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The Power of Peer Groups: Why Every Leader Needs One
Success can be isolating. As entrepreneurs, executives, and business owners, we are expected to have all the answers, make the tough calls, and push forward—even when the weight of leadership feels overwhelming. However, here is the truth: no one succeeds alone, according to a recent article from Steve Ziegler, founder of the Denver-based executive search
KKR Invests in ghSMART
ghSMART, a global leadership advisory firm, and private equity powerhouse KKR announced that funds managed by KKR will acquire a significant minority stake in ghSMART. ghSMART partners with CEOs, boards, and investors to develop effective executive teams and support high-stakes leadership decisions. ghSMART’s founder, partners, and employees will retain majority ownership in the business 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.
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
Navigating Opportunities in Changing Tides for the Non-Profits in 2024
In the fabric of our society and global economy, non-profit organizations have long been the stitching that binds community care and human altruism. However, in 2024, a new report from ExecSearches.com’s F. Jay Hall says that as dynamic shifts continue to alter the socio-economic landscape, the non-profit sector finds itself at a pivotal juncture, brimming
DHR Places Charlie Weis As Head Coach At Kansas
DHR International has placed Charlie Weis as the 37th head football coach at the University of Kansas. The search was led by Glenn Sugiyama, global sports practice leader, and Pat Richter, executive vice president, with assistance from research associate Jon Barron. Dr. Sheahon Zenger, athletic director for the University of Kansas, said: “We set out
Preston | Reffett to Lead Search for the Dept of Defense
Executive search firm Preston | Reffett, LLC has been selected by the Department of Defense to lead the search for the president/CEO of the Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES). Ron Flom, managing director of the public sector & acquisition practice in Arlington, VA, will lead the search. AAFES operates more than 3,100 facilities
Human Capital Group Places COO at Comdata
Brentwood, TN-based The Human Capital Group, Inc. has placed Melinda Stickley as the senior vice president and chief operations officer at Comdata, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ceridian Corporation. Ms. Stickley has over 25 years of operations leadership experience with companies such as FIS/Fidelity National Information Services (formerly Equifax/Certegy), Citibank, AT&T, GE and AC Nielsen.
Stanton Chase Expands to Korea
Executive search firm Stanton Chase International has opened a new office in Seoul, Korea with the addition of KK Consulting as its latest global partner. Stanton Chase Korea (formerly KK Consulting) is headed by Korean business and executive search leader KK Kim and managing director Tony Kang. “We are thrilled that KK Consulting is joining
IHRIM Elects Three Board Members
International Association for Human Resource Information Management (IHRIM) has elected Jeremy Ames, Damon Lovett and Bob Lupp to its board of directors. Mr. Ames is president and founder of Gaucho Group, a consulting firm that focuses on the management and development of human resource information systems (HRIS). Mr. Lovett currently serves as HR systems consultant
Boyden Boosts Search Team in San Franciso
Boyden has added Trevor Pritchard, Michael Reid and Martie Bond as managing partners in its San Francisco office. Mr. Pritchard has 10 years of senior executive recruiting experience in the pharmaceutical, biologics and medical device industries, and over 20 years of line management and leadership experience in the U.S., Europe, Latin America and the Pacific
Market Ready RX Launches FivebyFive Executive Search
Market Ready Rx, a marketing firm dedicated to helping In-vitro diagnostic companies commercialize products, has expanded its services through the creation of a new division, FivebyFive Executive Search. FivebyFive will support Market Ready Rx clients by providing executive services placing high caliber professionals. “The addition of executive search services to Market Ready Rx for the
MaxHire Recruiting Software Adds Enterprise-Class Financials
MaxHire Solutions Inc., a provider of recruiting software, has announced the addition of MaxHire Financials. MaxHire Financials will provide enterprise-class commission calculations, payroll, invoicing, timesheets and expense reporting built into the MaxHire recruiting software. “We're excited to provide MaxHire customers with complete end-to-end automation with the addition of MaxHire Financials,” said Peter Blitz, CEO of
Fortune 500 Companies Launch .JOBS Career Microsites
Over 400 of the Fortune 500 have launched .JOBS Career Microsites, according to DirectEmployers Association, providers of over 1,000 career microsites. Career microsites are highly specialized sites that allow an employer to list jobs targeting specific job seeker searches. Each month, job seekers perform over 200 million searches for jobs using search engines like Google
Warren Partners Assigns Head of Scotland Operations
Executive search boutique Warren Partners has opened an Edinburgh office and named Charles McGarry to head its operations in Scotland as well as expand its board services practice. Mr. McGarry comes to the firm following 23 years with Fletcher Jones, most recently as a director. He has worked with FTSE 100 and 250 companies, financial
Pedersen & Partners Opens New Offices and China and Indonesia
Executive search firm Pedersen & Partners has opened offices in Shanghai and Jakarta. Gautier Vasseur, partner in charge of Pedersen & Partners’ expansion to Greater China, will be leading the operations of the new Shanghai office while Michael Al-Nassir, partner in charge of Pedersen & Partners’ South East Asian expansion, will be overseeing the opening
JDG Associates Selected by BRMI Consulting
Executive search firm JDG Associates Ltd. has been retained by BRMi Consulting to identify a senior director. BRMi is a growing consulting firm that focuses on delivering management consulting services to government agencies and is committed to continuously improving and innovating to deliver the best outcomes for its clients. JDG Associates, founded by Joseph DeGioia,
JBCHoldings Acquires Executive Search Firm Janou Pakter
New York-based JBCHoldings LLC (JBC), a Riveria Investment Group portfolio company, has acquired executive search firm Janou Pakter (JP). Terms and conditions of the deal were not disclosed. Headquartered in New York and founded in 1985, Janou Pakter focuses on servicing the fashion and retail market. JBC is the holding company for JBCStyle, JBCConnect and
Martin Partners CFO at CSI Heat
Executive search firm Martin Partners has placed Scott Sannes as chief financial officer at Controls Southeast Inc. (CSI Heat). CSI Heat is a global leader in thermal steam maintenance systems for critical process applications. Prior to joining CSI Heat, Mr. Sannes was CFO at Polyester Fibers, Inc. Headquartered Martin Partners provides executive search services to
JobVite Adds Former Taleo Exec
Jobvite, a provider of next-generation recruitment solutions, has named Kevin Nanney as vice president of product. Mr. Nanney will lead product strategy and design for the innovation leader in the multi-billion dollar online recruitment market. He most recently served as vice president of product management at Taleo, a talent management provider. In that role, he
eQuest Expands Its Asia Job Board Network
eQuest, a job posting distribution and job posting management provider, has expanded its Asia Job Board Network by adding over 200 career site destinations in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, India, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines. Called “Asia Direct,” the expanded network helps employers streamline the process of posting jobs for what
Diversified Search Adds to Not-For-Profit Practice
Diversified Search has announced that Kevin Chase has joined the firm's Los Angeles office as a managing director in its not-for-profit practice. Mr. Chase has a broad range of experience in retained executive search with a focus on CEO, board and director level searches for non-profit organizations in a variety of sectors, including public health,
Boyden Names CFO
Boyden has promoted Lydia Reitano promoted to chief financial officer, corporate secretary and treasurer. In addition, Dana Rutty has been appointed assistant corporate secretary. Ms. Reitano, who previously served as Boyden's VP of finance, will now oversee all financial activities of Boyden. "Lydia brings superior financial acumen and an impressive record of successful strategic and
U.K. Job Site Adzuna Raises 500K in Funding
Adzuna, the next-generation job search engine, has raised £500,000 investment financing from Index Ventures, The Accelerator Group and existing investors including Passion Capital. The latest funding follows a seed round last year. Launched in July 2011, Adzuna classifieds aims to become the world's leading search engine for classifieds, bringing together all the ads and connecting
TweetMyJOBS Partners with the City of Atlanta
Job board TweetMyJOBS and the City of Atlanta have formed a public-private partnership focused on connecting local businesses with city residents seeking employment across all industries at all levels of employment, from entry level to C-suite positions. The City of Atlanta Jobs Platform supports the Hire Atlanta initiative and is easy to use, free and
Lucas Group Names Managing Partner in West Coast Division
Search firm Lucas Group has promoted Daniel Chang as managing partner for the manufacturing practice group's West Coast division. Mr. Chang was the executive senior partner in the company's military transition division, where he has served as a recruiter since 2006. “Daniel has a remarkable work ethic and recruiting background,” said Charlie Wilgus, general manager
Clark Langdon Finds CEO for PDX’s Bioenergy Division
Recruiting firm Clark Langdon Partners has placed John King as chief executive officer of PDX's Bioenergy division. PDX is a provider of energy efficient solutions to strategic industrial applications using the unique patented PDX reactor and atomizing technology improving output and reducing the use of natural resources. Clark Langdon, founded by Simon Clark, has more
Jobscience Adds New Marketing and Sales Execs
Recruitment solutions provider Jobscience, Inc. has appointed Erin Jacobs as vice president of marketing and Jason Gasper as vice president of sales. Ms. Jacobs brings 15 years experience leveraging cost-effective marketing tactics to find prospects and nurture customer relationships. She has been a vital marketing leader for cloud companies such as Mindjet, SlideRocket and Demandbase.
The Creative Group and AIGA Create Career Development Program
The Creative Group, a specialized staffing service for interactive, design and marketing professionals, has partnered with AIGA, the world's largest and most influential design organization, on a nationwide career development program for in-house designers. The new program is called “INitiative: INsights to help INhouse design teams thrive,” and it was developed to help in-house designers
Korn Ferry Adds New Head of Sports Practice
Korn/Ferry International has appointed Jed Hughes as global sector head of the firm’s sports practice; he will be based in New York. Mr. Hughes joins Korn/Ferry from Spencer Stuart, where he led that firm’s sports practice for over 12 years and served as a member of the board and CEO practice. "Professional sports is a
Boyden Grows San Francisco Office
Boyden has added Trevor Pritchard as the new managing director of its San Francisco office. Prior to joining Boyden, Mr. Pritchard was executive vice president at Strawn Arnold Ashpitz Groover, Ltd, a healthcare focused executive search firm. Boyden is an executive search firm with more than 70 offices in over 40 countries.
Futurestep Names Global Practice Leader
Futurestep, a Korn/Ferry International company that provides talent acquisition solutions, has named Neil Griffiths as global practice leader for its talent communications and employer branding practice. Mr. Griffiths will build and develop the go-to-market proposition for the global talent communication and employer branding practice. He joins Futurestep from talent and resourcing competitor Alexander Mann Solutions
3P Consultants Places Managing Director at Premium Technologies
Executive search firm 3P Consultants Pvt. Ltd has recruited Atulya Gupta as managing director of Premium Transmission Limited. Mr. Gupta was previously a managing director at with Sona BLW Praezisionschmeide. Premium Transmission Limited manufactures gearboxes, geared motors, fluid couplings, gear lube oil and other speed reducer drives. 3P Consultants Pvt. Ltd, a member of the
Options Group Launches HR Squared Consultants
Global recruiting firm Options Group has opened a new business, hR-Squared Consultants, focused on providing human capital solutions, client-tailored strategic studies, and quantitative products to the financial services industry. hR-Squared Consultants will operate as a separate division of Options Group and is expected to complement the firm's core search business by serving the broader HR
IRC ADDS MUMBAI-BASED FRUCTUS CONSULTANTS
IRC Global Executive Search Partners (IRC) has added Mumbai-based Fructus Consultants as its first new member firm. Fructus Consultants (IRC India) is a global boutique executive search firm, based in Mumbai with branches in Bangalore and Chennai. “We’re delighted to start 2012 by welcoming Fructus Consultants to our expanding global alliance,” said Sylvia MacArthur, president
Allen Austin Completes Search for Houston Community College System
Allen Austin Global Executive Search has Belinda Brockman as the new director of internal audit for Houston Community College System. Ms. Brockman previously served as manager of IT security and internal control at Universal American Corp (UAC). Allen Austin is a privately owned Houston-based executive search and consulting firm with 22 partners in 10 U.S.







