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HTP Group Expands in Spain
HTP Group has expanded with the addition of Meritxell Galbas as partner in Spain. “Meritxell’s extensive experience in executive leadership, technology-driven transformation, and business growth makes her a strong addition to HTP Group,” said Ineke Arts and Raffaele Jacovelli, managing directors of HTP Group. “Her expertise will support our clients in Spain and across the EMEA region in navigating complex
EY Says Big Deals Driving Record M&A Growth In U.S.
The latest EY Merger Monthly report shows that the total value of large transactions rose 25 percent in Q3, propelling year-to-date U.S. deal value to $1.78 trillion – up 36 percent from the same period in 2024. September alone delivered 151 large deals totaling $257.6 billion in value. Technology, oil and gas, and life sciences led the surge, signaling
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.
Brettschneider Executive Search Seeking Inaugural SVP of Advancement for Wilmington University
New York City-based Brettschneider Executive Search has been retained by Wilmington University (WilmU) to lead in its search for an inaugural senior vice president of advancement to lead the University’s next phase of philanthropic growth. Reporting to WilmU president LaVerne Harmon, the SVP will partner closely with the president, board and University leaders to advance the University’s strategic
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?
August Leadership Expands in London
August Leadership has expanded with the addition of Honor Pollok as a partner in London. Ms. Pollok brings over 20 years of executive search and leadership experience. She has led numerous high-profile placements in chair, non-executive director, CEO and the full spectrum of C-suite roles. Her search expertise spans key commercial, financial, creative, human resource, functional,
Hunt Scanlon and HSiQ Spotlight New Approach to Recruiter Training
As the executive search industry faces mounting pressure to improve performance and consistency, firms are increasingly reevaluating how recruiters are trained and developed. Hunt Scanlon and its HSiQ talent intelligence advisory unit recently launched a new Recruiter Performance Training Program designed to bring greater structure, commercial rigor, and scalability to recruiter development in an industry long driven by
Building Team Alignment in an Era of Continuous Change
Ask any team to describe its top strategic priorities and you will often get as many answers as there are people in the room. The problem is not that the strategy hasn’t been communicated, according to recent report from AIIR Consulting. “The problem is that it was communicated into an environment that has since shifted
Isaacson, Miller Helps Recruit 28th President for Texas A&M
Boston-based Isaacson, Miller has assisted in the recruitment of Susan Ballabina as the 28th president of Texas A&M. Andy Lee and Julie Filizetti, led search with Raul Bernal and Luciano Zuniga, and Madeline Fitzpatrick. The members of the Board of Regents conducted a national search that produced a strong pool of candidates. Dr. Ballabina emerged through that process based on her experience, her understanding of
BarkerGilmore Recruits General Counsel for American Credit Acceptance
Boutique search firm BarkerGilmore, which specializes in building corporate legal and compliance teams, has placed Debra Noll as general counsel at American Credit Acceptance. The search was led by Stephen Bell and Alison Waters. “Deb is exceptionally well-positioned to support American Credit Acceptance as it continues to grow and adapt in a complex environment,” BarkerGilmore said in a LinkedIn
Kincannon & Reed Appoints VP of Marketing and Business Development
Kincannon & Reed (K&R), which exclusively focuses on food, agribusiness, and the related life sciences, has expanded with the addition of Dan Evans as vice president of marketing and business development. “Dan brings a strong background in building brands, driving growth, and connecting strategy to execution,” said Stephanie Liska, president of Kincannon & Reed. “Throughout his career,
Women Founders Gain Ground in Human Capital M&A
A meaningful shift has been unfolding across the executive search industry. Over the past decade, a growing number of highly specialized boutiques have been founded and led by women, many of whom built successful careers within larger firms before launching businesses of their own. What is becoming increasingly clear is that investors are paying attention.
Private Equity Recruiting – Return on Investment: Creating Value with Talent
Talent has become a defining driver of performance in private equity, shaping how firms manage risk, execute strategy, and deliver sustained returns. As deal cycles tighten and value creation depends increasingly on operational excellence, leadership quality and organizational design are no longer secondary considerations — they are central to how firms source, underwrite, and scale
AGB Search Seeking Chief Information Technology Officer for Slippery Rock University
Washington, D.C.-based recruitment firm AGB Search, which specializes in higher education leadership assignments, has been retained by Slippery Rock University to lead in its search for a chief information technology officer (CITO). Kimberly Templeton, Margaret Plympton, and Anne Hoffman are leading the assignment. This leader serves as the University’s senior technology executive, providing strategic vision, leadership, and executive
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
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,
Women’s Representation in the C-Suites Declines as Gender Parity Remains Elusive
In March of 2024, S&P Global published an alarming report: for the first time in two decades, C-suite women lost seats in the S&P Total Market Index. In 2022, women held 12.2 percent of the 15,000 C-suite positions across publicly traded U.S. firms. However, this regressed to just 11.8 percent by the end of 2023. While
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
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,
