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Egon Zehnder Appoints Leaders of Global Technology & AI Practice Group
Global leadership advisory firm Egon Zehnder has named Lindsay Trout (Palo Alto) and Hana Habayeb (Middle East) as co-leaders of its global technology and AI practice group. They succeed Silvia Rapallo (Rome) and Eric Anderson (Atlanta), who have led the group through a period of remarkable transformation in the technology sector. “We are excited to see
Unlocking Growth in the PE-Backed Software Market
Enterprise software is one of Europe’s fastest-growing sectors. In 2024, enterprise software spending across the region expanded by 11 percent — more than 10 times the pace of EU economic growth — highlighting software’s role as a resilient and investable driver of opportunity. More than 13,000 companies now generate over $10 million in annual revenues (and almost
Executive Recruiters Pull Off Another Remarkable Year, Remain Bullish for 2023
Hunt Scanlon Media has released its annual rankings of leading executive recruiters. In the U.S. and globally, billions of dollars poured into the high-end recruiting sector in 2022, a result of continued pentup demand for senior-level leaders and their key reports.
The Talent Studios Recruits Chief Marketing Officer for Pura Vida Miami
The Talent Studios has recruited Bruno Cardinali as chief marketing officer of Pura Vida Miami, the premium all-day café and lifestyle brand focused on health, wellness and community. The search was led by Katlyn Maloney and Jeremy Cohen. Mr. Cardinali brings more than two decades of marketing leadership across fast casual, foodservice, beverage, and global consumer brands. Most recently, as
GDPR – The Perfect Time to Refresh Your Database
As executive search firms grapple with the complexities of GDPR, many are concerned that the new regulation will mean deleting thousands of records built up over many years. Surely there must be an alternative?
JM Search Expands Technology and Financial Services Practices
JM Search, a senior-level talent provider serving private equity investors, portfolio companies, and Fortune 1000s, has expanded with the additions of Wes Chisholm as partner and Laura Bennstrom and Charles Telep as principals within its technology and financial services practices. Mr. Chisholm and Mr. Telep join the firm’s technology practice while Ms. Bennstrom joins both the financial
How The Tolan Group Navigated the Downturn and Remained Focused
For many executive search firms, 2024 and 2025 tested resilience in ways few could have predicted. At The Tolan Group (TTG), they experienced the same pressures felt across the industry. Slower decision cycles, delayed starts, and a noticeable dip in portfolio company hiring activity. Yet through that uncertainty, one thing remained constant: our commitment to
Korn Ferry Reports Seven Percent Q4 and Full-Year Revenue Growth, Led by Double-Digit Gains in Professional Search & Interim
Korn Ferry (NYSE:KFY) has posted Q4 fiscal-year revenues of $759.8 million, a year-over-year increase of seven percent and five percent at constant currency. This was led by Professional Search & Interim up 14 percent, followed by Executive Search and Consulting, both up seven percent and RPO up five percent. During the fourth quarter, revenues rose by
Lock Search Group Leading CEO Search for Atlas Sign & Awning
Toronto-headquartered executive recruitment firm Lock Search Group is currently seeking a new CEO for Atlas Sign & Awning. For over 30 years, Atlas Sign & Awning has helped businesses across Canada and the United States stand out through custom commercial signage, awnings, and branded architectural elements. Based in Langley, BC, they’ve built a strong reputation for quality
Anthem Executive Assists the University of Montevallo With President Search
Anthem Executive has assisted in the recruitment of Michelle R. Johnston as the first female president of the University of Montevallo (UM). Michael Ballew, Scott Watson, Mike “JR” Wheless, and Florene Stawowy led the assignment. Dr. Johnston has served as the president of Georgia Southwestern State University since 2024. Prior to her current presidency, she served as president of three other higher education
Mercuri Urval Appoints Non-Executive Director
Stockholm, Sweden-based executive search firm Mercuri Urval (MU) has announced that Jan Sasse, partner at AlterInvest, was named as non-executive director to the MU group board. He will join the current board members Cecilia Strand, Mieke Weijenberg, Cecilia Beer, Richard Moore, and chairman Roger Hagafors. “We are pleased to welcome Jan Sasse as non-executive director of the MU
M&A Becomes a Capability-Driven Acquisition Strategy
EY-Parthenon is forecasting an eight percent increase in U.S. deal volume for transactions exceeding $100 million in 2026, underscoring how central M&A remains to corporate strategy. Yet beneath the headline numbers sits a more important story. The role of acquisitions is evolving. Companies are no longer pursuing deals primarily for scale or market share. Increasingly,
The Hidden Challenges Every First-Time CEO Faces
The corner office has never been more accessible—or more demanding. As boards increasingly turn to a new generation of leaders to navigate disruption, growth, and transformation, first-time CEOs are stepping into roles that require a fundamentally different set of skills than those that propelled them to the top. While many arrive with impressive track records,
Myers McRae Assists Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology with Provost Search
Following a nationwide search, Macon, GA-based Myers McRae Executive Search and Consulting has assisted in the recruitment of Richie Roberts as provost of Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology. Kenny Daugherty and Brianna Douglas led the assignment. Dr. Roberts’ selection was guided by a search committee of OSUIT administrators, faculty, staff and students, which was assisted by national search firm Myers McRae. “The entire
Lancer Group Recruits Chief Technology Officer for Minitab
La Jolla, CA-headquartered search firm Lancer Group has recruited Kevin Gordon as chief technology officer of Minitab. “We’re excited to welcome Kevin Gordon as chief technology officer at Minitab,” the company said. “This is an exciting step forward in the evolution of our technology strategy and will help accelerate innovation across our organization and solutions platform.” “Kevin brings
Friisberg & Partners International Names Managing Partner of its Copenhagen Office
Fribourg, Switzerland-headquartered Friisberg & Partners International has expanded with the addition of Birgitte Olrik as managing partner of its Copenhagen office, strengthening the firm’s presence in the Nordic region and supporting the continued execution of our international growth strategy. “The future of executive search belongs to firms that combine exceptional local expertise with international reach,” said Zoltán Pethő,
Attracting the Right CHRO Starts with the Right Job Description
Hiring a head of HR is one of the most consequential leadership decisions an organization can make, yet many companies struggle to define the role in a way that reflects their actual needs. The most effective job descriptions go beyond qualifications and responsibilities, offering candidates a clear picture of the challenges, priorities, and business objectives
Coulter Partners Recruits Chief Medical Officer for Neumirna Therapeutics
Life sciences recruiting specialist Coulter Partners has placed Ferenc Tracik as chief medical officer of Neumirna Therapeutics. “Neumirna has reached an inflection point: the question is no longer whether the science works, but how quickly we can translate it into an option for patients with urgent unmet need. Ferenc has the experience to get us there,” said Ellen
McCormack + Kristel Seeking CEO for Central New York ON RAMP
McCormack + Kristel is currently seeking a CEO for Central New York ON RAMP. New York State Empire State Development (ESD) recently engaged CenterState Corporation for Economic Opportunity (CenterState CEO), an business leadership and economic development organization, to lead, incubate, and launch the Central New York One Network for Regional Advanced Manufacturing Projects (ON RAMP). The
Bespoke Partners Appoints Leader of People and HR Practice
San Diego, CA-headquartered Bespoke Partners recently named Dani Pfeiffer as a partner leading the people and human resources leader recruiting practice serving both software and industrials sector companies. She will lead dedicated recruiting teams on searches for talent executives for private equity portfolio companies for the software and SaaS clients served by Bespoke Partners and industrial clients served by Industra Talent Partners,
Wilson Forms New Alliance with Poetry to Advance AI capabilities
Global talent solutions provider Wilson has formed a new partnership with Poetry to strengthen its AI-enabled recruitment capabilities. The collaboration supports Wilson’s continued focus on embedding technology into its RPO delivery model through Wilson Workspace, its technology ecosystem. “We’re excited to announce our new partnership with Poetry,” said Charles Faigle, chief delivery officer at Wilson. This
What Executive Candidates Want From Employers Today
The executive talent market today has fundamentally shifted and senior leaders are evaluating employers through a far more demanding lens. They no longer weigh opportunities primarily on compensation or title; they assess the total leadership experience: governance, culture, organizational stability, purpose, autonomy, flexibility and long-term growth, according to a report from Kestria. “To attract and retain
WittKieffer Retained by Roosevelt University for President Search
Oak Brook, IL-based WittKieffer has been retained by Roosevelt University in Chicago to lead in its search for its seventh president. Ali Malekzadeh is retiring after being with the school since 2015. Senior partner Christine Pendleton, consultant Sandra Chu, senior associate Maya Holt-Brockenbrough, and senior advisor Ray Crossman. Roosevelt University seeks a student-centered president who is committed
Buffkin / Baker Acquires HR-Focused Benson Executive Search
Partner-led executive search firm Buffkin / Baker has acquired Boston, MA-based Benson Executive Search, a boutique firm focused on the human resources sector. Financial terms of deal were not disclosed. The acquisition strengthens Buffkin / Baker’s HR functional capabilities and gives the firm a stronger presence in the Northeast. “We’re thrilled to welcome Benson Executive Search to
SPMB Recruits Fills Senior Finance Position for Uber
Steven Popper of SPMB Executive Search has placed Wendy Drummond Craig as senior director, technical accounting, reporting, and M&A at Uber. In her new role, she will oversee teams responsible for technical accounting matters, SEC reporting, and accounting for mergers and acquisitions. “Wendy brings an extraordinary combination of technical accounting expertise, SEC reporting experience, and strategic advisory leadership
True Launches AI Capability Index for Executive Assessment
Global executive talent platform True has launched the True AI Capability Index, a proprietary framework that predicts executive performance in the AI-transformation age. “We are entering a phase where relationship depth and judgment matter more than ever,” said Brad Stadler, co-founder and CEO of True Platform. “The cost of finding names is decreasing. True’s advantage lies in our ability
AI-Native Talent Won’t Fix AI-Foreign Organizations
As artificial intelligence moves from experimentation to enterprise-wide adoption, organizations are grappling with a fundamental question: what does it actually mean to become AI-native? While the term has quickly entered the business lexicon, many leaders are still struggling to define the capabilities, operating models, and cultural shifts required to make that vision a reality. “Some
ZRG Partners Acquires Fortium
ZRG Partners has acquired Fortium, a Dallas-based search firm that provides fractional, interim, and project-based CIO, CTO, and CISO leadership. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. “Companies are making more nuanced decisions about leadership than they did even a few years ago, particularly in technology,” said Mark Viner, leader of interim solutions & project
Lochlin Partners Recruits SVP of HR for the National Association of Corporate Directors
Lochlin Partners has placed Marian Stevens as senior vice president, human resources of the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) in Washington, D.C. “Marian’s deep experience in talent development, organizational effectiveness, and culture will help NACD to continue building the internal capabilities needed to support our growth and deliver on our mission,” said Peter Gleason, president and CEO of
JDG Associates Tapped by Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute to Find New Leader
Rockville, MD-based executive search firm JDG Associates has been retained by the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI) to lead its search for a new president and CEO. The Chicago-based institute, the leading technical institute and trade association for the precast, prestressed concrete industry in North America, seeks a visionary and collaborative executive to succeed its long-serving chief executive,
Korn Ferry Posts Q1 Revenue Decrease of Three Percent
Korn Ferry (NYSE:KFY) has posted 2025 fiscal first quarter revenues of $674.9 million, a decrease of three percent from the same period a year ago. The decrease in fee revenue was primarily due to lower fee revenues in professional search & interim and RPO driven by a decline in demand due to the current economic environment, partially offset by
PeopleChamps Launched to Service Gaming and Hospitality Industries
Boutique executive search and HR firm PeopleChamps has been launched to specialize in the gaming and hospitality industries. Its services include executive recruitment and placement services, mentoring and coaching, organizational development, HR and training. The PeopleChamps executive team is headed up by founder, president and CEO Gerry Nailon. Mr. Nailon is a 35-plus year gaming
Norrie Johnston Makes Recruitment Appointments
U.K.-headquartered Norrie Johnston Recruitment (NJR) has named Rex Cridland as a recruitment director and Daniel Rackham as a director. With 20 years of search experience, Mr. Cridland’s past roles were director at both Network Executive and Talent Direct. During his career he has helped companies including Apple, Sega, Network Rail, Royal Mail, G4S, Dalkia, TATA,
Keeling & Associates Fills Position for Cal State Fullerton
Executive recruiters Keeling & Associates has placed Vijay Pendakur as vice president for student affairs at Cal State Fullerton. Mr. Pendakur has spent the last eight years working at DePaul University’s Office of Multicultural Student Success (OMSS). With a total enrollment of 38,325 Cal State Fullerton has the largest student body out of the 23
Association Strategies to Lead CEO Search for AESP
Executive search firm Association Strategies, Inc. has been retained by the Association of Energy Services Professionals (AESP) to lead in its search for a new president and chief executive officer. Founded in 1989, AESP has a membership of 2200+ energy services professionals and 200+ group members and 14 regional chapters across North America. Association Strategies,
Simply Driven Executive Search Adds to Manufacturing Technology Practice
Simply Driven Executive Search, a member of the Sanford Rose Associates network of offices, has added Garrett Butcher as a search consultant. Mr. Butcher will work in the firm’s newly launched manufacturing technology practice, which delivers talent in the areas of CNC machining, lasers, robotics, waterjet and additive printing. He previously served as client development
Caldwell Partners Adds Life Sciences & Healthcare Partner
The Caldwell Partners International Inc. has appointed John Blank as a partner in its life sciences & healthcare practice, focusing on recruiting board directors, CEOs and senior executives for private equity-backed high-growth healthcare, healthcare technology, managed care and provider service portfolio companies. Mr. Blank was previously a managing partner with ZRG Partners and prior to
Direct Recruiters Names Lead Recruiter in Flexible Packaging Practice
Direct Recruiters, Inc. (DRI) has named Gina O’Donnell as its lead recruiter in the firm’s flexible packaging practice. Ms. O’Donnell is responsible for business development opportunities as well as recruiting top talent. She will focus on senior level positions across sales, operations, technical, manufacturing, and management. Ms. O’Donnell is formerly served as the senior account
Harris Search Associates Completes Search for Penn State
Dublin, Ohio-based Harris Search Associates has recruited Paul E. Sullivan to serve as the next executive director defense related research units/director of applied research lab at The Pennsylvania State University. Currently, Mr. Sullivan is vice president, American Centrifuge and chief engineer at USEC Inc., a global energy company. Harris Search Associates is focused on identifying
Myers McRae Handling President Search for Calhoun Community College
Executive search firm Myers McRae has been selected by the Alabama Department of Postsecondary Education to handle its search for a new Calhoun Community College president. The position will be available Dec. 31 when Marilyn Beck retires. Calhoun Community College is a two-year institution of higher learning, located in Decatur, Alabama. Myers McRae is an
Sheffield Haworth Adds To Business And Professional Services Team
Search firm Sheffield Haworth has added Justin Gault in London as managing director within its business and professional services team. Mr. Gault specializes in CFO/ finance, audit, treasury and tax across financial services. He was previously a partner in the infrastructure practice of London boutique firm Hammond Partners. “Justin brings a proven track record and
Peoplechamps Launched To Serve Gaming And Hospitality Industries
Boutique executive search and HR firm PeopleChamps has been launched to specialize in the gaming and hospitality industries. Its services include executive recruitment and placement services, mentoring and coaching, organizational development, HR and training. The PeopleChamps executive team is headed up by founder, president and CEO Gerry Nailon. Mr. Nailon is a 35-plus year gaming
Norrie Johnston Makes Recruitment Appointments
U.K.-headquartered Norrie Johnston Recruitment (NJR) has named Rex Cridland as a recruitment director and Daniel Rackham as a director. With 20 years of search experience, Mr. Cridland’s past roles were director at both Network Executive and Talent Direct. During his career he has helped companies including Apple, Sega, Network Rail, Royal Mail, G4S, Dalkia, TATA,
Keeling & Associates Fills Position For Cal State Fullerton
Executive recruiters Keeling & Associates has placed Vijay Pendakur as vice president for student affairs at Cal State Fullerton. Mr. Pendakur has spent the last eight years working at DePaul University’s Office of Multicultural Student Success (OMSS). With a total enrollment of 38,325 Cal State Fullerton has the largest student body out of the 23
Association Strategies To Lead Ceo Search For Aesp
Executive search firm Association Strategies, Inc. has been retained by the Association of Energy Services Professionals (AESP) to lead in its search for a new president and chief executive officer. Founded in 1989, AESP has a membership of 2200+ energy services professionals and 200+ group members and 14 regional chapters across North America. Association Strategies,
Stanton Chase Launches Global HR Specialty Practice
Executive search firm Stanton Chase International has launched a new global human resources specialty practice. Daniel Casteel, managing director in Nashville, will head the new practice. Prior to joining Stanton Chase, Mr. Castell headed the HR function for an $11 billion global enterprise undergoing explosive growth. “Long gone are the days when HR executives serve
Penna Strengthens Executive Recruitment Staff
Penna Plc has announced three additions to the Penna Recruitment Services team, which specializes in interim and executive search recruitment. David Slatter has been named an associate director in executive search where will be responsible for developing markets for Penna in local government and housing. He will be based in the firm’s Birmingham office. Mr.
CarterBaldwin Completes Search for Habif, Arogeti & Wynne
Atlanta-headquartered CarterBaldwin Executive Search has recently placed Cardell McKinstry as director of M&A tax services at Habif, Arogeti & Wynne, LLP (HA&W), the largest Georgia-headquartered tax, accounting and business consulting firm. Mr. McKinstry joins HA&W with more than 15 years of tax consulting experience and 10 years of experience in M&A taxation. CarterBaldwin is a
Spencer Stuart Retained by Tufts University
Executive search firm Spencer Stuart has been selected by Tufts University to lead in its search for a new dean for the School of Arts and Sciences (A&S). James Glaser has recently become interim dean replacing former dean of A&S Joanne Berger-Sweeney, who announced last spring that she would step down from her position. Spencer
Pamela Jeffery Search Launches with Eye Towards Increasing Female Directorships
Pamela Jeffery, founder of the Women’s Executive Network, has launched Pamela Jeffery Search, designed to recruit women board directors. With 17,500 members, the Women’s Executive Network is Canada’s largest networking group for female executives. “I began doing board searches last year because CEOs asked me to help find new female directors. I feel that the
Agilium Worldwide Adds Middle East-Based Firm to Network
Agilium Worldwide, LLC, has added EMEA search firm Human Valoris as the newest member of its global network. With expertise in all major core industry specialties, Human Valoris has offices in Riyadh, Dubai, Beirut and Qatar in addition to a legal entity in Paris. Its main expertise covers industrial manufacturing, petrochemicals, oil & gas, contracting,
Calibrate Recruitment Rebrands Itself en world Australia
Calibrate Recruitment, which joined en world in 2013, has rebranded itself as en world Australia. Headquartered in Sydney, Calibrate Recruitment has a history of more than 20 years in executive, permanent and contract recruitment services in engineering, IT and technical domains. Since joining en world, it has broadened its services to encompass sales & marketing,
R. William Funk & Associates Heading President Search for Winthrop University
R. William Funk & Associates has been retained by Winthrop University to lead in a search its 11th president. Winthrop trustees plan to have the finalists for the position in place by the spring of 2015. Founded in 1886, Winthrop University is a public, coeducational, liberal arts university located in Rock Hill, South Carolina. For
Waverly Partners Retained by Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce for CEO
Executive search firm Waverly Partners has been selected by the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce to lead in its search for a new president and chief executive officer. Jim Anderson, the Springfield Chamber’s current president, is planning to retire this summer after 26 years of service to the organization. The mission of the Springfield Area
Heidrick & Struggles Adds Partner to Leadership Consulting Group
Heidrick & Struggles International has added Pasquale Mazzuca as a partner within the firm's leadership consulting practice. He will be based in Brussels. Working across numerous sectors, Mr. Mazzuca’s areas of expertise include leadership development, top team performance enhancement, executive coaching, talent acquisition and assessment, employer branding strategies and rewards management. He most recently founded
Russam GMS Launches Worldwide Interim Leadership Group
Russam GMS has launched a global interim management company, the Worldwide Interim Leadership (WIL) Group. The new international venture, an alliance of 13 interim management companies from around the world, is seen as a response to increased global demand for high caliber interim and transition leaders needed for short term business critical assignments. The member
Lack of Women in Senior Roles Seen as Opportunity for Executive Recruiters
Despite the fact that women are the primary decision-makers for most consumer purchases, 60 percent of consumer products companies worldwide report 25 percent or less of their senior executive team is female, according to a survey of 1,270 business leaders from around the world by IIC Partners. Good news for executive recruiters: 52 percent of
Caldwell Partners Places Non-Executive Board Member at Spirit AeroSystems
The Caldwell Partners International Inc. has placed John Plueger as a non-executive board member at Spirit AeroSystems, Inc. Dave Winston, managing partner, Karen Dubay, consultant, and Bethany George, practice lead of the non-executive practice, led the assignment on behalf of Caldwell Partners. Mr. Plueger is the president, chief operating officer and executive director of Air
Search Group Partners Selected by Utah State Board of Education
SEARCH Group Partners (SGP) has been selected by the Utah State Board of Education to lead in its search for a new state superintendent of public instruction. Dr. Martell Menlove, the current state superintendent, announced his retirement in March. Connie Linardakis- Spyropoulos, who spearheads SGP’s executive search practice, and who will lead the search, said:
Talentrise Partners with CoralBridge to Provide Coaching to Executive Level Hires
TalentRISE, a Chicago-based executive search firm, and CoralBridge, a consultancy specializing in employee engagement, have launched of a program to help organizations mitigate the risks associated with executive-level hires in their first 100 days. The comprehensive coaching program shortens start-up time, accelerates learning and improves productivity for new executives during the first weeks after accepting
Hyperion Executive Search Opens in U.K.
David Hunt has set up Hyperion Executive Search to recruit candidates across a comprehensive range of renewable energy sub-sectors including solar PV, solar thermal, heat pumps, biomass, wind turbines and fuel cells. Specific disciplines the firm recruits for include general and senior management, sales and business development, operations and logistics, marketing, finance and asset management,
The Remedy Group Adds Managed Care Recruiting Specialist
The Remedy Group, a search firm focused on specialty pharmacies and managed care organizations, has named Terry Souwannamuang as an account manager. During his years in biopharma and managed care Mr. Souwannamuang rose in rank and responsibility. He was instrumental in starting a brand new specialty pharmacy for a managed care organization. “We’re hiring high-caliber







