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Daily Newswire
ON Partners Recruits CEO for Polaris Electro-Optics
ON Partners’ Bryan Buck and Alex Pelak recently placed Morten Nissov as the new CEO of Polaris Electro-Optics, a developer of next-generation optical modulators for bandwidth- and power-constrained interconnects. The company recently closed its Series A funding round, led by Koch Disruptive Technologies (KDT). KDT is the investment arm of Koch and is renowned for supporting high-growth companies that
Summit Search Group Expands in Winnipeg
Ontario-headquartered executive recruiting firm Summit Search Group has expanded with the addition of Erin Steeves to Prairies team as a recruitment coordinator. Based in Winnipeg, she will focus on recruitment across Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Over the past year, Summit Search Group has experienced strong momentum in the Prairies, driven by great client partnerships and increasing demand for
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 Talent Studios Recruits Chief Marketing Officer for Pura Vida Miami
The Talent Studios has recruited Bruno Cardinali as chief marketing officer of Pura Vida Miami, the premium all-day café and lifestyle brand focused on health, wellness and community. The search was led by Katlyn Maloney and Jeremy Cohen. Mr. Cardinali brings more than two decades of marketing leadership across fast casual, foodservice, beverage, and global consumer brands. Most recently, as
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?
JM Search Expands Technology and Financial Services Practices
JM Search, a senior-level talent provider serving private equity investors, portfolio companies, and Fortune 1000s, has expanded with the additions of Wes Chisholm as partner and Laura Bennstrom and Charles Telep as principals within its technology and financial services practices. Mr. Chisholm and Mr. Telep join the firm’s technology practice while Ms. Bennstrom joins both the financial
How The Tolan Group Navigated the Downturn and Remained Focused
For many executive search firms, 2024 and 2025 tested resilience in ways few could have predicted. At The Tolan Group (TTG), they experienced the same pressures felt across the industry. Slower decision cycles, delayed starts, and a noticeable dip in portfolio company hiring activity. Yet through that uncertainty, one thing remained constant: our commitment to
Korn Ferry Reports Seven Percent Q4 and Full-Year Revenue Growth, Led by Double-Digit Gains in Professional Search & Interim
Korn Ferry (NYSE:KFY) has posted Q4 fiscal-year revenues of $759.8 million, a year-over-year increase of seven percent and five percent at constant currency. This was led by Professional Search & Interim up 14 percent, followed by Executive Search and Consulting, both up seven percent and RPO up five percent. During the fourth quarter, revenues rose by
Lock Search Group Leading CEO Search for Atlas Sign & Awning
Toronto-headquartered executive recruitment firm Lock Search Group is currently seeking a new CEO for Atlas Sign & Awning. For over 30 years, Atlas Sign & Awning has helped businesses across Canada and the United States stand out through custom commercial signage, awnings, and branded architectural elements. Based in Langley, BC, they’ve built a strong reputation for quality
Anthem Executive Assists the University of Montevallo With President Search
Anthem Executive has assisted in the recruitment of Michelle R. Johnston as the first female president of the University of Montevallo (UM). Michael Ballew, Scott Watson, Mike “JR” Wheless, and Florene Stawowy led the assignment. Dr. Johnston has served as the president of Georgia Southwestern State University since 2024. Prior to her current presidency, she served as president of three other higher education
Mercuri Urval Appoints Non-Executive Director
Stockholm, Sweden-based executive search firm Mercuri Urval (MU) has announced that Jan Sasse, partner at AlterInvest, was named as non-executive director to the MU group board. He will join the current board members Cecilia Strand, Mieke Weijenberg, Cecilia Beer, Richard Moore, and chairman Roger Hagafors. “We are pleased to welcome Jan Sasse as non-executive director of the MU
M&A Becomes a Capability-Driven Acquisition Strategy
EY-Parthenon is forecasting an eight percent increase in U.S. deal volume for transactions exceeding $100 million in 2026, underscoring how central M&A remains to corporate strategy. Yet beneath the headline numbers sits a more important story. The role of acquisitions is evolving. Companies are no longer pursuing deals primarily for scale or market share. Increasingly,
The Hidden Challenges Every First-Time CEO Faces
The corner office has never been more accessible—or more demanding. As boards increasingly turn to a new generation of leaders to navigate disruption, growth, and transformation, first-time CEOs are stepping into roles that require a fundamentally different set of skills than those that propelled them to the top. While many arrive with impressive track records,
Myers McRae Assists Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology with Provost Search
Following a nationwide search, Macon, GA-based Myers McRae Executive Search and Consulting has assisted in the recruitment of Richie Roberts as provost of Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology. Kenny Daugherty and Brianna Douglas led the assignment. Dr. Roberts’ selection was guided by a search committee of OSUIT administrators, faculty, staff and students, which was assisted by national search firm Myers McRae. “The entire
Lancer Group Recruits Chief Technology Officer for Minitab
La Jolla, CA-headquartered search firm Lancer Group has recruited Kevin Gordon as chief technology officer of Minitab. “We’re excited to welcome Kevin Gordon as chief technology officer at Minitab,” the company said. “This is an exciting step forward in the evolution of our technology strategy and will help accelerate innovation across our organization and solutions platform.” “Kevin brings
Friisberg & Partners International Names Managing Partner of its Copenhagen Office
Fribourg, Switzerland-headquartered Friisberg & Partners International has expanded with the addition of Birgitte Olrik as managing partner of its Copenhagen office, strengthening the firm’s presence in the Nordic region and supporting the continued execution of our international growth strategy. “The future of executive search belongs to firms that combine exceptional local expertise with international reach,” said Zoltán Pethő,
Attracting the Right CHRO Starts with the Right Job Description
Hiring a head of HR is one of the most consequential leadership decisions an organization can make, yet many companies struggle to define the role in a way that reflects their actual needs. The most effective job descriptions go beyond qualifications and responsibilities, offering candidates a clear picture of the challenges, priorities, and business objectives
Coulter Partners Recruits Chief Medical Officer for Neumirna Therapeutics
Life sciences recruiting specialist Coulter Partners has placed Ferenc Tracik as chief medical officer of Neumirna Therapeutics. “Neumirna has reached an inflection point: the question is no longer whether the science works, but how quickly we can translate it into an option for patients with urgent unmet need. Ferenc has the experience to get us there,” said Ellen
McCormack + Kristel Seeking CEO for Central New York ON RAMP
McCormack + Kristel is currently seeking a CEO for Central New York ON RAMP. New York State Empire State Development (ESD) recently engaged CenterState Corporation for Economic Opportunity (CenterState CEO), an business leadership and economic development organization, to lead, incubate, and launch the Central New York One Network for Regional Advanced Manufacturing Projects (ON RAMP). The
Bespoke Partners Appoints Leader of People and HR Practice
San Diego, CA-headquartered Bespoke Partners recently named Dani Pfeiffer as a partner leading the people and human resources leader recruiting practice serving both software and industrials sector companies. She will lead dedicated recruiting teams on searches for talent executives for private equity portfolio companies for the software and SaaS clients served by Bespoke Partners and industrial clients served by Industra Talent Partners,
Wilson Forms New Alliance with Poetry to Advance AI capabilities
Global talent solutions provider Wilson has formed a new partnership with Poetry to strengthen its AI-enabled recruitment capabilities. The collaboration supports Wilson’s continued focus on embedding technology into its RPO delivery model through Wilson Workspace, its technology ecosystem. “We’re excited to announce our new partnership with Poetry,” said Charles Faigle, chief delivery officer at Wilson. This
What Executive Candidates Want From Employers Today
The executive talent market today has fundamentally shifted and senior leaders are evaluating employers through a far more demanding lens. They no longer weigh opportunities primarily on compensation or title; they assess the total leadership experience: governance, culture, organizational stability, purpose, autonomy, flexibility and long-term growth, according to a report from Kestria. “To attract and retain
WittKieffer Retained by Roosevelt University for President Search
Oak Brook, IL-based WittKieffer has been retained by Roosevelt University in Chicago to lead in its search for its seventh president. Ali Malekzadeh is retiring after being with the school since 2015. Senior partner Christine Pendleton, consultant Sandra Chu, senior associate Maya Holt-Brockenbrough, and senior advisor Ray Crossman. Roosevelt University seeks a student-centered president who is committed
Buffkin / Baker Acquires HR-Focused Benson Executive Search
Partner-led executive search firm Buffkin / Baker has acquired Boston, MA-based Benson Executive Search, a boutique firm focused on the human resources sector. Financial terms of deal were not disclosed. The acquisition strengthens Buffkin / Baker’s HR functional capabilities and gives the firm a stronger presence in the Northeast. “We’re thrilled to welcome Benson Executive Search to
SPMB Recruits Fills Senior Finance Position for Uber
Steven Popper of SPMB Executive Search has placed Wendy Drummond Craig as senior director, technical accounting, reporting, and M&A at Uber. In her new role, she will oversee teams responsible for technical accounting matters, SEC reporting, and accounting for mergers and acquisitions. “Wendy brings an extraordinary combination of technical accounting expertise, SEC reporting experience, and strategic advisory leadership
True Launches AI Capability Index for Executive Assessment
Global executive talent platform True has launched the True AI Capability Index, a proprietary framework that predicts executive performance in the AI-transformation age. “We are entering a phase where relationship depth and judgment matter more than ever,” said Brad Stadler, co-founder and CEO of True Platform. “The cost of finding names is decreasing. True’s advantage lies in our ability
AI-Native Talent Won’t Fix AI-Foreign Organizations
As artificial intelligence moves from experimentation to enterprise-wide adoption, organizations are grappling with a fundamental question: what does it actually mean to become AI-native? While the term has quickly entered the business lexicon, many leaders are still struggling to define the capabilities, operating models, and cultural shifts required to make that vision a reality. “Some
ZRG Partners Acquires Fortium
ZRG Partners has acquired Fortium, a Dallas-based search firm that provides fractional, interim, and project-based CIO, CTO, and CISO leadership. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. “Companies are making more nuanced decisions about leadership than they did even a few years ago, particularly in technology,” said Mark Viner, leader of interim solutions & project
Lochlin Partners Recruits SVP of HR for the National Association of Corporate Directors
Lochlin Partners has placed Marian Stevens as senior vice president, human resources of the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) in Washington, D.C. “Marian’s deep experience in talent development, organizational effectiveness, and culture will help NACD to continue building the internal capabilities needed to support our growth and deliver on our mission,” said Peter Gleason, president and CEO of
JDG Associates Tapped by Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute to Find New Leader
Rockville, MD-based executive search firm JDG Associates has been retained by the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI) to lead its search for a new president and CEO. The Chicago-based institute, the leading technical institute and trade association for the precast, prestressed concrete industry in North America, seeks a visionary and collaborative executive to succeed its long-serving chief executive,
Psychological Safety; The Bedrock of Organizational Culture
Research findings consistently reveal that a significant portion of the global workforce does not feel psychologically safe, leading to burnout, stress, and dissatisfaction, according to a report from TI Verbatim Consulting. In a 2023 study conducted by Workhuman, 48 percent of respondents reported experiencing burnout, 61 percent experienced elevated stress levels, and 32 percent felt
HR Leaders Overlooked for Leadership Development Opportunities
Korn Ferry has posted results of a global executive study that paints a less than glowing picture of leadership development opportunities for those in the human resources field. The survey of more than 700 executives found that nearly half of respondents (47 percent) say their organizations do not offer leadership development programs specifically for members of the
Isaacson, Miller Leading President Search for UNC
Isaacson, Miller has been selected by the University of North Carolina to lead the search for its next president. Current president Tom Ross, who led the university for the past four years, has been asked by the system’s Board of Governors to step down next January. The firm will help the board’s presidential search committee identify potential successors by
ZRG Partners Opens Phoenix Office, Adds Managing Director
West Orange, NJ-based ZRG Partners has opened a new office in Phoenix with the addition of David Bruno as managing director. Mr. Bruno has a long history of conducting board of director, C-level and critical VP and director level searches in the Phoenix market. “We are thrilled to add David to our team and bring his wisdom and experience to
hrQ Adds Consultant in Houston Office
hrQ, an executive search and professional services firm focused exclusively on the human resources sector, has named Dale Wunder as a principal consultant in its Houston office. Mr. Wunder joins hrQ with more than 30 years of global human resources experience at Royal Dutch Shell where he was a senior executive overseeing teams in Europe, Asia, and the Americas, and had expatriate
AltoPartners Adds Member Firm in Japan
AltoPartners has added Japanese executive search firm KIZASHI Corporation to its global alliance. This extends AltoPartners’ global reach to 51 offices in 31 countries. Founded in 2011, KIZASHI is an executive search firm with offices in Tokyo and Osaka. Its consultants have a wide range of experience in recruiting senior leadership across the industrial, consumer/retail, life science/healthcare, game/entertainment and technology sectors. Clients ranging from
Barton Executive Search Recruits Director for Welch’s
Atlanta-headquartered boutique search firm Barton Executive Search has recruited Michael Keown as a member of Welch’s board of directors. Mr. Keown is president and CEO of Farmer Brothers, a manufacturer and distributor of coffee and tea products. “Mike’s vast consumer products leadership experience shows that he knows how to use a variety of organizational capabilities to deliver substantial results for shareholders and
Top Search Firms Partner on Boardroom Diversity Initiative
The trend by executive search firms to join forces to advance global diversity initiatives in boardrooms around the world has come to Asia. The Diversity Action Committee (DAC) formed just nine months ago with the objective of building up the representation of women directors on boards of companies in Singapore, has signed up six new search
CTPartners Loses Top Producer to Heidrick & Struggles
Sylvain Dhenin, a vice chairman and member of the executive committee of CTPartners, has left the company after more than nine years to join Heidrick & Struggles. Mr. Dhenin joins a chorus of high ranking executives to depart the embattled search firm, whose fortunes have been depleted since its chairman, Brian Sullivan, resigned in disgrace earlier
Buffkin Group Names Head of Digital Recruiting Practice
Executive search firm The Buffkin Group has added Raj Das as partner and head of the firm’s digital recruiting practice in New York. Mr. Das brings more than 22 years of experience advising organizations on digital strategies. For the last 10 years he has focused exclusively on the creation and activation of digital assets and marketing channels for organizations
Russell Reynolds Associates Recruits Director for PJM Interconnection
Russell Reynolds Associates has recruited Terry Blackwell to serve on the board of directors of PJM Interconnection. He will finish the unexpired term of William R. Mayben, which will expire in 2016. Mr. Blackwell has 36 years of experience in power system planning and operation. Most recently, he was senior vice president of Power Delivery at Santee
Taylor Winfield Recruits SVP Sales for PayScale
Executive search firm Taylor Winfield has placed Melody Brown as senior vice president of sales at PayScale, Inc., based in Seattle. Ms. Brown has 16 years of sales experience with a focus in the technology industry. She joins PayScale from DataCore Software, an enterprise storage company, where she was VP of sales and channel. Previously, Ms. Brown was VP of
IRC Global Expands Footprint in Africa
Lagos, Nigeria-based Leading Edge Consulting has joined IRC Global Executive Search Partners (IRC) as its newest partner firm. “We’re pleased that we can offer our clients first class executive search services in one of the most important economies on the African continent,” said Patrick Westerburger, president of the board of IRC Global. “Besides giving us a stronger footprint in
Hanold Associates Launches CHRO Search for Outward Bound
Executive Search firm Hanold Associates has been selected by Outward Bound NY Schools to lead its search for a new chief human resources and administrative officer. The successful CHRO candidate, to be based in Queens, NY, will report to Outward Bound’s president, Richard Stopol, and serve as a member of the senior management team and support all senior
Korn Ferry Adds Global Logistics Recruiting Specialist
Korn Ferry has added Dustin Ogden in the firm’s global logistics, transportation and distribution practice. He will be based in Atlanta. Mr. Ogden brings an extensive executive search portfolio, with a strong emphasis on developing and managing talent searches in logistics, transportation, distribution and industrial services. He previously worked at Spencer Stuart for three years in the firm’s greater Atlanta office
Egon Zehnder Expands Life Sciences Practice Group
Egon Zehnder has appointed Jessica Watson as a consultant in its life sciences and healthcare services practice group. Ms. Watson joins Egon Zehnder’s newly opened Washington, D.C. office, where she will also focus on serving clients in D.C.’s public and social sector. Ms. Watson brings a unique policy and government perspective to Zehnder, having previously launched the
Harris Search Associates Recruits Dean at Howard University
Dublin, Ohio-based Harris Search Associates has placed Dr. Hugh Mighty as the 18th dean and vice president of clinical affairs of Howard University College of Medicine. He will also serve as professor on the faculty in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. In his new role, Dr. Mighty will oversee the College of Medicine’s academic programs and provide oversight for the
Search Firms Claiming Smaller Piece of Recruiting Budgets
According to a highly-anticipated Bersin by Deloitte research report just released, U.S. companies increased their average talent acquisition spend by seven percent in 2014, with healthcare organizations reporting the largest increase among industries. But a closer look at the study’s findings shows that executive recruiters are taking a significant hit along the way, claiming just 18 percent of typical
Boyden Elects Jörg Kasten as Chairman; Adds New Board Members
Boyden has elected Jörg Kasten, managing partner of Boyden Germany, to a two-year term as chairman. He succeeds Dr. Gerhard Raisig, who is a managing partner in Frankfurt. In addition, Finn Rants, managing partner of Boyden Denmark, was assigned to a first term as director. Kristen Smit, managing partner of Boyden France, and Brent Shervey, managing partner of Boyden Canada,
Heidrick & Struggles Adds Life Sciences Search Specialist
Chicago-based Heidrick & Struggles has strengthened its healthcare and life sciences practice with the addition of Tim Dietlin to its Chicago office. Mr. Dietlin has extensive life sciences and professional services experience and has worked globally and across the R&D, medical and commercial functions. “Tim is an excellent addition to our practice and firm. His deep knowledge of the healthcare and life sciences
Preston & Partners Recruits CEO for Adorama
The New York office of Preston & Partners has placed Barry Litwin as chief executive officer of Adorama, Inc. Gary Preston and Elaine Erickson led the assignment. Adorama is a leading online destination for photography, imaging and consumer electronics. Mr. Litwin joins the company from Sears Holdings, Inc., where he was vice president and general manager of e-commerce.
Herbert Mines Completes Search for Performance Sports Group
New York-based executive search firm Herbert Mines Associates has recruited Todd Harman as executive vice president of baseball/softball at Performance Sports Group Ltd. Mr. Harman brings more than 20 years of experience in the sporting goods industry and will lead all aspects of the company’s Easton Baseball/Softball business. He was most recently president of Cleveland Golf, USA and had held various
Spencer Stuart’s India Chief Resigns
Anjali Bansal, a partner and co-leader of Spencer Stuart’s CEO and corporate board practice in Asia Pacific, has resigned her post after spending more than a decade with the firm. Ms. Bansal founded and led Spencer Stuart’s India practice, which now operates from Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore. Ms. Bansal is a noted expert in strategy and leadership consulting.
ZRG Launches Cyber Security Search Practice
West Orange, NJ-based ZRG Partners has launched a new cyber security and government / defense recruitment practice with the additions of search consultants Stephen Spagnuolo and Phoebe Henderson. Finding cyber security leadership is one of the fastest growing segments of the talent acquisition business, according to Hunt Scanlon Media in its coming ‘State of the Industry’ forecast report. “The
ON Search Partners Adds Partner In Boston
ON Search Partners has added Leonard Vairo to its recently established Boston office as a partner. With 20 years of executive recruiting experience, Mr. Vairo’s practice focuses on the technology and business services industry across CEO, board of director and senior-level executive search assignments. He joins the firm from Russell Reynolds Associates where he was a partner for 10
Human Capital Group Recruits President for FRANKE
Brentwood, TN-based The Human Capital Group, Inc. has placed Gary Langbo as president at Franke, overseeing the Kitchen Systems in North America. Mr. Langbo previously spent five years as vice president of retail, global commercial and consumer products at Underwriters Laboratories, in Northbrook, IL. Before that, he spent 15 years at Whirlpool Corporation where he served in various leadership
Brooke Chase Associates Places CEO at Wellborn Forest Products
Sarasota-based executive recruiter Brooke Chase Associates has recruited Dave Gordon as president and chief executive officer of Wellborn Forest Products. Rick Mohrman led the assignment. Mr. Gordon will oversee all functions of the business, developing and implementing strategic plans for growth and operational improvement, leading and developing the senior management team and driving sales growth and profitability. With a background
Caldwell Partners Recruits Doerr Center Director at Rice University
Caldwell Partners has recruited Tom Kolditz as executive director of Doerr Center for Student Leadership at Rice University in Houston, Texas. The search was conducted by a team led by John Strackhouse, a partner who advises investors and executives at venture capital firms, private equity concerns, and growth-oriented public companies on succession planning, talent acquisition, leadership, and company building. Mr. Kolditz
RSR Partners Adds Managing Director in New York
RSR Partners, a corporate governance and executive search firm, has added Trish Shortell as managing director in its New York office. Her search experience spans the marketing services spectrum — from agencies to corporations — bringing a wealth of knowledge to the firm’s chief marketing officer (CMO) and chief financial officer (CFO) practices. “We are delighted to welcome Trish to our firm. Her
Egon Zehnder Retained by Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Egon Zehnder has been selected by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) to find its new director. The firm was responsible for conducting the ABC’s last search for a managing director in 2006, when Mark Scott was appointed to role. According to reports, the new director will ultimately replace Mr. Scott whose second five year term expires in July 2016. The
O’Neill Consulting Group Acquires DMR Advisory
Search firm O’Neill Consulting Group has acquired DMR Advisory, LLC. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. DMR Advisory provides executive search and organizational advisory services for the hotel, real estate, and hospitality technology industries. “We are delighted to welcome DMR to the O’Neill family as we continue our efforts to serve clients in new, innovative ways,” said Kevin O’Neill, founder
Andersen Partnership Opens New Office in Dublin
Executive recruiters Andersen Partnership has opened new digs in Dublin, making it the firm’s 11th office. Led by director Darragh Everard, the office intends to hire more than 30 consultants over the coming months, specializing in recruiting mid to senior management level roles. Commenting on the opening, Andersen Partnership’s CEO, Brian Schroder, commended the achievements of Mr. Everard
