DAILY NEWSWIRE - TOP STORIES
Daily Newswire
Hunt Scanlon’s Top 10 Recruiting Stories of 2025
In 2025, the recruiting and executive search industry entered a pivotal transformation driven by the rapid integration of AI and data intelligence. As firms navigated uneven hiring demand and ongoing consolidation, recruiters increasingly turned to AI-powered platforms, advanced analytics, and leadership science to deliver sharper insight, faster outcomes, and measurable value for clients. Investor activity
Isaacson, Miller Retained by the Brooklyn Academy of Music for President Search
Boston-based Isaacson, Miller was recently called by the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) to lead in its search for a new president. Partners Ben Tobin and Sarah James are leading this search with managing associate Tiffany Weber and managing search coordinator Siobhan Hanley. In the world’s most competitive philanthropic market, the president will inspire board partners and team to help build
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
Why Soft Skills Still Rule the C-Suite in the Age of AI
In an era dominated by technological advancements and artificial intelligence, it might be tempting to believe that machines can replace human leadership. However, the essence of effective leadership lies in a unique blend of soft skills that transcend AI’s capabilities, according to a new report from Kestria. “While technical expertise is undoubtedly necessary, it is
Russell Reynolds Associates Retained by Vanderbilt University
Nashville-based Vanderbilt University has retained the services of Russell Reynolds Associates to lead its search for a new vice provost of research. Dennis Hall stepped down at the end of 2014 and vice provost Timothy R. McNamara took over the vice provost post to take on research responsibilities for one year. Mr. McNamara will assist the committee as it refines the
Vetted Solutions Selected by SOCAP to Identify Next CEO
SOCAP International has retained Washington, D.C.-based executive search firm Vetted Solutions LLC to conduct its search for a new president and chief executive officer. Matthew D’uva, SOCAP’s veteran CEO, has spent nearly a decade with the organization, but announced his decision to move on in June.The search is being led by Vetted Solutions president James Zaniello and
ManpowerGroup Records Nine Percent Q2 Revenue Decrease
ManpowerGroup has posted second quarter 2015 revenues of $4.9 billion, a decrease of nine percent from $5.3 billion during the same period a year ago. On a constant currency basis, revenues increased 6.6 percent. Financial results in the quarter were significantly impacted by the stronger U.S. dollar relative to several foreign currencies compared to the prior year period. The
Global Equity International Forms Internal Search Division
As private equity firms expand their company portfolios, many have turned to a number of executive search firms to help them with their talent acquisition requirements. Now, according to Hunt Scanlon Media, one of them is creating an internal search firm to handle its leadership needs. Global Equity International and its subsidiary Global Equity Partners Plc, providers
Korn Ferry Fills Board Position for UDR, Inc.
Korn Ferry has recruited Mary Ann King as the newest member of the board of directors at UDR, Inc. With the addition of this new independent director, the company’s board will total nine members, eight of which are independent and three are women. Ms. King is president of Moran & Company, a national brokerage firm specializing in
SPMB Recruits Chief Product Officer for Comcast
West Coast-based technology search firm SPMB has recruited Chris Satchell as executive vice president and chief product officer of Comcast. Mike Doonan, partner with SPMB, led the assignment. In his new position, Mr. Satchell will lead Comcast’s product teams in Philadelphia, Denver and Silicon Valley. He joins the company from Nike, where he was consumer technology officer in charge of 1,600
Acertitude Launches Recruiting Business in U.S.
Search professionals Kevin O’Neill and Rick DeRose have launched executive search firm and talent consultancy Acertitude, serving the C-level and senior executive search market with what the firm calls “a fundamentally different approach,” aligning search practices to its clients’ business goals and tying consultant compensation to client satisfaction. According to the firm, in a recent a survey of 500
Kennedy Executive Search Adds Member Firm in Amsterdam
Kennedy Executive Search & Consulting, a partner network of executive search boutique firms, has announced its newest office in Amsterdam with the addition of Lens & Partners, an executive search and selection firm with offices in the Netherlands and Switzerland dedicated to the recruitment of specialists for the healthcare industry, finance & risk markets and business-business sector. Carl
CEO/HR Relationship Strengthens in Post-Recession Hiring Landscape
According to CareerBuilder’s new survey of U.S. CEOs, in the current complex, post-recession job market with a growing talent gap, top executives are relying more on recruitment and HR leaders for innovative business strategies grounded in data. The overwhelming majority of CEOs (90 percent) say it is important that HR leaders be proficient in workforce analytics, with about one in
Herbert Mines Associates Recruits CDO for Barnes & Noble
New York-based executive search firm Herbert Mines Associates has recruited Frederic D. Argir as vice president and chief digital officer of Barnes & Noble, Inc., overseeing the company’s e-commerce and NOOK businesses, which are part of retail. He will report to Jaime Carey, chief operating officer. Mr. Argir most recently served as chief digital officer for Toys “R” Us,
Spencer Stuart Leading CEO Search for AMC Theatres
Leawood, KS-headquartered AMC Theatres has retained Spencer Stuart to lead its search for a new chief executive officer. Gerry Lopez will step down as president and CEO and as a member of the board of directors, effective April 6, 2015, to pursue another opportunity. The board has appointed Craig R. Ramsey, AMC’s chief financial officer, as interim president and CEO, to
Diversified Search Appoints Natural Resources Practice Leader
Guy Sava has joined Diversified Search as a managing partner and natural resources practice leader. Mr. Sava was a senior partner with Heidrick & Struggles, where he was a member of both the firm’s industrial and CEO & board practices. Mr. Sava has worked with global manufacturing, chemical, materials, energy and other industrial sector clients in searches for
B.E. Smith Names Interim Leadership and Advisory VP
Executive recruiting firm B.E. Smith has named Cathi Blise as vice president, leadership advisor for the firm’s interim leadership and advisory services division. An accomplished healthcare executive with more than 35 years of clinical experience, Ms. Blise will lead a number of interim and consulting executives nationwide who focus on providing leadership solutions for B. E. Smith clients. She will support healthcare providers
Companies Seen Boosting Talent Acquisition Strategies
Recruiting and onboarding are two of the top three technologies being used in 2015 to enable talent strategies, according to recent data released by Peoplefluent, a social human capital management technology company. The findings stem from recent webinar polls with Brandon Hall Group and Bersin by Deloitte of more than 200 human resource executives at Fortune 500 companies. Results illustrate that nearly 40
Heidrick to Recruit Brookdale Senior Living Leadership Team
Brookdale Senior Living Inc. has retained Heidrick & Struggles to fill its chief operating officer and chief financial officer roles. The company will consider both external and internal candidates. Mark Ohlendorf, the company’s president and CFO, will transition from his current dual roles to focus on an enhanced role as president. The company also announced that Gregory Richard, its current COO,
Amrop Adds Partner in Kenya
Amrop has added Human Capital Synergies Africa Ltd. (HCS Africa) as its newest partner in Nairobi, Kenya. It will operate as a subsidiary of Amrop Landelahni, South Africa. Veronica Anam-Waiyaki, director and technical partner of the firm, becomes managing partner of Amrop East Africa. The new office brings Amrop’s Europe, Middle East and Africa presence to 47 offices. HCS Africa is an HR
Boyden Leading CEO Search for Forest Products Assn. of Canada
Executive search firm Boyden has been selected by the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) to lead its search for a new president and chief executive officer. David Lindsay, who has led the organization since 2012, announced his intention to move on by the end of 2015. Eric Lathrop, a partner in Boyden’s Ottawa office, is leading the
Foxhound Partners Names Head of Executive Search
Recruiting firm Foxhound Partners has added Heather Young to lead and build the organization’s executive search capabilities. As managing director, she will focus on building a full executive search practice, serving clients that engage with the company to fill critical C-suite, vice president, and board-level positions. Ms. Young joins Foxhound with more than 20 years of experience placing top
Caldwell Partners To ‘Vigorously Defend’ Against Takeover Bid From DHR
The board of Caldwell Partners has flat out rejected an offer from DHR International to be acquired. In response to a letter received late last week from DHR chairman, David Hoffmann, Caldwell’s chairman G. Edmund King sent a response after trading hours on Friday saying he would “refuse to engage in further discussions.” In a
Boys & Girls Clubs of America Seeks Head of HR
Executive recruiting firm Talent Connections, LLC, has been selected by the Boys & Girls Clubs of America to lead its search for a new head of human resources. Tom Darrow, founder and principal of Talent Connections, is leading the assignment. The HR head position holds the primary accountability for conceiving and administering Boys & Girls Clubs of
US Agency Rules for Gays in Workplace Discrimination
The United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has ruled that workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is illegal under federal law, setting the stage for litigation aimed at striking down such practices. The ruling, issued this past week, hinged on the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlawed discrimination on the basis of sex
Parker Executive Search Recruits Communications Post for Titans
Atlanta-based Parker Executive Search has placed Jimmy Stanton as vice president of communications for the Tennessee Titans. Mr. Stanton will oversee digital media, media relations, community relations, broadcasting and production. He has worked the last six years at the University of Tennessee where he currently is senior associate athletics director for communications. Mr. Stanton has previous experience at the University of Kentucky, the Houston
Harvey Nash Expands Hong Kong Office
Global executive search firm Harvey Nash has added Nick Neal as associate director in the firm’s finance practice in Hong Kong. He will be responsible for developing and expanding the CFO and finance practice within Harvey Nash Recruitment. Harvey Nash has been focused on building its top end executive search and board of directors business across Asia. Mr. Neal’s appointment will
DHR Offers 45 Percent Premium for Caldwell Partners
Within 48 hours of being stiff-armed in his bid to take over Caldwell Partners, DHR International chairman David Hoffmann said that he has no intention of backing down from plans to acquire his publicly-traded Canadian rival. In a detailed letter penned to his Caldwell counterpart, G. Edmund King, Mr. Hoffmann said that the Caldwell Board’s
AndersExecutive Launches in the U.K.
CDI AndersElite has launched its new executive search division, AndersExecutive, specializing in the recruitment of senior management professionals dedicated to the construction and property markets across the U.K. and EMEA regions. Phil Laycock will lead and manage AndersExecutive as divisional manager. Mr. Laycock brings over 20 years of experience in the professional recruiting sector and in particular for sourcing senior
FaithSearch Partners Recruits COO for Baptist Hospitals
FaithSearch Partners has placed Patrick Shannon as chief operations officer of Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas. FaithSearch Partners is an executive search firm focused on faith-based hospitals, healthcare systems, colleges/universities, churches and ministries. Mr. Shannon most recently served as COO at Ochsner Medical Center in Kenner, LA and has held several leadership roles in healthcare facilities over
Odgers Berndtson Retained by Government of Canada
Executive search firm Odgers Berndtson has been selected by the Government of Canada to lead its search for a new president and chief executive officer of the Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL). Eric Slankis, a principal in Odgers Berndtson’s Ottawa office, is heading the assignment. With more than 15 years of executive search experience, Mr. Slankis has led hundreds
Gibson Consultants Adds Former DHR Recruiter
Former DHR recruiter Jeffrey L. Golove has joined executive search firm Gibson Consultants LLC as senior vice president of its managed care/payor and healthcare technology search practices. With over 20 years of healthcare experience in executive search and corporate human resource & talent acquisition, Mr. Golove was previously executive vice president at DHR. He was based out of the
DHR International Increases Holdings In Rival Caldwell Partners
DHR International has increased its holdings in Canadian search firm Caldwell Partners International to 1,141,000 common shares, representing approximately 5.36 percent of the common shares outstanding. DHR says that its increased stock purchase makes it now the third largest shareholder of Caldwell. According to DHR, its chairman, David Hoffmann, and G. Edmund King, Caldwell’s chairman, spoke
Caldwell Rejects DHR Takeover Advances; Hostile Fight Looming
Canadian recruiter Caldwell Partners International has said in a statement that after consulting with its financial and legal advisors, the publicly-owned search firm had no interest in continuing discussions with DHR about a potential combination. In a letter to DHR chairman, David Hoffmann, Caldwell’s chairman, G. Edmund King, wrote that in response to a letter
Caldwell Partners Expands Recruiting Services To Latin America
Caldwell Partners announced a significant expansion of its business into Latin America yesterday by forming a strategic alliance with CPGROUP LATAM Ltd., a company founded by the partners that established and led the Latin American operations of CTPartners. Through the alliance, Caldwell extends its global reach significantly beyond Canada, adding 16 partners in seven offices across
