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Why PE-Backed Companies Need a Talent Operating System
PE-backed companies rarely underperform because they lack urgency. They underperform because they fail to translate strategy into talent with enough precision, according to a recent report from Keith Johnstone, vice president of marketing at Talentfoot Executive Search. “In our experience leading executive searches for PE-backed businesses, the real breakdown usually happens before a search begins,
Acertitude Recruits Head of Cybersecurity/CISO for Adevinta Spain
Acertitude has assisted in the recruitment of Xavi Bertomeu as head of cybersecurity and chief information security officer for Adevinta Spain, an EQT portfolio company. The search was led by partners, Eliza Baker and Tim Cook with support from Finty Hunter and Hannah Elwiss. Mr. Bertomeu brings more than a decade of experience in cybersecurity,
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.
SearchWide Global Recruits President and CEO for Visit California
SearchWide Global has helped to recruit Julie Coker as the new president and CEO of Visit California. She succeeds longtime leader Caroline Beteta, who announced her retirement earlier this year. The assignment was led by Mike Gamble, chairman, CEO, and co-founder of SearchWide. The appointment is the culmination of a comprehensive global search conducted in partnership
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?
JM Search Expands Search Team
JM Search, a senior-level talent provider serving private equity investors, portfolio companies, and Fortune 1000s, has expanded with the additions of Amber Shockey as partner within its legal practice and Curtis Walker as principal within its media & telecommunications team. “Continued private equity investment across legal services, legal-adjacent businesses, and professional sports is elevating the importance of
Interim or Executive Search? Choosing the Right Leadership Solution
Interim leadership has moved well beyond being a stopgap solution for unexpected vacancies. As organizations face greater complexity, faster strategic shifts, and mounting pressure to deliver results, boards and CEOs are increasingly turning to experienced interim leaders as a flexible way to maintain momentum and address critical business needs. For executive search firms, that shift
Funk Associates Assists the University of North Florida with the Recruitment of Eighth President
Funk Associates has assisted in the recruitment of Michael P. Shannon as the eighth president of the University of North Florida (UNF). Past president Moez Limayem stepped down from his position in early 2026. “Mike Shannon is the leader who can build on UNF’s strong momentum and continue to elevate the University’s incredible impact across our
DHR Global Recruits President of Business Operations for the Pittsburgh Penguins
Talent advisory firm DHR Global has placed Marcel Braithwaite as president of business operations for the Pittsburgh Penguins. This search was led by Mike Gagliardi and Glenn Sugiyama of DHR’s sports practice. “Marcel is going to be a transformational hire for one of the NHL’s premier teams,” said Mr. Sugiyama, managing partner of DHR’s sports practice. “I had the
Mercuri Urval Expands International Public and ESG Expert Practice
Stockholm, Sweden-based executive search firm Mercuri Urval (MU) has expanded with the addition of former Danish government minister Astrid Krag to its international public and ESG expert practice. “With Astrid’s extensive experience in international public affairs, strong commitment to ESG and sustainability, and deep understanding of life sciences, she brings a valuable combination of expertise and
ZRG Partners Acquires N2Growth’s Spain Business
ZRG Partners has entered the Spanish market through the acquisition of the business formerly known as Blacksmith that had been doing business since 2023 under the umbrella of N2Growth. Through this integration, ZRG enters the Spanish market with an established local team and the goal of offering Spanish and international clients agile, high-touch advisory backed by
Family Offices Move Into Human Capital M&A
Altss’ latest ranking, The 50 Largest Family Offices in the World (2026), illustrates the scale family capital has reached. The 50 largest offices collectively manage an estimated $2.4 trillion, with the top 10 controlling more than $1.5 trillion. Twenty-eight of the top 50 are headquartered in North America, while private equity represents their largest average portfolio allocation
The Leadership Pipeline Crisis: AI’s Hidden Cost
Companies everywhere are celebrating leaner teams, faster execution, and higher productivity thanks to AI, according to HIRECLOUT. From a business perspective, the logic is easy to understand, according to Avetis Antaplyan, founder and CEO of HIRECLOUT. “Investors reward efficiency,” Mr. Antaplyan said. “Leaders are under pressure to do more with less. Automation is eliminating repetitive
Klein Hersh Recruits CFO for Sparrow Pharmaceuticals
Klein Hersh, a search firm focused on the life sciences and healthcare industries, has recruited George Eldridge as the new CFO of Sparrow Pharmaceuticals, a targeted cardiometabolic therapeutics company. “We are thrilled to welcome George to Sparrow at such an important time for our company,” said Robert Jacks, president and CEO of Sparrow Pharmaceuticals. “George
McCormack + Kristel Seeking Executive Director for NEXT Harm Reduction
McCormack + Kristel has been retained by NEXT Harm Reduction (NEXT Distro) to lead in its search for an executive director. This is a rare opportunity for a visionary leader and skilled fundraiser to take a nationally recognized organization with an urgent mandate and grow it to the scale the moment demands. Reporting to the board
Riviera Partners Expands Public Practice
San Francisco-based Riviera Partners, a recruitment provider specializing in C-level engineering, product, and design leader placements, has expanded with the addition of Archer McFall as a partner within its public practice serving large, publicly-traded companies and late-stage, pre-IPO companies. “Getting the right CTO, CIO, or chief AI officer in place, building the team structure around AI, making sure the
HelloSky Brings Its Graph of People, Investors, and Companies Into Claude and ChatGPT
Executive search firms are increasingly looking for ways to move beyond traditional databases and static candidate profiles as clients demand deeper market intelligence and faster, more precise insight into leadership talent. Advances in artificial intelligence are giving recruiters new tools to connect people, companies, investors, relationships, and career outcomes in ways that can strengthen candidate
Harris Search Associates Leading Senior Assignment for Carnegie Mellon University
Harris Search Associates has been retained by Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) to lead in its search for newly created role of associate vice president for research computing and data (AVP RCD). Jeffrey Harris and Ed Christ are leading the assignment. This role offers a unique opportunity to elevate and transform CMU’s research computing ecosystem positioning it to better support
Preng & Associates Assists SOGC, LLC with President Search
Following a comprehensive executive search, Houston-based Preng & Associates assisted in the recruitment of David French as the new president of SOGC, LLC. “Preng & Associates is proud to have supported this important leadership appointment and continues to partner with energy companies worldwide in identifying and securing transformative executive talent,” the firm said. Mr. French brings
NPAG Appoints Senior Advisor
Executive search firm NPAG has appointed André Blackman as senior advisor. In this new role, he will build and lead a practice focused on mission-driven innovation — connecting dynamic leadership talent and the development resources to keep that talent in seat, to founders and organizations solving problems that matter. “André brings a rare combination of strategic insight, storytelling
Sheffield Haworth Adds Private Equity & Growth Venture Portfolio Assets Veteran
Global leadership advisory and executive search firm Sheffield Haworth has expanded with the addition of Michael McDonnell as managing director, private equity and growth venture portfolio assets. He is based in the New York office and works within the technology sector practice. “We are thrilled to welcome Michael to the team,” said Paul Gillespie, managing director of the
Leadership Needs Shift in a Changing Federal Market
Executive search across the federal contracting, government services, defense, and technology sectors is entering a new phase as companies look for more sophisticated ways to evaluate leadership beyond résumés, references, and past performance. In markets where specialized experience, relationships, and an understanding of complex government customers can be critical, the challenge is not simply identifying
Private Equity Rollup Wave Reshapes Executive Search
What may once have looked like a series of isolated transactions is increasingly taking on the shape of a broader industry shift. As capital moves into the sector and firms rethink where they have true competitive strength, the pattern is becoming harder to ignore. “A year ago, I would have called this a prediction, today,
HARTZ Search Seeking Chief Revenue Officer for Geisinger
Charlotte, NC-based HARTZ Search was recently retained by Geisinger to lead in its search for a chief revenue officer. This executive will direct, manage, and implement programs to ensure efficient revenue management operations and sufficient cash flow to support Geisinger operations and strategic initiatives. The role is responsible for identifying, analyzing, reducing, and resolving revenue management issues
Kincannon & Reed Places Executive Director for the Pennsylvania Dairymen’s Association
Kincannon & Reed (K&R), which exclusively focuses on food, agribusiness, and the related life sciences, has assisted in the recruitment of Patrick Carney as the new executive director of the Pennsylvania Dairymen’s Association. Dave Smith stepped down from his executive role after leading the association for more than 30 years. “Patrick pairs dairy industry knowledge with
Noto Group Expands Global Consumer Practice
Portland, OR-headquartered executive search firm Noto Group has expanded with the additions of Kirsty Schofield and Cody Johns as senior partners in its global consumer practice. “Cody and Kirsty bring highly complementary experience, deep consumer sector expertise, and a genuine connection to how we work,” said Sara Spirko, managing partner of Noto Group. “Both understand that finding
millionways Brings a New Behavioral Intelligence Lever to Executive Recruiters
Hunt Scanlon Ventures this week completed its investment in millionways, a New York-headquartered company that builds a behavioral intelligence layer of AI for human agent workforces, utilizing a proprietary Large Psychology Model called Thorsten-4. The platform focuses on understanding human signals, motives, and behavior patterns, with applications used across AI governance, executive hiring, talent management,
AI Governance Jobs Platform Builds Early Momentum Through Privacy-First Model
AI-Governance-Jobs.com, operated by GRC Careers LLC and led by founder and CEO F. Jay Hall, has built its model combining specialized career content, organic search visibility, and privacy-focused architecture. The company’s latest executive summary reports 134,499 organic impressions over a recent 28-day period, achieved roughly three months after launch — without advertising. As demand grows
Blue Rock Human Capital Assists Linfield University with the Recruitment of Dean of the School of Business
Blue Rock Human Capital has helped to recruit Isaac Wanasika as the new dean of the School of Business at Linfield University. “Blue Rock Human Capital was pleased to work with Linfield University to identify their new dean of the School of Business,” said Jacquelyn Elliot, president and COO of Blue Rock Human Capital. “Today’s higher
CIO Partners Leading Cybersecurity Search for Flexsteel Industries
CIO Partners was recently retained by Flexsteel Industries in Dubuque, IA, to lead in its search for director of cybersecurity. This role partners closely with IT, executive leadership, legal, compliance, operations, and external security partners to reduce cyber risk, strengthen business resilience, and ensure the organization is prepared to prevent, detect, respond to, and recover
Updating How You Work So AI Can Actually Deliver
AI adoption is no longer a technology challenge, it is an operational one. Companies that generate lasting value from AI will be the ones willing to redesign workflows, redefine leadership responsibilities, and embed AI directly into how work gets done every day. Most companies will not fail at AI because they chose the wrong model,
Lindauer Seeking Chief Development Officer for SeriousFun Children’s Network
Lindauer was recently retained by SeriousFun Children’s Network to lead in its search for a new chief development officer. Vice president Maureen Huminik and consultant Taylor Beard are leading the assignment. Reporting directly to the CEO and working as a key member of the senior leadership team, the chief development officer will be tasked with expanding and
Prestige Scientific Appoints VP of Finance and Operations
Prestige Scientific has named Vanda Hart to vice president of finance and operations. “Vanda’s exceptional leadership, strategic insight, and unwavering commitment to excellence have been instrumental in driving our success,” said Stephen Provost, managing director and co-founder. “We look forward to her continued contributions as we embark on our next chapter of growth.” In her
A Changing Market Has AI and Cybersecurity Recruiters on Alert
The landscape of AI and cybersecurity recruiting is dynamic and constantly evolving. Executive recruiters say that there is a significant demand for skilled professionals in AI, including machine learning engineers, data scientists, and AI researchers. Companies across various industries are actively seeking talent to leverage AI for innovation, efficiency, and competitive advantage. Meanwhile, with the
The Association of Fundraising Professionals Taps DRiWaterstone Human Capital to Find New Leader
Arlington, VA-based DRiWaterstone Human Capital has been retained by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) in Arlington, VA, to lead in its search for a new president and CEO. Reporting directly to the chair of the board, the CEO of AFP is responsible for the overall strategic direction, governance, and leadership of the organization, driving its
TurnkeyZRG Assisting the Los Angeles Sparks with Head Coach Search
TurnkeyZRG has been tapped by the Los Angeles Sparks to spearhead their search for a new head coach. Managing director Billy King, Chad Chatlos, managing director, college & coaching practice, and Katy Young Staudt, vice president, college & coaching practice, are leading the assignment. The three-time WNBA Champions Los Angeles Sparks are seeking a head coach
Slone Partners Launches Fractional Talent Service
Life sciences-focused search firm Slone Partners has launched a new fractional talent service. This new service line is designed to complement the firm’s executive search practice, providing current and new clients access to a network of fractional talent comprised of hundreds of verified seasoned leaders and functional experts. These professionals are available on-demand to fill commercial, clinical development, financial,
Randstad Appoints Chief Operating Officer
Randstad has named Jesus Echevarria, chief client and talent officer, as chief operating officer. He succeeds Chris Heutink starting on January 1. The supervisory board and Mr. Heutink have jointly agreed that he will officially step down from the executive board at the annual general meeting in March 2025 and Mr. Echevarria nomination as an executive
Forging Strategic Alliances: The Collaborative Efforts of PE Firms and Search Firms to Enhance Value
In the rapidly evolving landscape of private equity, the interplay between private equity firms and search firms has transformed dramatically. No longer confined to a simple client-vendor relationship, these interactions have grown into strategic alliances that are essential for success in a highly competitive environment, executive recruiters tell Hunt Scanlon Media. As the demand for
Parker Executive Search Seeking Director of Athletics for Villanova University
Atlanta-based Parker Executive Search was recently selected by Villanova University to lead in its search for a new vice president and director of athletics. The director of athletics is responsible for the leadership, strategic planning, management and administration of the university’s athletic and recreation program, in addition to overseeing budgets, personnel, planning, fundraising, revenue generation, marketing, media
NU Advisory Partners Retained by USA Swimming for CEO Search
The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) continue to collaborate with search firms to identify and recruit new talent for various roles, including coaching C-level roles, administrative roles, and other leadership vacancies. The latest, NU Advisory Partners has been retained by USA Swimming in Colorado Springs, CO, to find its next CEO. “NU Advisory Partners
Spencer Stuart Names Leader of the Global Technology, Media, Telecommunications & IT Services Practice
Spencer Stuart has named Emanuela Aureli as leader the global technology, media, telecommunications & IT services practice. “I’m excited to announce my new role as partner and global practice leader, tech, media, telco & services practice at Spencer Stuart,” Ms. Aureli said in a LinkedIn post. “To my clients, candidates and colleagues: thank you for your trust,
The Critical Role of Executive Leadership in Navigating Change
Executive leadership has long played a critical role in navigating organizational change, but the question remains, how do executives effectively lead people, and an organization, through change? A new report from Paul Frankenberg, founder and managing partner of Focus Search Partners, points to Warren Buffet, co-founder, chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. “He is admired
McCormack+Kristel Seeking Director for Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion for Openhouse
Executive search firm McCormack+Kristel has been retained by Openhouse to lead in its search for a director for justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (DJEDI). Bryan Epps is leading the assignment. Working across departments and with the board’s JEDI committee, the new director will identify real-time opportunities and challenges for Openhouse to deepen its commitment, competency, and JEDI
Cooper Coleman Recruits Chief Development Officer for Rainforest Flow
Virtually every industry needs top-drawer chief development officers. CDOs play a key role in planning, coordinating, and administering capital campaigns, corporate giving, and galvanizing new donors while keeping previous funders content. Implementing funding strategies that “keep the lights on,” according to recruiters specializing in the function, is Job No. 1. Following an extensive national search,
NU Advisory Partners Appoints Partner
Executive search firm NU Advisory Partners has expanded with the addition of Matt Levy as a partner. “Matt’s deep knowledge of talent markets, combined with his curious and analytical approach, aligns perfectly with NU’s commitment to delivering exceptional results for our clients,” said Nada Usina, co-founder and CEO. “We’re excited to see the impact Matt will make as a trusted advisor
The Barton Partnership Forms Alliance with Strategy in Action
The Barton Partnership, a U.K.-based executive search firm, has formed alliance with Strategy in Action, a leader in the field of strategy formulation and execution. “We are delighted to partner with Strategy in Action to offer our clients a comprehensive and innovative approach to strategy,” said Oliver Phoenix, managing director EMEA. “By integrating SiA’s platform
Bridging Leadership Gaps: The Journey from Education to Executive Search
People are often drawn to the executive search industry for a multitude of reasons. It could be due to their interest in talent acquisition and helping organizations find key leadership. For many, the opportunity to engage with diverse industries and build strong professional networks can be appealing. Also enticing is the potential for high earnings
Funk Associates Leading Searches for College of Charleston and University of Houston
Funk Associates has been retained by College of Charleston to lead in its search for a founding dean of the School of Engineering, Computing, and Mathematics. Willie Funk is leading the assignment. Separately, Funk Associates was selected by University of Houston to lead in its search for new dean of its prestigious C. T. Bauer College of
Caldwell Recruits Chief Marketing and Communications Officer for General Catalyst
Carlos Cata and Anna Power of Caldwell have assisted in the recruitment of Arielle Gross Samuel as chief marketing and communications officer of General Catalyst. She succeeds Jennifer Zimmerman, who will remain as a consultant with the company. “Arielle’s rich experience across both technology and finance brings to the forefront the impact these sectors have on
Egon Zehnder Expands in Canada with New Vancouver Office
Leadership advisory firm Egon Zehnder has opened a new office in Vancouver, British Columbia. The expansion comes on the heels of opening a Seattle office last year and reflects the firm’s efforts to serve clients across the Pacific Northwest. “We are thrilled to expand our footprint into Vancouver, a city known for its innovation and unique, vibrant business
Livingston James To Fill Several Senior Roles for the 2026 Commonwealth Games
Livingston James has been tapped to launch searches for the leadership team for the “sustainable” 2026 Commonwealth Games. The firm will spearhead efforts to find a CEO, chief operating officer, chief finance and corporate services officer, chief information officer, chief marketing and communications officer, and several non-executive directors. The selected candidates will be responsible for shaping
Understanding Executive Search Pricing
Executive search pricing can vary widely based on several factors, including the complexity of the search, the level of the position being filled, and the specific services offered by the search firm, recruiters tell Hunt Scanlon Media. Generally, firms charge a retainer fee, which is a percentage of the estimated first-year compensation for the position.
PFM Executive Search Seeking CEO for Bright Health
PFM Executive Search has been retained by Bright Health to lead in its search for a new CEO. Partners Allison Rzen and senior consultant Suchin Pawa are leading the assignment. Reporting directly to the chair of the board, the CEO is responsible for the overall strategic direction of the organization including the development and ongoing refinement of
TritonExec Recruits CHRO for Ness Digital Engineering
London-headquartered executive search firm TritonExec has assisted in the recruitment of Elizabeth Rafferty as the new chief human resources officer of Ness Digital Engineering in New York City. “Congratulations to Elizabeth Rafferty on being appointed as the new CHRO of Ness Digital Engineering,” TritonExec said in a LinkedIn post. “At TritonExec, we’re excited to have supported Ness
Catalyst Advisors Expands Search Staff
Catalyst Advisors, a boutique executive recruitment and assessment firm specializing in the broader life-sciences sector, recently added Jane Vaynerov as a new director working out of its Los Angeles office. “Jane’s unique experiences and the expertise she has built within the life sciences industry will bring immense value to our firm and our clients as we continue to
General Counsel Compensation Jumps 25 Percent Since 2019, Reflecting Rising Demand for Legal Expertise
According to Equilar‘s 2024 General Counsel Pay Trends report, compensation for general counsel has skyrocketed nearly 25 percent since 2019, reaching a median total of $3.3 million in 2023. The report, based on an analysis of the Equilar 500 — the 500 largest U.S. companies by revenue — reveals that the median total compensation for general counsel
Nexus Search Partners Recruits Director of Talent for Charlotte Pipe and Foundry Company
Nexus Search Partners, an executive search and advisory firm in Charlotte, NC, has assisted in the recruitment of Taylor McKenzie as the new director of talent at Charlotte Pipe and Foundry Company. “Charlotte Pipe has a long-standing tradition of prioritizing their workforce and the hiring of this role is further evidence of the company’s commitment to
Vetted Solutions Seeking CEO for CoreNet Global
Washington, D.C.- based Vetted Solutions was recently retained by CoreNet Global to lead in its search for a new CEO. Angela Cain recently stepped down. CoreNet Global’s next visionary, change agent CEO will build and engage the diverse global community of corporate real estate professionals whose perspectives, expertise, and innovation are shaping the ever-evolving nature of work,
BoardWalk Consulting Tapped by the National Endowment for Democracy to Lead Chief People Officer Search
Executive recruitment firm BoardWalk Consulting has been tapped by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) to lead in its search for a chief people officer. Director Michelle Hall and senior research associate Lysondra Somerville are leading the assignment. NED seeks a skilled and visionary chief people officer to join its leadership and drive organizational change to support its urgent mission. As
Korn Ferry Expands Interim Talent Operations into France
Korn Ferry is expanding its interim talent operation into France. As part of this expansion, the firm appointed Laurent David to lead this solution in France. He is located in the firm’s Paris office. “Organizations today continue to pursue a blended approach to acquiring talent,” said Michael Distefano, CEO, global professional search and interim at
Strengthening Your Employment Brand to Attract and Retain Top Talent
Why should a high-performing employee who is head down, working hard, not looking for change, and doing a great job for your top competitor come to work for you? If your words don’t yet paint a very compelling why, you’ve got work to do, according to a recent report from Allen Austin’s Rob Andrews. “Short of
