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Daily Newswire
Effective Strategies for Scaling Middle Management in PE-Backed Companies
When private equity firms invest in a company, their first order of business is often to secure the right CEO—and sometimes a CFO—to drive the value creation plan. But what comes next is equally critical and far too often overlooked: scaling middle management, according to a recent report from Denver, CO-based TriSearch. “Without the right VPs,
The Christopher Group Recruits CHRO for Belt Power
The Christopher Group (TCG), a boutique HR executive search and business solutions recruiting firm, has assisted in the recruitment of Jessica Johnston as the new chief human resources officer of Belt Power in Marietta, GA. Pam Noble led the assignment along with Morgan Booker. “Jessica is a powerhouse HR leader who brings the strategic mindset and operational discipline needed
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
Reasons for Cautious Optimism in 2024
The labor market didn’t follow the script many people wrote for it last year. Despite many projections for a recession, a historically fast tightening of monetary policy by the Federal Reserve, a banking crisis, and geopolitical crises and uncertainty, the labor market stands strong. Getting to this spot required a few unexpected things to happen,
eQuest and LinkedIn Form Partnership
eQuest, a provider of job posting distribution and job posting management, and LinkedIn have announced a partnership that will allow joint eQuest and LinkedIn corporate customers to deliver their job postings to LinkedIn with no additional distribution fees. The companies will work together to provide customers easy job posting access through eQuest's job posting interface.
Greater Demands Being Made on Future CEOs
On average current CEOs are 52 years old upon appointment, have university degrees in economics, engineering or natural sciences, supplemented by an additional qualification in strategic business management and job experience abroad, according to a survey released by U.K.-based executive search firm Odgers Berndtson. The survey, conducted among the CEOs and supervisory boards of the
InterSearch Worldwide Adds Office in Switzerland
InterSearch Worldwide, a global network of executive search firms, has added The Zuger Management Group as a new partner office in Switzerland. Dominique A. Seiler, co-founder and partner of Zuger Management Group, has 12 years of experience in executive search and long-standing international management and consulting experience. “The choice of our new Swiss partner enhances
Recruiting.com Releases New Software
Seattle-headquartered Recruiting.com has introduced new software designed to serve as a complete solution for recruiters to find candidates for hiring companies. Prospect Relationship Management (PRM) is the core of Recruiting.com's system. The technology combines a search engine to find prospects from internal and external sources with tools to organize and bank prospects. “The recruiting industry
Heidrick & Struggles Names Board Practice Head
Executive search firm Heidrick & Struggles International has tapped partner Bonnie W. Gwin to lead its North American board practice. During her more than 11 years with Heidrick & Struggles, Ms. Gwin has held a number of leadership positions including serving as president of the Americas division. In addition, she has served as global managing
EnticeLabs Closes $2 Million in Funding
After inking deals with Google, Dell and IBM, online recruitment advertising company EnticeLabs has closed $2 million in a strategic round of investment led by First Advantage in participation with all initial founders and investors, including the founders of Omniture. Neal Bruce, senior vice president of product management for First Advantage's Employer Services segment will
ChampionScott Completes Search for NetJets
Executive search firm ChampionScott Partners has placed Genevieve Tap as senior director global customer services at NetJets Inc. Ms. Tap was previously senior director global customer services at eBay in Salt Lake City and earlier held the same position for eBay North America. As a wholly owned subsidiary of Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc., NetJets
Taylor Winfield Recruits Sales Exec at BroadView Networks
Executive search firm Taylor Winfield has placed Christopher Eldredge as executive vice president of alternate channels and carrier sales at Broadview Networks. Mr. Eldredge previously served as vice president carrier sales & service for Frontier Communications, a leading rural local exchange telephone company. Broadview Networks is a network-based business communications provider serving customers throughout the
Adecco Group U.K. Partners with ParalympicsGB
Adecco Group U.K. & Ireland, a division of human resource solutions company Adecco, has signed a charity partnership with ParalympicsGB, the registered charity responsible for Britain's teams at the Paralympic Summer and Winter Games. The partnership will see ParalympicsGB become Adecco’s “official charity” and complements the firm’s role as the official recruitment services provider for
Hiring Tops Post Recession Priorities for Execs
A recent survey suggests hiring new workers will be the top priority for many employers as the economy improves. When asked where they most likely will boost spending when the recovery occurs, nearly one in three senior executives (31 percent) said he or she plans to hire additional staff. Twenty-one percent of respondents plan to
Felix Global Expands into the U.S.
Human capital management solutions firm Felix Global Corp. continues to build in North America by adding four executives to its team. Arlene Rado, a former senior associate with Korn/Ferry International, will head the firm’s new Chicago office; Ms. Rado brings executive search and consulting expertise, having spent over 20 years in the business. Terry Szwec,
Morgan Samuels Places Exec at Toronto Dominion Bank
Morgan Samuels Company, a Los Angeles-based executive recruiter, has placed Bryan Berthold as vice president of corporate real estate at Toronto Dominion Bank. Mr. Berthold had most recently been first vice president, corporate property services, real estate strategy and relationship management at Washington Mutual Corporation. Previously he was vice president of corporate real estate strategy,
Manpower Launches Manpower Public Sector Inc.
Manpower Inc. has launched Manpower Public Sector Inc., a new subsidiary under the Manpower brand designed to provide both consulting and staffing services solutions to the U.S. Federal Government. The newly created entity will use the workforce management expertise, reputation and consulting skill sets that already exist within the Manpower group of companies. Andrew Jones,
Online Job Demand Down in September
Online advertised vacancies declined by 101,800 to 3,363,000 in September, according to The Conference Board Help-Wanted OnLine Data Series (HWOL). September losses partially offset the larger August gains (+169,000), leaving labor demand up by 67,000 over the past two months. Since the low point in April 2009, labor demand is up by 201,000, showing a
DHR to Lead CFO Search for Illumina
Chicago-headquartered executive search firm DHR International has been selected by Illumina to lead in its search for a new chief financial officer. Former CFO Christian Henry was recently promoted to senior vice president of corporate development. Colleen Hulce, executive vice president and managing director of DHR in Los Angeles, and John Baker, executive vice president
Boston Search Group and IdealWave Merge to Create BSG Team Ventures
BSG Team Ventures (formerly Boston Search Group), an international executive search firm serving emerging and high-growth companies, has merged with IdealWave Solutions, an executive recruitment leader in the mobility and convergence sector. The combined company, BSG Team Ventures , will be headquartered in Boston, with offices in Silicon Valley, New York and London. The merged
Russell Reynolds Associates Announces Promotions
Global executive search and assessment firm Russell Reynolds Associates has announced the promotions of David Finke to managing director and Constantine Alexandrakis and Lyndon Taylor to managing directors in its Chicago office. A member of the firm's technology sector, Mr. Finke conducts search assignments for board director, CEO and senior executive level positions for public
Cook Associates Adds to M&A Advisory Services Division
The M&A advisory services division at Chicago-based Cook Associates has added Neil Midler as managing director. Over the past seven years, Mr. Midler has worked with many of the nation's leading private equity firms sourcing proprietary investment opportunities, developing acquisition search strategies, and successfully managing targeted search programs. He has led search efforts for both
INTERVIEW: i4cp Analyst Discusses Creating Competitive Advantage Through a Leveraged Workforce (Part 1)
The Institute for Corporate Productivity (i4cp) is the world's largest vendor-free network of corporations focused on building and sustaining a highly productive, high-performance organization. With a combination of peer networking, research, tools and technology, i4cp is designed to lead organizations through an economic climate where improving productivity and performance is mandatory. Carol Morrison is a
TRANSEARCH Expands in Middle East
TRANSEARCH International has added Souvik Chakraborty and Gaurav Seth to its Mumbai and New Delhi offices. Mr. Chakraborty will lead the India technology practice while Mr. Seth will head the retail and financial services practices as well as the business process outsourcing practice. Prior to joining Transearch, Mr. Chakraborty was the founder of CAPntel Executive
Spencer Stuart to Lead CEO Search for Hill-Rom Holdings
Executive search firm Spencer Stuart has been retained by Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. to lead in its search for a new chief executive officer. Current president and CEO, Peter H. Soderberg, has announced his retirement. The search process, which is already underway, will include a full review of both internal and external candidates. Hill-Rom is a
Boyd & Moore Executive Search Breaks into U.S. Market
Boyd & Moore Executive Search (BMES) has opened a new office in Silicon Valley, marking its first office in North America. The new office is part of the firm's strategy to expand its presence in the global recruitment solutions industry by broadening and deepening business relationships with clients headquartered throughout the U.S. Boyd & Moore
Heidrick & Struggles Downgraded
Shares of executive search firm Heidrick & Struggles International/(NASDAQ:HSII) fell sharply last week as an analyst downgraded its shares, saying they're overvalued. Analyst Ty Govatos of C.L. King and Associates downgraded the Chicago-based company to "neutral" from "buy." He said in a note to clients that he initially rated the shares a "buy" after Heidrick
Kaye/Bassman Adds Partner to Lead Legal Practice
Executive search firm Kaye/Bassman International Corp. has expanded its academic physician practice to include obstetrics and gynecology. Cindy Ornish will be the partner in charge of the new practice. “With the advances in all modalities of women's imaging, cancer research, reproductive advancements, and wellness, to name a few, the demand for these specialty physicians will
Witt/Kieffer to Lead Search for Purdue University
Executive search firm Witt/Kieffer has been selected by Purdue University to lead in its search for a senior vice president for external relations. The position is within the development/foundation/fundraising division at the West Lafayette, IN-based university. Witt/Kieffer assist colleges, universities, national educational associations, foundations, cultural organizations, human service and advocacy organizations, private secondary schools and
Alexander Mann Solutions Elects New Chairman
Alexander Mann Solutions, a London-based global recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) firm, has appointed Michael O’Higgins to the position of chairman. Mr. O’Higgins is a former managing partner of PA Consulting and was previously a partner of Price Waterhouse Consulting. He has been chairman of the audit committee since October 2006 and is a non-executive director
Diversified Search Fills Top Post at Delaware River Waterfront Corporation
Diversified Search Odgers Berndtson has placed Thomas P. Corcoran executive director of the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation (DRWC). Mr. Corcoran joins the DRWC from the Cooper’s Ferry Development Association, Inc (CFDA), where he has served as founding president and CEO for 25 years. DRWC is a nonprofit corporation organized exclusively for the benefit of the
CEO Departures Fall 20 Percent
It has been a volatile year for CEO turnover and the most recent month has seen 101 CEO changes, marking a 20 percent decline from a nine-month high of 126 in July. The August total is the second lowest of the year, according to the latest report on CEO turnover released by global outplacement firm
Korn Ferry Sued for Gay-Bias
According to a story reported by the Wall Street Journal, former senior client partner Marti Smye has sued Korn/Ferry International for allegedly firing her because she is gay. The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, claims that Korn/Ferry breached her employment contract by dismissing her last year and not paying her nearly $4
Korn Ferry Adds New Board Members
Korn/Ferry International has added Baroness Denise Kingsmill and George T. Shaheen to its board as directors. A former partner at a London law firm, Ms. Kingsmill has held a series of high-profile non executive director and advisory roles in the private sector, including at British Airways, Laing O’Rourke, Royal Bank of Scotland and Telewest Communications.
Scottish-Based Eden Scott Expands Board
Eden Scott, a Scottish-based recruitment firm, has elected Mark Durham and James Milne to its board of directors, bringing the total number of directors to six. Based in the firm's Glasgow office, Mr. Durham has been a divisional manager with Eden Scott since joining the firm in 2006. Overseeing the public sector and IT divisions,







