DAILY NEWSWIRE - TOP STORIES
Daily Newswire
How to Improve Your HR Executive Search Process
Securing the right HR leader requires more than a traditional hiring process—it demands the same rigor, clarity, and strategic discipline used for any major business decision. Organizations that consistently make strong HR executive hires treat the search as an enterprise priority, aligning stakeholders early, sharpening evaluation criteria, and building a candidate experience that attracts top
Unemployment Falls to 4.4 Percent as 50,000 New Job Added
Employment rose by 50,000 in December as the U.S. unemployment rate fell to 4.4 percent, according to the most recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report. Employment continued to trend up in food services and drinking places, healthcare, and social assistance. Retail trade lost jobs. The number of unemployed people, at 7.5 million, changed little in December.
Executive Recruiters Pull Off Another Remarkable Year, Remain Bullish for 2023
Hunt Scanlon Media has released its annual rankings of leading executive recruiters. In the U.S. and globally, billions of dollars poured into the high-end recruiting sector in 2022, a result of continued pentup demand for senior-level leaders and their key reports.
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 AI 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
Redefining Talent Management for the Modern Age
The workplace has undergone a permanent transformation. Today’s talent leaders navigate an environment shaped by economic disruptions, demographic shifts, and rapid technological advancements. This new reality is not only different but increasingly complex. To succeed in this era, organizations must embrace a comprehensive, future-focused approach to talent management, according to a new report from Egon
Webber Kerr Associates Expands in Europe
Executive search firm Webber Kerr Associates has named Victoria Leonard as a senior consultant in its London office. She will help contribute to the firm’s growing engagements in Western Europe within the engineering and manufacturing sectors, in addition to helping with the firm’s overall strategic direction. Ms. Leonard has more than 18 years of recruitment experience, including 10 years
Executive Search Firms Continue Migration to South Africa
MRINetwork, a global executive search and recruitment organization, has launched offices in Cape Town and Johannesburg Fourways. Lynn Kleinsmith has been named president of MRINetwork Cape Town while Nina Axt will lead the offices as managing director in Johannesburg Fourways. With a background in talent acquisition and HR leadership, Ms. Kleinsmith previously served as head
Unemployment Rate Falls to Lowest Level Since 2008
The labor market bounced back in October as employers added 271,000 jobs and the U.S. unemployment rate dropped to a flat five percent according to the most recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report. The unemployment rate stands at its lowest mark since April 2008. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg estimated 182,000 new jobs were created, according to
Diversified Search Recruits CIO for Aurora Health Care
Diversified Search has placed Preston T. Simons as chief information officer for Aurora Health Care. The search was led by managing director Tony Leng, practice leader for the firm’s chief information officer/IT practice and head of Diversified’s technology and private equity practices. Mr. Simons most recently served as vice president of information technology and chief information officer at Abbott
Caldwell Partners Appoints CEO & Board Practice Leader
Caldwell Partners has added Jay Millen as a managing partner, leader of the firm’s CEO & board practice and member of its industrial practice. Based out of Charleston, South Carolina, he joins Gerard Cameron, a partner in the firm’s financial services practice. Mr. Millen joins Caldwell Partners from DHR International, where he served as a vice chairman and
Slone Partners Places Chief Medical Officer at Signal Genetics
Executive recruiters Slone Partners has placed Dr. Richard Bender as chief medical officer at Signal Genetics, a commercial stage, molecular genetics diagnostic company located in Little Rock, AR. Dr. Bender has spent 25 years in clinical practice the majority spent serving as the medical director for oncology / hematology for Kaiser Permanente in San Diego. In 2002 he
Search Firms Look To Latin America For Expansion
Talengo, a global leadership consulting and executive search firm, has opened a new office in Mexico and named Borja Díaz-Pache as director. This opening is part of the firm’s expansion plan in the markets where Talengo already operates, including Europe, Latin America and the Middle East. Mr. Díaz-Pache has more than 15 years of experience in sales
Two Recruiting Specialists Take Strategic Approach to Identifying Top Talent in Asset Management
Derek Braddock and Bill Matthews are founding partners of BraddockMatthews, a leading search firm with offices in New York and Boston that specializes in recruiting top leaders for the asset management sector. The firm was selected earlier this year by Executive Search Review as one of the ‘Power 60’ – an exclusive ranking of leading search firms
Catalyst Advisors Places Chief Scientific Officer for Mirna Therapeutics
Search firm Catalyst Advisors has recruited Miguel Barbosa, Ph.D. as executive vice president and chief scientific officer of Mirna Therapeutics, Inc. Director Sara Hagar and partner Christos Richards led the assignment. Dr. Barbosa joins the company with 20 years of biopharmaceutical research discovery experience. For the past decade, he served in senior leadership roles at several Johnson & Johnson
Demeter Global Search & Board Advisers Adds Former CTPartners Recruiters
Former CTPartners recruiters Andrew Crawford and Marc Quinton have joined U.K. headquartered Demeter Global Search & Board Advisers as partners. Mr. Crawford was previously a partner at CTPartners where he was a member of the firm’s TMT practice. He focuses specifically on digital and media clients. Recently he has been responsible for a number of
Polachi Recruits CFO for MAM Software Group
Executive recruiters Polachi Inc. has placed Brian H. Callahan as chief financial officer of MAM Software Group, Inc. Charley Polachi, managing partner, led the assignment. Mr. Callahan joins the company from Alteva, where he served as EVP, CFO, corporate secretary and treasurer. Before that, he was with Expert Global Solutions, where he served in positions of
Pedersen & Partners Opens in Mexico City
Executive search firm Pedersen & Partners has opened a new office in Mexico City. Luis Miguel Vilatela has joined the firm as the country manager for Mexico and he will head the Mexico City office. This becomes Pedersen & Partners’ seventh established office in the Americas, following the U.S., Canada, Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Peru. Mr. Vilatela brings a wealth of functional expertise
CDI Corp. Posts 17 Percent Revenue Decline; Acquisitions to Fuel Growth
CDI Corp./(NYSE:CDI) posted third quarter revenues of $244.7 million, a decrease of 17.3 percent, compared to $295.7 million a year ago. Analysts at Reuters had projected revenues of $259 million for the quarter. Management Recruiters International, Inc. (MRI) reported revenues of $13.5 million, a decrease of 9.5 percent compared to the prior-year third quarter, driven by a
Sheffield Haworth Names Technology & Real Estate Practice Leaders
Sheffield Haworth has added Mark Dixon as a managing director in its global technology practice, Jennifer Novack as a managing director / global real estate practice head, and George Gilmartin as an executive director also in its real estate practice. Working in the firm’s London office, Mr. Dixon will focus on facilitating chief digital officer and chief
Ridgeway Partners Names Insurance Sector Specialist
Executive search firm Ridgeway Partners LLC has named Toby Crosthwaite as a partner focusing on the insurance sector in the U.K. and Asia. At Ridgeway Partners, Mr. Crosthwaite will work on senior executive and board level work in the life insurance, general insurance and reinsurance sectors, with a particular focus on global and multinational companies. He will also
American Express Taps Russell Reynolds To Find Directors
American Express has retained Russell Reynolds Associates to help it identify potential new board members, according to Bloomberg. The board is currently chaired by CEO Ken Chenault and has 11 members, all of whom joined the company since he took charge 14 years ago. American Express board members come from backgrounds ranging from healthcare companies to
BSG Team Ventures Recruits iSystems CFO
Boston-headquartered executive search firm BSG Team Ventures has placed Theodore I. Les as chief financial officer for iSystems, LLC, the company behind Evolution HCM. Mr. Les is a finance executive with experience in growing software-as-a-service (SaaS), technology and service-oriented organizations. For the past 15 years, Mr. Les served as the CFO for technology innovator Cambridge Research & Instrumentation, Inc.
Facebook Recruiter Joins VC Firm to Tap Talent In Silicon Valley
Jennifer Holmstrom, a leader on Facebook’s internal executive search team, has joined Highland Capital Partners as a talent partner. She will lead the firm’s talent program in Silicon Valley, focusing on helping portfolio companies recruit, retain, and develop key managers and employees. Ms. Holmstrom will be based in Highland’s Palo Alto office. The early stage venture capital
Grameen Foundation Turns to Isaacson, Miller to Lead CEO Search
The Grameen Foundation has retained Isaacson, Miller to lead its search for a new chief executive officer. Vice president and director David Bellshaw is leading the search along with senior associate Emily Chiswick-Patterson and associate Rachel Cylus. The foundation said that the search committee has selected a small group of candidates to move forward. It is likely the final candidate will come from this
Boyden Expands Non-Profit, Government and Education Sectors
Executive search firm Boyden has launched a new non-profit, government and education recruiting practice. Ken Werker, chair of Boyden Canada and managing partner in Vancouver, will lead the firm’s new efforts. According to Mr. Werker, Boyden brings market leadership, strong revenue and a proven track record in the sectors, particularly in the U.S., Canada, Latin America and
Demand for Chief Health Information Officers Rises Amid Intensifying Need
Executive search firm Whitman Partners, Inc. has placed Sameer Badlani as system chief health information officer (CHIO) of Sutter Health. The search was conducted by Greg Masson, partner and executive search team leader at Whitman Partners, who was assisted by Travis O’Conner, a firm partner and executive recruiter. Dr. Badlani was previously the chief health information officer
Mansfield & Associates Expands to Budapest
Global search firm Mansfield & Associates, Ltd. has added Judit Hegedus as regional director, Central Europe, to its Budapest office. Ms. Hegedus was previously CEO of the Hungarian subsidiary of a U.S.-based multinational corporation and served as a senior executive on several international management teams. There she gained expertise in the delivery of global training programs, financing and
Talent Acquisition Leaders See Gaps In Delivering Quality Hires
Core recruitment capabilities are lacking in companies across the globe as business leaders struggle to onboard the quality talent they need to compete, according to new research report titled ‘Talent Acquisition 360’ released by recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) firm Cielo. The report combines the views of close to 700 C-level executives, business unit leaders and talent acquisition heads
Caldwell Partners Recruits CEO for Global Access
Caldwell Partners has placed Dave Nielsen as chief executive officer of Salt Lake City-based Global Access. Mercedes Chatfield-Taylor, venture capital practice managing partner, completed the search. Mr. Nielsen will be focused on continuing to grow the company’s leading position with merchants in the direct selling industry while furthering its expansion into the internet retailing industry, both domestically and internationally.
Korn Ferry Adds Associate to Global Sports Recruiting Practice
Korn Ferry has added Kyle Bowlsby as an associate in its global sports practice. Mr. Bowlsby from SportsDesk Media, a company that helps organizations develop deeper understanding of online fans and customers, where he was manager of business development. In this role, he focused his outreach efforts on the collegiate and professional sports ranks while also assisting
UCF Turns To Parker Executive Search to Tap Athletics Director
Atlanta-based Parker Executive Search has been retained by the University of Central Florida Athletics Association to lead its search for a new director of athletics. “The process is moving very quickly, and we are pleased with where we are,” said UCF vice president for communications and marketing Grant Heston. “Athletic director candidates are going to want to know
Hudson Global Reports 14 Percent Revenue Decline
Hudson Global Inc./(NASDAQ:HSON) reported revenue of $110 million for the third quarter of 2015, a 14 percent decrease from revenues of $149 million during the same period a year ago. The results excluded the Americas IT and the Netherlands businesses which were sold during the second quarter of 2015. On a reported basis, Hudson’s third-quarter revenue
As Employees Seek Job Changes, HR Heads Look to Improve Retention Rates
One-third of U.S. and U.K. workforces plan to change jobs in the next six months, according to the Employee Development Survey released by talent management solution provider Saba and WorkplaceTrends.com, a research and advisory membership service for HR professionals. Almost half (49 percent) of HR leaders agreed that retention and leadership development programs were the top priority
Allegis Partners Launches Board Search Practice
Global executive search firm Allegis Partners has launched a new board recruitment practice. Based in Chicago, Sara Hays joins the firm to co-lead it as a managing director along with Paul Williams, who has been a partner with the firm’s sister company Major, Lindsey & Africa (MLA) for the past 10 years. Allegis Partners’ board search practice partners
DHR Taps CEO for Phoenix-Based Heard Museum
DHR International has recruited David M. Roche as director and chief executive officer for Phoenix-based Heard Museum. He replaces James Pepper Henry, who took a job at a museum in Tulsa earlier this year. The search was completed by Bill Franquemont, a partner in DHR’s Phoenix office. Mr. Franquemont’s clients have ranged in size from pre-IPO, venture-backed start-ups to Fortune
Nesbit Partners Recruits VP HR for Hologic
Nesbit Partners has recruited Mike Poole as vice president of human resources for Hologic. The search was conducted by Bob Nesbit, managing partner. Mr. Poole has held various HR positions with global food and beverage leader PepsiCo, including global communications, legal, corporate HR, security, as well as compliance & ethics. He most recently served as senior HR director







