DAILY NEWSWIRE - TOP STORIES
Daily Newswire
The Conference Board Highlights a Strategic Slowdown in Hiring
The Conference Board’s August Human Capital report makes clear that CHROs are taking a more cautious, measured approach to workforce strategy. As Diana Scott, leader of The Conference Board US Human Capital Center, explained: “CHROs are taking a more thoughtful, steady approach as economic and policy uncertainty lingers. This slowdown in hiring isn’t about losing confidence—it’s
Lindauer Recruits Chief People Officer for Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
Lindauer has assisted in the recruitment of Sarah Cox as chief people officer of Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. The search was led by Lindauer senior vice president Paula Fazli, who co-leads the firm’s higher education practice alongside SVP Faith Montgomery. “With Paula Fazli’s support and guidance, we cast a wide net and considered candidates from a range of backgrounds, including
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.
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
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?
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,
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
Heidrick & Struggles Posts 2.7 Percent Revenue Increase for Q2
Executive search, leadership consulting, and culture shaping services provider Heidrick & Struggles / (NASDAQ:HSII) has posted second quarter revenues of $278.6 million, a 2.7 percent increase compared to revenues of $271.2 million a year ago. The firm experienced revenue growth in On-Demand Talent, Heidrick Consulting, and Executive Search in the Americas and Asia Pacific, partially offset by a
eQuest Designs Job Posting Software for Ad Agencies, RPOS, and Staffing Firms
eQuest, a job posting distribution and job posting management provider, has completed a new job posting distribution software specifically designed for advertising agencies, RPOs, and staffing agencies. The online application allows agencies to quickly respond to customers’ needs regarding global job posting, inventory control, and multi job board billing via a direct-connect to eQuest servers
SpenglerFox Expands into South Africa
Executive search firm SpenglerFox has expanded into South Africa. Kyra Valjalo has been appointed principal consultant in the region and will bring local knowledge, experience and contacts to the business. Ms. Valjalo will be based in Johannesburg and will operate as part of the firm’s Middle East African team.”SpenglerFox is thrilled to be opening in
Barbachano International Names VP of Commercial & Finance Divisions
Executive search firm Barbachano International (BIP) has promoted Francisco de la Lama to the role of vice president of the firm’s commercial and finance divisions. He will help to expand the firm’s oil & gas, medical device/biotech, CPG, software/IT, and industrial sectors. BIP CEO, Fernando Ortiz-Barbachano, said: “Francisco is a passionate team player with a
Dice Acquires OilCareers for $26 Million
Dice Holdings, Inc., a career website for technology and engineering professionals, has acquired OilCareers, a recruitment site for oil and gas professionals in Europe. The deal is worth $26 million in cash. The acquisition strengthens the company’s position in online energy recruiting, which it currently serves through Rigzone, the market provider to the oil and
Diversified Search Recruits Ceo For Parkinson’s Institute And Clinical Center
Diversified Search has placed Carrolee Barlow, MD, PhD, as the new chief executive officer of the Parkinson’s Institute and Clinical Center. Dr. Barlow is only the second CEO in the Institute’s 25-year history. This search was led by Henry J. Scherck, managing director and practice leader of life sciences for Diversified Search. Dr. Barlow’s previous
Korn Ferry Names Partner to Financial Officers Practice
Korn Ferry has appointed Peter Reichman as senior client partner and member of the firm’s financial officers practice. He will be based in New York. Mr. Reichman joins Korn Ferry from Russell Reynolds Associates, where he focused primarily on senior-level searches within financial services, including corporate and divisional chief financial officers, treasurers, chief accounting officers,
Borderless Executive Search Extends Offerings to Oil & Gas Sectors
Brussels-based Borderless Executive Search has extended its expertise to multinationals in the oil & gas sectors. “Finding the best senior leaders, top scientists and engineers required to bring new developments in the oil & gas sector to fruition is no easy feat,” said Andrew Kris, founding partner. “Moreover, these are precisely the roles that have
Smith & Wilkinson Names Project Coordinator
Executive search firm Smith & Wilkinson has added John Coppola as its AVP and project coordinator. Prior to joining Smith & Wilkinson, Mr. Coppola was a senior legal recruiter with Sanford Rose. Before that, he worked in operations for a national healthcare company where he managed their clinical and non-clinical recruitment process. Founded in 1998,
Vell Executive Search Fills Two Board Seats for Fleetmatics Group
Wellesley, MA-based Vell Executive Search has placed HubSpot CEO and co-founder, Brian Halligan, and Intuit vice president and general manager, Allison Mnookin, as new board members for Fleetmatics Group. Fleetmatics Group PLC is a global provider of fleet management solutions for small and mid-sized businesses delivered as software-as-a-service (SaaS). Vell Executive Search is a retained
Hanold Associates Adds Partner to Lead General Counsel & Legal Practice
Executive search firm Hanold Associates has added Lauren Drake as a partner to lead the firm’s general counsel and legal practice. She will be based in Washington, D.C. Ms. Drake holds extensive senior level recruiting experience throughout many industries. Prior to joining Hanold Associates, she spent 16 years with global management consulting firm McKinsey &
Tom Fuller Joins AESC Board
Tom Fuller, founder and managing director of Epsen Fuller Group, has recently joined the board of directors the Association of Executive Search Consultants (AESC). Working in executive search and leadership consulting since 1995, Mr. Fuller is an executive recruiter, consultant & advisor, and business leader across sectors. Epsen Fuller Group is an executive search and
Steven Douglas Associates Names Managing Director
Recruiting firm Steven Douglas Associates has named Shannon Brown as managing director for Orlando, Florida. Ms. Brown brings more than 15 years of experience in corporate accounting and sales roles. Prior to joining Steven Douglas, she was the business development director for McGladrey. “Orlando is a growing market for us and we are delighted to
AGB Search Retained by Youngstown State University
AGB SEARCH RETAINED BY YOUNGSTOWN STATE UNIVERSITY AGB Search has been selected by Youngstown State University to lead in its search for a new president. Consultants Jamie Ferrare and Arnold Speert are leading the assignment. Youngstown State University, founded in 1908, is an urban research university located in Youngstown, Ohio. AGB Search focuses exclusively on
HVS Executive Search Opens London Office
HVS Executive Search has opened a new London office for executive search established by a strategic partnership with Peter Malone’s Hospitality People Group. Mr. Malone will serve as CEO of HVS Executive Search for the EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) and Asia regions. He will be joined by his team of recruiting specialists from
Spencer Stuart Places CEO at Mspark
Executive search firm Spencer Stuart has placed Richard J. Hanna as the new chief executive officer of Mspark. Mr. Hanna was previously executive vice president of sales and marketing at Dex One, a $1 billion-plus marketing services company prior to its merger with SuperMedia in May 2013. Mspark is a privately held, results-oriented marketing services
MB Interim Leaders Strengthens Leadership Team
MB Interim Leaders, a division of McDermott & Bull, has named Rebecca Miller Cyronek as its business development director, private equity and venture capital solutions. “We are excited to have Rebecca join the MB Interim Leaders team, as she’s proven herself an incredible team partner on the search execution side of the business, as well
Oxford Global Resources Expands in Seattle
Oxford Global Resources has opened a new office serving the Greater Seattle, Washington market, in partnership with the firm’s Federal Way national recruiting center, which has been in operation for the last 16 years. Oxford’s Seattle branch will identify contract opportunities for software and hardware engineering consultants throughout the Seattle metropolitan area. Oxford is an
Heidrick & Struggles Named 100 Most Trustworthy in Forbes Ranking
Executive search firm Heidrick & Struggles International was named one of the 100 Most Trustworthy Companies in America by Forbes and GMI Ratings. “Trust is the foundation for all our firm's relationships," said Tracy Wolstencroft, CEO of Heidrick & Struggles. "We are committed to winning and keeping the trust of all our stakeholders, including shareholders
PRAXI ALLIANCE Adds Edward Drummond & Co. In U.K.
PRAXI ALLIANCE has added U.K.-headquartered Edward Drummond & Co. as its newest member firm. From offices in Bristol and London, Edward Drummond & Co. delivers international executive search expertise to a wide array of industries. “The team at Edward Drummond is keenly focused on providing top notch services to their clients and perfectly fits our
Pinton Forrest and Madden Finds CEO for HBT
Executive search firm Pinton Forrest and Madden has placed Donnie Wing as president and chief executive officer at Healthcare Benefit Trust (HBT). Mr. Wing formerly served in a number of senior executive positions at ICBC including senior vice president, corporate affairs; senior vice-president of insurance, marketing and underwriting; and chief financial officer. He was also
Executive Networks Names VP Global Sales
Executive Networks, Inc., has named Paul Skordilis as vice president of global sales. In his new role, Mr. Skordilis will be responsible for expanding Executive Networks’ global customer base, formalizing and implementing a sales operations strategy to help drive new membership growth and improve customer retention within Executive Networks’ current roster of clients. Most recently
Amrop Grows Presence in Nortic Countries
Global executive search consortium Amrop has added eight senior partners across Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark. Peter Gitmark (previously a member of the Norwegian Parliament), Kristian Kragø (previously with McKinsey & Co), Anne Syrrist (formerly of Ringnes and Boston Consulting Group), Michael Edler (previously with UBS), Toumas Sederholm (most recently with TeliaSonera), Pii Kotilainen (previously
Caldwell Partners Places Global Sales Head at Unisys
Executive search firm The Caldwell Partners International Inc. has placed Jeff Renzi as the new president of global sales at Unisys. Managing partner Jim Bethmann led the search. Mr. Renzi formerly served as SVP of sales and marketing at Arise Virtual Solutions. Unisys is a worldwide information technology company providing a portfolio of IT services,
Scout Exchange Partners with Main Sequence Technology
Scout Exchange, a recruitment marketplace connecting employers with specialized recruiters, has partnered with Main Sequence Technology, developers of recruiting database platform PCRecruiter. The partnership will extend Scout’s application to PCRecruiter’s thousands of recruiters worldwide, electronically delivering search opportunities that match their expertise and results. “The concept of an electronic marketplace with the big ATS (applicant
Boyden Adds Insurance Sector Recruiting Specialist
Executive search firm Boyden has strengthened its New York office with the addition of Erik Matson as a partner. Mr. Matson brings two decades of experience as a leader in the insurance sector and has worked extensively on both the executive placement and industry management sides of the business. Prior to joining Boyden, he was
The Neil Michael Group Names Life Sciences Partner
New York-headquartered The Neil Michael Group has added Linda E. Amper, Ph.D., as a new partner. Dr. Amper has senior level leadership experience across biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, healthcare delivery and other life science areas. With more than 35 years of experience in HR, she formerly served as senior vice president global human resources at Optimer Pharmaceuticals.
Clark Langdon to Lead Search for Intelligent Energy
Recruiting firm Clark Langdon Partners has been selected by Intelligent Energy to lead in its search for a new global commercial director. The firm had previously led in a search for Intelligent Energy to find its global business development director last year. Intelligent Energy is a power technology company that specializes in the development of
Addison Group Creates New HR Focus with Administrative Division
Addison Group, a provider of professional staffing services, has expanded its administrative division with the addition of a dedicated human resources team that will help organizations address their contract, contract-to-hire and direct hiring needs for skilled administrative, operations and HR talent. “We believe this expansion is a natural progression for the Administrative division,” said Ed
Horton Expands to Middle East
Horton International has opened a new office in the Middle East with a new location in Bahrain; an opening in Saudi Arabia is expected for later in the year. Both offices will focus on providing executive search for global leaders across the region. This forms the first step in the planned expansion of Horton Group
Major, Lindsey & Africa Names Leader of Law Firm Management Practice
Search firm Major, Lindsey & Africa has named Amanda K. Brady as managing director and global practice leader of its law firm management practice. Ms. Bradt joined MLA last month bringing 15 years of executive and legal search experience, the last 10 years of which focused on building executive management teams for AmLaw 100 and
Derwent Executive Adds Recruiters in Australia and Asia
Search firm Derwent Executive has made several new additions to its Australia and Asia offices. Derwent has added Andrea Hall as senior advisor to the firm’s board practice in Perth. Ms, Hall, who formerly was with KPMG, will work with boards, delivering risk and selection capabilities for ASX, government and not-for-profit segments. Richard Scott, who
