DAILY NEWSWIRE - TOP STORIES
Daily Newswire
AI Meets Executive Search: The New Algorithmic Era
Artificial intelligence is transforming how executive search is conducted, from sourcing and shortlisting to delivery and client engagement. In today’s competitive landscape, AI isn’t just a tool to speed up the process, it’s fast becoming a critical edge for winning mandates and enhancing outcomes. “The hype is over,” said Andrew Quinn, CTO of Ezekia and
Wray Executive Search Recruits CEO for Twin Hospitality Group
The hospitality industry continues to see strong demand for proven leadership as brands expand, innovate, and compete for market share. Wray Executive Search, a provider of executive search and advisory services in the restaurant, foodservice, retail, and franchise industries, recently assisted in the recruitment of Kim Boerema as the new CEO of Twin Hospitality Group
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
The Futurist Role That Chief Talent Officers Are Suddenly Taking On
As talent becomes increasingly recognized as the crucial lever in the broader success and value of a company, the significance of the chief talent officer role has grown exponentially. Chief executives and boards now concede the influence that talent plays in executing broad business objectives. And, according to a new report from Leathwaite, with this shift
B.E. Smith Adds VP in Executive Search Division
Executive recruiting firm B.E. Smith has added Laura Musfeldt as vice president for the firm’s executive search division. In her new role, Ms. Musfeldt will lead a team responsible for vetting and screening healthcare executives. Mark Madden, senior vice president of executive search at B. E. Smith, said: “Laura’s background in healthcare and her vast
DirectEmployers Partners with HonorGuard
DirectEmployers Association has entered into a new partnership with the HonorGuard Network (HGN) resulting in the addition of roughly 1.1 million jobs to the HGN Direct Jobs Database, a nationwide direct employer database of jobs offered to all U.S. military personnel, veterans, spouses, families and caregivers. Users can access the HGN Direct Jobs Database by
Buffkin Group Completes Assignment for Gannett
Executive search firm The Buffkin Group has placed Michael Sisk as vice president of revenues and sales excellence at Gannett Co. Mr. Sisk previously served as a VP at W.W. Grainger. Gannett is an international news and information company operating on multiple platforms including the Internet, mobile, newspapers, magazines and TV stations. The Buffkin Group
TheLadders Unveils Mobile Job Search Tools
TheLadders.com has announced a suite of mobile offerings to help bring the company’s more-than five million job seekers and 30,000 recruiters into the mobile age. The company also introduced a new product called “TheLadders Scout,” a proprietary, competitive-analysis tool. Job seekers on TheLadders now will be able to assess their competition for a job before
Witt/Kieffer Adds New Healthcare Recruiters
Executive search firm Witt/Kieffer has added new consultants in response to health reform and the sector's increasing demand for management talent. Chris Corwin has joined the firm’s San Francisco Bay area office as an executive search consultant in its healthcare practice. Mr. Corwin has an extensive background in healthcare recruiting, particularly for high-profile C-suite placements,
Morgan Samuels Grows Private Equity Practice
Morgan Samuels Company, an L.A.-based executive recruiter, has named Todd Wyles as a partner. He will be responsible for managing the firm’s private equity practice. Mr. Wyles has over two decades of extensive experience within the financial services, human capital management, and operational consulting industries. Prior to joining Morgan Samuels, he served as director of
Bullhorn Inks Deals With Cititec and IT-Staffing
Bullhorn, a global provider of on demand front office staffing and recruitment software, has inked new contracts with U.K.-based technical recruiting specialist Cititec and Dutch recruiter IT-Staffing. The new Dutch contract is the recruitment software specialist’s first major move in the Benelux region. Peter Linas, Bullhorn’s international managing director, stated: “We are delighted to be
Economic Volatility Remains Top Concern of Global Executives
A majority of global executives share a neutral to positive attitude about the executive job market for 2013, according to the 2013 Global Executive Outlook Survey, BlueSteps, the career management service of the Association of Executive Search Consultants (AESC). Thirty-seven percent of global executives harbor a neutral perception about executive opportunities in 2013, while 36
TMP Worldwide Creates Four New International Partnerships
TMP Worldwide, the global digital recruitment advertising agency, has partnered withBrandJob Communications, Ltd. in Budapest, Compass Porter Novelli in Bogota and FutureToday in Russia. BrandJob is a full-service HR branding and marketing agency that specializes in marketing, creative development, public relations and internal communications. Compass Porter Novelli is a public relations and strategic communications agency
Lonergan Partners Places New CEO at MarkLogic
Executive search firm Lonergan Partners has placed Gary Bloom as president and chief executive officer of MarkLogic. Mr. Bloom was previously the CEO and president at eMeter. “At Lonergan Partners, we work with clients to find them the right leadership for the opportunities and challenges they will face. Gary is a great example of how
Maxim Healthcare Services Names Head of Staffing Division
Maxim Healthcare Services, Inc., a provider of home healthcare, medical staffing, and wellness services, has appointed Jeremy Goldberg as its new vice president of Maxim Staffing Solutions (MSS). In his new role, he will have oversight of many of Maxim’s divisions including: Maxim Physician Resources, Timeline Recruiting, TravelMax, Reflectx Services, and Logix Healthcare Search Partners
CTPartners Adds To Industrial Practice
CTPartners has added David Rossi as a partner in the firm's industrial practice in its Chicago office. Mr. Rossi's focus is on serving clients in the natural resources and diversified manufacturing sectors. He joins CTPartners from Korn/Ferry International, where he was a senior client partner in the firm's global industrial market, serving as global sector
Victoria Sergeant & Associates Finds New CEO For ArmaGen Technologies
Executive search firm Victoria Sergeant & Associates has placed James Callaway, Ph.D. as chief executive officer at ArmaGen Technologies, Inc. Dr. Callaway was most recently president and CEO of Cebix Inc. ArmaGen Technologies is a leader in the delivery of biotherapeutics targeting the central nervous system. Founded in 1983, Victoria Sergeant & Associates is a
Deloitte Acquires Bersin & Associates
Deloitte has acquired substantially all of the assets of Bersin & Associates, LLC, a provider of research-based membership programs and advisory services in the human resources, talent and learning market. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Combined with Deloitte’s human capital and talent capabilities, Deloitte and Bersin are poised to provide the talent
CPP, Inc. Selects Halogen Talent Management Suite
CPP, Inc., a provider of personality, career and organizational development assessments, hasselected the Halogen Talent Management Suite to align its workforce and support employee development and career progression. “Our goal is for every employee to understand that his or her work makes a difference and is critical to CPP’s success,” said Nicole Trapasso, division director,
Heidrick & Struggles Acquires Senn-Delaney Leadership Consulting Group
Executive recruiting firm Heidrick & Struggles International has acquired Senn-Delaney Leadership Consulting Group, LLC, a global leader of corporate culture shaping. The transaction, which closed on December 31, 2012, is expected to be accretive to Heidrick & Struggles' earnings per share in 2013. For 34 years, Senn Delaney has been chosen by leaders of Global
Job Forecast Points to a Still Cautious Hiring Environment
U.S. employers will continue to play it safe, according to CareerBuilder’s annual hiring forecast. Twenty-six percent of hiring managers plan to add full-time, permanent employees in the New Year, up three percentage points over 2012. The study also points to heightened competition for high skill labor and improved compensation trends. The top two positions companies
Chartwell Partners Places CEO at Royal Bank America
Executive search firm Chartwell Partners has recruited F. Kevin Tylus as chief executive officer of Royal Bank America. Mr. Tylus previously served as regional president for PNC and was chief executive officer of Yardville Bank until acquired by PNC in 2007. Tom Watkins and Scott Petty led the search engagement. Royal Bank America is based
Hudson Global Selects New CEO
Hudson Global, a global talent solutions company, has appointed Lori Hock as CEO of Hudson Americas where she will be responsible for the strategic direction, operations and profitability. Ms. Hock has more than 25 years of staffing industry experience. She most recently held the position of president, Adecco MSP Solutions Americas, driving significant revenue growth
IMA Adds Talentmark to Network
Life science recruitment specialist Talentmark has joined The Interim Management Association (IMA), the industry body representing leading U.K. interim management service providers. Established in 1971, Talentmark is a specialist recruitment consultancy to the life sciences industry. The company provides executive search, interim management and resourcing solutions. Dafydd Wright, Talentmark’s manager, interim management, said: “The IMA
SilkRoad Expands in Asia-Pacific
SilkRoad, a provider of cloud-based talent management solutions, has broadened its footprint across Asia-Pacific-Japan adding a significant number of new clients from China in the North to New Zealand in the South. Youku and Jebson Group of China, Wacom Global and Credit Saison of Japan and TrustPower of New Zealand join the list of enterprises
Kulper & Company Completes Search for Norwich University
KULPER & COMPANY, LLC has placed Dr. Andrea Talentino as dean of the college of liberal arts for Norwich University. Dr. Talentino, a scholar in political science, will be coming from Drew University in Madison, New Jersey where she currently serves as associate dean of curriculum and faculty development and was previously chair of the
Penna Plc Forms Alliance with Diversity Marketplace
Penna Plc, a global HR services group, has partnered with Diversity Marketplace, a U.K. diversity practice consultancy, to provide an integrated platform for diversity and inclusion solutions. The new partnership will help employers nurture and grow a healthy diversity strategy, taking organizations through the employment cycle and turning policies into practice. Gamiel Yafai, managing director
TRANSEARCH Strengthens Staff
TRANSEARCH International has added Catherine Ceva, Consuelo Pizzo, and Fernando Denoye to its Paris, Milan, Sao Paulo offices respectively. Ms. Ceva is associate partner in the Paris office. She focuses on assignments in fashion, retail and consumer goods and leads the European & Asian fashion and luxury practice. Her previous experience includes partner position in
Infinisource Acquires Qqest
Infinisource, a provider of human capital management technology, has acquired Qqest, the company behind time-and-attendance software TimeForce. The acquisition of Qqest doubles the size of Infinisource and results in a company with more than 63,000 customers, including the San Francisco Giants, Washington Redskins, Nintendo USA and several of the Inc. 500 fastest growing companies in
Insperity Launches New Recruiting Tool
Insperity, Inc., a provider of human resources and business performance solutions, has launched sourcing services. The new recruiting offering is designed to help companies quickly identify and connect with qualified talent at the beginning of the recruiting process. “Insperity Sourcing Services was developed for organizations that typically need to hire large numbers of employees within
Hire Heroes USA Partners with WWE
WWE has for a partnership with Hire Heroes USA, an organization committed to serving our nation’s veterans through personalized and customized job search training and assistance. To support Hire Heroes USA’s mission, WWE will make a donation and utilize all its assets, including TV broadcasts, live events, digital and social media to generate awareness and
Global Novations Adds New VP
Global Novations, a Korn/Ferry International company, has added Tessa Misiaszek as vice president of consulting at the firm’s office in Waltham, MA. Ms. Misiaszek brings extensive experience developing human capital strategies to advance the healthcare industry, with an emphasis on cultural competence and diversity and inclusion. She will partner with leading healthcare organizations throughout North
Ultimate Software Selected by MLB Network
Ultimate Software, a provider of HR, payroll, and talent management solutions, has announced that MLB Network, the television network for Major League Baseball, has optimized HR and talent management processes with Ultimate Software’s UltiPro. “Ultimate designs technology that puts people first,” said Greg Swick chief sales officer at Ultimate Software. “Our cloud platform, full scope
Storbeck/Pimentel Completes Search for Rider University
Executive search firm Storbeck/Pimentel & Associates has placed Dr. DonnaJean Fredeen as provost, vice president for academic affairs and professor of chemistry at Rider University. Dr. Fredeen is currently dean of the school of arts and sciences at Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU). Storbeck/Pimentel is a minority and female owned retained search firm specializing in
Monster Employment Index Europe Declines
The Monster Employment Index Europe, a monthly analysis of millions of online job opportunities culled from a large, representative selection of corporate career sites and job boards, reported a fourth consecutive month of annual decline, recording a four percent decrease in online hiring over the year in November. Belgium and the United Kingdom are the







