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Kestria Appoints Leader of AI Ambassadors Group
Kestria, formerly known as IRC Global Executive Search Partners, has named Thomas Suter as the new leader of the AI Ambassadors Group. Under his leadership, the group will continue to innovate, ensuring technology enhances efficiency without compromising personalized, strategic advisory. “At Kestria, we see the thoughtful integration of AI not as a replacement, but as a
With Liquidity And Legacy Looming, A New Paradox Emerges For Founder-Led Firms
Jay Alix, the founder of AlixPartners, has teamed up with veteran PE investor David Tayeh to launch Tayeh Capital Group, a $400 million fund aimed at family-owned professional & business services firms facing generational transition. The bet, said James O’Dowd, founder and CEO of Patrick Morgan, is that “aging founders, lower valuations, and stuck portfolio companies will create
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,
A Changing Market Has AI and Cybersecurity Recruiters on Alert
The landscape of AI and cybersecurity recruiting is dynamic and constantly evolving. Executive recruiters say that there is a significant demand for skilled professionals in AI, including machine learning engineers, data scientists, and AI researchers. Companies across various industries are actively seeking talent to leverage AI for innovation, efficiency, and competitive advantage. Meanwhile, with the
DHR and CTPartners Begin Takeover Talks As Lifelines Dry Up
CTPartners, No. 7 on Hunt Scanlon’s top Americas search firm rankings, has announced that pursuant to its previously announced strategic alternatives process, the company has received a non-binding indication of interest from it’s top 10 rival, DHR International, to be acquired. The special committee of the company’s board of directors, which was formed to evaluate CTPartners
Heidrick & Struggles Recruits CEO for Cruise Lines Association
Chicago-based Heidrick & Struggles has placed Thomas P. Ostebo as president and chief executive officer of Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). Mr. Ostebo will oversee CLIA operations both domestically and internationally, working directly with his senior leadership team to execute the organization’s vision and work on behalf of CLIA members. He replaces Christine Duffy who went on to become president of Carnival
Prout Group Founders Join Diversified Search
Diversified Search has added Patrick M. Prout, the former president and CEO of The Prout Group, and Betsy Bruening, Prout’s EVP and COO, as managing directors. Mr. Prout will serve as the firm’s practice leader for financial services in New York while Ms. Bruening will establish a new office in Cleveland. Before launching Prout Group, Mr. Prout served as
Antal International Acquires Smart Moves
U.K.-based recruitment business Smart Moves has joined the network of Antal International, which operates from 120-plus offices in 30 countries. The acquisition opens up the opportunity to expand the Smart Moves brand to other locations and supports Antal International’s strategy to build its presence across the U.K. Established in 2000 by managing director Julia Hale and Louisa Harris, Smart Moves
Lochlin Partners Finds CEO For Nathan Associates
Boutique executive search firm Lochlin Partners has placed Susan B. Chodakewitz as chief executive officer of Nathan Associates. She will succeed Lakhbir Singh, who plans to retire from full-time employment after almost 39 years with Nathan. Ms. Chodakewitz joins Nathan from Tetra Tech Inc., an international environmental and technical services consulting company with $2.48 billion in revenue. She has been president
Russell Reynolds Associates Heads UD President Search
Russell Reynolds Associates has been chosen by the University of Delaware (UD) to lead the search for its next president. Ilene H. Nagel, head of the firm’s higher education practice, will lead the search team assisting UD. Ms. Nagel is a long-term academic, having held professorial and senior administrative positions at Indiana University (Bloomington), the University of Maryland (College
Brentwood Search Partners With Color Stampede
El Segundo, California-based executive search firm Brentwood Search has entered into a consulting arrangement with Color Stampede to advance its recruiting efforts for startup and established media and technology companies moving into downtown Los Angeles. Brentwood Search will serve as executive recruiter of record for Color Stampede; in turn, Color Stampede will help identify emerging players in digital
Healthcare Recruiter Joins HealthTech as VP
Veteran healthcare recruiter Peter Goodspeed has joined HealthTech Management Services as vice president in an effort to bring a fresh perspective to the firm’s recruitment services. Competition for highly qualified healthcare executives has never been greater as healthcare reform continues to evolve, and the need for talent in the sector is expanding. With more than 25
Ferguson Partners Heading CEO Search for Mack-Cali Realty
Ferguson Partners Ltd. has been retained by Mack-Cali Realty Corp. to lead its search for a new chief executive officer. The Wall Street Journal recently reported that Mitch Rudin, former chief executive of Brookfield Office Properties’ U.S. division, was the leading candidate to replace outgoing CEO Mitchell Hersh. “Since initiating this process, the board search committee, in conjunction
U.K. Search Pioneer Dies at 80
Anthony Saxton, a pioneer in the field of headhunting for the educational and charitable sectors, after a first career in advertising, has died at the age of 80. Mr. Saxton and his business partner, Stephen Bampfylde, founded Saxton Bampfylde International in 1986 and built a practice that applied “executive search” skills honed in the business
Abercrombie & Fitch Taps Spencer Stuart for CEO Search
They have not had a CEO in over five months. So retail giant, Abercrombie & Fitch, has gone to the outside to help find itself a new leader by enlisting Hunt Scanlon ‘Big Five’ recruiter Spencer Stuart. In December, A&F’s longtime CEO, Mike Jefferies, who had helped build a brand that attracted millions of teens in
Futurestep Adds Managing Director of Global Operations
Futurestep, a Korn Ferry company that provides talent acquisition solutions, has named Viquar Khan as managing director of global operations to address the growing demand for its talent acquisition solutions. Working with Futurestep’s leadership and delivery teams, Mr. Khan will focus on extending and advancing the use of Korn Ferry’s intellectual property within Futurestep’s service offerings and further
People Gallery Opens Doors
Former owner and managing director of Publicis Life Brands Resolute, Paul Blackburn, has launched a new executive search firm: People Gallery. The talent solutions provider was created to focus on filling senior-level positions for the marketing services industry across PR, advertising, medical education and digital with a particular focus on health. “I have started People Gallery because industry
TRANSEARCH Adds Senior Client Partner In Stuttgart
TRANSEARCH International has added Ursula Glock to its Stuttgart office as a senior client partner. Ms. Glock has nearly 20 years’ experience in executive search with experience in the engineering, automotive and IT sectors. She has completed numerous assignments at all levels of senior management for both medium-sized multinationals, as well as large-sized enterprises, having built long term partnerships
Lonergan Partners Recruits Board Director
Executive search firm Lonergan Partners has recruited Joe Hoffman to the board of directors at Hercules Technology Growth Capital. The search was led by partner Dotty Schaffer. Mr. Hoffman has more than 36 years of business experience in all aspects of financial and SEC reporting. He served as audit partner at KPMG from July 1983 to September 2009, serving a
Work&Partners Recruits CMO for Merrill Communications
New York-based Work&Partners LLC has placed Alan C. Scott as chief marketing officer for Merrill Communications, LLC. Alan J. Work of Work&Partners led the search. Mr. Scott was formerly chief marketing officer at Wolters Kluwer Law & Business. Prior to that, he was senior vice president and chief marketing officer, enterprise media group, at Dow Jones
Goodwin Executive Search Places SVP Worldwide Sales at Zaloni
Raleigh, NC-headquartered Goodwin Executive Search has placed Scott Hart as senior vice president of worldwide sales at Zaloni, Inc. based in Durham, NC. Mr. Hart was recruited to Zaloni from OPower where he served as vice president of sales. Prior to his role at OPower he served as a director of sales at Oracle, and has
Key Corporate Services Promotes Partner
Fishers, Indiana-based executive search firm Key Corporate Services, LLC, has promoted Todd Downing to partner. Mr. Downing will continue his involvement in all aspects of the firm's executive recruiting and client advisory business. He is also responsible for project management, and involved in training and mentoring the firm’s professional staff. "We congratulate Todd on his promotion
Fox Rodney Partners With ALS International
Fox Rodney Search (FRS) has formed a new partnership with Hong Kong-based search firm ALS International. The new alliance represents a continued effort by the firm to serve its global client base. ALS International was established in 2002 and is headquartered in Hong Kong with offices in Singapore, Beijing and Shanghai. Its staff is comprised of
Ballinger|Leafblad Heading CEO Search for Ronald McDonald House
St. Paul-based executive recruiters Ballinger|Leafblad has been selected by Ronald McDonald House Charities, Upper Midwest (RMHC) to lead in its search for a new president and chief executive officer. Current CEO John Stanoch has said he will retire this fall from his post. Ronald McDonald House Charities, Upper Midwest is a Minneapolis-based non-profit that gives seriously
NGS Global Recruits SVP Human Resources for Public Storage
NGS Global has placed Michael Rosenow as senior vice president of human resources at Public Storage. The position is based in Glendale, California. Mr. Rosenow was previously SVP of HR and chief compliance officer at The Service Companies in Las Vegas. The search was conducted by Bob Bellano, senior partner, and Don Parker, senior partner,
Dice Records Five Percent Revenue Increase
Dice Holdings, Inc./(NYSE:DHX) has recorded first quarter revenues of $63.8 million, an increase of five percent from $60.7 million in the comparable quarter of 2014. The rise was primarily due to higher year-over-year sales and marketing expense and additional headcount in part resulting from the acquisition of OilCareers in March 2014, partially offset by lower depreciation
Goldsmith & Co Adds Partner in San Francisco Office
Goldsmith & Co, an executive search firm focused on asset management, has appointed Paul Charles as a partner in its San Francisco office. Mr. Charles was previously a partner in Heidrick & Struggles’ financial services practice, focusing on search and advisory work for asset management, private equity, hedge fund and wealth management clients across North America.
CTPartners Loses Seven More Top Recruiters to Rivals
Top 10-ranked executive search firm CTPartners remains in the crosshairs of its global rivals – several of whom seem to be picking the company clean of its top-level business producers. Robert Voth, a CTPartners vice chairman and 17-year company veteran, has joined Russell Reynolds Associates as a managing director where he will work from the firm’s Chicago
E.A. Hughes Places Global Marketing SVP for USPA Properties
Executive search firm E.A. Hughes & Co has placed Matthew McCartin as senior vice president of global marketing of USPA Properties, Inc. Mr. McCartin was previously the chief marketing officer of Williamson-Dickie Manufacturing Co. Prior to that, he served as vice president of advertising, KFC, at Yum Brands Inc. USPA Properties oversees licensees in North and
Christenson Advisory Services Names Principal in L.A.
Christenson Advisory Services (CA), a full service consultancy providing executive search, compensation, financial advisory and management consulting services to the global real estate industry, has named Kara Sugimoto as a principal in its Los Angeles office. Ms. Sugimoto and her team will lead CA's West Coast executive search practice. She brings more than two decades of
CTPartners’ Client Satisfaction Rate Up in Q1
CTPartners' quarterly Client Satisfaction Survey (CSS) results showed an overall client satisfaction rate of 91.4 percent, up 5.25 percent from 86.2 percent for the same quarter in 2014. Ninety-six percent of respondents said they would use CTPartners again for another critical search. “CTPartners is committed to providing a transparent search experience for our clients and
B.E. Smith Adds Healthcare Leader for Interim Business
Executive recruiting firm B.E. Smith has added Byron Atkinson as vice president / leadership advisor for its interim leadership and advisory services division. A healthcare executive with more than 35 years of national and international senior leadership experience, Mr. Atkinson brings a track record in leading for-profit and not-for-profit hospitals, as well as academic medical centers
Diversified Search Recruits Provost for Samford University
Diversified Search has placed Dr. Mike Hardin as the new provost of Samford University. Dr. Hardin, who currently serves as the dean of business at the University of Alabama, will be joining Samford University in Birmingham beginning July 1st. The search was led by managing director Gene Head. Samford’s President Andrew Westmoreland stated: "In accepting
Ralph Andersen and Associates Chosen to Lead President Search
Executive recruiters Ralph Andersen and Associates has been selected by Santa Monica College (SMC) to lead its search for a new college superintendent/president. The decision came after hearing presentations by and interviewing representatives of Ralph Andersen & Associates and three other finalists: Greenwood/Asher & Associates, Inc., Association of Community College Trustees, and Korn Ferry. "Ralph Andersen &
Direct Recruiters Expands Military Transition Practice
Executive search firm Direct Recruiters, Inc. (DRI) has added Thomas M. Clark as director of military transition, military leadership excellence, and the firm's supply chain/logistics practice. Mr. Clark’s experience managing high growth, multi-division, multi-billion dollar businesses is a compliment to his military leadership experience. He is a former U.S Army Captain and Airborne Ranger that led
