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Kingsley Gate Launches IGNYTE AI
Private equity-backed Kingsley Gate has launched IGNYTE AI, a solution that combines proprietary AI technology with decades of executive search expertise. “IGNYTE AI disrupts the old trade-off between quality and speed,” said JL Baker, who leads IGNYTE AI. “We’ve developed IGNYTE AI to challenge traditional recruiting by combining our proprietary native AI platform with decades of executive
How Boards Can Identify and Develop the Right CEO Successors
Few decisions carry as much weight—or long-term consequence—as choosing the next chief executive. The process demands both strategic foresight and deep insight into the evolving demands of leadership. As organizations navigate disruption, shifting stakeholder expectations, and accelerating transformation, boards must balance continuity with the vision and agility required for the future. Boards face a significant
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,
Integrating Business and Talent Strategies: How Diagnostics Fuel Growth
As organizations face change, growth, and new leadership, one key question often arises: Is our talent strategy aligned with our business goals? A talent diagnostic assessment helps business leaders and boards understand how their current talent strategies support – or hinder – business growth, according to a just release report from DHR Global’s David Sheahan
NGS Global Opens New Office In Seoul
NGS Asia Executive Search Ltd. (NGS Global) has opened a new office in Seoul, South Korea to be led by Cindy Yang, NGS Global managing partner. Ms. Yang has 14 years of experience conducting senior-level executive search assignments, with special emphasis on the consumer, technology and life science industries. Her client base includes multinational companies
HVS Executive Search Adds VP In Atlanta
HVS Executive Search has appointed Bill Conn as vice president in the firm's Atlanta office. Mr. Conn brings over 20 years of executive sales and sales management experience in the food service industry including nine years in executive search. Prior to joining HVS, he was vice president of national accounts for private label coffee manufacturer
Eton Bridge Partners Makes Additions To Staff
Executive search and interim management partnership Eton Bridge Partners has named Charlotte Payne as a researcher for executive search within the firm's HR practice, focusing on senior level assignments. Ms. Payne previously spent five years as a senior researcher with boutique executive search firm Sam Allen Associates and has particular expertise in consumer-focused sectors. The
Spencer Stuart Finds CEO for the National Investor Relations Institute
Spencer Stuart has placed James Cudahy as president and chief executive officer of the National Investor Relations Institute (NIRI). Mr. Cudahy, who is currently the head of the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA), takes over in March. Founded in 1969, NIRI is the professional association of corporate officers and investor relations consultants responsible for communication
Heidrick & Struggles Places President and CEO at Carbonite
Heidrick & Struggles has recruited Mohamad Ali as the next president and chief executive officer of Carbonite, Inc. Mr. Ali joins Carbonite from Hewlett-Packard Co., where he served as chief strategy officer. Carbonite is a provider of cloud and hybrid backup and recovery solutions for businesses. Heidrick & Struggles is a provider of senior-level executive
ZW HR Consulting Appoints Country Manager In Singapore
Search firm ZW HR Consulting has appointed Mervin Chui as country manager for its Singapore operations. Mr. Chui will be responsible for leading and driving all of ZW HR Consulting's Singapore operations as well as focusing on business growth and investment opportunities in Singapore and South East Asia. He has more than a decade’s worth
Cross Border Hiring Split Among International Companies
Among companies with offices in countries outside of where their headquarters are located, plans to conduct searches for executives in foreign offices during the year ahead were evenly split. Fifty percent said they were planning to conduct searches while the other half said they were not, according to InterSearch Worldwide. Nearly two-thirds (65 percent) of
Faithsearch Forms Alliance With 5by5
FaithSearch Partners has formed a strategic communications partnership with Nashville-based marketing and digital agency 5by5. “We are delighted to be partnering with an agency with such extraordinary creative and business talent. It was important in our firm selection process to identify and evaluate the top firms in the country who not only understand our faith-based
SSI-Search Completes Assignment For Duke Medicine
Recruiting firm SSi-SEARCH, Inc. has placed Eric Poon M.D. as chief health information officer for Duke Medicine. Most recently Dr. Poon served as vice president and chief medical information officer for Boston Medical Center (BMC) and associate professor of medicine at Boston University School of Medicine. Duke Medicine is an academic and health care system.
WK Advisors Heading VP Search For Wellstar Health System
WK Advisors, a division of Witt/Kieffer offering mid-level executive search consulting services, has been selected by WellStar Health System to lead its search for a new vice president of emergency services, a new position that will work closely with the system COO and other operational leaders to plan, direct, and execute the long-term and short-term
NES Global Talent Adds Two Associates In Glasgow
NES Global Talent has said that Lee Anderson has re-joined the firm as associate director in its Glasgow office. Mr. Anderson, who has 17 years of engineering and technical recruitment experience, previously worked at First People Solutions in Glasgow. Before that he worked at NES Global Talent for seven years, joining the firm as a
Lucas Group Expands In Tampa
Search firm Lucas Group has named Vincent Gagliano as managing partner in its accounting & finance practice group. Mr. Gagliano will expand the firm's Tampa branch. He joins Michael Decker, Tampa managing partner for the firm’s information technology division, in guiding a team of recruiters dedicated to the Florida market. Mr. Gagliano served as director
Hays Acquires 80 Percent Of Veredus Corp.
Hays plc, a U.K.-based executive recruiting firm, has acquired 80 percent of Veredus Corp. for an initial consideration of approximately $44 million, on a cash free / debt free basis. The remaining 20 percent of equity in Veredus will be retained by the selling shareholders, all of whom will continue in their senior leadership roles
Korn Ferry Heading Search for Atlanta Falcons
Korn Ferry has been selected by the Atlanta Falcons to identify head coaching candidates. Former coach Mike Smith was fired after the team experienced back-to-back losing seasons. Korn Ferry has assisted in the searches that landed Andy Reid in Kansas City and Bill O'Brien in Houston in the past several years. Korn Ferry, based in
Ken Clark Partners Taps CFO For Worldwide Clinical Trials
Ken Clark Partners LLC has placed Anthony Doyle as chief financial officer of Worldwide Clinical Trials. Linda Chisholm, consultant for Ken Clark Partners LLC, led the assignment. Mr. Doyle was formerly with World Book Inc. Worldwide Clinical Trials’ mission is to facilitate the development of life-changing medicines by integrating clinical trials methodology, operational acumen and
MitchelLake Group Adds Partner to San Francisco Team
Executive search firm MitchelLake Group has added Jason Heck as an executive search partner within its San Francisco team. Mr. Heck joins the firm from Parker Remick, a Seattle-based executive search firm which works closely with a number of VC firms. “Jason’s search pedigree is fantastic. We’re very lucky to have him on the MitchelLake
Headlight International Releases Global Talent Survey Results
Executive search firm Headlight International has released survey results around the challenges faced by large international companies to recruit global talent. The report found that more than 50 percent of executives reported a willingness to change their current position in less than a year, followed by 37 percent who expected to stay in their current
Alexander Mann Solutions Names Head For New Belfast Office
London-headquartered talent acquisition and management services firm Alexander Mann Solutions has appointed Tracy Hurst to lead its new global client service center in Belfast. Ms. Hurst has held senior client services roles at the Alexander Mann since 2010. Prior to joining the firm she was with Hays Specialist Recruitment. The new Belfast center is set
Diversified Search Fills Three Board Positions for Navient
Diversified Search has recruited three new board members for Navient, a leading loan management, servicing and asset recovery company. The new board members are former U.S. treasurer Anna Escobedo Cabral, Katherine A. Lehman, and Laura S. Unger. The board searches were led by Lauren E. Smith, managing director and Dale E. Jones, president of Diversified
J. Carpenter & Co. Completes Search For WSI Corporation
Executive search firm J. Carpenter and Co. has placed Greg Lazar as chief revenue officer WSI operation of The Weather Company. Most recently, Mr. Lazar was the general manager of international operations at Akamai. WSI Corporation is the world's leading provider of weather-driven business solutions. J. Carpenter & Co. was founded in 2009 and recruits
Slone Partners Promotes COO
Executive recruiters Slone Partners has promoted Leslie Loveless to the position of chief operating officer. Prior to her promotion, Ms. Loveless held the title of executive vice president and partner. She joined Slone Partners in 2007 after working for diagnostics companies such as Quest Diagnostics, as a national sales trainer, and AmeriPath, as director of
PCI Executive Search Consultants Grows Staff
PCI Executive Search Consultants has added Agnes Chen and Candis Ko as directors in Shanghai. Ms. Chen has over 12 years of experience in business development, advisory and risk management in the financial services sector. Prior to joining PCI, she worked for global companies Dun & Bradstreet, Marsh & McLennan Companies and HSBC. Her role
CBSbulter Appoints Head of Built Environment Team
U.K.-based technical recruiter CBSbutler has appointed Chris Porteous as team leader of its newly established built environment team. Mr. Porteous joins CBSbutler from Search Consultancy, where he was managing consultant. Current and previous recruitment vertical market expertise includes: M&E, FM, building services, property & surveying, construction, architecture, consultancies and social housing. “While the business already
Major, Lindsey & Africa Recruits General Counsel for OhioHealth
Search firm Major, Lindsey & Africa has placed Earl J. Barnes as senior vice president and general counsel of OhioHealth. Mr. Barnes previously served as vice president and general counsel at Northwestern Memorial Hospital (NMH) in Chicago. OhioHealth is a nationally recognized, not-for-profit, charitable, healthcare organization with Methodist roots. With offices throughout the U.S., London,
Coleman Lew + Associates to Lead President Search for William Peace University
Executive search firm Coleman Lew + Associates has been selected by William Peace University to lead in its search for a new president. Debra M. Townsley, the university’s current president, announced she would retire at the end of this school year. William Peace University is a liberal arts college in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina. Coleman
IIC Partners Names Global Board Appointments
IIC Partners has elected one new board member and reappointed four existing board members. The search group welcomes Bhavishya Sharma (New Delhi) elected as director, Asia Pacific, to the global board. Ruth Curran (Dublin), Todd Hohauser (Detroit) and Paul Lien (Beijing) have been reappointed as vice chair of EMEA, Americas and Asia Pacific respectively. Charlotte
Stanton Chase Adds Director in Chicago Office
Stanton Chase International has added Steven W. Schroeder to its Chicago office as a director. Mr. Schroeder began his executive search career focusing on the industrial, manufacturing, and distribution sectors as a partner with Moriarty/Fox Inc. and as a managing director with Reilly Partners before launching Schroeder International LLC. In addition to his search experience,
The Atlantic Group Opens Office in Philadelphia
Executive search firm The Atlantic Group has opened an office in Center City, Philadelphia that will be led by managing directors Steve Mickus, Brandon Saylor, and Shilpa Sood. All three search professionals had the same roles at Magellan Search & Staffing in Philadelphia. With offices now in Philadelphia, New York City and Stamford, The Atlantic
DavenportMajor Recruits CEO for Pulse Electronics
DavenportMajor Executive Search has placed Mark Twaalfhoven as chief executive officer at Pulse Electronics. Mr. Twaalfhoven joins Pulse from the investment firm Valuec B.V. in Hong Kong, where he served as president, with responsibilities for investing in and advising international technology companies. Pulse Electronics is a leading electronic components company. DavenportMajor is an executive search
Parker Executive Search Retained by University of South Carolina Beaufort
Atlanta-based Parker Executive Search been selected by the University of South Carolina Beaufort to lead in its search for a new chancellor. Current chancellor Jane T. Upshaw has said that she will retire in August. The University of South Carolina Beaufort is a public university serving nearly 2,000 students with two campuses located in the
FiveTen Group Names CEO and Group Chairman
Global recruitment consultancy The FiveTen Group has appointed Mark Carriban as chief executive officer and Chris Herrmannsen as group chairman. Mr. Carriban will take over strategic responsibility for the Group’s portfolio of specialist recruitment brands. He joins with more than 25 years’ recruitment experience, spending more than 20 years in the U.K. recruitment industry with
