DAILY NEWSWIRE - TOP STORIES
Daily Newswire
The CHRO’s Role in Private Equity: Driving Value at Speed and Scale
In every industry, the CHRO serves as the guardian of culture, the designer of talent strategy, and a key advisor to the CEO. It is demanding work—transformational, complex, and deeply human. In a private equity-backed portfolio company, those responsibilities remain, but the tempo shifts dramatically: there is no long runway. With a defined investment plan
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
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.
Brettschneider Executive Search Seeking Inaugural SVP of Advancement for Wilmington University
New York City-based Brettschneider Executive Search has been retained by Wilmington University (WilmU) to lead in its search for an inaugural senior vice president of advancement to lead the University’s next phase of philanthropic growth. Reporting to WilmU president LaVerne Harmon, the SVP will partner closely with the president, board and University leaders to advance the University’s strategic
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?
August Leadership Expands in London
August Leadership has expanded with the addition of Honor Pollok as a partner in London. Ms. Pollok brings over 20 years of executive search and leadership experience. She has led numerous high-profile placements in chair, non-executive director, CEO and the full spectrum of C-suite roles. Her search expertise spans key commercial, financial, creative, human resource, functional,
Hunt Scanlon and HSiQ Spotlight New Approach to Recruiter Training
As the executive search industry faces mounting pressure to improve performance and consistency, firms are increasingly reevaluating how recruiters are trained and developed. Hunt Scanlon and its HSiQ talent intelligence advisory unit recently launched a new Recruiter Performance Training Program designed to bring greater structure, commercial rigor, and scalability to recruiter development in an industry long driven by
Building Team Alignment in an Era of Continuous Change
Ask any team to describe its top strategic priorities and you will often get as many answers as there are people in the room. The problem is not that the strategy hasn’t been communicated, according to recent report from AIIR Consulting. “The problem is that it was communicated into an environment that has since shifted
Isaacson, Miller Helps Recruit 28th President for Texas A&M
Boston-based Isaacson, Miller has assisted in the recruitment of Susan Ballabina as the 28th president of Texas A&M. Andy Lee and Julie Filizetti, led search with Raul Bernal and Luciano Zuniga, and Madeline Fitzpatrick. The members of the Board of Regents conducted a national search that produced a strong pool of candidates. Dr. Ballabina emerged through that process based on her experience, her understanding of
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
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,
A Look at the Importance of Proper Background Checks for Executive Search
Background checks are an important part of the hiring process. They can help confirm that candidates have the experience and education they claim to have. This includes verification of education, employment history, professional licenses, and certifications. Background checks can help identify candidates with a history of financial irresponsibility or fraudulent activities. This is important when hiring for senior
Russell Reynolds Associates to Find Bebe Stores Chief
Global executive search and assessment firm Russell Reynolds Associates has been retained by bebe stores, inc. to begin a search for a new chief executive officer. bebe stores designs, develops and produces a distinctive line of contemporary women’s apparel and accessories, which it markets under the bebe, BEBE SPORT, bbsp and 2b bebe brand names.
51job Adds Recruit Holdings Executive to Board
51job, Inc., a provider of integrated human resource services in China, has elected Kazumasa Watanabe to the company’s board of directors. Mr. Watanabe is a senior executive in the global headquarters of Recruit Holdings Co., Ltd., an affiliate of one of the company’s principal shareholders. Since joining Recruit in 1991, he has been primarily involved
Witt/Kieffer Adds Commissioner To Sports Practice
Executive search firm Witt/Kieffer has added Dan Beebe, J.D., to serve as “of counsel” for its sports leadership practice. Mr. Beebe is the former Big 12 Conference commissioner and has nearly 30 years of experience in conference administration and NCAA rules enforcement. At the firm he will support Witt/Kieffer in the recruitment of leaders for
RSA Adds to Swiss and U.K. Sectors
RSA, a global life sciences executive search and interim management specialist, has named Dr. Francois Martin as managing director of RSA Switzerland. Dr. Martin recently served as senior partner for the life sciences and technology practice for the International Executive Search Federation (IESF). He brings over 20 years of experience to RSA, having managed large
HRsmart Releases Recruiting Software Platform
HRsmart International, a global talent management software company, has announced its Enterprise version 12.0 of their HRsmart Unified Architecture (HUA) software platform. The newest version of the HUA platform incorporates new feature additions and improvements for users, including mobile access, support for hourly recruiting, enhanced performance management, and onboarding enhancements to streamline the talent management
Fairfield Partners Completes Assignment for HealthTeacher
Fairfield Partners has placed Reagan Brown as the new vice president of business development at HealthTeacher, an interactive healthcare company focused on the health literacy of the nation’s youth, located in Nashville, Tenn. Mr. Brown was previously the VP and general manager of InvestorPlace Media. Fairfield Partners is a retained executive search firm that specializes
Strawn Arnold Ashpitz Groover Strengthens Healthcare/Life Sciences Practice
Strawn Arnold Ashpitz Groover, Ltd has added Jeff Dodson as an executive vice president. Mr. Dodson has been a senior-level executive recruiter in the healthcare and life sciences industries for the past 12 years. Prior to joining Strawn Arnold, he held significant roles with other major search firms, including leader of the U.S. pharmaceutical practice
Korn Ferry Survey: Hiring to Remain Stagnant
Fifty-eight percent of hiring executives intend to increase staff at all levels across their organizations within the next 12 months while 69 percent are waiting for resolution on the fiscal cliff or the European financial crisis, according to a recent survey by Korn/Ferry International. Despite future hiring intentions, results revealed broad-based hiring is stagnant. While
Preston | Reffett Completes Search for Office Depot
Executive search firm Preston | Reffett, LLC’s Florida office has placed Rick DiMaio as the vice president of supply chain operations at Office Depot. Prior to joining Office Depot, Mr. DiMaio was an executive at Sears Holdings Corporation, most recently as VP of logistics operations. Jennifer McCorey, managing director at Preston | Reffett, led the
Buller Group and i3solutions Join Forces
The Buller Group, a human capital services and recruiting firm, has announced its SharePoint University partnership and teaming arrangement with i3solutions. Recognized as one of the top Microsoft Gold Certified partners in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, i3solutions has been providing SharePoint consulting and development services since the first beta version in 1999. Since that
The Soloman Page Group Names EMEA Head
The Solomon Page Group LLC has appointed John Burr as a managing director within its financial services division. Based in London, Mr. Burr will oversee Solomon Page’s EMEA business. He has over 20 years global financial services experience across EMEA, the Americas and Asia, particularly within global banking and markets. Prior to joining Solomon Page
Premier Executive Search Adds New Consultant
Premier Executive Search, the executive search division of The Premier Partners, has added David Felgino as a search consultant. With 12 years of experience, Mr. Felgino most recently worked with boutique retained firm 680 Partners, LLC. He brings a focus in sales & marketing as well as a specialty in IT security. John Brown, senior
CTPartners Appoints Partner
CTPartners has named Lilian Poilpot as a partner in the firm's technology, media and telecom & professional services practices. Ms. Poilpot has over 16 years of experience in executive search, most recently as the managing partner of EMEA for the Leadership Capital Group. He has built relationships with major global clients throughout the IT, telecom
B.E. Smith Places CIO at Aspirus
Executive recruiting firm B.E. Smith has placed Todd Richardson as the new chief information officer for Aspirus, Inc. Mr. Richardson was previously CIO at Deaconess Health System. “Aspires was looking for a CIO who could lead a system-wide Epic implementation while developing collaborative relationships with key stakeholders across the health system,” said Kathy Hall, vice
Kaye/Bassman Names Construction/Real Estate Sector Head
Executive search firm Kaye/Bassman International Corp. has named Jeff Wittenberg to oversee strategy, team and operations for its construction and real estate practice. Over the course of 13 years at Kaye/Bassman, Mr. Wittenberg has had responsibilities for the firm's talent acquisition, training and development, corporate development, culture, marketing communications and overall governance. “We are very
Nationwide Job Openings Increase in September
Simply Hired, a search engine for jobs and recruitment advertising network, has reported a 5.6 percent increase in nationwide job openings in September and an 8.7 percent increase year-over-year. This marks the fourth time in five months that the economy has seen growth in job openings. Nationwide job competition held steady at a ratio of
Dowd Associates Fills CFO Post for Scripps Neworks
Dowd Associates Executive Search has placed Amy Listerman as chief financial officer, advertising sales, for Scripps Networks Interactive. Ms. Listerman is the former NBCUniversal SVP of ad sales pricing, planning & strategy. A leading developer of lifestyle content for television, internet, satellite radio, books and magazines, Scripps Networks Interactive is comprised of brands such as
Alliance Solutions Group Opens New Location
Alliance Solutions Group, a full-service staffing and recruitment agency based in Ohio, has expanded its presence to Mahoning County by opening a new staffing facility. The Mahoning Valley office will offer staffing and recruitment services from the company’s nine business units to individuals in Youngstown, Warren, Middlefield and the surrounding communities. “In July 2012, the
The Ropella Group Launches Operations in China
Executive search firm The Ropella Group has opened a new office in China. Justin Prairie, Ropella’s vice president of company search, will be leading the China office, assisting Asian clients in their searches for consultants, employees, and profitable corporate partners. The Ropella Group is the leading retained search firm serving the chemical and allied industries
Kenexa Releases 2X Assess Solution
Kenexa Corporation, a global provider of business solutions for human resources, has launched 2x Assess, an assessment content solution that provides enhanced reporting and offers extensive multilingual capabilities. Kenexa 2x Assess provides a global content solution as an integrated part of the company’s 2x talent management suite and competency framework, which includes 2x BrassRing and
Avature Opens in Hong Kong
Avature, a provider of innovative Web 2.0 talent acquisition solutions delivered as SaaS, has opened a new office in Hong Kong, China as part of its expansion plan to better support its growing APAC customer base. Lead by Julian Boylan, senior vice-president global markets, the office seeks to expand its user base in the Asia
JDG Associates Retained by MMA
Executive search firm JDG Associates Ltd. has been retained by the Mobile Marketing Association (MMA) to conduct the search for its senior director of membership, North America position. Founded in 2003, MMA is the collective voice representing companies and brands across the entire mobile marketing ecosystem. JDG Associates, founded by Joseph DeGioia, has been serving
Korn Ferry Names Head of Leadership/Talent Consulting Business
Korn/Ferry International has appointed Smita Anand as senior partner and managing director of its leadership and talent consulting (LTC) business in India. Based in Korn/Ferry's Gurgaon office, Ms. Anand will be responsible for leading the firm's board and CEO succession offering in Asia. She will also continue to strengthen the LTC business and enhance the
CTPartners To Air TV Advertising Campaign
CTPartners has announced that it will begin a television advertising campaign on CNBC. The campaign will focus on raising the firm's profile in the areas of human capital strategy and choosing the right executive search firm. The ads will run in the 6 a.m. – 7 a.m. (Eastern) time slot. "CTPartners has a strong and
Managerial Recruitment Activity Takes a Slide of 10.1 Points in September
The CareerCast.com/JobSerf Employment Index, which measures managerial recruitment activity online, took a slide of 10.1 points in September, nearly wiping out the 11.1 point hiring gain achieved last month. The Index has remained stable over the past year and is 35.1 points higher than it was in September 2009. Cities active in the automobile industry
Eurozone Crisis Driving Major Changes in Recruitment
The current economic crisis in the eurozone is driving major changes in the type of senior executives companies in the region are recruiting, according to IIC Partners EMEA board director Myriam Walgraef, a partner at Brussels-based executive search firm Hoffman & Associates. “Before the current eurozone volatility, many firms were looking to hire C-level executives
Dice Holdings Strengthens Board
Dice Holdings, Inc., a career website for technology and engineering professionals, has announced Golnar Sheikholeslami, EVP and chief product officer of Everyday Health, Inc., was appointed to the company's board of directors. “Goli has nearly two decades of experience launching and building digital businesses using product innovation and content as key strategic components,” said Scot
Martin Partners Finds Director for Genentech
Executive search firm Martin Partners has recruited Megha Verma to the position of senior director at Genentech Inc., a worldwide biotechnology pharmaceutical company. Prior to joining Genentech, Ms. Verma was director, global market Access at Pfizer. Chicago-headquartered Martin Partners provides executive search services to a wide array of industries.
HR Services Launches Newest Version of myStaffingPro
Applicant tracking vendor, HR Services, Inc., has released its latest version of myStaffingPro 13.3. The release includes usability enhancements to both the candidate experience and the user interface. Candidates who are applying for positions at companies using myStaffingPro applicant tracking software will benefit from redesigned education and work history collection screens. “The goal with this
Recruiter Confidence Falls
Recruiter confidence ticked down slightly in the past month to 35 percent and almost reached the significantly low levels seen last year right after the U.S. debt ceiling crisis, largely due to circumstances beyond organizations’ control, according to the results of ExecuNet's Recruiter Confidence Index (RCI). Seventy percent of executive recruiters pointed to conditions external
DHR Adds Global Leader To Business & Professional Services Practice Group
DHR International has added Pravesh Mehra as executive vice president and global leader, business & professional services practice group based in the firm’s Silicon Valley and New York offices. He will focus on senior executive search for companies in the advisory, technology services, and global outsourcing industries. Mr. Mehra is a seasoned executive and spent
