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Daily Newswire
Mercuri Urval Appoints Five New Partners
Stockholm, Sweden-based executive search firm Mercuri Urval (MU) has appointed five new partners made up of a diverse group of experts, representing three nationalities. The new partners are Dennis Tanke, Isabella Valentini, Irena Schierjott, Florian Knorn, and Anne Zhang. “Becoming a partner in MU means to be recognized as exceptionally trusted by clients and colleagues, and it
The Stakes of Executive Hiring in Private Markets
In private equity and venture capital, the difference between a portfolio company that delivers 3x returns and one that barely breaks even often comes down to a single factor: leadership. Whether you’re installing a new CEO to drive operational improvements in a mature PE portfolio company or finding a CTO to scale a Series B startup’s engineering team,
Executive Recruiters Pull Off Another Remarkable Year, Remain Bullish for 2023
Hunt Scanlon Media has released its annual rankings of leading executive recruiters. In the U.S. and globally, billions of dollars poured into the high-end recruiting sector in 2022, a result of continued pentup demand for senior-level leaders and their key reports.
Anthem Executive Assists the University of Montevallo With President Search
Anthem Executive has assisted in the recruitment of Michelle R. Johnston as the first female president of the University of Montevallo (UM). Michael Ballew, Scott Watson, Mike “JR” Wheless, and Florene Stawowy led the assignment. Dr. Johnston has served as the president of Georgia Southwestern State University since 2024. Prior to her current presidency, she served as president of three other higher education
GDPR – The Perfect Time to Refresh Your Database
As executive search firms grapple with the complexities of GDPR, many are concerned that the new regulation will mean deleting thousands of records built up over many years. Surely there must be an alternative?
Mercuri Urval Appoints Non-Executive Director
Stockholm, Sweden-based executive search firm Mercuri Urval (MU) has announced that Jan Sasse, partner at AlterInvest, was named as non-executive director to the MU group board. He will join the current board members Cecilia Strand, Mieke Weijenberg, Cecilia Beer, Richard Moore, and chairman Roger Hagafors. “We are pleased to welcome Jan Sasse as non-executive director of the MU
M&A Becomes a Capability-Driven Acquisition Strategy
EY-Parthenon is forecasting an eight percent increase in U.S. deal volume for transactions exceeding $100 million in 2026, underscoring how central M&A remains to corporate strategy. Yet beneath the headline numbers sits a more important story. The role of acquisitions is evolving. Companies are no longer pursuing deals primarily for scale or market share. Increasingly,
The Hidden Challenges Every First-Time CEO Faces
The corner office has never been more accessible—or more demanding. As boards increasingly turn to a new generation of leaders to navigate disruption, growth, and transformation, first-time CEOs are stepping into roles that require a fundamentally different set of skills than those that propelled them to the top. While many arrive with impressive track records,
Myers McRae Assists Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology with Provost Search
Following a nationwide search, Macon, GA-based Myers McRae Executive Search and Consulting has assisted in the recruitment of Richie Roberts as provost of Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology. Kenny Daugherty and Brianna Douglas led the assignment. Dr. Roberts’ selection was guided by a search committee of OSUIT administrators, faculty, staff and students, which was assisted by national search firm Myers McRae. “The entire
Lancer Group Recruits Chief Technology Officer for Minitab
La Jolla, CA-headquartered search firm Lancer Group has recruited Kevin Gordon as chief technology officer of Minitab. “We’re excited to welcome Kevin Gordon as chief technology officer at Minitab,” the company said. “This is an exciting step forward in the evolution of our technology strategy and will help accelerate innovation across our organization and solutions platform.” “Kevin brings
Friisberg & Partners International Names Managing Partner of its Copenhagen Office
Fribourg, Switzerland-headquartered Friisberg & Partners International has expanded with the addition of Birgitte Olrik as managing partner of its Copenhagen office, strengthening the firm’s presence in the Nordic region and supporting the continued execution of our international growth strategy. “The future of executive search belongs to firms that combine exceptional local expertise with international reach,” said Zoltán Pethő,
Attracting the Right CHRO Starts with the Right Job Description
Hiring a head of HR is one of the most consequential leadership decisions an organization can make, yet many companies struggle to define the role in a way that reflects their actual needs. The most effective job descriptions go beyond qualifications and responsibilities, offering candidates a clear picture of the challenges, priorities, and business objectives
Coulter Partners Recruits Chief Medical Officer for Neumirna Therapeutics
Life sciences recruiting specialist Coulter Partners has placed Ferenc Tracik as chief medical officer of Neumirna Therapeutics. “Neumirna has reached an inflection point: the question is no longer whether the science works, but how quickly we can translate it into an option for patients with urgent unmet need. Ferenc has the experience to get us there,” said Ellen
McCormack + Kristel Seeking CEO for Central New York ON RAMP
McCormack + Kristel is currently seeking a CEO for Central New York ON RAMP. New York State Empire State Development (ESD) recently engaged CenterState Corporation for Economic Opportunity (CenterState CEO), an business leadership and economic development organization, to lead, incubate, and launch the Central New York One Network for Regional Advanced Manufacturing Projects (ON RAMP). The
Bespoke Partners Appoints Leader of People and HR Practice
San Diego, CA-headquartered Bespoke Partners recently named Dani Pfeiffer as a partner leading the people and human resources leader recruiting practice serving both software and industrials sector companies. She will lead dedicated recruiting teams on searches for talent executives for private equity portfolio companies for the software and SaaS clients served by Bespoke Partners and industrial clients served by Industra Talent Partners,
Wilson Forms New Alliance with Poetry to Advance AI capabilities
Global talent solutions provider Wilson has formed a new partnership with Poetry to strengthen its AI-enabled recruitment capabilities. The collaboration supports Wilson’s continued focus on embedding technology into its RPO delivery model through Wilson Workspace, its technology ecosystem. “We’re excited to announce our new partnership with Poetry,” said Charles Faigle, chief delivery officer at Wilson. This
What Executive Candidates Want From Employers Today
The executive talent market today has fundamentally shifted and senior leaders are evaluating employers through a far more demanding lens. They no longer weigh opportunities primarily on compensation or title; they assess the total leadership experience: governance, culture, organizational stability, purpose, autonomy, flexibility and long-term growth, according to a report from Kestria. “To attract and retain
WittKieffer Retained by Roosevelt University for President Search
Oak Brook, IL-based WittKieffer has been retained by Roosevelt University in Chicago to lead in its search for its seventh president. Ali Malekzadeh is retiring after being with the school since 2015. Senior partner Christine Pendleton, consultant Sandra Chu, senior associate Maya Holt-Brockenbrough, and senior advisor Ray Crossman. Roosevelt University seeks a student-centered president who is committed
Buffkin / Baker Acquires HR-Focused Benson Executive Search
Partner-led executive search firm Buffkin / Baker has acquired Boston, MA-based Benson Executive Search, a boutique firm focused on the human resources sector. Financial terms of deal were not disclosed. The acquisition strengthens Buffkin / Baker’s HR functional capabilities and gives the firm a stronger presence in the Northeast. “We’re thrilled to welcome Benson Executive Search to
SPMB Recruits Fills Senior Finance Position for Uber
Steven Popper of SPMB Executive Search has placed Wendy Drummond Craig as senior director, technical accounting, reporting, and M&A at Uber. In her new role, she will oversee teams responsible for technical accounting matters, SEC reporting, and accounting for mergers and acquisitions. “Wendy brings an extraordinary combination of technical accounting expertise, SEC reporting experience, and strategic advisory leadership
True Launches AI Capability Index for Executive Assessment
Global executive talent platform True has launched the True AI Capability Index, a proprietary framework that predicts executive performance in the AI-transformation age. “We are entering a phase where relationship depth and judgment matter more than ever,” said Brad Stadler, co-founder and CEO of True Platform. “The cost of finding names is decreasing. True’s advantage lies in our ability
AI-Native Talent Won’t Fix AI-Foreign Organizations
As artificial intelligence moves from experimentation to enterprise-wide adoption, organizations are grappling with a fundamental question: what does it actually mean to become AI-native? While the term has quickly entered the business lexicon, many leaders are still struggling to define the capabilities, operating models, and cultural shifts required to make that vision a reality. “Some
ZRG Partners Acquires Fortium
ZRG Partners has acquired Fortium, a Dallas-based search firm that provides fractional, interim, and project-based CIO, CTO, and CISO leadership. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. “Companies are making more nuanced decisions about leadership than they did even a few years ago, particularly in technology,” said Mark Viner, leader of interim solutions & project
Lochlin Partners Recruits SVP of HR for the National Association of Corporate Directors
Lochlin Partners has placed Marian Stevens as senior vice president, human resources of the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) in Washington, D.C. “Marian’s deep experience in talent development, organizational effectiveness, and culture will help NACD to continue building the internal capabilities needed to support our growth and deliver on our mission,” said Peter Gleason, president and CEO of
JDG Associates Tapped by Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute to Find New Leader
Rockville, MD-based executive search firm JDG Associates has been retained by the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI) to lead its search for a new president and CEO. The Chicago-based institute, the leading technical institute and trade association for the precast, prestressed concrete industry in North America, seeks a visionary and collaborative executive to succeed its long-serving chief executive,
IIC Partners Adds New Member Firm in New Zealand
IIC Partners Executive Search Worldwide has added Auckland, New Zealand-based Infinitas as its newest member firm expanding its capabilities across the Asia-Pacific region. “I am thrilled to welcome Infinitas to IIC Partners,” said Christine Hayward, executive director of IIC Partners. Their people-first philosophy, tech-enabled search processes, and talent advisory capabilities deeply align with our mission to transform
Hiring for the Culture You Don’t Yet Have
For much of the past decade, organizations have invested heavily in strategy, technology and operational efficiency to navigate an increasingly complex business environment. Yet despite these investments, many transformation initiatives continue to fall short of expectations. The differentiator is rarely the strategy itself. More often, success depends on whether leadership teams have the right people
BoardWalk Consulting Leading CEO Search for Downtown Atlanta Inc.
BoardWalk Consulting has been tapped by Downtown Atlanta Inc. (DAI) to lead in its search for a CEO. The search is being led by Sam Pettway, Crystal Stephens, and Patti Kish. The organization is seeking a leader who can help define what the next generation of Downtown Atlanta will become. This is a leadership opportunity of unusual scale and
Peña Search Assists To Be Like Me with the Recruitment of Executive Director
Peña Search recently assisted in the recruitment of Lauren Rowe as the new executive for To Be Like Me (TBLM) in Dallas, TX. Travis Hillier, Carlos González Peña, and Thaise Pereira led the assignment. She replaces To Be Like Me founder Hollis Owens, who has served as executive director since 2018 and initiated the search for her replacement last
BroadView Talent Partners Tapped by Baltimore Community Lending for President/CEO Search
BroadView Talent Partners was recently retained by Baltimore Community Lending, Inc. (BCL) to lead in its search for a new president and CEO. Tracy McMillan, Robyn Quinn, and Donna Young are leading the assignment. The CEO is the strategic, operational, and external leader of Baltimore Community Lending, responsible for driving the organization’s next era of growth and
How to Implement a Positive Corporate Culture
Much has been said about the benefits of good corporate culture, but how does a company know if their culture is not a good one? “The first step is to evaluate your company culture,” said Christine Greybe, president, leadership consulting at DHR Global. “ You can do this by conducting an audit of your organization’s
eQuest Opens in Shanghai and Singapore
eQuest, a job posting distribution and job posting management provider, has opened offices in Shanghai, China and Singapore. eQuest has deep ties to the region's HR technological communities including Oracle, IBM, SAP as well as many local and regional HR software providers and job boards. “The offices are the culmination of many years of experience
Right Management Teams with Workfolio
Right Management, the talent and career management experts within ManpowerGroup, and Workfolio, a provider of personal branding websites, have established a partnership to offer personal website technology as part of Right Management's Career Transition and Outplacement services. The partnership will offer Workfolio's personal website technology platform as part of Right Management's Outplacement solutions worldwide. “Right
The Qualifind Group Adds New Partner to Lead ExeqFind
The QualiFind Group has added Gabriel Gonzalez-Saavedra as a partner. He will lead the firm’s retained executive search practice – ExeQfind. Mr. Gonzalez-Saavedra previously served as executive search manager, U.S., Mexico and Latin America, at boutique firm Barbachano International. His focus is on Mexico and the Latin America region and includes recruiting for the retail,
DHR Fills Positions For Denver Zoo Foundation
DHR International has placed Shannon Block as president/CEO and Christopher Harvey as chief development officer of the Denver Zoological Foundation. The searches were led by executive vice president Mary Lee Montague. Ms. Block most recently served as CEO of Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers. Mr. Harvey previously served as vice president of development at Livewell Colorado.
The Segal Group Acquires Waters Consulting
HR-consulting firm The Segal Group has acquired The Waters Consulting Group, Inc. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Waters Consulting Group, founded in 1976, has experience in the field of public sector human resources and compensation consulting. Clients are primarily municipalities and public authorities. “This acquisition significantly expands Segal’s resources and client base
Robert Half Posts Q4 Revenue Gain
Robert Half International Inc./(NYSE:RHI) has posted fourth quarter 2013 revenues of $1.08 billion, a small increase from revenues of $1.03 billion during the same period last year. For the quarter, the company earned $66.9 million, or $.49 per share, up from $58.3 million, or 42 cents per share, during the same period a year earlier.
IACPR Names Kathleen Kennedy and Gary Preston as Co-Chairs
The International Association of Corporate and Professional Recruiters (IACPR) has named Kathleen Kennedy, head of Americas recruiting delivery for UBS and Gary Preston, founder of Preston & Partners Talent Solutions as board co-chairs. A leader in the talent acquisition community, Ms. Kennedy brings extensive expertise in organizational planning and development, professional and campus recruitment, assessment,
Adicio to Create Job Sites by Gulf News
Gulf News, the UAE’s leading English Newspaper, has selected Adicio Inc. as technology partner for its new specialized classifieds websites focusing on the careers, real estate and general classified markets. Adicio is a provider of interactive classified advertising software solutions for media companies. “We are glad to be able to assist Gulf News with their
Kelly Services Posts Flat Growth for the Quarter and Year
Kelly Services, Inc./(NASDAQ:KELY), a global provider of workforce solutions, reported revenue for the fourth quarter of 2014 totaling $1.4 billion, a one percent increase compared to the corresponding quarter of 2013. The company posted earnings from operations of $9.7 million, compared to $9.6 million a year ago. For the full year, Kelly Services posted revenues
Heidrick & Struggles to Name Wolstencroft as its Next Chief Executive
Sources close to the executive search committee at Heidrick & Struggles have said they expect the firm to name Tracy R. Wolstencroft as its next chief executive after an exhaustive, months-long hunt to find a new leader. Mr. Wolstencroft, a 25-year former Goldman Sachs executive who was managing director and head of Goldman's municipal finance
ManpowerGroup Posts Revenue Increase
ManpowerGroup/(NYSE:MAN) has posted revenues of $5.3 billion for the fourth quarter ended December 2013, an increase of one percent from $5.2 billion a year earlier. The Milwaukee-based company's earnings jumped to $101.2 million, or $1.25 per share, in the quarter from $53.3, or 68 cents per share, a year ago. Annual revenue dropped to $20.3
Barracuda Group Strengthens Staff with New Director
Barracuda Group has added Emma Porteous as a director. With over 20 years of executive search experience, Ms. Porteous spent nine years as a partner with Heidrick & Struggles where she worked with the firm's U.K. retail, hospitality and leisure practices. Earlier in her career she spent time with Korn Ferry and PA Consulting Group.
DavenportMajor Tapped to Lead Search for Soitec
DavenportMajor Executive Search has been selected by Soitec to lead its search for a new vice president of North America sales operations. Soitec is a France-based leader in generating and manufacturing revolutionary semiconductor materials for energy and electronics. DavenportMajor is an executive search firm which specializes in senior executive and board of director recruitment for
SPMB Names Four New Partners
SPMB, formerly known as Schweichler Price Mullarkey and Barry, a technology-focused executive search firm, has announced the promotion of four new partners to its senior management team. Eamonn Tucker, Michael Doonan and Sean Lucq, all long time employees of the firm, have been promoted. The fourth partner, Todd Greenhalgh, joined the firm through SPMB’s acquisition
Fairfield Partners Completes Search for Vena Solutions
Fairfield Partners has placed Tim Stanley as vice president of professional services at Toronto-based Vena Solutions. Mr. Stanley previously served as president of Broadstreet Data. Vena Solutions is a provider of mid-market and high end SaaS performance management solutions. Fairfield Partners is an executive search firm that specializes in placing high impact leaders in the
Benchmark Executive Search Promotes Managing Partner
Benchmark Executive Search has promoted Phoebe Henderson to managing partner where she will lead the firm's day-to-day activities. She will work closely with Jeremy King, managing partner and co-founder of Benchmark. Ms. Henderson first joined Benchmark in 2012 and was initially responsible for end-to-end search execution, client development and expanding the firm's federal IT practice
ThinkHR Acquires HR that Works
ThinkHR has acquired HR That Works (HRTW), an HR platform that provides a wide array of training and advisory services. The merger will enable ThinkHR to expand its expertise into the property and casualty market and broaden its online resource library with video content and additional reference material. As part of the acquisition, Don Phin,
Pageup People Strenthgens Staff with Globa CMO
International talent management solutions provider, PageUp People, has appointed Anthony J. James as its global chief marketing officer. In this new role, Mr. James will leverage more than 25 years of international sales and marketing experience to drive the firm's marketing strategy and identify and lead new market opportunities. His experiences spans marketing, sales and
Spencer Stuart to Lead CEO Search for AARP
Executive search firm Spencer Stuart has been selected by AARP Services, Inc. to lead in its search for a new president and chief executive. John Wider, who has held the position since 2008, has announced his retirement at the end of the year. AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with a membership of nearly 38
ZRG Partners Acquires Assets of SportSearch
ZRG Partners Inc., a global provider of executive search and talent management solutions, has acquired certain assets of SPORTSEARCH and added Mark Tudi as managing director. Mr. Tudi will head the firm’s global sports & entertainment practice and focus on continuing to service clients in the sports and entertainment sector. SPORTSEARCH, based in Phoenix, has
RSR Partners Adds Managing Director to Open Dallas Office
RSR Partners, a corporate governance and executive search firm, has appointed Matrice Ellis-Kirk as managing director in the firm's board of directors practice. With more than 18 years of executive search experience, Ms. Ellis-Kirk will continue her work in the boardroom, focusing on governance and recruiting. Additionally, she will build a new presence for the
The Mobility Factor: Senior Executives and Recruiters Share Confident Outlook for 2014
The 2014 Global Executive Outlook Survey released by BlueSteps and the Association of Executive Search Consultants (AESC) reveals that 51 percent of senior executives hold a positive outlook for the global executive job market for 2014, an increase of 15 percent compared to last year. The remaining 36 percent of senior executives shared a neutral
Diversified Search Names Edie Fraser Vice Chair
Diversified Search has named Edie Fraser as a vice chair. "We are very fortunate to have someone of Edie's stature and national reputation to help us grow and expand our businesses," said Judith M. von Seldeneck, founder, chairman and CEO. "Edie had a distinguished career before she joined Diversified seven years ago, having started several
Russell Reynolds Associates Adds to Healthcare Sector
Global executive search firm Russell Reynolds Associates has added Mindy Kairey to its healthcare sector practice in Chicago. Ms. Kairey previously served as a business advisor at MSK Ventures, where she counseled private equity firms, new business ventures, and traditional corporations. Previously, she spent several years as a partner in the health and life sciences
Korn Ferry Finds CEO for Bermuda Tourism Authority
Korn Ferry has placed Bill Hanbury as the new chief executive officer of Bermuda Tourism Authority (BTA). Mr. Hanbury previously served as CEO of the United Way of the National Capital Area. Bermuda Tourism Authority was created in December 2013 as a result of the Government determining that the management of tourism should be placed
Human Capital Institute Partners with KellyOCG
The Human Capital Institute (HCI) haspartnered with KellyOCG, the outsourcing and consulting group of Kelly Services, Inc., to deliver its strategic workforce planning courses to various locations in Europe throughout 2014. Through this partnership, HCI can help more employers around the world access the insight and best practices. “Our SWP certification is an important career
Horton Enters Polish Market
Horton International has entered the Polish market with the addition of Executive People Sp. z o.o. Under a license agreement, Executive People Sp. z o.o., which recruits senior management and managerial staff for Polish and international companies, will continue its operations under the brand Horton International. Executive People, spun off from the People Group, will
Friisberg & Partners Adds Norway-Based Esholdt Executive Search to Network
Friisberg & Partners International has added Oslo, Norway-based firm Esholdt Executive Search to its network of firms. Esholdt Executive Search AS was founded in 2007 by Lars Esholdt, who has more than 20 years’ experience of executive search. He was executive search research manager at Christen Dalum (IIC) and a founding partner of ISCO Group.
Reffett Associates Retained by Touchstone Energy
Executive search firm Reffett Associates, Ltd. has been retained by Touchstone Energy Cooperatives to lead in its search a new chief operating officer and chief marketing officer. The COO/CMO will be responsible for brand, business development and strategic communications development. The Touchstone Energy Cooperatives brand represents a nationwide alliance made of 751 local, member-owned electric
Egon Zehnder Names CEO
Global executive search firm Egon Zehnder has appointed Rajeev Vasudeva as its new chief executive. Mr. Vasudeva joins Damien O'Brien in the top leadership suite at Zehnder, with Mr. O'Brien now assuming solely the chairman role — effectively splitting his dual executive leadership titles (chairman and CEO) — to accommodate Mr. Vasudeva's position. "Rajeev's appointment
Recruiting Firm Fuel Talent Opens Doors
Veteran executive recruiter Shauna Swerland has launched Fuel Talent. The company is the result of Ms. Swerland’s acquisition of the already existing Seattle office of Glocap Search, a New York City-based executive search firm where she was a partner for 10 years. Ms. Swerland will hold the role of founder and CEO of Fuel Talent.
