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The Private Equity Executive Talent Trends That Will Define 2026
Private equity is still a capital business, but it’s increasingly a leadership business. Deal flow isn’t what it was a few years ago and capital is more selective, according to a new report from Beecher Reagan. “Many funds are sitting on dry powder longer than expected,” the report said. “And when that happens, the spotlight
Greenwood Asher & Associates Assists West Virginia University with Provost Search
Following a national search, Miramar Beach, FL-based executive recruitment firm Greenwood Asher & Associates has assisted in the recruitment of Beverly Wendland as provost and vice president for academic affairs for West Virginia University (WVU). Julie Holley and Julie Schrodt led the assignment for the search firm. “Beverly is a nationally recognized cell biologist who has served as a faculty member,
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.
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
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?
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
Sheffield Haworth Adds Private Equity & Growth Venture Portfolio Assets Veteran
Global leadership advisory and executive search firm Sheffield Haworth has expanded with the addition of Michael McDonnell as managing director, private equity and growth venture portfolio assets. He is based in the New York office and works within the technology sector practice. “We are thrilled to welcome Michael to the team,” said Paul Gillespie, managing director of the
Leadership Needs Shift in a Changing Federal Market
Executive search across the federal contracting, government services, defense, and technology sectors is entering a new phase as companies look for more sophisticated ways to evaluate leadership beyond résumés, references, and past performance. In markets where specialized experience, relationships, and an understanding of complex government customers can be critical, the challenge is not simply identifying
Private Equity Rollup Wave Reshapes Executive Search
What may once have looked like a series of isolated transactions is increasingly taking on the shape of a broader industry shift. As capital moves into the sector and firms rethink where they have true competitive strength, the pattern is becoming harder to ignore. “A year ago, I would have called this a prediction, today,
HARTZ Search Seeking Chief Revenue Officer for Geisinger
Charlotte, NC-based HARTZ Search was recently retained by Geisinger to lead in its search for a chief revenue officer. This executive will direct, manage, and implement programs to ensure efficient revenue management operations and sufficient cash flow to support Geisinger operations and strategic initiatives. The role is responsible for identifying, analyzing, reducing, and resolving revenue management issues
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
How to Determine Return on Investment in Executive Search
Increasingly, decision-makers planning recruitment outsourcing and budgeting for the upcoming year are asking how to measure the return on investment (ROI) of hiring a new senior leader. This becomes even more challenging and crucial when executive-level recruitment is involved, according to a new report from the International Executive Search Federation (IESF)’s Ewa Adamczyk, a partner at
Hanold Associates Recruits CHRO for Riddell
Executive search firm Hanold Associates has placed Sharon Quiles as chief human resources officer (CHRO) of Riddell. Partner Kile Hanold led the search. Ms. Quiles was previously an HR leader at Underwriters Laboratories (UL) where she built out the entire HR infrastructure following a consolidation of three global business units that had 1,400 total employees. Prior to that she served
Heidrick & Struggles Recruits CEO for Citrix
Heidrick & Struggles has recruited Kirill Tatarinov as president and chief executive officer of Citrix. He replaces Mark Templeton who stepped down as president and CEO after serving in that position since 1998. With 30 years of industry experience, Mr. Tatarinov has a long track record overseeing product strategy and commercial operations in software and services.
Plymouth Search Partners Names New York Managing Director
Plymouth Search Partners – Signium has named Mark S. Fogel as managing director in its New York City office. He will add a suite of human resources consulting, coaching and assessment services to his search practice which is focused on manufacturing, financial services, retail, and education sectors. Mr. Fogel formerly served as chief human resources officer (CHRO) for
Taylor Strategy Partners Appoints Managing Director
Executive search firm Taylor Strategy Partners (TSP) has expanded its staff with the addition of Ken Amicon as managing director in its executive and professional search practice. Mr. Amicon brings over 20 years of executive and professional search experience to TSP in the payer, provider, health and property & casualty insurance sectors. He has conducted a
Succession Planning an ‘Urgent’ Concern of Top HR Leaders
Seventy-four percent of HR leaders have identified leadership succession and speed of development as the primary internal challenges they face, according to a just-released survey by talent solutions provider Lumesse and research company Loudhouse. The identification of tomorrow’s leaders is crucial to mitigate against the loss of critical talent in the future, something that 73 percent of
DHR International Recruits CEO for Tata Motors
DHR International has recruited Guenter Butschek as managing director and chief executive officer of Tata Motors. Frank Smeekes led the assignment along with Amélie Bonneville, director talent acquisition (Europe), and Lorenz Pestinger, vice president of talent acquisition (Asia-Pacific). The search involved 300 candidates, representing 17 nationalities. Mr. Butschek will lead all operations of Tata Motors in India
Vetted Solutions Taps CEO for SOCAP International
Washington, D.C.-based executive search firm Vetted Solutions LLC has placed Brian Costanzo as president and chief executive officer of SOCAP International. He replaces Matthew D’uva, who spent nearly a decade with the organization and announced his decision to move on in June. The search was led by Vetted Solutions president James Zaniello and search partner Richard Green. Together, Messrs.
Russell Reynolds Expands Pharmaceutical and Non-Profit Practices
Russell Reynolds Associates has strengthened its global pharmaceutical, biotechnology and non-profit practices with the addition of Waseem Noor as a consultant. He will assess and recruit senior executive leaders and board members for client organizations in his industries of focus. Based in the firm’s New York office, he specializes in the assessment and recruiting of senior
AC Lordi Forms Stand-Alone Recruiting Practice
AC Lordi, a provider of accounting and risk management consulting and executive search, has split-off of its recruiting practice into a new stand-alone company, Xplora Search Group. AC Lordi Search leaders Jeff Olshin and Kevin Vesci will take the management reins as co-owners of Xplora, exchanging their interests in AC Lordi for 100 percent ownership of the
New Money Pouring Into Talent Management Metrics
Randstad Holding, a firm specializing in solutions in the field of flexible work and human resources services, is leading a seed financing in Focus Orange Technology through its Randstad Innovation Fund (RIF). Randstad’s service offerings range from regular temporary staffing and permanent placements to in-house, professionals, search & selection, and HR Solutions. The investment is centered around
Pillar Search to Hunt for WildAid U.S. Operations Director
Boston-based Pillar Search has been retained by WildAid to lead its search for a new managing director, U.S. operations. Pillar Search founder, Cindy Joyce, is leading the assignment. Reporting to the chief executive officer and the managing director programs in his absence, the managing director for U.S. operations will primarily be a manager, overseeing all U.S. staff. The
Third Street Partners Names Principal
Boutique executive search firm Third Street Partners has added Amanda Grant as a principal. She comes to Third Street Partners with considerable leadership experience, having served as the managing director and head of institutional client service at Columbia Management, a global asset manager where she helped facilitate the firm’s sale from Bank of America to Ameriprise Financial. During her
Furst Group Recruits COO for Regional Health
Executive search firm Furst Group has placed Paulette Davidson as chief operating officer of Regional Health. In this position, she will focus on clinical operations and strengthening corporate culture to benefit patient care and services. She will also oversee several key leaders within Regional Health. Ms. Davidson, a certified medical practice executive (CMPE), comes to Regional
Newport Group Opens Office in Texas
Executive search and consulting firm The Newport Group has opened a new office in Wichita Falls, Texas. The location will serve to augment the recruiting and consulting efforts of the firm’s Texas operations, while providing additional resources to its offices across the country. Recently promoted vice president Brad Ellis will be charged with managing the day-to-day operations at
Korn Ferry Taps New Head Coach for Cleveland Browns
Korn Ferry has recruited Hue Jackson as the new head coach of the Cleveland Browns. He becomes the team’s 16th head coach and replaces Mike Pettine who was fired following a 3-13 season. Jed Hughes, the firm’s vice chairman and global sports sector leader, led the assignment. Mr. Jackson is a 29-year coaching veteran with 15 years of NFL experience. He comes
Life Sciences Sector Seeks Change Management Leaders
Global leadership advisory firm Allen Austin has launched a new search practice in the burgeoning field of life sciences and healthcare. Brian A. Johnston and Steve Leatherman have been named co-sector practice leaders. “Our life sciences & healthcare practice addresses the demand for a new generation of talent to transform life science and healthcare’s ever-changing landscape. I am
MRINetwork Names President
MRINetwork, the executive search subsidiary of CDI Corp., has appointed Jill Albrinck as its new president. “Jill will drive a new phase of strategic growth for MRINetwork,” said Scott J. Freidheim, president and CEO of CDI Corp. “Jill’s leadership experience and track record of successfully growing businesses makes her the right person to leverage MRINetwork’s 50 years of innovation in talent solutions.”
D. Hilton Associates Recruits Marketing Head for East Idaho Credit Union
The Woodlands, TX-based executive search firm D. Hilton Associates has placed Tracy McCord as vice president of marketing at East Idaho Credit Union. Ms. McCord comes to East Idaho C.U. from Mid Missouri Credit Union, where she most recently was SVP of marketing. Over 16 years, she served in multiple roles at Mid Missouri, including VP of marketing and marketing
HVS Executive Search Expands In Europe
Karl Schorman has joined HVS Executive Search as a director in Europe. He will be based in the firm’s London office. Mr. Schorman has over 25 years of experience in executive search in the travel, hospitality and leisure industries, across all management disciplines for hotel companies, restaurant chains, food service providers, hospitality & event caterers, and other
CHROs Undervalued by CEOs Despite Growing Influence
While boards consistently rank human capital as a top priority, two thirds of HR professionals believe the chief HR leader is undervalued by the CEO, this according to a just-released Harvey Nash ‘Human Resources Survey. The report tallies the views of 1,253 HR leaders from over 30 countries. Almost half believe the HR leader is considered less important
Egon Zehnder Recruits TGI Fridays CEO As Demand Soars for Sector ‘Visionaries’
Egon Zehnder has placed Robert Palleschi as president and chief executive officer of TGI Fridays. He replaces Nick Shepherd who stepped down from the company in October. Mr. Palleschi has spent the past 12 years at global hospitality company, Hilton Worldwide. He currently serves as global head of full service brands, where he oversees all franchise
Slayton Search Partners Adds Veteran Recruiter
Chicago-based executive search firm Slayton Search Partners has added Kevin Duffy as an executive vice president. During his 25-year career in executive search, Mr. Duffy has focused on the consumer sector, partnering with retailers, multi-unit consumer service companies and consumer food and product manufacturers. He has filled the executive hiring needs of Fortune 500s, Fortune 50s, private equity portfolio
Carmon Group Lands President for Global Cleveland
Cleveland-headquartered executive search firm The Carmon Group has recruited Joe Cimperman as the next president of Global Cleveland. Chris Carmon, founder and president, led the assignment. Currently serving his seventh term and 18th year on the Cleveland City Council, Councilman Cimperman is a senior member of the body and highly regarded by his constituents. He currently represents Ward 3, one of the most
Major Lindsey & Africa Names Veteran Global Marketing Head
Major, Lindsey & Africa (MLA) has named Jennifer Silver as executive director and global head of marketing and communications. She will be based in the firm’s Boston office. In her new role, Ms. Silver will be responsible for the strategic marketing direction for both MLA and Allegis Partners, its sister company focused on executive search. She has
Companies Adapting to Candidate-Driven Job Market In 2016
Sixty-six percent of employers plan to hire additional staff in 2016, according to the ‘2016 Hiring Outlook: Strategies for Adapting to a Candidate-Driven Market’ report just released by The Execu | Search Group. The study is intended to provide insights into how companies can attract and retain talent and how they can effectively hire and manage their current employees on
Cejka Executive Search Strengthens Recruiting Team
Cejka Executive Search has added healthcare executive Joyce Tucker as an executive vice president responsible for senior-level healthcare search services and recruiting consultation. In her role, she will work in collaboration with healthcare boards and senior executives at healthcare organizations nationwide to assist them in acquiring senior talent. During her more than 30 years as a healthcare executive,
Heidrick to Search for Technology Chief
Heidrick & Struggles has been selected by Siluria Technologies to lead its search for a chief executive officer. Ed Dineen has announced he is stepping down from the CEO role. Erik Scher, currently executive vice president and company co-founder, is serving as interim CEO. Siluria Technologies is a San Francisco-based company which has developed methods for converting natural gas into products such
Ballinger | Leafblad Taps Director for Intermedia Arts As Non-Profit Sector Looks for Leaders
Executive search firm Ballinger|Leafblad has placed Eyenga Bokamba as the new executive director for Intermedia Arts. Ms. Bokamba will provide leadership to advance the organization’s mission to be a catalyst that builds understanding among people through art and will serve as chief development and fundraising officer. She comes to Intermedia from Sprockets, St. Paul’s nationally recognized out-of-school-time network, where she has
Amrop Names Six New Global Hires
Amrop, a partnership of recruiting firms operating from 83 offices in 57 countries throughout Asia, EMEA, and the Americas, has made six new hires thought Europe, the Middle East, Asia and South America. Murat Ayberk has been appointed as a senior consultant in Vienna. He has a long track record in the telecommunications sector as a
More Companies Using Social Media to Reject Job Candidates
More than one-third of companies have disqualified a job candidate in the past year because of concerns about information found on public social media or an online search, according to survey results just released by the Society for Human Resource Management. Candidates were disqualified for illegal activity and discrepancies with job applications, among other reasons. However,
Benchmark Expands Board Director Practice As Hunt for Cyber Security Leaders Intensifies
Benchmark Executive Search has launched a newly expanded board of directors practice which will now serve Fortune 1000 clients. In coming months, the firm will be adding new recruiting consultants to the practice group. Founded by Jeremy King eight years ago, Benchmark focuses on helping startups, emerging growth and mid-cap companies recruit leaders with government or private/public sector
