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How to Improve Your HR Executive Search Process
Securing the right HR leader requires more than a traditional hiring process—it demands the same rigor, clarity, and strategic discipline used for any major business decision. Organizations that consistently make strong HR executive hires treat the search as an enterprise priority, aligning stakeholders early, sharpening evaluation criteria, and building a candidate experience that attracts top
Unemployment Falls to 4.4 Percent as 50,000 New Job Added
Employment rose by 50,000 in December as the U.S. unemployment rate fell to 4.4 percent, according to the most recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report. Employment continued to trend up in food services and drinking places, healthcare, and social assistance. Retail trade lost jobs. The number of unemployed people, at 7.5 million, changed little in December.
Executive Recruiters Pull Off Another Remarkable Year, Remain Bullish for 2023
Hunt Scanlon Media has released its annual rankings of leading executive recruiters. In the U.S. and globally, billions of dollars poured into the high-end recruiting sector in 2022, a result of continued pentup demand for senior-level leaders and their key reports.
U.S. Adds 162,000 Jobs in August as Unemployment Holds at 4.1 Percent
Employment increased by 162,000 in August as the U.S. unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.1 percent, according to the most recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report. The number of unemployed people, at 7.0 million, changed little in August. Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rate for people who are Asian declined to 3.2 percent in August.
GDPR – The Perfect Time to Refresh Your Database
As executive search firms grapple with the complexities of GDPR, many are concerned that the new regulation will mean deleting thousands of records built up over many years. Surely there must be an alternative?
WittKieffer Recruits President and CEO for the American Hospital Association
Oak Brook, IL-based WittKieffer has placed Steve Walsh as the new president and CEO of the American Hospital Association (AHA). Andrew Chastain, Paul Bohne, and Keshia Harris led the assignment. “Following a thoughtful national search, the board unanimously selected Steve Walsh to serve as the next president and CEO of the American Hospital Association,” said Marc L. Boom, chair of the AHA
Egon Zehnder Appoints Global Leader of HR Practice
Global leadership advisory firm Egon Zehnder has named Ayşe Güçlü Onur as global leader of its human resources practice. She succeeds Rafael Altavini, who helped expand the practice’s work with leaders, teams and organizations navigating transformation and change. “This appointment comes as companies and boards increasingly look to CHROs to help shape business strategy, lead transformation, build leadership
The Industry’s Profit Conversion Problem — And Why Going AI-Native is the Way Out
The recruiting industry is not short on revenue. Fee revenue at the 50 largest executive search firms in the U.S. and Americas jumped 11 percent last year, topping $6.69 billion, according to Hunt Scanlon‘s 2026 annual rankings. Across broader staffing, the picture is more muted, but revenue is still flowing. The problem is what happens
BoardWalk Consulting Leading CEO Search for the National Breast Cancer Coalition
BoardWalk Consulting was recently retained by the National Breast Cancer Coalition (NBCC) to lead in its search for a new CEO. The search is being led by Crystal Stephens and Terri Kohan. This is a rare opportunity: to lead one of the most respected and independent voices in breast cancer advocacy, building on three decades of momentum. Reporting
GHP Search Partners with Ascend Learning on Board Member Appointments
GHP Search, formerly known as Greenwich Harbor Partners, was recently tapped by Ascend Learning to assist in growing both the Ascend Learning board of directors and the Ascend Charter Schools board of trustees. New members of the Ascend Learning board identified by GHP include Robert Childs, retired EVP, strategic initiatives at American Express and Amy Mbagwu-Bagolini, a founding leader of Amazon’s Streaming TV advertising business. Richard Young Jr, director,
FMG Leading Adds Healthcare Strategy and Transformation Expert
Human capital advisory firm FMG Leading has expanded with the addition of healthcare strategy and transformation expert Doug Van Wie as managing director. The firm explained that the addition further aligns FMG Leading’s capabilities with the needs of investor-backed organizations looking to add value and mitigate risk as they deploy purpose-driven capital into the rapidly evolving healthcare system.
Caldwell Launches Global Financial Institutions Group Practice
Toronto-based Caldwell has launch its global financial institutions group (FIG) practice, bringing together the firm’s financial services capabilities under a single, globally coordinated practice. “This is more than a change in name,” said Chris Beck, chief executive officer of Caldwell. “It reflects the scale, connectivity, and depth of the practice we have built globally, as well as
M&A in the Search Industry: How Consolidation Is Reshaping Who Wins
M&A activity is becoming an increasingly important force across the executive search sector as investors and larger platforms look for opportunities to expand capabilities, sector expertise, and geographic reach. For independent firms, the trend is placing greater scrutiny on how effectively their businesses are structured, managed, and positioned for the future. Against this backdrop, search
Korn Ferry Completes Acquisition of AMS
Korn Ferry (NYSE:KFY) has completed its acquisition of U.K.-headquartered AMS from OMERS Private Equity. The combined organization brings together two highly complementary organizations across geographies and industries with a shared commitment to drive business performance. The collective firm will have more than 16,000 colleagues. In accordance with the terms of the acquisition agreement and in the
Myers McRae Helps Pensacola State College Select Finalist for President Role
Macon, GA-based Myers McRae Executive Search and Consulting has assisted Pensacola State College (PSC) with the selection of J. Alex Kelly as the finalist to become it’s next president. The committee’s recommendation followed a national search led by Kenny Daugherty of Myers McRae Executive Search and Consulting. The search attracted 107 qualified applicants from across the country. The committee selected
Potrero Group Recruits CEO for Center for Volunteer & Nonprofit Leadership
San Francisco-based leadership consulting and search firm Potrero Group has placed Karen Strolia as the next CEO of Center for Volunteer & Nonprofit Leadership (CVNL) in San Rafael, CA. She succeeds longtime CVNL CEO Linda Jacobs, who led the organization for 25 years. “The board is thrilled to welcome Karen as CVNL’s next chief executive officer,” said Luana Vaetoe,
Marovi Appoints Head of Engineering
Atlanta-GA-based Marovi has expanded with the addition of Ebubechukwu “Don” Enwerem as head of engineering. “Over the past few years, Don has had several engineering terms with Amazon Robotics – work estimated to save millions in operational costs. In between stints, he was building with Marovi. When the opportunity came to continue with Amazon, Don chose
As Executive Search Accelerates, Judgment Becomes the Differentiator
Executive search firms are under pressure to demonstrate value earlier than ever. Clients increasingly expect firms to understand the market, identify credible candidates, and begin calibrating on potential profiles before a search has even formally launched. AI and new data tools are helping firms meet those demands. Tasks that once took days can now be
Fractional vs. Full-Time Executives: The Real Math for Mid-Sized Growing Companies
As mid-sized companies grow, one of the more consequential leadership decisions is determining when fractional executive support is sufficient and when the business requires a full-time leader. A recent ExactSearch.AI report examined the economics behind that decision, finding that the answer often depends less on compensation than on the level of ownership, accountability, and organizational
Lindauer Recruits Chief Development Officer for C-SPAN
Following a national search, Lindauer has assisted in the recruitment of Adele Hixon-Day as the first chief development officer of C-SPAN. The search is being led by Lindauer vice president Maureen Huminik, senior vice president Bob Giannino, and senior consultant Taylor Beard. “Adele joins C-SPAN at a pivotal moment,” said C-SPAN CEO Sam Feist. “For decades, the cable and satellite, and recently
Pyramind Recruits President and CEO for The SkillSource Group
Following a national search, Falls Church, VA-based executive search firm Pyramind has placed Clifford Yee as president and CEO of The SkillSource Group, Inc. (SSG), fiscal sponsor of Virginia Career Works – Northern. He succeeds interim executive officer Seema Jain, following a leadership transition supported by SkillSource’s staff, board, and community partners. “Cliff has a strong
Buffkin / Baker Acquires Fortra Search
In an effort to strengthen its venture capital and private equity search capabilities, Buffkin / Baker has acquired Fortra Search, a boutique retained executive search firm focused exclusively on executive sales and revenue leadership. The firm has also named its founder Andy Grosso as partner. “We’re thrilled to welcome Andy to Buffkin / Baker,” said Jackson Ross, partner
The Role of the CFO in PE-Backed Businesses
The role of the CFO in private equity-backed businesses has shifted materially in recent years. Historically a function for financial stewardship, the CFO role is now defined by operational accountability, value creation and the ability to translate investment strategy into outcomes. A recent report from U.K.-based executive search firm The Barton Partnership (TBP). The study examined how
JDG Associates Seeking Executive Director for the National Coalition for Assistive and Rehab Technology
Rockville, MD-based executive search firm JDG Associates was recently selected by the National Coalition for Assistive and Rehab Technology (NCART) to lead its search for a new executive director. The position is remote and may be based anywhere in the United States, with proximity to the Washington, D.C. area considered a plus. NCART stands at a pivotal moment, with active,
Calibre One Assists Cibus with CEO Search
Calibre One has helped to recruit board member Craig Wichner as the new CEO for NASDAQ-traded Cibus, Inc. in San Diego, CA. Peter Beetham, who has served as the company’s interim CEO, will continue his role as the company’s president and chief operating officer. Concurrently, both Mr. Wichner and Dr. Beetham resigned from the Cibus board of directors as part
Shelli Herman and Associates Recruits CEO for OneOC
Los Angeles-based Shelli Herman and Associates has placed Bonni Pomush as the new president and CEO of OneOC. She will succeed Tim Strauch, who will remain president and CEO through December 31, 2026, before retiring from OneOC after 19 years of service and leadership. “Bonni’s record of organizational transformation, collaborative leadership, and community engagement makes her exceptionally
NPAworldwide Forms Alliance with Dimensional Search Associates
Member-owned recruitment network NPAworldwide has formed a strategic partnership with the Sanford Rose Associates family of companies, including Dimensional Search. “This partnership brings together two strong organizations with complementary strengths and a shared commitment to helping independent recruiting firms succeed,” NPAworldwide said. “For NPAworldwide, the agreement represents a meaningful extension of its mission to connect independent recruiting
Scaling Growth Through Transformative Talent
High-growth environments can compress time, magnify decisions, and expose leadership gaps in an instant. As companies move through periods of rapid expansion, the ability to build and evolve the right leadership team becomes increasingly critical to sustaining momentum and creating long-term value. Across private equity, venture capital, and technology-driven businesses, organizations are rethinking how they
Crist|Kolder Associates Recruits CFO for Allstate
Crist|Kolder Associates has recruited Christian Lown as executive vice president and chief financial officer of The Allstate Corporation. “Chris’s leadership and capital markets expertise will enable us to continue increasing Property-Liability market share and expand protection provided to customers,” said Tom Wilson, president and CEO of The Allstate Corporation. With more than 25 years of senior
Protis Global Appoints Co-Presidents
Consumer packaged goods-focused executive search and advisory firm Protis Global has named Skye Miller and Isabel Cosby as co-presidents in a planned generational leadership transition as the company positions itself for its next phase of growth. Bert Miller, who co-founded the firm in 1995, moves from chairman and CEO of Protis Global to chairman. He will continue as founder
A Look at Today’s Trends in Executive Search
As AI continues to revolutionize industries, executive search must adapt and innovate to stay effective and relevant. While advanced AI tools are streamlining processes, improving efficiency and enhancing precision in candidate sourcing, the human element remains central to success, according to a new report from Kestria. “Executive search firms are increasingly focused on aligning technology
SearchWide Leading Top Search for Visit Sun Valley
Executive recruiting firm SearchWide has been tapped by Visit Sun Valley to lead its search for an executive director. Vice president Nicole Newman is leading the assignment. SearchWide said that Visit Sun Valley is looking for someone with leadership experience in brand strategy, strategic planning, budgeting, research and analysis. The Position The executive director role is responsible for the
Steven Douglas Associates Launches Latin America Search Practice
Executive search firm Steven Douglas Associates has launched a dedicated Latin America search practice and added Juan Moreno as vice president for the region. Mr. Moreno brings extensive executive search experience with an in-depth understanding of the issues affecting and impacting Latin America. His background includes building management teams for a wide variety of companies in the
Watermark Search Launches New Interim Practice
Sydney-based executive recruiters Watermark Search International has launched a new interim search practice in Melbourne and appointed Jacinta Whelan as its leader. The practice focuses on interim appointments in both public and private sectors with a particular emphasis on CEOs and COOs, senior executives in IT, human resources specialists, project and program management experts and business
Hiring to Hold Steady In Fourth Quarter, Paychecks to Increase
Seasonal and permanent workers are expected to take home bigger paychecks in the fourth quarter as the push for better wages and the increased competition for skilled labor remain hot issues for employers. According to CareerBuilder’s Q4 2016 ‘U.S. Job Forecast,’ 47 percent of employers expect to increase pay for seasonal workers in Q4. Of those hiring
Character is One Key In Cross-Border Leadership Hires
Character, chemistry and cultural sensitivity are key criteria that C-suite leaders look for when identifying and onboarding leaders at their global operations. This is the conclusion of CEOs and international search executives who met recently in Cleveland at the annual meeting of the International Executive Search Federation (IESF), hosted recently by ASLON Group. Formed in 2002, the
Witt/Kieffer In Search for Law Dean At University of Oregon
Executive search firm Witt/Kieffer has been retained by the University of Oregon to lead its search for a new dean of the School of Law. Principal Werner Boel and consultant Suzanne Teer are leading the assignment. The dean post reports to the provost and senior vice president and is the academic leader, fundraiser, and chief executive of
BSG Team Ventures Recruits Marketing Chief for Human Capital Institute
Executive search firm BSG Team Ventures has placed Robert Birdsong as chief marketing officer at Human Capital Institute (HCI). In this role, Mr. Birdsong will lead the strategy and execution of all marketing functions, positioning the HCI brand as a source of thought leadership for talent management leaders. His team will oversee all aspects of
Signium Opens New Office In Argentina
Executive search firm Signium has opened a new office in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Lead by Rubén Heinemann, SIGNIUM Argentina will provide focused executive search services across a number of industries, including industrial, financial, business & professional services, as well as oil & gas throughout Argentina. Mr. Heinemann has over 30 years of cumulative C-suite and executive recruiting experience
Odgers Berndtson Adds Sector Specialists, Doubles In Size
Executive search firm Odgers Berndtson has launched a new higher education practice in the U.S. and strengthened its life sciences and healthcare practices. In the process, the firm has added four executive search industry specialists – Nick Brill, Allen Reed, Jennifer McDonough and Ora Smith. Mr. Brill joins Odgers as a partner and will head its U.S. higher
Futurestep Launches Dedicated Credit Union and Community Banking Recruiting Practice
Futurestep, a Korn Ferry company that provides talent acquisition solutions, has established a dedicated credit union and community banking recruiting practice area and has named Mike Juratovac as sector leader. The practice falls within Futurestep’s North America financial services practice. Mr. Juratovac brings with him more than 20 years of executive search and consulting experience, with a specific focus
Heidrick & Struggles Opens In Calgary
Heidrick & Struggles has strengthened its presence in Canada, particularly among clients in the financial services, mining and metals, and oil & gas sectors. “Heidrick & Struggles is building new momentum in Canada to serve clients across many sectors with the leadership solutions they need in uncertain and often challenging operating environments,” said Andrea Waines, managing partner of the firm’s Toronto office.
Russell Reynolds Associates Recruits Save The Children U.K. Leader
Russell Reynolds Associates has placed Kevin Watkins as the new chief executive officer of Save the Children UK. Justin Forsyth, chief executive of Save the Children UK since 2010, announced he was leaving the charity earlier this year. Tanya Steele, executive director of marketing, fundraising and communications, had been serving as interim CEO. Mr. Watkins assumed his new duties two weeks ago. The
Major, Lindsey & Africa Places Chief Legal Officer at Union Pacific
Major, Lindsey & Africa (MLA) has recruited Rhonda S. Ferguson as executive vice president and chief legal officer of Union Pacific. The search was led by partners Paul Williams and Michael Sachs. Ms. Ferguson joins Union Pacific from FirstEnergy Corp., where she was vice president, corporate secretary and chief ethics officer since 2007. In addition to leading FirstEnergy’s corporate,
Caldwell Partners Latest Recruiter to Offer Assessment Services
The list of executive search firms offering leadership assessment services is expanding — rapidly. Caldwell Partners International is now the latest to enter the fray, forming a partnership with Caliper, a research-based talent management consulting firm focused on assessment and leadership development. The agreement will integrate Caliper’s assessment and onboarding services into Caldwell Partners’ research-based executive search process
Catalyst Advisors Recruits CEO for Acceleron Pharma
Executive search firm Catalyst Advisors has placed Habib Dable as president and chief executive officer of Acceleron Pharma Inc. He succeeds John Knopf who has announced his retirement. Catalyst John Archer and Sara Hagar led the search. Mr. Dable joins Acceleron from Bayer AG, where he most recently served as president of pharmaceuticals for Bayer in the U.S. In this role, he was
Gilman Partners Launches Real Estate & Economic Development Practice
Executive search firm Gilman Partners has formed a new commercial real estate / economic development recruiting practice led by partner Karen Finan. Ms. Finan joined Gilman Partners after a career with Duke Realty Corporation and Northern Kentucky Tri-County Economic Development Corporation (Tri-ED). After years of conducting local and regional searches in the sector, the firm decided to formalize the practice, and
Egon Zehnder and Korn Ferry Tap Insider as Pharma Giant CEO
In one of the biggest search assignments in British business this year, Egon Zehnder and Korn Ferry have engaged to support the CEO succession and recruitment process at GlaxoSmithKline by tapping company insider Emma Walmsley as its new chief executive officer. She becomes the first woman to lead the pharmaceutical giant and GSK will be the first top-tier
Cornerstone International Group Continues Asia Pacific Expansion
Cornerstone International Group, a global executive search and leadership development firm, has named Sonia Vaswani as a managing director in its Hong Kong office. She has more than 15 years in human resource management and is particularly adept at executive search & selection in Hong Kong, China and Asia Pacific. A seasoned business executive and
Job Market In Full Swing As Economy Improves at Modest Pace
Employers added a modest 156,000 jobs last month as the U.S. unemployment rate remained unchanged at 5.0 percent, according to the most recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report. The number of workers unemployed was essentially unchanged at 7.9 million. This report follows the addition of 151,000 jobs added in August. Job growth has averaged 178,000
JDG Taps CEO for Academy of Integrative Health & Medicine
Executive search firm JDG Associates has recruited Tracy Petrillo as chief executive officer of the Academy of Integrative Health & Medicine (AIHM). Principal Paul Belford led the assignment. Following a national executive search process, Dr. Petrillo was unanimously selected for the position by the Academy board of directors and search committee. Dr. Petrillo is a 15-year veteran of non-profit
Spencer Stuart Seeking New Board Members for New York REIT
New York REIT has retained executive search firm Spencer Stuart as it seeks to identify potential new independent members for its board. In connection with this search, the committee has confirmed that it has engaged in discussions with Michael L. Ashner, Steven Witkoff, and their jointly owned entity, WW Investors LLC. The committee will consider candidates proposed by
Amrop Continues Global Growth
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. Lanre Fisher becomes the managing partner for Amrop West Africa. He also serves as head of the firm’s private equity
Private Equity Recruiting: Finding Leaders Who Make Impact
There is no other sector that demands such top end service from its search partners than private equity. Portfolio companies represent some of the most innovative, well-funded and high-growth concerns in all of business. As a result, much of the talent that private equity firms seek are highly-charged change agents — a professional breed getting more
Game Changing Assessment Tools Coming to a Recruiter Near You
Organizations everywhere are looking for better ways to recruit and retain good quality people to drive effectiveness, and performance, in their business. Executive search firms are stepping up with an array of leadership assessment services that are starting to make massive strides in the field of predictive analytics. But not all of them have candidate
Benchmark Executive Search Recruits Cybersecurity Leader for Accenture
Benchmark Executive Search has recruited Ira “Gus” Hunt to lead the cybersecurity practice at Accenture Federal Services (AFS). Benchmark president Jeremy King led the search. Mr. Hunt formerly served as chief technology officer for the CIA from which he retired in 2013 after a 28-year career. As CTO, he set the CIA’s information technology strategic direction, accelerated adoption of new technology and led
ZRG Partners Names Country Manager for Germany
Executive search firm ZRG Partners has added Philipp Sturm as a managing director and country head of Germany. He will work out of the firm’s office in Frankfurt and will also serve as a member of the firm’s global industrial practice. Mr. Sturm brings a decade plus of solid and relevant executive search experience to ZRG. Prior
Turnkey Search Recruits New AD for Georgia Tech
Sports and entertainment-focused executive recruiter Turnkey Search has placed Todd Stansbury as the new athletic director for Georgia Tech. He replaces Mike Bobinski who left the position to take on the same role at Purdue University. DHR managing partner and global sports practice leader, Glenn Sugiyama, led that assignment. The search was led by senior executive director Gene
Horton International Expands Global Life Sciences Practice
Horton International – North America, a principal partner of Horton International, has appointed Molly A. Robb as a managing director for its global life sciences practice. She will be based in the U.S. and be responsible for expanding the firm’s life science practice sectors, including: biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical device, medical diagnostics/tools and web-enabled healthcare technology. Throughout her 20
Carrington & Carrington Recruits Chief Diversity Officer for McDonald’s
In arguably the most important global chief diversity officer search to come along in years, executive search firm Carrington & Carrington has snared Major League Baseball‘s diversity head, Wendy Lewis, to serve as vice president and global chief diversity officer for McDonald’s. She replaces Patricia Harris who is retiring at the end of the year after 40 years
Nobilis Health Taps Tyler & Company for Chief Nursing Officers
Executive search firm Tyler & Company has been retained by the Nobilis Health Corporation to lead its search for chief nursing officers (CNOs). Assistant vice president Kyle Wiederhold is leading the searches. The Positions Nobilis Health is seeking CNOs for the First Surgical and Hermann Drive Surgical Hospitals. The CNOs will report to the CEO for each hospital,
Diversified Search Names Healthcare Practice Leader
Executive search firm Diversified Search, one of the top 10 executive search firms in the U.S., has appointed Martha Hauser as the new leader of its healthcare practice. She will based in the firm’s Atlanta office. Ms. Hauser is a well-known thought leader with more than two decades of experience recruiting leaders in healthcare and higher
