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McCormack+Kristel Recruits CEO for the Independent Film & Television Alliance
Following a highly competitive national search, McCormack+Kristel has placed Jackie Brenneman as president and CEO of the Independent Film & Television Alliance (IFTA). She succeeds Jean Prewitt, who is stepping down at the end of the month after 25 years leading the organization. “Jackie brings industry insight, legal and lobbying expertise, and a proven record of
Cooper Coleman Recruits Executive Director for San Diego Pride
Chicago-based Cooper Coleman LLC has assisted in the recruitment of KishaLynn Elliott as executive director of San Diego Pride. She becomes the first Black lesbian to serve as permanent executive director in the organization’s more than 50-year history. The national search was led by J. Michael Durnil, director of executive search at Cooper Coleman, in close partnership with
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.
Kincannon & Reed Places Executive Director for the Pennsylvania Dairymen’s Association
Kincannon & Reed (K&R), which exclusively focuses on food, agribusiness, and the related life sciences, has assisted in the recruitment of Patrick Carney as the new executive director of the Pennsylvania Dairymen’s Association. Dave Smith stepped down from his executive role after leading the association for more than 30 years. “Patrick pairs dairy industry knowledge with
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?
Noto Group Expands Global Consumer Practice
Portland, OR-headquartered executive search firm Noto Group has expanded with the additions of Kirsty Schofield and Cody Johns as senior partners in its global consumer practice. “Cody and Kirsty bring highly complementary experience, deep consumer sector expertise, and a genuine connection to how we work,” said Sara Spirko, managing partner of Noto Group. “Both understand that finding
millionways Brings a New Behavioral Intelligence Lever to Executive Recruiters
Hunt Scanlon Ventures this week completed its investment in millionways, a New York-headquartered company that builds a behavioral intelligence layer of AI for human agent workforces, utilizing a proprietary Large Psychology Model called Thorsten-4. The platform focuses on understanding human signals, motives, and behavior patterns, with applications used across AI governance, executive hiring, talent management,
AI Governance Jobs Platform Builds Early Momentum Through Privacy-First Model
AI-Governance-Jobs.com, operated by GRC Careers LLC and led by founder and CEO F. Jay Hall, has built its model combining specialized career content, organic search visibility, and privacy-focused architecture. The company’s latest executive summary reports 134,499 organic impressions over a recent 28-day period, achieved roughly three months after launch — without advertising. As demand grows
Blue Rock Human Capital Assists Linfield University with the Recruitment of Dean of the School of Business
Blue Rock Human Capital has helped to recruit Isaac Wanasika as the new dean of the School of Business at Linfield University. “Blue Rock Human Capital was pleased to work with Linfield University to identify their new dean of the School of Business,” said Jacquelyn Elliot, president and COO of Blue Rock Human Capital. “Today’s higher
CIO Partners Leading Cybersecurity Search for Flexsteel Industries
CIO Partners was recently retained by Flexsteel Industries in Dubuque, IA, to lead in its search for director of cybersecurity. This role partners closely with IT, executive leadership, legal, compliance, operations, and external security partners to reduce cyber risk, strengthen business resilience, and ensure the organization is prepared to prevent, detect, respond to, and recover
Pacific International Launches Leadership Coaching and Onboarding Service
London-headquartered executive search firm Pacific International Executive Search has launched its new leadership coaching & onboarding service. This will support senior leaders through the highest-stakes moments of their careers. “The first months in a new leadership role, a step-change in scope, the pressures of C-suite leadership – these are just a few examples where an experienced coach can turn potential into value faster
Leveraging AI to Drive Business Development in Executive Search
AI is beginning to reshape how executive search firms approach business development, moving the process beyond traditional account lists and periodic outreach toward more continuous market intelligence. By helping recruiters identify meaningful changes across companies, leadership teams, and professional networks, AI is creating new opportunities to engage clients with greater relevance and better timing. The
Korn Ferry Retained by Convergence for CEO Search
Korn Ferry has been retained by Convergence to lead in its search for a new CEO. Joan Larrea will retire as CEO in early 2027 after more than a decade of leadership. Since inception, Ms. Larrea has led the organization through a decade of significant growth, helping establish Convergence as the world’s leading authority on
St. Olaf College Taps Brettschneider Executive Search for Chief Information Officer Search
New York City-based Brettschneider Executive Search has been selected by St. Olaf College to lead in its search for chief information officer. St. Olaf seeks a values-forward, innovative CIO. The next CIO of St. Olaf College will serve as a trusted advisor to the provost, president, and president’s leadership team on the role of information and library resources
Boyden Seeking CEO for Creative BC
Boyden has been retained by Creative BC in Vancouver, British Columbia to lead in its search for a new CEO. Reporting to the board of directors, the CEO will provide strategic and operational leadership to an organization that sits at the center of British Columbia’s creative economy. The CEO will lead the execution of Creative BC’s mandate
Signium Expands in Belgium
Executive search consortium Signium has expanded with the addition of Valérie Schmitt to its Belgium team as leadership consulting partner. “She will support executive leaders and teams at pivotal moments, helping them navigate change and succeed in complex environments,” Signium said. “Drawing on more than 25 years in senior corporate roles, Valérie brings first-hand experience of the challenges
How AI Is Reshaping Executive Assessment and Leadership Development
As organizations look for better ways to evaluate leadership potential, attention is shifting beyond experience and credentials toward how executives actually think, communicate, make decisions, and respond under pressure. AI is creating new ways to analyze those behaviors at scale, giving executive search firms and their clients additional evidence when assessing qualities such as judgment,
Caldwell Assists the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority with the Recruitment of President for the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project
Toronto-based Caldwell has assisted the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority with the recruitment of Cheryl Nelms as president of the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project. Her appointment follows a competitive international executive recruitment process. The search was led by Drew Railton, Lucy Antrobus, and Vicky O’Connor. “With more than 25 years of experience delivering complex infrastructure projects across Canada, Cheryl brings
TOC Arts Partners Fills Key Position for Film at Lincoln Center
New York City-based TOC Arts Partners has helped to recruit Trent Anderson as vice president of development of Film at Lincoln Center (FLC). This follows an extensive national search led by senior strategist, Brenna Thomas. “Throughout the search process, Trent distinguished himself with his strategic vision, fundraising expertise, and thoughtful leadership,” said Daniel Battsek, president of Film
True Launches Forensic Referencing Offering
Global executive talent platform True has launched True Forensic Referencing, a new executive intelligence capability designed to help investors, boards, and executive teams make more informed leadership decisions before high-stakes investments, new business relationships, and governance milestones. The firm named Christopher Jaros as partner to build and lead the offering. This expands True’s executive intelligence platform, complementing the firm’s executive
Long Ridge Partners Appoints Director
New York City-based Long Ridge Partners has named Chrissie Shin as director. “Please join us in congratulating Chrissie Shin on her promotion to director,” Long Ridge Partners said in a LinkedIn post. “Chrissie’s expertise, dedication, and leadership have made her an invaluable member of the Long Ridge team. This well-earned promotion reflects the impact she’s made across
Navigating the Search for Tomorrow’s HBCU Leaders
Leadership searches at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) are becoming increasingly complex as boards weigh institutional legacy against rapidly changing demands on presidents. Executive search firms are being asked to identify candidates who can balance mission, financial stewardship, fundraising, stakeholder engagement, and long-term strategy while navigating a more uncertain higher education environment. For HBCUs,
Egon Zehnder Called in by CAAT Pension Plan for CEO Search
Leadership advisory firm Egon Zehnder has been selected by the board of trustees of CAAT Pension Plan to lead in its search for its next chief executive officer. This follows the departure of longtime CEO and plan manager Derek Dobson, who recently resigned. The search will focus on leaders who can combine strategic vision with operational discipline,
The National Airlines Council of Canada Retains Odgers to Lead Search for CEO
Odgers was recently retained by the National Airlines Council of Canada (NACC) to lead in its search for a new president and CEO. Jeff Morrison has informed the board of his intention to retire. He will continue to lead the association until a successor is appointed to ensure a seamless transition of leadership. To support the
PierceGray Expands Staff with New Vice President
PierceGray has expanded with the addition of Kara Hennessey as vice president in the firm’s finance practice. She will be based in the New York office. “PierceGray is excited to welcome Kara Hennessey to the team as our newest vice president,” the firm said in a LinkedIn post. “Kara brings almost 10 years of executive search
The ExeQfind Group Forms Alliance with Aspire HR Consultants
The ExeQfind Group has formed a strategic partnership with Aspire HR Consultants – Middle East, an executive search and leadership advisory firm covering the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) from offices across Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. “Partnering with Aspire HR Consultants represents a significant step in strengthening our international capabilities,” said Warren
Private Equity Faces Growing Leadership Succession Risks
Private equity firms are placing greater emphasis on leadership planning as talent availability becomes an increasingly important factor in value creation. For executive search firms, that shift is expanding the mandate beyond filling immediate vacancies to helping sponsors identify succession risks, build deeper leadership pipelines, and prepare portfolio companies for transition well before a critical
Cook Silverman Search Tapped by EPACANDO to Help Find New Executive Director
Greenbrae, CA-based Cook Silverman Search was recently retained by East Palo Alto Community Alliance and Neighborhood Development Organization (EPACANDO) to lead in its search for a new executive director. Current executive director Duane Bay is planning to retire. The non-profit seeks an experienced, community-centered executive director to lead the organization into its next chapter: Building the capacity
RH Perry & Associates Retained by Skagit Valley College for President Search
RH Perry & Associates has been selected by Skagit Valley College (SVC) to lead in its search for a new president. The assignment is being led by senior consultant Sue DeWine and and Paul G. Doeg, president and chief operating officer. The president will strengthen the College’s ‘One College’ approach by enhancing coordination across the Mount Vernon and Whidbey
Modern Executive Solutions Names Managing Director
Atlanta-based talent consultancy Modern Executive Solutions has expanded with the addition of Matheus Furlan as managing director. “Matheus brings a global perspective to leadership development, with experience helping executives and teams navigate change, build self-awareness, and lead more effectively across cultures and business contexts,” Modern said in a LinkedIn post. “His background as a master coach, facilitator,
Venture Capital Reinvented: All Roads Lead to Talent
The latest PitchBook NVCA Venture Monitor report offers up a revealing look at how the new year might unfold for a sector that has been under water for three years. According to the company’s analysts, artificial intelligence (AI) continues to dominate investment strategies, accounting for nearly half of total VC deal value. Traditional hubs like the
Diversified Search Acquires Life Sciences Specialist BioQuest
Executive search firm Diversified Search, one of the top 10 executive search firms in the U.S., has acquired San Francisco-based BioQuest, a recruiting boutique specialist serving healthcare innovators in the life sciences market. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Under the terms of the agreement, BioQuest will operate as an independent, wholly-owned subsidiary within Diversified
FelCor Taps Spencer Stuart to Lead Its CEO Search
Spencer Stuart has been retained by FelCor Lodging Trust Incorporated to lead its search for a new chief executive officer. Richard A. Smith, the company’s former president and CEO, has retired. Troy A. Pentecost, FelCor’s long-time chief operating officer and a 35-year veteran of the hospitality industry, has been appointed to the additional positions of president and interim
Taylor Winfield Recruits President and CEO for Farm Foundation
Executive search firm Taylor Winfield has placed Constance Cullman as president and chief executive officer of Farm Foundation. Ms. Cullman will be the seventh leader to serve as president since the organization was founded in 1933. She succeeds Neilson Conklin, who has served as president since 2008. In 2015, Mr. Conklin announced his plans to retire. Previously, Ms. Cullman
IMD International Adds Member Firms in Palo Alto and London
IMD International Search Group has added Palo Alto, CA-based Fortra Executive Search and London-headquartered Hill Coates Associates as its newest member firms. Fortra Executive Search is a boutique firm specialized in the specific niche of the venture-funded and private equity technology market in San Francisco. Andy Grosso, who has a background of 11 years in executive search and
In a Three Generational Workforce, Baby Boomers Provide the Backbone
Baby Boomers, those born between 1946 and 1964, are still some the most motivated and driven members of the workforce, according to a newly released survey by the Futurestep division of Korn Ferry. Interestingly, the survey revealed that Baby Boomers will be working for far longer following the global recession. As a result, businesses should
University of Arizona Taps R. William Funk to Recruit Next President
Executive search firm R. William Funk & Associates has been selected by the University of Arizona to finds its next president. The board of regents has previously announced UA president Ann Weaver Hart’s decision not to seek an extension to her current contract as president. Recruiting firm founder and president R. William Funk will lead the assignment. His
ON Partners Recruits Director to ADTRAN
Executive search firm ON Partners has recruited Jacqueline Hourigan Rice as a new member of the board of directors at NASDAQ-listed ADTRAN, Inc. Partner Matthew A. Mooney led the search on behalf of ON Partners. Ms. Hourigan Rice is executive vice president and chief risk & compliance officer at Target. At Target, she is responsible for managing enterprise and vendor risk, corporate security
Kingfisher Talent Launched to Serve Life Science Companies
Kingfisher Talent has been launched to provide executive search services to life sciences companies in Massachusetts. The company is a Boston-based consortium of six luminaries who are experts in their respective fields. Leading the team is Lucy Watson-Baker, an executive search veteran in the life sciences industry. Ms. Watson-Baker has worked in executive search and talent acquisition for over 15 years. She was previously a
Conroy Ross Partners Names Toronto Managing Partner
Executive search firm Conroy Ross Partners has named Peter Zukow as managing partner of its Toronto office. Mr. Zukow brings to the firm over 20 years of executive search experience recruiting senior talent to a wide cross section of industries, including consumer goods, retail, industrial, pharma / biotech, insurance, and financial services. Previously, he served as
Top Hurdles for Finding and Retaining Top Talent
Low pay is the top reason why applicants turn down jobs, while lack of advancement opportunities is the main reason employees leave jobs, according to a just-released survey of businesses released by Express Employment Professionals. The report was designed to reveal the hurdles that stop applicants from accepting jobs, as well as the top reasons employees
Heidrick & Struggles Begins CEO Successor Search for Ruby Tuesday
The board of directors of Ruby Tuesday has retained Heidrick & Struggles to begin a search for a permanent president and CEO, following the resignation of James J. “JJ” Buettgen. The company has appointed F. Lane Cardwell Jr. as interim president and CEO while the search is being conducted. According to industry sources, the board called
Korn Ferry Names Financial Services Sector Leaders
Korn Ferry has made multiple leadership moves within its global financial services practice. Eric Pikus, who previously served as the firm’s sector leader for asset management as well as consumer and commercial banking in its New York office, will now serve as head of North America, global financial market for the firm. Throughout his career, Mr.
Caldwell Partners Recruits CFO for Academic Partnerships
Executive search firm Caldwell Partners International has placed Jeff Dawson as chief financial officer of Dallas-headquartered Academic Partnerships. Mercedes Chatfield-Taylor, head of Caldwell Partners’ private equity and venture capital recruiting practice, led the search. Mr. Dawson comes to Academic Partnerships after more than eight years with Match.com where he held multiple leadership positions. Mostly recently, he was CFO of dating at Match and just
Witt/Kieffer Appoints IT Practice Co-Leaders
Executive search firm Witt/Kieffer has named principals Hillary Ross and Chris Wierz as co-leaders of its information technology practice. Ms. Ross, based in Oak Brook, IL, is an experienced healthcare information technology executive search consultant. She specializes in the recruitment of senior level physicians and other clinicians, and conducts searches for chief medical information officers and chief health informatics officers.
Finding Leaders to Inspire and Direct In the Digital Age
An explosive new recruiting mandate has been emerging for executive search consultants keen on offering innovative expertise to their clients and finding new avenues to growth: finding leaders who can inspire and direct companies in the digital age. It is the latest directive to be placed in the lap of executive recruiters by companies eager to
Korn Ferry In Hunt for Robert Wood Johnson Foundation CEO
Korn Ferry has been retained by the influential Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to lead its search for a new president and chief executive officer. Risa Lavizzo-Mourey has headed the $10 billion private foundation since 2003. Established in 1972, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is the largest U.S. philanthropy focused solely on health. The foundation’s goal, through the
Egon Zehnder Recruits CEO for Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts
Egon Zehnder has recruited Olivier Chavy as chief executive officer of Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts. Jean-Gabriel Pérès had previously announced his intention to retire after 17 years of leadership. The company sought a new CEO that could “drive value-accretive initiatives” which include the development of commercial activities and the delivery of system integration, enhanced distribution and active yield management, according
TRANSEARCH Opens New Offices in Johannesburg and Cape Town
TRANSEARCH International has opened two offices in Johannesburg and Cape Town. The Johannesburg team is headed up by Zinhle Matentji, who will serve as chief executive officer of the new location. She has a strong focus on financial services, consumer, retail, petrochemical, logistics /supply chain, mining and chemicals. With over 16 years of experience in the executive
Chief Marketing Officers Gaining Momentum As Business Game Changers
Many view Amazon as the most recent talent raiding case in point. The company is seen as a breeding ground for innovative talent — and hanging on to people has created a logistical nightmare for Jeff Bezos, the company’s CEO. In one recent raid, Chicago-based DHR International lured Amazon’s head of worldwide mass and brand marketing to sports
CEO Outlook Shows Moderate Hiring Heading Into the Elections
CEOs expect roughly unchanged plans for hiring and nearly flat plans for capital spending in the third quarter of 2016, according to the recently released Business Roundtable ‘CEO Economic Outlook Survey.’ Overall, the results suggest that the American economy is likely to continue to experience lackluster growth, although moderate expansion has been reported by other less
Diversified Search Recruits President for March of Dimes Foundation
Executive search firm Diversified Search has placed Stacey D. Stewart as president of the March of Dimes Foundation. She becomes the organization’s first black president. The search was led by Andrew Wheeler, managing director and practice leader of the firm’s education and not-for-profit practice. The search was a six month long process of seeking input from senior management, volunteers, donors and other key
Norman Broadbent Receives Funding and Plans Expansion
U.K.-headquartered executive recruiter Norman Broadbent has raised more than $3 million from new and existing equity investors to fuel future growth plans. The investment comes from a range of high profile investors, including Miton and City Financial Investment. Backing was also secured from existing investors, including Jon Moulton (a substantial shareholder of the firm), Downing LLP and Ennismore
Calibre One Launches Purpose-Driven Recruiting Practice
Search firms continue to expand into new areas, hoping to provide clients with the best services for finding, assessing, onboarding and keeping their senior level talent. Calibre One has followed suit by launching what it calls a ‘purpose-driven’ search practice to be led by partner Venesa Klein and backed by a team of specialists. The new practice area
Georgia Tech Selects Turnkey Search to Find AD
Sports and entertainment-focused executive recruiter Turnkey Search has been retained by Georgia Tech to lead its search for a new director of athletics. Mike Bobinski, the school’s past athletic director, has left his position to take on the same role at Purdue University. DHR managing partner and global sports practice leader, Glenn Sugiyama, led that assignment. The hunt for
Workers Looking to Jump Ship for Better Career Opportunities
The global labor market is warming up and active job seeking is on the rise, according to CEB, a best practice insight and technology company. In their latest report, global talent monitor data is drawn from CEB’s ‘Global Labor Market Survey,’ which is made up of more than 20,000 employees in 40 countries. Employees have long believed that
Russell Reynolds Associates Names Region Head for the U.S.
Russell Reynolds Associates has appointed Constantine Alexandrakis as region head for the U.S. He takes over the role from Mark Adams, who remains a managing director with the firm. Mr. Alexandrakis joined Russell Reynolds as a consultant in 2004 and has led its Chicago and Minneapolis offices since 2012 and 2014, respectively. He has served on the
Parker Executive Search In Hunt for University Chancellor
Atlanta-based Parker Executive Search has been retained by the University of Tennessee Knoxville to lead its search for a new chancellor. Current chancellor Jimmy Cheek has recently announced he is stepping down and returning to teaching. The school hopes to have a new leader in place by the spring 2017 semester. Parker president Laurie C. Wilder and vice president Porsha L.
Reffett Associates Places VP of Ballpark Operations for the Seattle Mariners
As the baseball season winds down and teams look to restock their C-suite executives, Reffett Associates has just placed Trevor Gooby as vice president of ballpark operations for the Seattle Mariners. The search was conducted by managing partner Bill Reffett and executive recruiter Jennifer McCorey. Mr. Gooby will be responsible for the overall operations strategy for Safeco
Storbeck / Pimentel & Associates Expands Search Staff
Executive search firm Storbeck / Pimentel & Associates has expanded its search team with the additions of Pharen Bowman-Crooks and Matthew Marsallo as associates. Ms. Bowman-Crooks brings with her significant experience in higher education, having worked most recently as an undergraduate admissions and financial aid officer and director of the Harvard Financial Aid Initiative at Harvard University.
Why American Workers Value Long Term Employer Relationships
Seventy one percent of the U.S. workforce is engaged, according to new analysis by the Hay Group division of Korn Ferry. The comprehensive analysis is based on engagement surveys from 139 companies and 1.3 million U.S. employees across 15 industries. Engaged employees, the theory goes, are those completely committed to whatever goal or mission a company is
Isaacson, Miller Leading CEO Search for Association of American Publishers
Executive search firm Isaacson, Miller has been retained by the Association of American Publishers (AAP) to lead its search for a new president and chief executive officer. Vice president Jane Gruenebaum is leading the search with senior associate Gail Gregory and associate Karla Saunders. The next AAP president and CEO will assume leadership of a complex association at







