DAILY NEWSWIRE - TOP STORIES
Daily Newswire
Accelerate Growth in Private Equity with Smarter Talent Strategies
The private equity (PE) landscape has significantly transformed, marked by longer hold periods and more roll-up deals due to rising borrowing costs and fewer mid-sized companies available for acquisition. The traditional approach of quick three to five year exits through financial engineering and C-suite changes is no longer viable. Through this transformation, leadership and talent
Unemployment Rate Falls Slightly to 4.1 Percent
Employment rose by 147,000 in June as the U.S. unemployment dropped to 4.1 percent, according to the most recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report. Job gains occurred in state government and healthcare. Federal government continued to lose jobs. The number of unemployed people, at 7.0 million, changed little over the month. Both the unemployment rate, at
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.
Why Succession Planning Is Critical to Reducing Leadership Risk
Most organizations have something they refer to as a succession plan — a spreadsheet, a nine-box grid updated once a year and then put away, or an annual HR review. But very few can answer the question that truly matters: if a critical leader left tomorrow, would the organization be able to keep executing? That’s
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?
Rokos Group Seeking Chief Medical Officer for Center for Elders’ Independence
Newport Beach, CA-based executive search firm Rokos Group has been selected by Center for Elders’ Independence (CEI) to lead in its search for a chief medical officer. Reporting to the president and CEO, the chief medical officer will serve as CEI’s senior physician executive and a full member of the executive leadership team. This is a strategic
ADK Consulting & Executive Search Assists the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority with CEO Search
ADK Consulting & Executive Search recently assisted in the recruitment of Cris Jensen as the new president and CEO of the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority (RTAA). Rod Dinger led the assignment. “It is my honor to announce the board has chosen Cris Jensen to serve as the next president and CEO, and his contract negotiations are currently underway,” said Shaun Carey, chair of
How CEOs Can Overcome Setbacks and Emerge Stronger
Executive search firms are increasingly being called upon to assess more than a candidate’s track record of growth, transformation, and financial performance. As boards search for CEOs capable of leading through persistent uncertainty, resilience has become a critical component of the leadership profile. Search consultants are placing greater emphasis on how executives have responded to
Occam Global Recruits CFO for eGenesis
New York City-based executive search firm Occam Global has placed Glenn Vraniak as CFO of eGenesis, a biotechnology company developing human-compatible engineered organs for transplantation. “eGenesis is entering a pivotal stage in our evolution as we prepare to advance our programs through clinical development and lay the foundation for future commercialization,” said Mike Curtis, CEO of eGenesis.
Maven Partnership Names Partner and Consultants
Global talent advisory firm Maven Partnership has recently promoted Tom Chambers to partner, Seb Coughlin as consultant, and George Roberts to consultant. “We are delighted to announce the well-deserved promotions of several exceptional individuals here at Maven Partnership, Will Hannaford, chief executive officer. “We’re committed to the growth and development of our people, and it’s fantastic to
The Execution Era: How Transformation Is Reshaping Private Equity
Most PE value creation plans don’t fail on strategy. They fail between the plan and the doing. With longer holds and less forgiving exit windows, delivery discipline is carrying more of the return, according to a new report from Wilton & Bain’s Jack Syred and James Royall. The report reflects patterns Wilton & Bain has
JDG Associates Retained by the Institute for Defense Analyses to Lead VP of Corporate Operations Search
Rockville, MD-based executive search firm JDG Associates has been tapped by the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA) to lead its search for their vice president of corporate operations, based in Alexandria, VA. IDA seeks a seasoned operational and business transformation leader to modernize systems, processes, and service delivery across the organization. Serving as a corporate officer and
Modern Executive Solutions adds Partner to Lead Growth of M1 Talent Community
Atlanta-based talent consultancy Modern Executive Solutions has appointed Bria Bass as as partner, where she will lead the continued growth and expansion of the M1 Talent Community across North America and Europe. “Bria brings a rare combination of executive advisory, deep community-building experience, and an exceptional ability to connect leaders in meaningful ways,” said Mark Oppenheimer, CEO
AI Is Rewriting the Executive Hiring Playbook
Insight Partners’ latest research suggests the AI era is creating a new executive hiring playbook. Based on more than 400 executive searches and interviews with over 1,400 leadership candidates, the firm’s talent team argues that many of the characteristics defining today’s strongest product and engineering leaders would have been viewed as weaknesses only a few years
FMG Leading Acquires Market Intelligence And Strategic Advisory Firm BroadBranch Advisors
Human capital advisory firm FMG Leading has acquired market intelligence and strategic advisory firm BroadBranch Advisors. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. “In today’s high-pressure landscape, translating forward-looking intelligence into action faster and more effectively is critical for our clients, especially in the investor-backed healthcare space,” said Matt Brubaker, chairman and CEO of FMG Leading. “By
PARC Street Group Places Chief Operating Officer for Mission Valley Bank
PARC Street Group has assisted in the recruitment Amanda Connell as chief operating officer at Mission Valley Bank. This search was completed by PARC Street Group senior executive search consultant Michelle Davis, executive recruiter Tabassum Nagpurwala, and executive search associate Priscilla Chacon. Ms. Connell brings more than 15 years of progressive leadership experience across community
Hunt Scanlon and HSiQ Build a New Performance Model for Executive Recruiters
As the executive search industry faces growing pressure to deliver stronger and more consistent results, firms are reassessing how recruiters are trained, developed, and prepared to meet changing client demands. A few months ago, Hunt Scanlon and its HSiQ Talent Intelligence advisory unit introduced the Recruiter Performance Training Program, a practical, execution-focused system designed to
U.S. Payrolls Fall by 23,000 in July as Unemployment Rate Dips to 4.1 Percent
Employment fell by 23,000 in July as the U.S. unemployment rate stood at 4.1 percent, according to the most recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report. The number of unemployed people, at 6.9 million, changed little in July. Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rates for teenagers (12.1 percent) and people who are Hispanic (4.6 percent) declined
Parker Remick Expands with New Partner
Seattle, WA-based Parker Remick has appointed Adam Szepkouski as partner of consulting excellence. The firm explained that this hire reflects a broader push to refine execution and scale delivery as demand for senior technology leaders accelerates. The appointment comes at a time of structural change in technology leadership. AI is reshaping how technology organizations are built and
The Data Migration Paralysis Problem: Why Firms Stay on Old Platforms Too Long
Technology has become a defining competitive advantage for executive search firms, yet many organizations continue to rely on aging platforms that no longer innovate. While artificial intelligence, automation, and data-driven workflows are reshaping the industry, the hesitation to replace legacy systems often leaves firms struggling with inefficiencies that quietly accumulate over time. The greatest obstacle
Recruiterflow Offers Four-Step Playbook for Building an AI-Native Search Firm
Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how executive search firms identify talent, manage information, engage candidates, and serve clients. But adopting an AI-powered platform alone does not make a recruiting organization AI-native. The larger challenge is integrating technology across the search lifecycle in ways that improve decision-making, strengthen execution, and allow consultants to devote more attention
Kirk Palmer Associates Recruits Chief Merchandising Officer for Belk
Retail-focused executive search firm Kirk Palmer Associates has helped to recruit Molly Taylor as chief merchandising officer at retailer Belk, where she will lead merchandising strategy and vision across all product categories. Melissa Sussberg and Alexa Liebman led the assignment. Ms. Taylor is a merchandising executive with over 30 years of experience connecting topline vision to bottom-line performance
The Forces Reshaping Executive Search
As organizations face accelerating business transformation, leadership succession, and rapid advances in artificial intelligence, the demands placed on executive search firms continue to evolve. Clients are looking for more than candidate identification—they increasingly expect strategic guidance, deeper market intelligence, and advisors capable of helping them navigate an increasingly complex leadership landscape. Those themes emerged consistently
Bryant Group Fills Senior Position for the University of Washington
Dallas-based executive search and talent development firm Bryant Group has assisted in the recruitment of Justin Michalka as vice president for university development at the University of Washington (UW). The search was led by firm president Chris Bingley. “I’m delighted to welcome Justin to the University of Washington,” said Mary Gresch, senior vice president for university advancement. “He is a
SPMB Expands Financial Officer and Private Equity Practices
SPMB Executive Search has appointed Christy Mihos as a partner in the firm’s financial officer and private equity practices. “Christy is one of the most accomplished CFO search practitioners in the market, and we are thrilled to welcome him to SPMB,” said Dave Mullarkey, managing partner at SPMB. “His track record of advising PE firms and technology companies on
Executive Talent Market Faces New Pressures as AI and Private Equity Reshape Leadership Demand
The executive talent market continues to tighten as private investment accelerates, experienced leaders retire, and organizations compete for executives capable of driving growth and transformation. At the same time, artificial intelligence is changing the capabilities companies expect from senior leaders, while consulting and private equity firms rethink how they build leadership teams and evaluate potential.
Carpenter Legal Search Recruits General Counsel for Park Corporation
Legal recruiting remains an active area for executive search firms as corporations, law firms, government agencies, and other organizations compete for experienced legal talent. Employment of lawyers is projected to grow four percent from 2024 to 2034, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, with approximately 31,500 openings expected each year as employers add
Signium Opens New Office in Hamburg, Germany
Executive search consortium Signium has opened a new office in Hamburg, Germany. The new office is led by Moritz Drerup, managing partner, who joined Signium with more than a decade of executive search experience and a highly focused practice in technology and AI leadership. The Hamburg office represents a natural evolution for Mr. Drerup’s established executive search practice, combining his specialist expertise with the reach,
Executive Search Strategies for Leadership Success
As organizations navigate rapid change, leadership decisions have become increasingly consequential, placing greater pressure on executive search firms to identify candidates who can deliver both immediate impact and long-term value. Success at the highest levels depends on far more than filling a vacancy—it requires a disciplined search strategy that combines market intelligence, rigorous assessment, and
Leverage AI in Your Job Search: When to Use It and When Not To
Artificial intelligence has been changing the way people search for jobs. From optimizing resumes to preparing for interviews, AI has become a valuable resource for candidates looking to streamline the process. The key is knowing how to use it effectively, according to a recent report from New York City headquartered executive search firm Solomon Page. “AI
Leveraging Portfolio Talent At L Catterton
In the ever-evolving landscape of private equity, the strategic deployment of talent stands out as a pivotal factor in achieving sustained growth and optimizing returns. As a middle market PE firm with $34 billion in assets under management, L Catterton is a distinguished player in the PE sector. They’ve positioned talent at the core of their investment philosophy,
DHR Adds EVP to NY Office
Executive search firm DHR International has appointed Joseph C. Huddle as an executive vice president in its New York office. Prior to joining DHR, Mr. Huddle served as managing director at Conley & Company where he focused on diversified industrial manufacturing and consumer products companies. His clients include public and private, multinationals, and private equity-backed
Odgers Berndtson to Lead CEO Search for UK Financial Investments Limited
U.K.-based executive search firm Odgers Berndtson has been retained by UK Financial Investments Limited to lead its search for a new chief executive officer. Current CEO John Kingman said he would step down once a successor is found. UK Financial Investments Ltd (UKFI) was created in November 2008 to manage the U.K. Government’s shareholding in
SuccessFactors Adds Sales Exec in EMEA
SuccessFactors, Inc., a global provider of on-demand performance and talent management solutions, has appointed Peter Prestele as vice president of Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) enterprise sales. Mr. Prestele will lead EMEA operations for SuccessFactors and help accelerate sales in the market while leading the company to new levels of growth. He comes
Interview: Kenzer Posts Positive Revenues in Tough Economy
Kenzer Corp. serves clients in the retail, wholesale, and manufacturing industries. Founded by Robert D. Kenzer in 1973, Kenzer grew to become one of the largest executive search firms in the retail industry. This led to Kenzer expanding its areas of specialization to financial services, food, hospitality/entertainment and manufacturing including the packaged goods, durables and
Cook Associates Opens Life Sciences Practice; Names Managing Director
Cook Associates Executive Search has launched a new life sciences practice and appointed Elizabeth McCabe to serve as its managing director. Ms. McCabe joins the firm’s NYC office. She has 14 years of senior-level executive search experience with 10 years focused specifically in the life sciences industry, conducting C-level, general management searches, as well as
Boyden Adds to Chicago Office
Boyden has added William Ward as a managing director in the firm's global industrial and consumer practices. Mr. Ward will be based in Chicago and will work closely with Trina Gordon, chairman of Boyden World Corporation and managing director, Boyden Chicago. Mr. Ward's clients have included Advance Auto Parts, CH Robinson Worldwide, Cooper Tire and
Online Job Demand Holds Steady in July
Online advertised vacancies inched up by 700 to 3,295,500 in July, according to The Conference Board Help-Wanted Online Data Series (HWOL). Nationally, online job demand has been relatively flat over the last several months after sharp declines in December 2008 and January 2009. Nationally, there were over four unemployed looking for work for every online
PeopleClick and Burning Glass Form Alliance
Peopleclick, Inc., a global provider of talent acquisition and workforce compliance and diversity solutions, has formed a partnership with Burning Glass, a provider of resume processing, screening and searching technology. The partnership is highlighted in the release of the Peopleclick Recruitment Management System (RMS) 4.9 and will further advance Peopleclick's resume parsing capabilities. With data
RSR Partners Appoints Managing Director
RSR Partners, a corporate governance and executive search firm, has added Ann Fastiggi as managing director and head of the firm's hospitality and leisure practice. With more than 20 years of executive search experience, Ms. Fastiggi will focus on highly-visible CEO, president, and C-suite searches within the hotel, restaurant, gaming, and travel industries. She was
Caldwell Partners Acquires Cromwell Partners
Executive search firm The Caldwell Partners International Inc. has acquired Cromwell Partners, Inc., a New York City-based executive search firm specializing in financial services. "The addition of Cromwell's very experienced and accomplished partners brings our total number of partners in the U.S. to a size that is now approaching that of our Canadian business,” said
24 Seven Appoints Director of International Executive Recruiting
Recruiting firm 24 Seven has named Beverley Radford, a career fashion executive recruiter, as director of international executive recruiting. Ms. Radford will be based in London and will spearhead the launch of the company's new business division that will service the U.S., Europe, the Middle East and London. The new division will focus on executive
Buffkin Group Completes Search for HMS
Executive search firm The Buffkin Group has placed Daniel Hart as director of value added services at Healthcare Management Systems, Inc. Mr. Hart comes to HMS from Dell, where he held several managerial-level positions. The search was lead by managing partner, Craig Buffkin. Based in Nashville, HMS is a healthcare company that provides an information
51job, Inc. Records Q2 Revenue Decline
51job, Inc./(NASDAQ:JOBS), a provider of integrated human resource services in China, has posted second quarter revenues of RMB193.3 million (U.S. $28.3 million), a decrease of 11.6 percent from revenues of RMB218.7 million for the same quarter in 2008. Online recruitment services revenues for the quarter were RMB77.4 million (U.S. $11.3 million), representing a 7.1 percent
RSR Partners Appoints Managing Director
RSR Partners, a corporate governance and executive search firm based in Greenwich, Conn., has named Louis C. Burnett as a managing director. Mr. Burnett will help lead the firm's financial services recruiting practice. "Over the years, certain professionals have emerged as leaders in our business. Lou is certainly in that category and we are delighted
Korn Ferry Expands Private Equity Practice
Korn/Ferry International has added Joseph Healey, Dr. Stephen Bochner and Jonathan Goldstein to its private equity practice. All will be based in the firm's New York office. Mr. Healey joins Korn/Ferry from Sextant Search Partners, a boutique executive search firm focused on the alternative asset management space. Formerly Sextant's private equity practice leader, Mr. Healey
Major, Lindsey & Africa Adds to Houston Office
Legal search firm Major, Lindsey & Africa has named Peter Boerner as a managing director in its Houston office. Mr. Boerner will focus on recruiting general counsel and corporate counsel for companies in Texas and the southwest. Prior to joining MLA, he spent more than 10 years with Spencer Stuart. As a principal, Mr. Boerner
Survey Reveals Effects of Economy on Recruiting
Sendouts, a provider of web-based recruiting software, has released the results of its 2009 Recruiter Economic Survey which demonstrates how the economic downturn is negatively impacting the recruiting and staffing industry. The survey was completed by 172 participants; 59 respondents identified themselves as third-party recruiters and 67 were third-party owners/managers, making up the majority of
Spencer Stuart Places CEO at AIG
Executive search firm Spencer Stuart has recruited Robert Benmosche as chief executive officer of American International Group Inc. Mr. Benmosche previously served as chairman and CEO of MetLife Inc. Prior to joining MetLife in 1995, he was an executive vice president at PaineWebber Inc. AIG is a world leader in insurance and financial services with
Spherion Posts 72 Percent Revenue Decline
Spherion Corporation/(NYSE:SFN) has posted second quarter 2009 revenues of $409 million, a 72 percent decline from revenues of $563 million last year. Gross profit in 2009 was $83.2 million. Gross profit margin decreased to 20.3 percent in the second quarter of 2009 compared with 23.1 percent for the same period in 2008. Earnings from continuing
Monster Employment Index Dips in July
The Monster Employment Index, a monthly analysis of millions of online job opportunities culled from a large, representative selection of corporate career sites and job boards, edged down three points in July, as U.S. online recruitment activity eased slightly and inline with seasonal hiring patterns. Year-over-year, however, the Index fell by the least in four
Interview: ZRG Group Director Well-Positioned for the Upturn
Larry Hartmann is managing director of executive search firm ZRG Partners. He is involved in leading the overall growth of the firm globally as well as servicing his select clients in the commercial finance space. Prior to joining ZRG Partners in 2001, Mr. Hartmann spent 17 years successfully founding, building and selling a commercial finance
Korn Ferry Adds to Financial Services Practice
Korn/Ferry International has added Gerard McNamara as a senior client partner in the firm’s financial services practice and CIO Center of Expertise. He will be based in the firm’s New York office. Mr. McNamara joins Korn/Ferry from an international recruiting firm, where he previously served in roles as an office managing partner and global practice
The Network Forms Alliance with eQuest
The Network, an alliance of 36 leading job boards in 119 countries, has formed a strategic alliance with eQuest, a global provider of job posting and Internet recruitment management services. Also included in the agreement is the elimination of all eQuest delivery fees for customers who post jobs to The Network’s multinational partner sites. “The
Planned Job Cuts Jump 31 Percent in July
After falling to a 15-month low in June, planned job cuts announced by U.S. employers jumped 31 percent in July to 97,373. It was the first increase in monthly job cuts since January, according to global outplacement consultancy Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc. Despite increased job cuts, the July total was six percent lower than
Heidrick & Struggles Retained by Houston Independent School District
Chicago-based Heidrick & Struggles International has been selected by Houston Independent School District to lead in its search for a new superintendent of schools. Current superintendent Dr. Abelardo Saavedra has announced his retirement effective August 31. HISD is the largest public school system in Texas and the seventh-largest in the U.S. Heidrick & Struggles is
Monster Records 37 Percent Revenue Decline
Monster Worldwide, Inc./(NYSE:MWW) has posted revenues of $223 million for the second quarter ended June 30, 2009, compared with $354 million in the comparable quarter of 2008, a 37 percent decline. The company generated 42 percent of its revenue outside the U.S. and total revenue was negatively impacted by $16 million from unfavorable foreign exchange
DHR Completes Senior Management Search for Nature Energies
Executive search firm DHR International has placed Christopher F. Moore as chief operating officer at Nature Energies, Inc. Lars Noble and John Tarbell, executive vice presidents and managing directors of DHR’s New York City office, led the search. Most recently, Mr. Moore served as director, project development for GreenHunter Energy, Inc., in Minneapolis. Nature Energies
75 Percent of Employed Executives Open to New Career Opportunities
According to the 2009 BlueSteps Executive Mobility Survey, despite the recession, 75 percent of currently employed executives are likely or very likely to consider a new job opportunity. The most important factor in an executive’s decision to leave their current employer is poor company values, with 74 percent of respondents rating this as extremely important,
Taleo Posts 30 Percent Revenues Gain
Taleo/(NASDAQ:TLEO), a provider of on demand talent management solutions, has posted second quarter 2009 revenues of $49.2 million, a 30 percent increase from $37.9 million during the same period a year ago. The company recorded GAAP net income of $234,000, or $0.01 per fully diluted share, compared to a net loss of $45,000 a year
Career Sites Among Most Trafficked on the Web
According to a study released by comScore, Inc., more than 65 million Americans visited career sites in June, representing a 10 percent increase versus year ago and ranking it as one of the top growing site categories. Seven of the top 10 sites in the category achieved double-digit gains during that period. CareerBuilder led the
StepStone Posts Revenues Decline
StepStone, a London-based provider of human capital management solutions, has recorded revenues of €24.7m for the second quarter of 2009, compared to revenues of €30.9m during the same quarter a year ago. The company delivered Q2 2009 adjusted EBITDA of €2.9m and generated cash from operations of €2.5m. Demand for online recruitment products, which advertise







