomon Page. “AI
Transforming Executive Transitions into Opportunities
Leadership changes are inevitable, but they don’t have to shake an organization’s foundation. A recent report from DHR Global reveals, C-suite departures have a significant effect on employees’ trust, morale, and sense of direction. In fact, half of respondents experienced the departure of a senior executive in the past year, with 55 percent questioning whether
Failure to Develop, Engage and Retain Talent Is Growing
[Businesses are not in tune with their employees’ perceptions of engagement, training and career development, according to a just-released survey of human resource executives conducted by talent management solutions provider Saba. The survey indicated the need for consistent employee feedback across age groups and genders in order to gain an accurate measure of engagement across an entire
Eastward Search Partners Building Out Leadership Team for Oliver Wyman
[Eastward Search Partners is teaming up with management consulting firm Oliver Wyman on a special search project. The recruitment provider is currently assembling leadership profiles for Oliver Wyman’s digital practice buildout (partner/principal positions). Partner Joseph Carbone is leading the searches. Mr. Carbone is beginning with creating a number of leadership profiles that will span cross-industry. Once completed,
Russell Reynolds Associates Recruits Chautauqua Institution President
[Russell Reynolds Associates has placed Michael E. Hill as the 18th president of The Chautauqua Institution. Current president Tom Becker previously announced he planned on retiring at the end of the year after nearly 32 years of service. The search was led by Russell Reynolds Associates’ Washington, D.C., and Boston offices. Following Mr. Becker’s retirement announcement earlier this year, the Chautauqua
Grace Blue Snags Chief Talent Officer As Asia Pacific CEO
[Executive search firm Grace Blue Partnership has named Jean-Michel Wu as its Asia Pacific chief executive officer to lead the firm’s expansion across the region. He will be based in Grace Blue’s regional head office in Singapore alongside APAC chairman Michael Maedel, partners Helen Duffy and Hilda Ng. In addition, he will join the global board of
Conselium Appoints Partner
[Executive search firm Conselium has appointed Steve Harrison as partner. He comes to Conselium with over 12 years of experience in executive search, with a focus on placing compliance professionals in the financial services industry in the New York City and London markets. Prior to joining Conselium, Mr. Harrison was a compliance recruiter at Michael Page Executive
The High Cost of Picking a Wrong Leader
[Selecting a CEO is arguably one of the most vital decisions a board makes. Companies that choose the wrong leader can suffer hits to their stock price and market capitalization and lose in a variety of areas — momentum, opportunities, reputation, customer goodwill and, perhaps most importantly, trust within the organization, which can take years
Eurasia Group Taps DES Recruitment to Find CIO
[Executive search firm DES Recruitment has been selected by Eurasia Group to lead its chief information officer search. John Hodge, managing partner at DES Recruitment, is heading the assignment. “Our client is looking for an innovator and someone to help them create a digital transformation,” he said. The right CIO, said Mr. Hodge, will add more value and become more
Vanderbloemen Search Group Recruits Head of School for Westminster Christian Academy
[Executive recruiting firm Vanderbloemen Search Group has recruited Scott Davis as the new head of school for Westminster Christian Academy. Merida Brooks stepped down in June after 28 years of service to the academy as a teacher, lower school director over three campuses, founding principal of Westminster’s Lafayette Campus, instructional supervisor and, for the last nine years as head of School of
Turnkey Search Launches Executive Coaching Division
[As executive recruiters deepen their relationships in the sports and entertainment field, they’re finding clients receptive to helping them identify all sorts of talent. To that end, sports recruiter Turnkey Search has just launched an executive coaching division. Tony Ponturo, a pioneer of modern sports marketing and president and CEO of Busch Media Group, has joined
AltoPartners Adds New Member Firm in Russia
[AltoPartners, an international alliance of independent executive search firms and leadership consultants, has added Russian executive search and leadership consulting firm Excelion Partners International as its newest member firm. Excelion has been operating in Moscow since 2010 and is a niche player for international companies moving to, or operating in, Russia and for Russian companies and /or
How Employers Can Recruit and Retain Veterans
[ On this Election Day our sights turn to country, duty, and of course, voting. But we wouldn’t have what we do, and live under the protections that we have, if it wasn’t for our military service men and women. To that end, military service is probably the greatest honor that any American we can
Howe-Lewis Tapped to Lead Two Chief Advancement Officer Searches
[Executive search firm Howe-Lewis International has been chosen by Friends of the High Line and the Sundance Institute to lead their searches for chief advancement officers (CAO). Howe-Lewis, a boutique recruiting firm based in New York, serves the not-for-profit and healthcare sectors with clients ranging from education, cultural arts, healthcare, and human services organizations to membership and
Myers McRae Tapped by University of Georgia
[Executive search firm Myers McRae has been retained by the University of Georgia (UGA) to lead its search for a senior associate athletic director for development. Emily Parker Myers, chief executive officer of Myers McRae, and vice president Bobby Hope, are leading the assignment. Ms. Myers is also leading the search for director of development at the College of
Isaacson, Miller Adds Education Search Specialist
[Executive search firm Isaacson, Miller has named Ericka Miller as a vice president and partner in its Washington, D.C. office. An expert in K-12 education and education policy, Dr. Miller most recently served as chief of membership, governance, and higher education at The College Board. In 2013, she was nominated by President Barack Obama to be the
Client Volume Declines Plague CDI Corp.; Q3 Revenues Fall 10 Percent
[CDI Corp. / (NYSE:CDI) posted third quarter revenues of $220.3 million, a decrease of 10 percent from revenues of $244.7 million a year ago. The quarter included $1.5 million in revenue from EdgeRock Technologies LLC, acquired in October 2015 and now comprising CDI’s specialty talent vertical within its talent and technology solutions segment. Business Segments During the quarter, MRINetwork, the company’s executive search subsidiary,
As Talent Raids Grow, Companies Set Out to Defend Their Turf
One fourth of American businesses have experienced a surge in talent raids, but most companies have done nothing about protecting themselves. In fact, 54 percent are virtually defenseless against corporate poaching, according to a recent co-branded study by Hunt Scanlon Media and leadership advisor Marlin Hawk. And all indications are that the problem isn’t going away
Unemployment Rate Dips to 4.9%, Favoring Clinton Ascendency
[Employers added a solid 161,000 jobs last month as the U.S. unemployment rate fell slightly to 4.9 percent in what is the last piece of economic data before tomorrow’s big election. According to the most recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report, the number of workers unemployed also dropped to 7.8 million. This report follows the addition of 156,000 jobs added
ManpowerGroup Partners With PeopleTicker
[Organizations everywhere are looking for better ways to recruit and retain good quality people to drive effectiveness, and performance, in their business. Analytic tools, it follows, continue to gain traction in the talent management world. To this end, ManpowerGroup Solutions, part of ManpowerGroup, just recently formed a new partnership with PeopleTicker, a provider of real-time labor market rate
The Onstott Group Places CEO At Terma
[Executive search firm The Onstott Group has recruited Steve Williams as president and chief executive officer of Terma North America. He succeeds Larry Hungerford, who will continue as a member of the board of directors. Joe Onstott, managing director, and principal Scott Tucker, led the assignment. Since the beginning of 2014, Mr. Williams has held the position of
The Chason Group Leading CEO Search for Athens Area Community Foundation
[Executive search firm The Chason Group has been retained by the Athens Area Community Foundation to lead in a nationwide search for a new president and chief executive officer. Past CEO Delene Porter recently announced her resignation. Tim Chason, the firm’s president, is leading the assignment. “Compassion and development experience are two key traits the search
Third Street Partners Forms Alliance With Recruitment Specialist
[New York City-based boutique executive search firm Third Street Partners has formed a strategic partnership with Human Capital Acquisition (HCA), a specialized recruiting firm focused on retirement, retail and institutional distribution. Through the arrangement, Third Street Partners will benefit from HCA’s network of relationships and comprehensive research with specialization in the retirement, retail, and institutional distribution areas, while
Millennials & Politics: Why the Youth Vote Matters
[Millennials and politics. What a hot topic just four days out from the general election. This demographic group is now as large a potential political force as Baby Boomers, poised to make up 25 percent of the vote on Tuesday, according to an analysis of U.S. census data from the Pew Research Center. By comparison, in the 2012
Hanold Associates Fills CHRO Roles for Sterigenics International and Moderna Therapeutics
[As Hunt Scanlon reported last week, women continue to dominate the CHRO role across corporate America. Hanold Associates, a specialist in the field, has just recruited two more, placing Ana Rodriguez and Annie Seibold Drapeau as chief human resources officers (CHROs) of Sterigenics International LLC and Moderna Therapeutics, respectively. Jason Hanold, managing partner of Hanold Associates, led
Cricket Tasmania Taps Egon Zehnder for CEO Search
[Cricket Tasmania, the administrative body for cricket in Tasmania, Australia, has retained Egon Zehnder to find its next chief executive officer. David Johnston, Australian cricket’s longest serving CEO, will be leaving his post mid-2017, providing ample time to find a suitable replacement. Neil Waters in the firm’s Melbourne office is handling the search. “It is difficult to think
Horton International Names Healthcare, Life Sciences Managing Director
[Horton International – North America, a principal partner of Horton International, has named James D. Utterback as managing director in the firm’s healthcare and life sciences practice. He will focus within the healthcare information technology and services sectors. Throughout his 30-year career in operating CEO roles, human capital and executive search, Mr. Utterback has accumulated leadership experience in multiple
How Companies Can Build Up Their Defenses Against Talent Raids
Hunt Scanlon’s recently concluded co-branded talent raiding study with Marlin Hawk uncovered some revealing truths. But the most surprising result: the apparent lack of defensive people strategies at U.S. companies. A full quarter of American businesses are experiencing a marked increase in talent raids at the C-suite level, yet more than half (54 percent) are
Looking to Brain Power to Improve Hiring
To achieve better outcomes in hiring, companies must take a different tack than the one they have traditionally been following. Too often hiring managers place undue emphasis on the industry knowledge that candidates bring to the table, when what they should really be focusing on is an individual’s intelligence, says Russ Riendeau. “Hire the frontal cortex, not the Rolodex”
Netflix Talent Poaching Turns Into Employee Mobility Referendum
A month after Netflix was lambasted by Fox for ‘illegally’ poaching two executives under contract, the streaming service has struck back, charging ‘unlawful and anti-competitive business practices.’ 21st Century Fox had originally said that Netflix had poached programming executive Tara Flynn and marketing executive Marcos Waltenberg. Fox said that Netflix was fully aware of employment agreements before
Recruiters Offer Sports Clients an Expanding Talent Platform
[The relationship between sports teams and executive search firms is rapidly expanding and now extends beyond merely recruiting. Seasoned recruiters are providing strategic planning advice with the capability of applying their findings to speed along the process in the hunt for talent. Today, executive search firms are being called in by professional sports teams, colleges, and consumer
Tower Consultants Leading Chief People Officer Search for FARO Technologies
[Executive search firm Tower Consultants, Ltd. has been retained by FARO Technologies to lead its search for a chief people officer (CPO). Tower Consultants president, Chris Rose, is leading the assignment. According to Ms. Rose, FARO Technologies is seeking a candidate with international agility to partner with a technical / engineering workforce of 1,500 employees. “The newcomer will
Caldwell Partners Recruits CFO for Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe
Executive search firm Caldwell Partners International has recruited Kevin Cash chief financial officer of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP. Michael DeCosta, a partner and leader in the firm’s professional services practice, led the search along with Kristin Hebert, a leader of Caldwell’s legal practice and managing partner of its San Francisco office. Mr. Cash previously served as CFO of
