DAILY NEWSWIRE - TOP STORIES
Daily Newswire
McCormack+Kristel Seeking CEO for the Independent Film & Television Alliance
Executive search firm McCormack+Kristel has been retained by the Independent Film & Television Alliance (IFTA) to lead in its search for a new president and CEO. At a pivotal moment for the industry, the new CEO will shape policy, elevate the voice of independents worldwide, and drive the success of the American Film Market, one of the industry’s
Anthem Executive Tapped by Northwest Missouri State University for Provost Search
Executive recruitment firm Anthem Executive has been selected by Northwest Missouri State University to lead in its search for a new provost and vice president for academic affairs. Michael Ballew, Scott Watson, Mike “JR” Wheless, and Florene Stawowy are leading the search. The school is seeking a provost and vice president of academic affairs to serve as its next chief academic officer,
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.
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
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?
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,
IIC Partners Adds New Member Firm in New Zealand
IIC Partners Executive Search Worldwide has added Auckland, New Zealand-based Infinitas as its newest member firm expanding its capabilities across the Asia-Pacific region. “I am thrilled to welcome Infinitas to IIC Partners,” said Christine Hayward, executive director of IIC Partners. Their people-first philosophy, tech-enabled search processes, and talent advisory capabilities deeply align with our mission to transform
Hiring for the Culture You Don’t Yet Have
For much of the past decade, organizations have invested heavily in strategy, technology and operational efficiency to navigate an increasingly complex business environment. Yet despite these investments, many transformation initiatives continue to fall short of expectations. The differentiator is rarely the strategy itself. More often, success depends on whether leadership teams have the right people
BoardWalk Consulting Leading CEO Search for Downtown Atlanta Inc.
BoardWalk Consulting has been tapped by Downtown Atlanta Inc. (DAI) to lead in its search for a CEO. The search is being led by Sam Pettway, Crystal Stephens, and Patti Kish. The organization is seeking a leader who can help define what the next generation of Downtown Atlanta will become. This is a leadership opportunity of unusual scale and
Peña Search Assists To Be Like Me with the Recruitment of Executive Director
Peña Search recently assisted in the recruitment of Lauren Rowe as the new executive for To Be Like Me (TBLM) in Dallas, TX. Travis Hillier, Carlos González Peña, and Thaise Pereira led the assignment. She replaces To Be Like Me founder Hollis Owens, who has served as executive director since 2018 and initiated the search for her replacement last
BroadView Talent Partners Tapped by Baltimore Community Lending for President/CEO Search
BroadView Talent Partners was recently retained by Baltimore Community Lending, Inc. (BCL) to lead in its search for a new president and CEO. Tracy McMillan, Robyn Quinn, and Donna Young are leading the assignment. The CEO is the strategic, operational, and external leader of Baltimore Community Lending, responsible for driving the organization’s next era of growth and
Record Holding Periods for PE Portfolios Drive Urgent Focus on Talent Acquisition and Retention Strategies
The median holding period for private equity-backed portfolio companies has reached 5.7 years, the highest since tracking began in 2000, according to Private Equity Info. With a record peak deal year in 2021, many portfolio companies are closing in on their exit timelines in the next few years. And, amid fluctuating market conditions and interest
Championscott Partners Places Chief Hr Officer At Opera Solutions
ChampionScott Partners has placed Tali Rabin as chief human resources officer at Opera Solutions. Ms. Rabin previously spent four years as senior vice president of human resources at 3i-MIND. Opera is a technology and analytics company committed to using science and technology to turn the raw material of big data into higher productivity, healthier bottom
Odgers Berndtson Recruits Managing Director for HarbourVest
Odgers Berndtson has recruited Kevin Warn-Schindel as a managing director at HarbourVest. Based in Boston he leads the company's real assets investment program which includes a focus on energy, infrastructure, natural resources and real estate. Mr. Warn-Schindel joins HarbourVest after 10 years as the group head and managing director of OPTrust Private Markets Group, an
Sheffield Haworth Appoints Head Of Interim Consulting Practice
Sheffield Haworth has named Elizabeth Roberts as managing director and head of the firm's interim consulting practice. Ms. Roberts has 22 years of experience across financial services and professional services in the U.K. and Australia and will be continuing to build Sheffield Haworth’s independent consulting offering globally. She most recently led interim consulting across the
Another Shareholder Rights Law Firm Investigating Actions by CTPartners
A second shareholder rights law firm is investigating potential violations of federal and state law by CTPartners and certain officers and directors of the global search firm. Johnson & Weaver, LLP, a nationally recognized shareholder rights law firm with offices in California, New York and Georgia, represents individual and institutional investors in shareholder derivative and
Medilink Consulting Launches Executive Search Division
Healthcare recruiter MediLink Consulting has created a new executive search division and appointed Amir Malik to launch the new service as director. Mr. Malik was previously with Consult Search & Selection, where he was executive search director, EMEA [Europe, Middle East and Africa] and international markets. MediLink’s new division will recruit for senior positions in
Heidrick & Struggles Heading General Counsel Search for GM
Heidrick & Struggles is currently leading the search for a new general counsel for General Motors. Mike Millikin, the automaker's current general counsel, will retire after his replacement is named. Detroit-based General Motors Corp., one of the world's largest automakers, was founded in 1908, and today manufactures cars and trucks in 34 countries. Heidrick &
Myers Mcrae Completes Search For Albany State University
Executive search firm Myers McRae has placed Alicia J. Jackson Ph.D. as dean of the college of business at Albany State University. During her career, Dr. Jackson has served as dean of the Sigmund Weis School of Business at Susquehanna University and as interim dean and dean of the College of Business and Information Science
Sheffield Haworth Appoints Head Of Interim Consulting Practice
Search firm Sheffield Haworth has named Elizabeth Roberts as managing director and head of its interim consulting practice in London. With 22 years of experience across financial services and professional services in the U.K. and Australia, Ms. Roberts joins the firm from Leathwaite where she led the firm's interim practice and grew the offering across
Korn Ferry Adds to Global Supply Chain Practice
Korn Ferry has appointed Mehrab Deboo as a member of the firm's global supply chain search practice. He will be based out of Korn Ferry's Chicago office and become a member of the global industrial and consumer practices. Mr. Deboo brings more than 12 years of executive search experience, having successfully developed and managed searches
Egon Zehnder Adds Consultant To Toronto Office
Egon Zehnder has added Adam Dean as a consultant in its Toronto office. He is an active member of the firm’s financial services practice. Mr. Dean focuses on the asset management, wealth management, insurance, wholesale banking and private equity sectors. He also serves energy and infrastructure clients across North America. Mr. Dean was previously special
Grays Executive Search Launches Interim Division
Grays Executive Search, a recently launched boutique search and selection consultancy, has opened a second office in Birmingham, U.K. and launched an executive interim search division, headed up by ex-Michael Page director, Phillip Machell. The firm plans to further it's footprint outside of London within the next six months. Grays has doubled its team to
Martin Partners Taps CEO For Amerimark Holdings
Executive search firm Martin Partners has placed Mark Ethier as chief executive officer at AmeriMark Holdings. Mr. Ethier was previously chief executive officer at Cornerstone Brands. AmeriMark is a catalog and online consumer products and services company, backed by private equity firm Prudential Capital. Chicago-based Martin Partners provides executive search services to a wide array
Hanold Associates Heading CHRO Search for Patagonia
Search firm Hanold Associates has been selected by Patagonia, Inc. to lead its search for a chief human resources officer. Founded by Yvon Chouinard in 1973, Patagonia designs and markets clothing and accessories to mountain climbers, skiers, surfers, as well as other sports enthusiasts and environmentalists. Headquartered in Chicago, Hanold Associates specializes in assignments for
DHR International Acquires Veni Partners
DHR International has acquired Veni Partners LLP, a London-based executive search and advisory firm specializing in board and financial services. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Veni’s managing partner and head of financial services, Stéphane Rambosson, has joined DHR as managing director financial services Europe. Founder and chairman, Thomas Drewry, will become an
Boyden Adds Key Partner in Denmark
Boyden has added Kristine Cholewa as a managing partner in Denmark. Ms. Cholewa will play a key role in recruiting for CEOs, board of directors and other senior executive roles in the technology, business & professional services, private equity, industrial and life sciences sectors. She was previously an equity partner of top Denmark-based executive search
Coulter Partners Opens New Office In Copenhagen
Search firm Coulter Partners has opened a new office in Copenhagen and appointed Eskil Westh as executive vice president. Mr. Westh has over 15 years of life sciences search experience working in the Nordics region and across Europe for pharmaceutical, biotech and clinical stage development companies. For 10 years he headed Amrop’s life sciences practice
Lonergan Partners Places CMO At Freewave Technologies
Executive search firm Lonergan Partners has recruited Scott Allen as chief marketing officer of FreeWave Technologies. The search was led by Mark Lonergan, founder and senior partner. Mr. Allen served as an executive consultant with SolarWinds, where he led the creation of customer marketing strategies and success measurements. FreeWave Technologies is a provider of wireless
Richard Thompson Associates Heading CEO Search For West Central Initiative Board
Executive recruiter Richard Thompson Associates has been selected by the West Central Initiative Board to lead in its search for a new president and chief executive officer. West Central’s previous CEO, Nancy Straw, resigned in November. West Central Initiative is a regional community foundation serving the nine west central Minnesota counties of Becker, Clay, Douglas,
ZRG Partners Completes Private Equity Capital Raise
West Orange, NJ-based ZRG Partners has obtained capital funding with Northcreek Mezzanine to pursue strategic acquisitions and attract key executive recruiters to fuel its growth. ZRG, named to HSZ Media’s Top 50 U.S./Americas recruiter ranking for the first time this year, recorded $9 million in U.S. fee revenue in 2014, a 45 percent rise –
CTPartners Receives Rescue Financing As Investors Take Note Of An Industry In Overdrive
Reclusive financier Austin W. Marxe, president of AWM Investment Company, has ponied up a $5 million lifeline to help CTPartners stave off short term cash flow needs and keep the company afloat. Mr. Marxe acquired 1.45 million shares of the embattled global search firm at $3.44 per share last week. His hedge fund stands to
Pure Search Appoints Director Of Compliance
Global search firm Pure Search has appointed Annabel Roberts as director of compliance to lead and build out further capability in the London market. Ms. Roberts previously led the banking and governance practice at specialist search firm Oliver James Associates; prior to that, she headed up a market leading compliance and regulation team in Asia.
Vetted Solutions Selected By The Geoprofessional Business Association To Lead Executive Director Search
Washington, D.C.-based executive search firm Vetted Solutions LLC is currently leading the search for a new executive director for the Geoprofessional Business Association (GBA). GBA is a trade association representing companies that provide geotechnical, geologic, environmental, construction-materials engineering and testing, and related geoprofessional services. Vetted Solutions provides executive search services, interim solutions, and association management
Anderson & Associates Heading CEO Search For The Pines At Davidson
Charlotte, NC-based executive search firm Anderson & Associates has been selected by The Pines at Davidson to lead in its search for a new chief executive officer. Eddie Muller, who has led the retirement community since it opened in 1988, has announced his retirement. Anderson & Associates is a national retained executive search firm specializing
Slone Partners Opens Office In San Francisco
Executive recruiters Slone Partners has opened a new office in San Francisco to be headed by president Tara Kochis. "The Bay Area is a hotbed for medical innovation and scientific investment. To meet the needs of our growing client base and this crucial industry, we are expanding our resources to engage directly with the companies
NGS Global Americas Adds New Offices In South Africa
NGS Global Americas has added offices in Cape Town and Johannesburg, South Africa to its global footprint. Terry Veitch, managing partner at NGS Global, will lead the firm’s presence in the region. With over 25 years of experience in the executive search industry, Mr. Veitch conducts senior-level assignments across a wide variety of industries and
Witt/Kieffer Appoints Leader Of Its IT Practice
Executive search firm Witt/Kieffer has named James Utterback as principal and practice leader of its information technology practice. Mr. Utterback brings a wealth of global experience to the position, with 30 years of diverse executive leadership and consulting experience in information technology and entrepreneurial, private equity and venture capital backed endeavors. He previously founded and
Russell Reynolds Associates Assists CFA Institute in CEO Search
Global executive search firm Russell Reynolds Associates has assisted in the placement of Paul H. Smith as the president and chief executive officer of the CFA Institute. Mr. Smith was managing director, Asia-Pacific, and global head, institutional partnerships at the CFA Institute. CFA Institute’s mission is to lead the investment profession globally by promoting the
JBK Associates International Recruits Chief Medical Officer For Contravir Pharmaceutical
New Jersey-based JBK Associates International has recruited John Sullivan-Bolyai M.D. as chief medical officer of ContraVir Pharmaceutical, Inc. Most recently, Dr. Sullivan-Bolyai was executive director of infectious disease clinical research at Merck. ContraVir focuses on the development and commercialization of targeted antiviral therapies. JBK Associates International conducts executive level searches across multiple functional areas in
DHR Makes Unsolicited Bid To Acquire CTPartners
Two of the nation’s Top 10 ranked search firms could soon become one. Chicago-based DHR International has submitted a formal, unsolicited written offer to acquire 100 percent of the equity of embattled CTPartners, based in New York. David H. Hoffmann, CEO of Osprey Capital LLC, a family office that owns DHR, has been quietly building
Executives Online Grows U.K. Leadership Team
International interim management and executive recruitment firm Executives Online has strengthen its U.K. leadership team with the addition of Chris O’Connell as managing director. With 17 years in the recruiting industry, Mr. O’Connell is the founder and ex-CEO of Timothy James Consulting. At Executives Online, he will help to accelerate new office openings across the
Norrie Johnston Recruitment Names Non-Executive Director
U.K.-headquartered Norrie Johnston Recruitment (NJR) has appointed Jackie Edwards as a non-executive director. Ms. Edwards has led major change programs for financial services brands and high profile regulatory bodies including Barclays Group companies, Cap Gemini Ernst Young and the Financial Services Authority (now the FCA). "We’re absolutely thrilled to have Jackie on the board. She







