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Occam Global Fills Senior Post for Variant Bio
New York City-based executive search firm Occam Global has recruited Craig T. Basson as chief medical officer and president of R&D of Variant Bio, a genomics-driven AI drug discovery company in Seattle, WA. “Craig’s career uniquely spans deep human genetics, rigorous clinical science, and successful drug development at scale,” said Andrew Farnum, chief executive officer of Variant Bio. “His
ECA Partners Expands Healthcare and Life Sciences Practices
Santa Monica, CA-based search firm ECA Partners has named Ryan March and Allison Chappelle as senior directors within the its healthcare & life sciences practice. “Both appointments reflect ECA’s strategic expansion in the healthcare sector and reinforce its commitment to delivering specialized expertise to private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies,” the firm said. “Together, they strengthen ECA’s
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.
The Moran Company Recruits CEO for The Arc of New Mexico
The Moran Company, an executive recruitment firm that specializes in the non-profit sector, has placed Tracie Fletcher as the new executive director of The Arc of New Mexico. Senior search consultant Bruce Scott led the assignment. “Tracie brings a 25-year track record of leadership in non-profit, government, and community organizations,” The Arc of New Mexico said in a
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?
Solomon Page Launches Retained Executive Search Practice
New York City headquartered executive search firm Solomon Page has launched a retained executive search practice dedicated to artificial intelligence leadership. The practice is led by managing director Ryan Kellner. The practice partners with organizations in financial services, healthcare, life sciences, and venture-backed technology to place chief AI officers, heads of AI, heads of data science, and
Ema Raises $77 Million in Funding
Enterprise adoption of artificial intelligence is moving beyond experimentation as companies look for tools that can deliver measurable outcomes across core business functions. As organizations seek to automate more complex workflows in areas such as HR, IT, and finance, investors are increasingly backing platforms designed to operate at enterprise scale rather than remain stuck in
The Counteroffer Dilemma: What Candidates Need to Know Before Resigning
Landing the job offer of your dreams should be the culmination of a successful search process. But for many professionals, one of the most difficult parts comes after the offer is accepted: telling a current employer they are leaving. A recent report from The Bridger Group examines how companies respond when valued employees resign and
True Launches Boutique Search Practice for Venture-Backed Companies
Global executive talent platform True has launched True Venture Studios, a boutique executive search practice serving founders and venture-backed companies across AI infrastructure, HardTech, SpaceTech, DefenseTech, Fintech, healthcare, and life sciences, among others. “True Venture Studios is our way of reasserting our roots, giving founders a dedicated team that moves at their speed and fights for the
Vetted Solutions Recruits CEO for GO2 for Lung Cancer
Washington, D.C.-based Vetted Solutions has placed David Benson as the new CEO of GO2 for Lung Cancer. “David is an exceptional leader with a deep commitment to improving the lives of people affected by cancer,” said GO2 board president Rick Sherlock. “His collaborative leadership style, strategic vision, and ability to build meaningful partnerships make him the right
TalentRise Assists Grassroots Gardens of WNY with Executive Director Search
TalentRise has assisted in the recruitment of Megan Kelly as the new executive director of Grassroots Gardens of WNY. “We’re thrilled to announce Meg Kelly as the new executive director of Grassroots Gardens WNY,” the organization said. “Meg brings experience to our garden network from her work with the region’s business and entrepreneurship community, and enters
Private Equity Firms Rethink Executive Hiring for Future Growth
PE investors routinely underwrite businesses based on their future state. For example, an investment thesis may assume a restaurant company will double its unit count, accelerate franchising, expand geographically, complete acquisitions, improve margins, or become significantly more institutionalized during the hold period. Executive hiring, however, often remains anchored to the present, according to a new
ON Partners Recruits CFO for Fortera
Partners Josh Nathanson and Chris Clements along with principal Alexis Rohe of ON Partners have placed Albert Luu as the new CFO of cement manufacturer Fortera in San Jose, CA. “Fortera is at a stage where the work we’ve done to prove the technology now has to be matched by our ability to finance and execute at scale,”
BoardWalk Consulting Assists Downtown Atlanta with CEO Search
BoardWalk Consulting has recruited Kyle Waide as the new CEO of Downtown Atlanta Inc. (DAI) to lead in its search for a CEO. The search was led by Sam Pettway, Crystal Stephens, and Patti Kish. The search committee began its work in April of 2026 under the leadership of Egbert Perry, CEO, Integral Group; longtime member of CAP and
SearchWide Global Recruits President and CEO for Visit California
SearchWide Global has helped to recruit Julie Coker as the new president and CEO of Visit California. She succeeds longtime leader Caroline Beteta, who announced her retirement earlier this year. The assignment was led by Mike Gamble, chairman, CEO, and co-founder of SearchWide. The appointment is the culmination of a comprehensive global search conducted in partnership
JM Search Expands Search Team
JM Search, a senior-level talent provider serving private equity investors, portfolio companies, and Fortune 1000s, has expanded with the additions of Amber Shockey as partner within its legal practice and Curtis Walker as principal within its media & telecommunications team. “Continued private equity investment across legal services, legal-adjacent businesses, and professional sports is elevating the importance of
Interim or Executive Search? Choosing the Right Leadership Solution
Interim leadership has moved well beyond being a stopgap solution for unexpected vacancies. As organizations face greater complexity, faster strategic shifts, and mounting pressure to deliver results, boards and CEOs are increasingly turning to experienced interim leaders as a flexible way to maintain momentum and address critical business needs. For executive search firms, that shift
Funk Associates Assists the University of North Florida with the Recruitment of Eighth President
Funk Associates has assisted in the recruitment of Michael P. Shannon as the eighth president of the University of North Florida (UNF). Past president Moez Limayem stepped down from his position in early 2026. “Mike Shannon is the leader who can build on UNF’s strong momentum and continue to elevate the University’s incredible impact across our
DHR Global Recruits President of Business Operations for the Pittsburgh Penguins
Talent advisory firm DHR Global has placed Marcel Braithwaite as president of business operations for the Pittsburgh Penguins. This search was led by Mike Gagliardi and Glenn Sugiyama of DHR’s sports practice. “Marcel is going to be a transformational hire for one of the NHL’s premier teams,” said Mr. Sugiyama, managing partner of DHR’s sports practice. “I had the
Mercuri Urval Expands International Public and ESG Expert Practice
Stockholm, Sweden-based executive search firm Mercuri Urval (MU) has expanded with the addition of former Danish government minister Astrid Krag to its international public and ESG expert practice. “With Astrid’s extensive experience in international public affairs, strong commitment to ESG and sustainability, and deep understanding of life sciences, she brings a valuable combination of expertise and
ZRG Partners Acquires N2Growth’s Spain Business
ZRG Partners has entered the Spanish market through the acquisition of the business formerly known as Blacksmith that had been doing business since 2023 under the umbrella of N2Growth. Through this integration, ZRG enters the Spanish market with an established local team and the goal of offering Spanish and international clients agile, high-touch advisory backed by
Family Offices Move Into Human Capital M&A
Altss’ latest ranking, The 50 Largest Family Offices in the World (2026), illustrates the scale family capital has reached. The 50 largest offices collectively manage an estimated $2.4 trillion, with the top 10 controlling more than $1.5 trillion. Twenty-eight of the top 50 are headquartered in North America, while private equity represents their largest average portfolio allocation
The Leadership Pipeline Crisis: AI’s Hidden Cost
Companies everywhere are celebrating leaner teams, faster execution, and higher productivity thanks to AI, according to HIRECLOUT. From a business perspective, the logic is easy to understand, according to Avetis Antaplyan, founder and CEO of HIRECLOUT. “Investors reward efficiency,” Mr. Antaplyan said. “Leaders are under pressure to do more with less. Automation is eliminating repetitive
Klein Hersh Recruits CFO for Sparrow Pharmaceuticals
Klein Hersh, a search firm focused on the life sciences and healthcare industries, has recruited George Eldridge as the new CFO of Sparrow Pharmaceuticals, a targeted cardiometabolic therapeutics company. “We are thrilled to welcome George to Sparrow at such an important time for our company,” said Robert Jacks, president and CEO of Sparrow Pharmaceuticals. “George
McCormack + Kristel Seeking Executive Director for NEXT Harm Reduction
McCormack + Kristel has been retained by NEXT Harm Reduction (NEXT Distro) to lead in its search for an executive director. This is a rare opportunity for a visionary leader and skilled fundraiser to take a nationally recognized organization with an urgent mandate and grow it to the scale the moment demands. Reporting to the board
Riviera Partners Expands Public Practice
San Francisco-based Riviera Partners, a recruitment provider specializing in C-level engineering, product, and design leader placements, has expanded with the addition of Archer McFall as a partner within its public practice serving large, publicly-traded companies and late-stage, pre-IPO companies. “Getting the right CTO, CIO, or chief AI officer in place, building the team structure around AI, making sure the
HelloSky Brings Its Graph of People, Investors, and Companies Into Claude and ChatGPT
Executive search firms are increasingly looking for ways to move beyond traditional databases and static candidate profiles as clients demand deeper market intelligence and faster, more precise insight into leadership talent. Advances in artificial intelligence are giving recruiters new tools to connect people, companies, investors, relationships, and career outcomes in ways that can strengthen candidate
Harris Search Associates Leading Senior Assignment for Carnegie Mellon University
Harris Search Associates has been retained by Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) to lead in its search for newly created role of associate vice president for research computing and data (AVP RCD). Jeffrey Harris and Ed Christ are leading the assignment. This role offers a unique opportunity to elevate and transform CMU’s research computing ecosystem positioning it to better support
Preng & Associates Assists SOGC, LLC with President Search
Following a comprehensive executive search, Houston-based Preng & Associates assisted in the recruitment of David French as the new president of SOGC, LLC. “Preng & Associates is proud to have supported this important leadership appointment and continues to partner with energy companies worldwide in identifying and securing transformative executive talent,” the firm said. Mr. French brings
NPAG Appoints Senior Advisor
Executive search firm NPAG has appointed André Blackman as senior advisor. In this new role, he will build and lead a practice focused on mission-driven innovation — connecting dynamic leadership talent and the development resources to keep that talent in seat, to founders and organizations solving problems that matter. “André brings a rare combination of strategic insight, storytelling
Starting Strong in Your New CHRO Position
CHROs’ role and responsibilities are broadening, as the workforce is increasingly seen as an organization’s most important strategic differentiator. Getting the most out of people means finding a common purpose that motivates, inspires, and enables a company to embrace critical change. CHROs today are far more involved with the most senior stakeholders, acting as the
Job Search Activity Rising for Mid-Market Employees
Fortune 100 and middle market job search activity increased in the first quarter, according to Hudson’s Q1 2016 ‘Job Seeker Pulse’ report, which analyzes the online job search activity of Fortune 100 and middle market company employees. The report found when comparing both market segments in aggregate, the middle market was much more active. The study
DHR International Recruits Athletic Director for University of Vermont
Executive search firm DHR International has recruited an insider, Jeffrey Schulman, as athletic director at the University of Vermont (UVM). He succeeds Dr. Robert Corran, who will complete his 13th year of service in the position upon his official retirement at the end of June. The search was led by DHR managing partner and global sports practice leader
Career Partners International Names CEO
Career Partners International (CPI) has appointed Douglas J. Matthews as its new president and chief executive officer. In his new role, Mr. Matthews will provide full leadership responsibility to drive CPI’s brand visibility nationally and globally. Building on CPI’s strengths, he will work to grow global marketshare and competitive differentiation of CPI’s services. “We could not be more
McLean Consulting Lands COO for NorthStar Medical Radioisotopes
Chicago-headquartered executive search firm McLean Consulting has placed Stephen Merrick as senior vice president and chief operating officer of NorthStar Medical Radioisotopes LLC, a newly created position within the company. Mr. Merrick will oversee day-to-day operations at NorthStar – including engineering, production and customer service – as the company advances toward U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Korn Ferry Survey Looks at Finding Purpose & Meaning at Work
A vast majority of executives indicated that a focus on both personal and organizational purpose is key to productivity and financial success, according to new global survey released by Korn Ferry. More than two thirds of respondents (70 percent) agreed to a great extent that there is a long term financial benefit to companies that make
Russell Reynolds Associates Acquires Norway-Based Amrop AS
Russell Reynolds Associates has acquired Norway-based leadership consulting and executive search firm Amrop AS. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. According to the firm, client demand for an expanded Nordic hub has grown, as Scandinavian markets have taken leading positions in global industries, including energy, aquaculture and shipping. Norwegian funds in the region have also become
Witt/Kieffer Selected By DePaul University to Find Next President
Witt/Kieffer has been retained by DePaul University to lead its search for a new president. After 13 years of leadership, The Rev. Dennis H. Holtschneider will step down from his position as president at the end of the 2016 – 2017 academic year. The transition in leadership occurs after a decade of significant growth at the university,
Searchlight Recruitment Taps Insider to Lead Soundstreams
Executive search firm Searchlight Recruitment has recruited Ben Dietschi as executive director of contemporary music company Soundstreams. Following a rigorous recruitment process, Soundstreams determined that an insider who possessed intimate knowledge of every facet of the company, and who had more than three years of experience under his belt with the organization, made the best
NPAworldwide Adds Six New Member Firms
Member-owned recruitment network NPAworldwide has added six new member firms. This follows the network gaining nine new member firms across Asia Pacific and the U.S. last month. NPA now has close to 500 member offices across six continents. Membership in the network allows independent recruiters to serve their clients and candidates by partnering with other member firms on a split-fee
As Employee Turnover Grows, Talent Shortage Remains Problematic
The inadequate supply of qualified and skilled talent is the second-biggest threat to U.S. companies’ ability to meet revenue or business performance targets, second only to “increased competitive pressures,” according to the Randstad ‘U.S. Workplace Trends’ report. Meanwhile, increasing turnover rates are exacerbating the challenge, with four-in-10 companies (41 percent) indicating their turnover rate increased in
Hanold Associates Recruits CHRO and CMO for Fortis Private Bank
Executive search firm Hanold Associates has recruited Gaurav Sehgal as chief human resources officer (CHRO) and David Sarjantson as chief marketing officer (CMO) at Denver-based Fortis Private Bank. Headquartered in Denver, Fortis offers a comprehensive suite of banking, private wealth management, and investment management services. As a key member of the Fortis leadership team, Mr. Sehgal will partner with
Myers McRae Recruits University Foundation Fundraising Head
Executive search firm Myers McRae has placed Paul Kettering as vice president for university advancement and executive director of the Columbus State University Foundation. Established in 1958, CSU, located in Columbus, GA, enrolls more than 8,000 students and offers undergraduate and graduate programs in more than 90 academic disciplines. Mr. Kettering, who starts his new role
Reflektive Secures $13 Million In Funding
Reflektive, an HR analytics and employee engagement platform, has secured $13 million in series A funding led by Lightspeed Venture Partners. Reflektive will use the new funding to accelerate development of its platform, enhance customer success and hire across all departments to support its mission to revolutionize performance management. Existing investors, including Andreessen Horowitz, participated in the round,
Egon Zehnder NewsPoint: Walking the Tightrope of Executive Succession
Scrutiny on CEO succession has reached a new intensity. Combine regulatory and activist pressure for more detailed – and better disclosed – succession plans with a handful of high profile CEO illnesses, and you’ve got a recipe for deeper and deeper dives into how new CEOs are selected. In a disrupted business environment, the notion
Korn Ferry Posts $1.3 Billion In Revenue Bolstered By Acquisitions, Organic Growth
Korn Ferry (NYSE:KFY) today posted 2016 fiscal year end revenues of $1.303 billion. The acquisition of Hay Group last December, Pivot Leadership — which was acquired last March, and organic growth seen in its executive search and Futurestep businesses all helped to contribute to a record year at the world’s largest leadership solutions and talent acquisition provider.
Koya Tapped to Recruit Human Rights Network Director
Executive search firm Koya Leadership Partners has been tapped by The US Human Rights Network (USHRN) to lead its search for an executive director. Melissa Madzel, director of executive search, is leading the search assignment for Koya. The organization’s executive director incumbent is expected to be a collaborator, building upon a diverse group of grassroots organizations to
Alder Koten Acquires OCE Consulting
Executive search firm Alder Koten has acquired OCE Consulting, a Houston-based management consulting firm. OCE Consulting focuses on helping clients achieve successful deployment of their business strategies, through culture deployment and the effective application of change management techniques. The firm’s list of clients includes a wide array of companies in different industries and regions of the world – including
Russell Reynolds Associates Leading Houston Police Chief Search
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner has selected Russell Reynolds Associates to find the city’s next chief of police. Chief Charles McClelland announced he is retiring after 39 years with the Houston Police Department. Stephen Newton, area manager for the Dallas and Houston offices of Russell Reynolds, is leading the search, which reports say is being done pro bono. Mr. Newton told the
Expand Executive Search Opens First U.S. Office
U.K.-headquartered Expand Executive Search has launched its first U.S. office, establishing a presence in New York City. Executive search consultant Ollie Shipp has been appointed to head up the new location; he is relocating from the U.K. The firm has been supporting clients in North America since 2011, so setting up across the pond is a natural
Looking Beyond the Obvious to Uncover Right-Fit Candidates
A hiring manager posts an opening, describes the ideal candidate, and resumes come flooding in. After doing some interviews, the manager has to decide who the best person is for the job. Research from MRINetwork, the executive search subsidiary of CDI Corp., shows that more often than not, hiring executives pick someone whose qualifications most closely
Spencer Stuart Recruits Chief Communications Officer for Aetna
Executive search firm Spencer Stuart has placed Kathryn Metcalfe as chief communications officer of Hartford, Conn-based insurance giant Aetna. She takes over the lead communications role from Tom Sanford, who left the company to pursue other opportunities. Ms. Metcalfe’s core responsibilities include internal and external communications, crisis response, CSR, public affairs, social media, and integration communications. Her
Korn Ferry Fills Top Post for Clark Art Institute
Korn Ferry has recruited Olivier Meslay as the new director of the Clark Art Institute. He becomes the organizations fifth director and succeeds Michael Conforti, who led the institution for more than 20 years. Naree Viner led the assignment. Ms. Viner is an expert in museum leadership recruitment and has placed directors in the last six months at
Sucherman Group Appoints Head of Tech Practice
Sucherman Group, an executive search firm dedicated to finding leaders in the media and entertainment space, has expanded its media tech expertise to the Silicon Valley and the Pacific Northwest with the addition of Greg Sherman as executive vice president and tech practice head. He will be based in San Francisco. Mr. Sherman is a seasoned
Not Actively Looking Partners With Dillistone
Dillistone Systems, a global supplier of software for executive recruiters, has formed an integration partnership with Not Actively Looking, a U.K.-based global matchmaking platform for senior executives and executive search firms. The alliance will allow Dillistone’s 1,600-plus executive search firm clients to access the Not Actively Looking platform. Users of Dillistone’s FileFinder system that also subscribe to become
Stable Hiring Plans to Continue Through Third Quarter
U.S. employers indicate stable hiring plans for the third quarter of 2016, according to the latest Manpower ‘Employment Outlook Survey,’ released today by ManpowerGroup. Of the more than 11,000 U.S. employers surveyed, 23 percent anticipate increasing staff levels during the third quarter. This is a one percent increase from the second quarter, and a one percent decrease
Storbeck/Pimentel to Find President for Sweet Briar College
Storbeck/Pimentel & Associates has been chosen by Sweet Briar College to lead the search for its next president. In April, the school announced that president Phillip Stone would return to retirement, effective next July. Partner Anne Coyle will lead the Sweet Briar search for Storbeck. “We are excited to have such an accomplished firm guiding us in this important process,
UniCredit Board Turns to Egon Zehnder to Find Next CEO
Egon Zehnder has been retained by UniCredit to lead its search for a new chief executive officer. Past CEO Federico Ghizzoni agreed to step down last month as investors demanded a change in management. According to sources, Korn Ferry, Spencer Stuart and Russell Reynolds Associates were also considered for the search with Egon Zehnder getting the nod.
Heidrick & Struggles Adds Healthcare and Life Sciences Specialist
Heidrick & Struggles has strengthens its healthcare and life sciences practices with the addition of healthcare leader Alan Milinazzo as a partner. He will be based out of the firm’s Boston office. “This is a rare hire — Alan brings more than two decades of executive management experience in the life sciences sector. His complex experience in the boardroom and
ERSG Continues Expansion In Europe
U.K.-based executive search firm ERSG has opened a new office in Hamburg, Germany and appointed Taimur Malik as country manager. Mr. Malik brings with him a wealth of recruitment experience gained at S3 Recruitment. During his time with S3 he successfully opened and developed four divisions, playing a highly significant part in the overall growth of the
Microsoft to Buy LinkedIn for $26.2 Billion
Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) and LinkedIn Corporation (NYSE: LNKD) announced today they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Microsoft will acquire LinkedIn for $196 per share in an all-cash transaction valued at $26.2 billion, inclusive of LinkedIn’s net cash. LinkedIn will retain its distinct brand, culture and independence. Jeff Weiner will remain CEO
Phillips Oppenheim Leading CEO Search for YouthBuild USA
Phillips Oppenheim, an executive search firm dedicated to the non-profit sector, has been retained by YouthBuild USA to lead its search for a new chief executive officer. Paul Spivey is leading the search. YouthBuild is a non-profit organization which provides education, counseling and job skills to unemployed young adults (between ages 16 and 24), generally high school dropouts. There are 273 YouthBuild programs in
