DAILY NEWSWIRE - TOP STORIES
Daily Newswire
Top 10 Executive Search M&A Deals for 2025
M&A activity in the human capital sector is holding up well despite a choppy macro backdrop, with deal interest staying steady even as founders weigh risk more carefully. In Hunt Scanlon Media’s latest polling, a majority of executive search firm owners signaled they would consider a transaction, underscoring how succession planning, scale pressures, and shifting
Lochlin Partners Assists the Entertainment Software Association with CFO Search
Lochlin Partners has helped to recruit Heather Dean as the new CFO of the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) in Washington, D.C. In this executive leadership role, she is responsible for overseeing all financial activities of the association, including fiscal management of the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB), the ESA Foundation, and serving as treasurer of the
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
Job Seeker Confidence Rises as Market Shows Signs of Growth
Despite ongoing challenges and frustrations in the job market, job seekers and employees remain resilient, prioritizing growth opportunities by pursuing roles or turning to nontraditional arrangements like contract and freelance work to meet their needs and career goals. The Vaco Talent Pulse Report measures employee and job seeker confidence levels in three core areas—job security,
Spencer Stuart Leading CEO Search for the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Spencer Stuart has been retained by the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta to find its next president and chief executive officer. It is one of the nation’s top financial services leadership posts up for grabs, but the search process could face tough scrutiny as activists and Democratic politicians call to make the process of selecting
CDI Corp. CEO Resigns; CFO Named As Interim CEO
CDI Corp. has announced that president and chief executive officer Scott Freidheim resigned from the firm to pursue other, “non-competitive” business interests. Chief financial officer, Michael Castleman, has been promoted to the post of president and has agreed to serve as interim CEO while the board of directors selects a permanent CEO. CDI named Mr. Freidheim
Myriarch Advisors Launches As Financial Services Recruitment Specialist
Financial services focused executive search firm Myriarch Advisors has been launched in St. Louis by Matt Huffman. The firm was founded, according to Mr. Huffman, to bring the blended experience of running a corporate executive recruiting function with a specialist executive search practice to clients in the financial services industry. For close to 20 years, Mr. Huffman
Heidrick & Struggles Names Financial Services Practice Leader In Japan
Heidrick & Struggles has added Steven Greenberg as a partner in charge of the firm’s financial services practice, based in Tokyo, where he will additionally lead the firm’s efforts in the insurance sector, covering Asia Pacific and the Middle East. He will also serve as a member of Heidrick’s CEO and board of directors practice. Fluent
Robinson Resource Group Assists Loaves & Fishes In CEO Search
Executive search firm Robinson Resource Group has assisted Loaves & Fishes in hiring Mike Havala as president and chief executive officer. Mr. Havala has been involved with Loaves & Fishes for seven years and has been its interim CEO since Megan Selck left earlier this year. “Megan was here less than a year, and when she told
Koya Leadership Partners In Hunt to Find Leader for Amnesty International
Human rights organization Amnesty International USA is looking for a new executive director and has turned to Koya Leadership Partners for leadership assistance. Managing partner Molly Brennan and principal Sam Simmons are leading the search. Amnesty seeks a seasoned professional who can, above all else, work collaboratively. “The organization needs a leader who can bring a wide range of
ZRG Partners Acquires Life Sciences Boutique; Names Aerospace & Defense Leader
Executive search firm ZRG Partners has added John McLean as a managing director in its global life sciences search practice with the acquisition of certain assets of Illinois-based consulting practice McLean Consulting. Mr. McLean will work out of ZRG’s Chicago office after the transaction formally closes this month. “John adds great depth to our life sciences team,” said
Indigo Partners Merges With CyberSN
Executive search firm Indigo Partners has merged with national cyber security CyberSN. Veronica Mollica, chief executive officer and founder of Indigo Partners, has joined the CyberSN executive team as vice president of business development, responsible for building teams to support national expansion. Ms. Mollica is an information security recruiter and was recognized in Hunt Scanlon‘s inaugural Cyber 20 ranking of leading
FaithSearch Partners Leading Chief People Officer Search for Centura Health
Executive search firm FaithSearch Partners has been retained by Denver-based Centura Health to lead its search for a senior vice president and chief people officer. The top HR post will report to the president of Centura and be responsible for the delivery and management of all system-wide human resources functions. The executive will be a major contributor to business
Keeping Talent Pipelines Full In the Academic Research and Health Sciences Fields
While universities have been turning to executive search firms for their leadership needs for years, the higher education sector has been broadening its reach to hunt for more specialized leaders. As a result, search firms have expanded their niche offerings to the sector, identifying athletic directors, coaches, and any number of other top posts for
Options Group Acquires Sydney-Based Broadstreet Global
Global financial recruiting specialist Options Group has acquired Broadstreet Global, a financial services search and strategic consulting firm based in Sydney, Australia. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Broadstreet Global specializes in search and consulting for a number of interrelated sectors, including investment banking, capital markets, structured products, alternative asset classes and insurance. Its client
Heidrick & Struggles Taps CEO for ANSYS
Executive search firm Heidrick & Struggles has placed technology industry veteran Dr. Agei S. Gopal as president and chief operating officer of ANSYS, Inc. He will become chief executive officer in January. James E. Cashman, who has served as ANSYS’ CEO since 2000, is stepping down at the end of the year. He will stay with
DHR Completes AD Search for Purdue
Executive search firm DHR International has placed Mike Bobinski as athletic director of Purdue University. He replaces Morgan Burke who announced he would retire next summer after serving in his position nearly 26 years. The search was led by DHR managing partner and global sports practice leader Glenn Sugiyama. Along with DHR, the search committee consisted of Purdue faculty, athletics administrators and
Kingsley Gate Partners Names Partner in Newly Opened Denver Office
Executive search firm Kingsley Gate Partners has named Geoff Hall as a new partner to support the firm’s growing life sciences practice. Mr. Hall will be based out of Kingsley Gate’s newly opened Denver office. With more than 17 years of unique and differentiated expertise in leading cross-functional teams across sales, marketing, operations, legal, finance, quality and engineering, Mr. Hall
Futurestep Names North America President
Futurestep, a Korn Ferry company that provides talent acquisition solutions, has named Bill Gilbert as president of Futurestep North America. In this capacity, Mr. Gilbert will lead the strategy and growth efforts for both its search and solutions businesses in the region. In addition, he will drive the Futurestep strategy across the region and continue to work closely
What Makes A Good CEO?
The average U.S. CEO approval rating stands at 67 percent, according to a new statistical analysis of CEO approval ratings by Glassdoor, which measured CEO quality according to employees. The Glassdoor Economic Research reveals a number of factors that ultimately drive employee perception of CEOs, some of them quite surprising. The study, ‘What Makes a Great CEO?‘ looks
The RSA Group Names New CEO
Life sciences-focused executive search firm The RSA Group has appointed Alex Bennett as its new chief executive officer. He replaces Chris Molloy, who leaves the firm to head up the U.K. Medicines Discovery Catapult. Mr. Bennett comes to RSA with an international track record in senior level life sciences executive search, specializing in medical devices and diagnostics. His most
Academic Search Retained by Wright State to Find New Leader
With the new school year underway, education-focused recruiter Academic Search has been retained by Wright State University in Ohio to lead its search for a new president. David R. Hopkins will retire as president when his contract expires next June. Senior consultants Dr. Jerry M. Israel and Dr. Mac A. Stewart will lead the assignment. “The selection of a highly
Korn Ferry Chosen to Lead CEO Search for Pier 1
Korn Ferry has been retained by home furnishings retail company Pier 1 Imports to lead its search for a new chief executive officer. Current CEO Alex Smith is leaving at the end of the year. His departure comes as the company also said last week that sales fell 6.7 percent in the second quarter. Mr. Smith had a
IRC Adds New Member Firm in Latin America
IRC Global Executive Search Partners (IRC) has added Chile-based Inquest Consultores as its newest member firm. Inquest Consultores, led by Pia Puebla Menne and Isabel Walker, has been a key player in the Chilean executive search and compensation management consulting sector for more than 14 years. Chile is one of South America’s most stable and prosperous nations, leading Latin
Employers Looking to Increase Q4 Hiring
U.S. employers indicate a slight increase in hiring plans for the final three months of 2016, according to the latest Manpower Employment Outlook Survey, released today by ManpowerGroup. Taking into account seasonal variations, the Net Employment Outlook for the fourth quarter is up 18 percent, which matches the strongest post-recession Outlook since 2007. Hiring plans nationwide improved by three percentage
Major, Lindsey & Africa Recruits Chief Compliance Officer for CONCACAF
Major, Lindsey & Africa (MLA) has recruited Guilherme Carvalho as chief legal and chief compliance officer of the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) in Miami. The international search was led by Brian Davis, Rosalind Dodd and Jeffrey Liebster, all based in MLA’s New York office. The organization sought a leader with appropriate legal credentials, extensive work experience in
McDermott & Bull Lands Chief Technology and Innovation Officer Post for Golden 1 Credit Union
Executive search firm McDermott & Bull has recruited Val Scott as chief technology and innovation officer to Golden 1 Credit Union, the nation’s sixth largest Credit Union with $10 billion in assets. The search was led by Brandon Biegenzahn, co-chair of the firm’s financial institutions practice, along with associate consultant Michelle Davis. During the course of the search, 171 candidates were
Benchmark Executive Search Launches New Service to Connect Cybersecurity Experts
Benchmark Executive Search has launched Expert Network, a new service designed to match its network of experts, advisors and consultants with companies seeking to upgrade their corporate asset protection, risk management and cyber strategies. To address the growing need for a full spectrum of enterprise risks in corporate boardrooms and at the C-suite, Benchmark has assembled a
Signium Strengthens Search Staff In the Netherlands
Executive search firm Signium has added Honoré Verbeet as a partner in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Signium currently has 47 offices in 27 countries serving clients in the Americas, Europe / Middle East / Africa and the Asia Pacific regions. The firm delivers talent acquisition and management solutions for global companies across industry sectors, including consumer goods, financial services,
Mixed Salary Growth Persists Eight Years After Great Recession
A new analysis by the Hay Group division of Korn Ferry shows mixed salary recovery figures across the world, eight years after the fall of Lehman Brothers signaled the beginning of one of the worst global recessions in history. Pay data is drawn from Korn Ferry Hay Group’s PayNet database, which contains salary and job data for
Egon Zehnder Leading Chairman Search for National Bank of Greece
Following the recent debt crisis in Greece, the country’s second largest lender — the National Bank of Greece (NBG) — has retained Egon Zehnder to lead its hunt for a new chairman. According to NBG, the new chair must have a good understanding of the environment in which the bank operates (e.g. regulatory, legal, economic), including the
IQ Partners Recruits CEO for Institute of Communication Agencies
Executive search firm IQ Partners has placed Scott Knox as president and chief executive officer of the Institute of Communication Agencies. The combined position is new for the organization. Its previous CEO, Gillian Graham, resigned last March, while former president Jani Yates left the ICA in May to lead Advertising Standards Canada. It was after that departure that a decision was
IIC Partners Launches Professional Development and Training Platform
IIC Partners Executive Search Worldwide has launched the IIC Partners Knowledge Academy. The platform serves to provide IIC Partners members with access to a library of professional development webinars, training and educational resources and collaborative learning tools. Knowledge Academy serves as an opportunity for members to grow their business through the exploration of a wide array of topics
JW Michaels Appoints Head of Partner Placement Division
New York-based executive search firm JW Michaels & Co. has named Richard Zakin as a managing director to lead its national partner placement division. With a decade of experience in practicing executive search and as a former partner for more than eight years with two of The American Lawyer’s Am Law 100 firms, Mr. Zakin brings a unique and personal
Hunt Scanlon Launches Recruiting Industry Media Center
Hunt Scanlon Media recently launched its Recruiting Industry Media Center (IMC), a newly-developed service designed to help companies, academic institutions, non-profit organizations and other entities with their human capital and talent acquisition needs. As a real-time, high touch product, the IMC allows end users to research and conduct in-depth due diligence on leading search firms and talent
