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Unemployment Rate Holds Steady at 4.2 Percent
Employment rose by 139,000 in May as the U.S. unemployment was unchanged at 4.2 percent, according to the most recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report. Employment continued to trend up in healthcare, leisure and hospitality, and social assistance. Federal government continued to lose jobs. The number of unemployed people, at 7.2 million, changed little over
Leading Through Uncertain Times
If you had to pick one adjective to describe all that is happening in the world right now, there is a strong chance – if not a high certainty – that you would pick the word uncertainty, says Tim Gardner of Teamalytics in a new report. “The stock market is volatile and, as a result, is uncertain,” Mr. Gardner said. “Restructuring
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
ZRG’s Walking the Talk Unveils Enhanced Taylor Assessment Tool
The Walking the Talk division of ZRG Partners has introduced its enhanced Taylor Assessment, a tool for assessing leaders’ cultural preferences. The Taylor Assessment directly measures contribution to an organization’s current or desired future culture. It can be used for recruitment, leadership, team, and organizational development. The assessment is based on the framework first laid out
The Buffkin Group Place CTO at EMMA
Executive search firm The Buffkin Group has recruited Brad Sanders as chief technology officer for Emma. Mr. Sanders was previously with Co-Partners where he provided executive consultation. Based in Nashville, Emma is a web-based service for managing email marketing and online surveys. The search was led by Buffkin managing partner, Craig Buffkin. The Buffkin Group
Hewitt Associates Adds to Board
Hewitt Associates, Inc., a global human resources consulting and outsourcing company, has elected Stacey J. Mobley to its board, serving as a member of the firm’s compensation and leadership committee. Mr. Mobley is currently senior counsel at Dickstein Shapiro LLP, a multi-service law firm, and was the former senior vice president, chief administrative officer and
HR Departments to Increase Budgets in 2010
Human resource buyers plan to increase their budgets by 25 percent in 2010 for corporate social networking tools, employee wellness programs, management and leadership development initiatives, performance management systems, and other training and development programs. The positive forecast was outlined in HRmarketer.com's latest report, “HR Buyers' Behavior: What to Expect in 2010.” The fourth annual
Interview: Weathering the Downturn in the U.K. — A Perspective from Anthony Harling in London
Anthony Harling is a U.K. national with experience living and working in various European countries. He speaks English, French, German and Spanish. Based in the London office of Eric Salmon & Partners, Mr. Harling focuses his senior level recruiting work on general management and director level searches for companies in the technology, consulting, FMCG and
Caldwell Partners Opens Dallas Office
Executive search firm The Caldwell Partners International Inc. has opened an office in Dallas which will be led by Jim Bethmann, who joins the firm as a partner. "The importance of establishing an office in the Dallas-Fort Worth region is obvious," said John N. Wallace, president and CEO Caldwell. "D-FW is home to 25 Fortune
Cornerstone International Expands in Italy
Global executive search firm Cornerstone International Group has opened a new office in Milan and appointed Pier Antonio Tavallini to serve as its managing partner. The firm added an office in Rome last June. Mr. Tavallini is the former leader of the Milan-based headhunting firm Solvers. “Today employers need not only recruiting, but above all,
Futurestep Adds Former Bernard Hodes Executive
Futurestep, a provider of talent acquisition solutions, has added Laura Eaton as a U.S. director of its RPO service delivery team. Ms. Eaton previously spent 11 years with Bernard Hodes Group leading its recruitment process outsourcing division, Recruitment Enhancement Services (RES). She also served as general manager of strategic staffing solutions. “Quality execution and service
Major, Lindsey & Africa Places Dean at UC Hastings College of the Law
Legal search firm Major, Lindsey & Africa has placed Frank H. Wu as chancellor and dean of UC Hastings College of the Law. The search was led by Martha Fay Africa and Steve John in MLA’s San Francisco office. “Despite California’s challenging fiscal situation, superb dean candidates were attracted to the opportunity represented by Hastings,”
Pedersen & Partners Names Head of Russia and Central Asia
Pedersen & Partners has appointed Gautier Vasseur as head of Russia and Central Asia. Mr. Vasseur has until recently led operations in Central Asia. He joined Pedersen & Partners in 2003, first working in Prague, then in Moscow and Almaty. Over the course of his career with the firm he has successfully completed over 200
Korn Ferry Survey Says Obama Not Doing Enough for Jobs
Executive Quiz results released by the Korn/Ferry Institute a day before President Obama's State of the Union address reveal that executives don't feel the current administration is doing enough to create jobs and stem the tide of rising unemployment. In the midst of a recession that has brought with it an additional seven million unemployed
Headhunting Activity Expected to Increase in 2010
Ninety-one per cent of executive search consultants hold a neutral to positive outlook for the executive recruiting business in 2010, showing renewed confidence as the headhunting industry gains momentum following the downturn. The 2010 Association of Executive Search Consultants (AESC) Member Outlook Survey totaled 268 responses from AESC executive recruiters worldwide. With 77 percent expecting
Interim Management Providers Merge
Rockpools Interim Management and Pinnacle PSG’s Interim Business have merged to form Pinnacle Interim Business. The newly merged organization will offer clients the strengths of Rockpools as a provider of top management interims for both the public and the private sector, and Pinnacle PSG's specialization in providing interims for key public service areas, particularly in
Martin Partners Places HR Exec at Intercall
Executive search firm Martin Partners has placed Dan Veytsman as vice president of human resources to InterCall, a billion dollar telecom services company. Prior to joining InterCall, Mr. Veytsman was the senior human resource manager at Tellabs. Chicago-headquartered Martin Partners provides executive search services to a wide array of industries.
Spencer Stuart Taps New CEO for U.S. Olympic Committee
Executive search firm Spencer Stuart has recruited Scott Blackmun as chief executive officer of the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC). Mr. Blackmun joins the USOC from the law firm Holme Roberts & Owen LLP, where he was a partner and a member of the firm's executive committee. Founded in 1956 and privately owned, Spencer Stuart is
Pinstripe Expands Healthcare Advisory Board
Pinstripe, Inc., a human resources and recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) company, has added Carrie Harris-Muller, the chief administrative officer for Kaiser Permanente Mid-Atlantic States region, to its healthcare advisory board. “Carrie's addition to our board is particularly valuable during this time of monumental change in the healthcare industry. Her experiences and insights will help us
Boyden Reorganizes Toronto Office
Boyden has reorganized its Toronto operations. Boyden Toronto will be led by Robert Travis, a board member of Boyden World Corporation. In addition, Brent Shervey will serve as a managing director in the firm's Toronto and Calgary offices. Doug Weir continues to serve the IT sector as a managing director in Toronto. "As global economic
RUSTON wheb Adds Consultants
London-based executive search firm RUSTON wheb has added Stuart Brown and Anne Duvaux. Both Mr. Brown and Ms. Duvaux will be responsible for leading the cleantech and renewable energy practice groups. Before joining RUSTON, Mr. Brown led the energy and natural resources practice and set up the renewable energy team at executive search firm Ellis
Kronos Releases WorkForce Mobile Scheduler
Kronos Incorporated has announced general availability of Workforce Mobile Scheduler, a mobile application that allows managers to instantly engage with employees using a variety of mobile devices. With Workforce Mobile Scheduler, managers can broadcast a text message to the mobile devices of employees who are qualified to fill an open shift. Once an employee accepts
ChampionScott Partners Adds Managing Director
Executive search firm ChampionScott Partners has appointed Kevin Kernan as managing director. Mr. Kernan, based in Washington, D.C., brings a 25-year career in sales, marketing, and executive management leadership roles to ChampionScott. He has served as CEO of investor-backed technology companies, raised capital from top-tier investor firms, and recruited executive management talent globally. Previously, Mr.
DHR Places Head Football Coach at San Jose State
Executive search firm DHR International has placed Mike MacIntyre as head football coach at San Jose State University. The search was led by Glenn Sugiyama, executive vice president and global sports practice group leader; and assisted by Pat Richter, executive vice president, and Jacob Sullivan, senior associate. Bart Penfold, DHR executive vice president, worked with
StepStone Selected by Alibaba Group
StepStone, a London-based provider of human capital management solutions, has been selected by Alibaba Group for its e-recruitment solution to automate and optimize recruitment processes. With over 17,000 employees around the world in more than 50 cities across Greater China, Japan, Korea, the U.K. and the U.S., Alibaba Group will use StepStone e-recruitment to attract
CEO Turnover Low – But Surge in Leadership Changes Expected in 2010
Turnover among the nation’s chief executive officers fell to the lowest level in five years in 2009, with companies announcing 1,227 CEO departures during the year, according to the latest job-cut report by outplacement consultancy Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc. The 2009 year-end total is 17 percent lower than the record 1,482 CEO departures in
AESC Elects European Council for 2010
The Association of Executive Search Consultants (AESC) has elected its European Council for 2010. The Council consists of 27 executive recruiters including five European officers who also serve as leaders on the AESC’s global board, along with representatives from the Americas and Asia Pacific Councils. The 2010 AESC European board directors are: chairman, Serge Lamielle
Where Executive Recruiters Might Look in 2010
Most turnaround professionals predict continued tough sledding in 2010 as businesses weighed down by debt hit rough patches and credit markets shun them. Nearly half (49 percent) the respondents to the Turnaround Management Association's distressed industries forecast think durable economic improvement is unlikely until at least the second half of 2010. About three out of
All Regions, Except the West, Show Modest Job Growth
The CareerCast.com/JobSerf Employment Index, which measures managerial recruitment activity online, tracked slightly higher for the second month in a row. Nationally, the Index is 73.9, up slightly (0.2) from November. However, the Western U.S. continues to struggle (down 1.9 to 67.6). Six metro areas tied for the largest increase of hiring per capita (up four
Odgers Berndtson Expands Toronto Office
U.K.-based executive search firm Odgers Berndtson has added Michael Mundy as a partner and Carrie A. Mandel as a principal in the firm’s Toronto office. Mr. Mundy was previously managing director at Toronto-based TSI Executive Search. He has executive search experience in a wide range of industries throughout both Canada and the U.S. Ms. Mandel
Salary.com Adds Banking Sector Job Models
Salary.com, Inc., a provider of on-demand compensation, payroll and talent management solutions, has added banking and financial services industry job models to its growing job model and competency library of more than 1,200 job models and 1,300 functional competencies, which provide data and structure for typical jobs at all levels of an organization. Banking and
Isaacson, Miller Completes Search for America University
Isaacson, Miller has placed Dr. Peter Starr as dean The College of Arts and Sciences at American University. Dr. Starr was previously a professor of French and comparative literature in the College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences at the University of Southern California (USC), where he also served as the college's interim dean, dean of
Workstream Posts Flat Revenues
Workstream Inc., a provider of on-demand compensation, performance and talent management software, has posted revenues of $5 million for the second quarter fiscal 2010, compared to $5.1 million during the same period last year. Net loss was $341,000, or one cent per share, compared to $1.3 million, or two cents per share, a year ago.
Amrop Strategies to Lead CEO Search for HSE
Executive search firm Amrop Strategis has been retained by the Health Service Executive to lead in its search for a new chief executive. The HSE is Ireland's government organization responsible for the provision of healthcare and providing health and personal social services. Founded in 1983, Amrop Strategis is focused on the recruitment of directors and
Monster, CareerBuilder Still Tops When Posting Jobs Online
eQuest announced the findings of its statistical reporting on job advertisements on the internet for 2009. The majority of eQuest's U.S. customers still prefer Monster.com and CareerBuilder as their preferred destinations when posting online job advertisements. During June 1, 2009 and December 31, 2009, both Monster and CareerBuilder garnered staggering traffic numbers, totaling almost 200
