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Vardis Finds PE CEOs Under Pressure, But Optimistic
The Private Equity CEO Report from Vardis, based on a survey of 1,200 chief executives of PE-backed companies, paints a picture of resilience paired with constraint. Seventy percent of CEOs say company performance is “as expected” or better, yet exit activity remains muted, with 2025 tracking as the slowest year for PE exits since 2017, despite a
Why Executive Hiring in 2026 Must Be More Strategic Than Ever
As the calendar turned to 2026, one question looms large: how will you ensure your next leadership team and your next leadership hire drives strategy, culture, and growth rather than simply filling a gap? With complexity, transformation, and succession pressures mounting, relying on who happens to be looking to join your team is no longer
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.
Lochlin Partners Recruits CHRO for Communities Foundation of Texas
Lochlin Partners has placed DeLancey Johnson as chief human resources officer of Communities Foundation of Texas (CFT). “Delancey brings new perspective, experience, and leadership to CFT as we continue building a culture that supports our mission and our staff experts,” said Wayne White, president and CEO of Communities Foundation of Texas. “His depth of experience leading
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?
HTP Group Expands in Europe and Transatlantic Markets with Four Partner Appointments
HTP Group has expanded with the additions of François Carloni, Diego Chinnì, Sandrine Lebouc, and Chloë Sonnois as partners. These appointment marks a significant milestone in HTP Group’s international growth, strengthening its capabilities across France, Italy, and Switzerland, while establishing its first-ever dedicated bridge to the North American market. “We are thrilled to welcome Chloë, Diego,
Fractional CHRO vs. Interim HR Leader: Key Differences and When to Hire Each
As organizations grow, restructure, prepare for investment, or navigate leadership change, many realize they need experienced HR leadership – but not always in the same way. That’s where fractional CHRO and interim HR solutions come in, according to a recent Talent Connections report. “While these terms are often grouped together, they solve very different business
Greenwood Asher & Associates Leading General Counsel Search for Illinois State University
Miramar Beach, FL-based executive recruitment firm Greenwood Asher & Associates (GA&A) was recently selected by Illinois State University to lead in its search for a general counsel. Kyle Pybus-Jerome and Jim Johnsen are leading the assignment. Reporting directly to the president and serving as a member of the president’s cabinet, the general counsel will serve as the University’s chief
ESGI Potomac Recruits CFO for MTSI
ESGI Potomac recently assisted in the recruitment of Ashutosh Gokhale as executive vice president and CFO of Modern Technology Solutions, Inc. (MTSI). “We welcome Ashutosh Gokhale as our new executive vice president and chief financial officer,” said Kevin Robinson, MTSI president and CEO. “As MTSI continues its growth trajectory, Ashutosh’s leadership, financial expertise, and strategic perspective
Marovi Targets Executive Search’s Evaluation Gap With AI-Driven Platform
Atlanta-GA-based Marovi has shared details of its market momentum and customer experience. Core to Marovi’s success is its proprietary evaluation intelligence engine, which weights every candidate against role-specific requirements and generates scorecard comparisons and curated shortlists before the interviewing process commences. Executive search has long been a high-stakes, challenge-filled endeavor, where misalignment can cause significant disruption. Ensuring
Parker Remick Appoints Partner
Seattle, WA-based Parker Remick has expanded with the addition of Amy Lewis as partner. Kevin Williamson, founder of Parker Remick, believes technology leadership has become one of the defining competitive advantages for large enterprises. “Technology leadership has never carried greater responsibility than it does today,” he said. “Every board is evaluating how AI, product innovation, and engineering capability
From Performance Reviews to People Intelligence: Rethinking How Organizations Assess Talent
Performance management is increasingly moving beyond a once- or twice-a-year exercise as organizations look for more timely insight into how leaders and teams are actually performing. For search and talent leaders, that shift is creating new opportunities to use people data more strategically in decisions around succession, development, retention, and leadership readiness. As companies place
millionways and Waxell Form Alliance to Bring Behavioral Intelligence to AI Governance and Agent Observability
millionways, the behavioral intelligence layer for the human-agent workforce, recently formed a strategic partnership with Waxell, an AI governance and agent observability company. The alliance was formed to help enterprises govern, observe, and improve AI agents operating in high-stakes human environments. As enterprises move from copilots to autonomous and semi-autonomous agents, AI systems are being given
How to Build a Perpetual CEO Succession Pipeline
CEO succession planning is increasingly being treated as a continuous leadership priority rather than a process that begins only when a departure is announced. With chief executives serving for a relatively limited period compared with the lifespan of most organizations, boards are under growing pressure to build deeper pipelines, develop internal talent, and maintain visibility
Slone Partners Recruits CEO for Perspectum
Life sciences-focused search firm Slone Partners has placed Warren Cresswell as CEO at Perspectum, an Oxford, England-based precision health company that delivers non-invasive solutions to accelerate drug development and improve patient outcomes in liver and cardiometabolic disease. “Warren brings an exceptional combination of global leadership experience, commercial expertise, and deep knowledge across diagnostics and precision health,” said Leslie
Anthem Executive | Anthem Academics Assists Texas A&M International University with Director of Athletics Search
Anthem Executive | Anthem Academics has assisted Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) with the recruitment of director of athletics. Michael Ballew, Scott Watson, Mike “JR” Wheless, and Florene Stawowy led the assignment. “We are excited to welcome Tyler to Texas A&M International University and to join our Dustdevil family,” said University president Christopher Maynard. His commitment to the academic
The Invisible Month in Executive Recruitment: The Overlooked ROI of Shortlist Due Diligence
Executive search firms are under growing pressure to protect both client outcomes and their own reputations as leadership decisions become more visible and consequential. That has put greater focus on when risk is identified in the search process, not simply whether it is identified at all, and on how earlier diligence can help firms avoid
AI Moves Deeper Into Executive Search Workflows as Innova Heads to Chicago
Artificial intelligence is moving quickly from experimentation into the day-to-day work of executive search firms, but adoption remains uneven across the industry. As search leaders evaluate a growing number of tools, many are looking for practical examples of where AI can improve research, business development, search delivery, and operations without compromising judgment or quality. The
JDG Associates Retained by SPIE to Lead CEO Search
Rockville, MD-based executive search firm JDG Associates has been selected by SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, to lead its search for a new CEO. The Bellingham, WA-based society, the premier global organization advancing light-based research and technologies, seeks a strategic, globally minded executive to succeed CEO Kent Rochford, who will depart in February
CIO Partners Seeking Chief Information Officer for Resideo
CIO Partners was recently tapped by Resideo to lead in its search for a new chief information officer. This executive is responsible for defining and executing the enterprise technology strategy that enables innovation across connected home products, digital services, and global distribution operations at Resideo Technologies. This leader ensures that enterprise technology platforms, cloud infrastructure, and
DSG Global Appoints Managing Directors
DSG Global has expanded with the additions of Kris McFeely, Chris Clarey, and Scott Murray as managing directors. Ms. McFeely, who joins the firm’s nonprofit and social impact practice, brings more than two decades of executive search experience to the team. She specializes in identifying and recruiting exceptional leaders for mission-driven organizations. Drawing on experience across
U.S. M&A Accelerates as Buyers Raise the Bar
EY-Parthenon’s September Merger Monthly points to continued momentum across the U.S. M&A market. Through August, deal value for transactions above $100 million reached approximately $2.2 trillion, up roughly 48 percent year-over-year, while volume increased 23 percent. Momentum remained strong from June through August, with deal value rising 23 percent and volume advancing 22 percent from
Why the Best Job Offer Is About More Than Salary
A higher salary can make a new job attractive, but compensation alone does not always tell candidates whether an offer is truly better. According to a recent report from NPAworldwide, recruiters can play an important role in helping candidates evaluate the complete package while also helping employers understand why a competitive base salary may not
Buffkin / Baker Recruits President for Valdosta State University
Partner-led executive search firm Buffkin / Baker has assisted in the recruitment of Donald J. Green president of Valdosta State University (VSU). Partner Ann Yates and associate Dinah DeWitt led the assignment. “Don Green is a leader who knows how to deliver results, and he’s proven that time and again,” USG chancellor Sonny Perdue said. “At Gordon State, he focused on
The Moran Company Recruits CEO for The Arc of New Mexico
The Moran Company, an executive recruitment firm that specializes in the non-profit sector, has placed Tracie Fletcher as the new executive director of The Arc of New Mexico. Senior search consultant Bruce Scott led the assignment. “Tracie brings a 25-year track record of leadership in non-profit, government, and community organizations,” The Arc of New Mexico said in a
Riviera Partners Expands Public Practice
San Francisco-based Riviera Partners, a recruitment provider specializing in C-level engineering, product, and design leader placements, has expanded with the addition of Archer McFall as a partner within its public practice serving large, publicly-traded companies and late-stage, pre-IPO companies. “Getting the right CTO, CIO, or chief AI officer in place, building the team structure around AI, making sure the
Building Your IR Function: The Questions Every VC Should be Asking
As venture firms mature and fundraising becomes more institutionalized, building the right investor relations function is increasingly becoming a critical part of long-term growth. The best time to hire an investor relations leader is before you urgently need one, according to a recent report from SPMB’s Suzanne Heske and Emily Leder. “LP relationships take years to
U.S. Hiring Slows as Unemployment Rate Edges Up to 4.2 Percent
Employment increased by 29,000 in September as the U.S. unemployment rate edged up to at 4.2 percent, according to the most recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report. The number of unemployed people, at 7.1 million, also increased in September. Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rate for people who are Black (7.0 percent) increased in September.
Cook Silverman Search Recruits Chief Development Officer for Common Sense Media
Greenbrae, CA-based Cook Silverman Search has assisted in the recruitment of Alicia Chang as chief development officer of Common Sense Media to lead in its search for a chief development officer. Ms. Chang joins Common Sense Media after spending a decade with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, where she most recently served as deputy chief development officer
DRiWaterstone Human Capital Assists WJCT Public Media with CEO Search
DRiWaterstone Human Capital has assisted in the recruitment of Karen Feagins as president and CEO of WJCT Public Media, the independent, community-owned public media organization serving Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia. “Karen represents exactly what we were looking for as the next leader for WJCT Public Media,” said Bill Hendrich, chair of the WJCT Public Media board
Intel Taps Spencer Stuart to Find New CEO
Spencer Stuart has been retained by Intel Corporation to lead in its search for a new CEO. Pat Gelsinger retired from the company after a distinguished 40-plus-year career and has stepped down from the board of directors, effective December 1, 2024. Intel has named two senior leaders, David Zinsner and Michelle Johnston Holthaus, as interim co-chief executive officers
Penrhyn International Adds Whitney to Global Network
Penrhyn International has added Whitney Partners (New York) and its Asian affiliate, Whitney Correlate, to its global network. Whitney Partners is an established recruiter in all areas of financial services, across every industry vertical and product specialty. Gary Goldstein, CEO and co-founder, has been a leader in the executive search industry since 1983. Joining Mr.
Robin Judson Partners Adds Capital Markets and Financial Services Recruiter
Robin Judson Partners, an executive recruiting firm focused on hedge funds, private equity and investment banking, has added Drew Mandler to its team as a managing director. In this role, Mr. Mandler will serve as a senior recruiter focused on capital markets and financial services. He will be responsible for positions in research, marketing, trading,
Davies Park Executive Search Names Partner
Davies Park Executive Search has appointed Tony Kirschner as a partner. Mr. Kirschner has worked alongside Greg Longster in the firm’s Vancouver office since 2011 and has built a solid reputation as a leader both within the office and the community. He is an active member of the B.C. Human Resource Management Association and the
ADK Executive Search Recruits CEO for Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport
ADK Executive Search has recruited Carl D. Newman as the new chief executive officer of the Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport (JAN) and Hawkins Field (HKS). Most recently, Mr. Newman served with the Houston Airport System as the GM of Bush Intercontinental Airport. The Jackson Municipal Airport Authority provides transportation services and facilities at the
Shoemaker & Associates/Cornerstone Atlanta Selected by Craven Community College for President Search
Executive search firm Shoemaker & Associates/Cornerstone Atlanta has been selected by Craven Community College to lead its search for a president, replacing Catherine Chew Ph.D., the college’s sixth president, who will retire in 2015. The search will be conducted by Larry Shoemaker and Anne McNutt Ph.D., who leads the community college search practice for the
Sucherman Consulting Group Adds Media Specialist
Executive search firm Sucherman Consulting Group Inc. has added Richard Tackenberg as a senior consultant in its Los Angeles office. Mr. Tackenberg joins the firm after spending 20 years developing and producing content for multiple platforms and over seven years’ experience in media consulting and executive placement. His experience includes placement of media executives in
Stanton Chase Names Managing Director in Nashville
Stanton Chase International has named Guice Smith as managing director in Nashville. With a special emphasis in the healthcare industry, Mr. Smith has built C-level executive teams for hospitals, health systems, payors, consulting firms, and other service groups. In this capacity, he has been instrumental in helping clients identify and secure top performers in organizations
NES Global Talent Makes Acquisition in Norway
NES Global Talent has acquired Energy People, a provider of consultancy, advisory and manpower solutions to the energy industry in Norway. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. It is the firm’s second acquisition in Norway, following the purchase RC Consultants (RCC) earlier this year. Both Energy People and RCC will rebrand as NES
Martin Partners Places CEO at Climax Portable Machining
Executive search firm Martin Partners has placed Thomas Cunningham as the new chief executive officer at Climax Portable Machining. Mr. Cunningham was previously group managing director at The Manlif Group. Climax is a global engineered products manufacturing company backed by the private equity firm Industrial Growth Partners. Chicago-headquartered Martin Partners provides executive search services to
Pinton Forrest and Madden Handling Search for Doctors of BC
Executive search firm Pinton Forrest and Madden is currently leading in the search for a new executive director of member & internal services for the Doctors of BC. Doctors of BC’s mission is to make a meaningful difference in improving healthcare for British Columbians by working alongside members to achieve quality patient care through engagement,
Career Partners International Adds Locations in Greece, Norway, Switzerland and California
Career Partners International (CPI) has named eight new global office locations throughout Greece, Norway, Switzerland and Southern California: Intersystems Consulting, based in Greece; Medvind Personal AS, based in Norway; Organisation & Training Partners AG, based in Switzerland; and Jo-Anne Smith & Associates, based in California join the 72 partner firms in 47 countries that make
Warren Partners Names Financial Services Director
Executive search firm Warren Partners has named financial services expert Julia Fearn as director. Ms. Fearn specializes in the financial services sector, with expertise in board level search, working with challenger brands in the retail banking, building society and insurance sectors. Over her career of more than 20 years, she has established a particular strength
CEOs Spending Half Their Time on HR Issues
CEOs say they spend an average of up to 46 percent of their time on HR issues, according to the CEO HR Pain Points Survey released by TriNet. Thirty-three percent of CEOs cited HR documentation and workplace compliance as their greatest concern, followed by litigation and hiring practices, at 25 and 18 percent, respectively. “Government
Korn Ferry to Lead Search for Michigan Head Football Coach
Korn Ferry has been selected by the University of Michigan to lead in its search for a new head football coach. Jed Hughes, a former Michigan football coach, is the head of Korn Ferry's global sports practice serving as the firm’s vice chairman, global sector leader, sports. The school recently parted ways with past coach
MSA Executive Search Heading Assignment for Bronson Healthcare Group
MSA Executive Search is currently leading the search for a new chief medical information officer for Bronson Healthcare Group. Bronson Healthcare is a not-for-profit, community-governed healthcare system headquartered in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It is the largest employer and leading healthcare system in southwest Michigan. As an integrated healthcare strategies firm, MSA offers clients a range of
Odgers Berndtson Enters Agreement to Acquire RenaudFoster
Odgers Berndtson has entered into an agreement to acquire Canadian-based recruiter RenaudFoster. Established in 1986, RenaudFoster is based in Ottawa with industry expertise in Canadian not-for-profit, associations, governance, and public and crown corporations. As part of Odgers, RenaudFoster’s clients will have access to new specialized industry and functional practices, including financial services, technology, education, healthcare,
Russell Reynolds Associates Adds Global Life Sciences Specialist
Global executive search firm Russell Reynolds Associates has added Lynn LaPierre as a member of its global life sciences and health services practices. Based in New York, Ms. LaPierre specializes in assessing and recruiting senior executive leaders and board members for pharmaceutical, healthcare services and diagnostics companies. She previously worked with Axiom Global, a provider
Taylor Strategy Partners Opens Boston Office
Executive search firm Taylor Strategy Partners (TSP) has expanded its operations to Boston. Drew Rothschild, vice president and managing director, has been selected to lead the Boston team. Promoted to vice president in 2012, Mr. Rothschild has been instrumental in TSP’s growth and expanded offerings in the biopharmaceutical industry. Mickey Shimp, president of TSP, said:
Caldwell Partners Places Board Member at AbVitro
The Caldwell Partners International Inc. has placed Samuel Broder M.D. as a board director and member of the scientific advisory board at AbVitro, Inc. Partner Jodie Emery led the assignment. Dr. Broder is the former director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), appointed by President Ronald Reagan. AbVitro is a therapeutic target discovery company, with
Pearson Partners International Selected by IIT to Lead Search for Provost and SVP Academics Affairs
Pearson Partners International has been retained by Illinois Institute of Technology to lead its search for provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. The search will be led by Pearson Partners’ vice president, Deborah Sawyer, who heads the firm’s technology practice. Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) is a private, technology-focused, research university offering undergraduate
Bench International Expands Team in Major Life Science Hubs
Global executive search firm Bench International has appointed Nicole Webber as executive director, and Stefanie Zechner, Ph.D., as senior director of recruitment. Ms. Webber is based out of the firm’s San Francisco office, contributing 17 years of recruitment experience and a vast network in one the world’s largest life science clusters. She formerly served as
NGS Global Adds Offices in Vienna and Helsinki
NGS Global Americas has added offices in Vienna, Austria and Helsinki, Finland. The search firm now has 20 offices throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia. The Vienna office will be led by managing partner Georg Unger. With over 20 years of international executive search experience, Dr. Unger executes search assignments on behalf of clients across
Heidrick & Struggles Names First Chief Human Resources Officer
Heidrick & Struggles has named Richard Greene as executive VP and chief human resources officer, a new position within the firm. Mr. Greene will lead Heidrick & Struggles’ global HR organization and become a member of the firm’s management committee. He rejoined Heidrick & Struggles in November as a partner in its CEO and board
Spencer Stuart Heading CEO Search for Pep Boys
Spencer Stuart has been retained by The Pep Boys – Manny, Moe & Jack to lead in its search for a new chief executive officer. Mike Odell, who had served as the company's chief executive since 2008, resigned in September. Pep Boys is the nation’s leading automotive aftermarket service and retail chain. Spencer Stuart is
James & Co. Retained by U.S. Tennis Association
Executive search firm James & Co. has been chosen by the U.S. Tennis Association (USTA) to find a new head of its player development program. The position will replace the Association outgoing player development program head Patrick McEnroe. USTA is the national governing body for the sport of tennis in the U.S. James & Co.
Korn Ferry Posts 7.4 Percent Revenue Gain
Korn Ferry/(NYSE:KFY) posted fiscal Q2 revenues of $255.7 million, an increase of 7.4 percent from revenues of $238 million a year ago. Revenues were driven by an $8.9 million, $8.5 million, and a $0.3 million increase in fee revenue in executive recruitment, Futurestep, and leadership & talent consulting respectively. The firm experienced growth in all
Morgan McKinley Names London Office Director
Global recruiter Morgan McKinley has appointed David Leithead as managing director for the firm’s London office. Mr. Leithead brings with him 20 years of leadership experience and knowledge of the recruitment industry. After graduating with a degree in law he joined Michael Page’s graduate business and went on to head its operations as managing director
GRMsearch Adds Financial Services Recruiter to Staff
Executive search firm GRMSearch has appointed financial services recruiter Laikee Tang as director, head of front office. Ms. Tang will spearhead the launch and development of a front office desk serving both buy and sell side clients and candidates across the Asia-Pacific region. She will be based in Hong Kong with a specific focus on
Nesbit Partners Completes Search for Publicis
Executive search firm Nesbit Partners, Inc. has placed Thomas C. Lee as senior vice president, director global client finance, at Publicis Worldwide. The search was conducted by Bob Nesbit, managing partner of Nesbit Partners. Mr. Lee was formerly global commercial director at WPP Group/Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide. Publicis Groupe is a leading French multinational advertising
Harris Search Associates Heading Two Searches for Howard University
Dublin, Ohio-based Harris Search Associates has been retained by Howard University to complete two searches for new college deans. The firm will assist in the recruitment of a dean of the College of Dentistry and dean of the College of Medicine. Established in 1867, chartered and incorporated by an Act of the United States Congress,
CTPartners Subject To Discrimination Complaint; Stock Plummets As Shares Dumped
Executives at CTPartners, including its chairman and CEO, Brian M. Sullivan, are subject to a damning sexual discrimination complaint filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The filing alleges the global executive search firm to be a “den of discrimination where women are stripped of profitable accounts, held to a higher standard by their







