DAILY NEWSWIRE - TOP STORIES
Daily Newswire
DRiWaterstone Human Capital Leading COO Search for Step Up For Students
DRiWaterstone Human Capital was recently tapped by Step Up For Students to lead in its search for a chief operations officer. The COO is a critical role for the transformation and growth of Step Up for Students. Reporting to the chief executive officer, the COO is responsible for leading the organization’s operational teams, including customer experience, scholarship
Peña Search Seeking Philanthropy Lead for The Rees-Jones Foundation
Peña Search has been retained by The Rees-Jones Foundation to lead in its search for a senior director of philanthropy. Travis Hillier and Carlos González Peña are leading the assignment. The Rees-Jones Foundation is seeking a senior director of philanthropy to help lead and advance its mission of serving vulnerable populations through faith-driven, high-impact grantmaking. This is
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.
Caldwell Expands in London and Madrid
Toronto-based Caldwell has expanded with the addition of Alex Langridge as a partner in the firm’s financial services practice. Based in London, Mr. Langridge advises clients across financial services and fintech on senior executive and board appointments, succession planning, organizational design, and transformational leadership hiring. “Alex’s appointment reflects our continued investment in expanding Caldwell’s financial
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?
Fama Technologies Granted U.S. Patent on Foundational AI-Powered Social Media Screening Technology
Fama Technologies, providers of AI-powered online screening, has announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has allowed all claims in its patent application covering the foundational technology behind social media background screening. The patent, titled “System for Searching and Correlating Online Activity with Individual Classification Factors,” has a priority date of November
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,
Vetted Solutions Assists CoreNet Global with CEO Search
Following an extensive search process, Washington, D.C.-based Vetted Solutions has assisted in the recruitment of Vicki Worden as the new CEO of CoreNet Global. “Vicki Worden demonstrates exemplary leadership through her collaborative approach,” said Jamie Leary-Erickson, CoreNet Global board chair. “Vicki’s extensive experience in the architecture, engineering, and commercial real estate sectors, combined with her global perspective
BarkerGilmore Places Head of Legal at Vantage Elevator Solutions
Boutique search firm BarkerGilmore, which specializes in building corporate legal and compliance teams, has placed Keinan Meginniss as VP, head of legal at Vantage Elevator Solutions. The search was led by Stephen Bell and Alison Waters. “Keinan joins the organization at an exciting time as the company continues to expand its operations and strengthen its leadership team
NGS Global Adds TalentXera
Wilmington, DE-headquartered executive search firm NGS Global has added Saúl Almendárez and his team at TalentXera. This expands the firm’s capabilities across Mexico and the broader Latin America region. Mr. Almendárez is based in Mexico City, where he has spent more than 20 years building an exceptional team and a highly regarded brand in the executive search industry. Along
IMD International Search Group Elects New Board Members
Global executive search consortium IMD International Search Group recently had delegates from member firms meet in Helsinki, Finland, and announced the election of several board members. Ben Tucker (Minerva, IMD U.K.) transitions from director to VP finance and legal. Eva Nielsen (Lisberg, IMD Sweden) is reelected for a second mandate as director while Terhi Heikkinen (IMS Talent,
Hunt Scanlon and HSiQ Launch Recruiter Performance Training Program
The executive search industry has a training challenge. For years, recruiting firms have depended on apprenticeship-style development, learning through observation, informal mentoring, and varying management approaches. That model works for some, but it does not scale effectively. In a market increasingly shaped by AI, speed, precision, and commercial demands, inconsistent recruiter performance is no longer
Executive Search Firms Confront the AI Transformation
As AI rapidly reshapes the executive search landscape, recruiting firms are facing growing pressure to modernize how they identify, assess, and engage leadership talent. Industry experts say AI-driven sourcing, predictive analytics, and automation tools are helping firms accelerate search timelines and expand candidate reach, while also forcing recruiters to rethink where their true value lies.
Cooper Coleman Recruits CFO the Center for Child Protection
Cooper Coleman LLC has placed William Wade as chief financial officer of the Center for Child Protection (CCP) in Austin, TX. The national search was led by Johnny Cooper, founder and CEO of Cooper Coleman. “Dion brings the kind of strategic thinking and mission alignment CCP needs in its CFO,” said Mr. Cooper. “They are doing remarkable work,
Boyden Assists Kerry’s Place Autism Services with CEO Search
Boyden has recruited Normandie Wragg as the new president and CEO of Kerry’s Place Autism Services in Ontario. The appointment follows the previously announced retirement of CEO Susan VanDeVelde-Coke at the end of June. The search was led by partners Jim Stonehouse and Pamela Colquhoun, and Kathy Luu, senior associate. “Normandie is a highly accomplished, values-driven
Modern Executive Solutions Expands Technology Practice
Atlanta-based talent consultancy Modern Executive Solutions has expanded with the addition of Moises Velilla as managing director in its technology practice. He brings deep experience advising organizations on senior leadership hiring and talent strategy across technology and transformation. Mr. Velilla specializes in advising clients on executive talent strategy and recruiting transformative technology and professional services leaders. He
AI’s Next Test: Can It Actually Drive Growth?
A massive opportunity, and a critical trust gap, is emerging among corporate leaders. According to EY-Parthenon’s Growth Survey of 271 U.S. executives, 78 percent believe AI will accelerate growth, even as nearly 80 percent say the growth environment has become more challenging over the past year. Yet only about a third trust AI inputs for high-stakes decisions such
Retained vs. Contingent Search: Choosing the Right Executive Search Model
As companies navigate increasingly complex leadership challenges, the pressure to make the right executive hiring decision has never been greater. Boards and leadership teams are looking beyond resumes and credentials, placing greater emphasis on cultural alignment, long-term business impact, and a candidate’s ability to guide organizations through growth, transformation, and uncertainty. At the same time,
Brettschneider Executive Search Completes Search for Western Colorado University
New York City-based Brettschneider Executive Search recently assisted in the recruitment of Sharoni Little as dean of Western Colorado University’s School of Business. “Dr. Little’s forward-thinking approach will help shape the future of business education at Western, creating opportunities for students to thrive in today’s competitive economy,” said Brad Baca, president. With a career spanning academia, corporate leadership,
Ren Systems Appoints Head of Product
Ren Systems, an AI-powered relationship intelligence platform used by sales, business development, and professional services leaders, recently expanded with the addition of Nick Wynja as head of product. “As we’ve scaled Ren to 70+ enterprise customers and accelerated our feature release cycle, it became clear that we needed focused product leadership,” the company said in
How to Kick Off an Executive Search the Right Way
As leadership demands grow more complex, organizations are increasingly recognizing that a successful executive search begins long before candidate outreach or interviews take place. Search consultants say the strongest outcomes are driven by early alignment around business strategy, organizational culture, leadership expectations, and the capabilities needed to support future growth. Rather than simply filling an
Why Structured Interviews Lead to Better Hiring
As organizations compete for leadership talent, many are reexamining how executive interviews are conducted and whether traditional hiring instincts are leading to the best decisions. Increasingly, research is showing that structured interviews built around standardized questions and evaluation criteria deliver more reliable hiring outcomes than conversational, free-flowing assessments. Talent experts say the approach not only
Rethinking Career Loyalty in the Age of Gen Z and Millennials
As leadership priorities continue to evolve, executive search firms are seeing a growing shift in how candidates evaluate long-term career opportunities. Today’s professionals are placing greater emphasis on purpose, culture, mentorship, flexibility, and personal growth alongside compensation and title. Recruiters say organizations that can clearly communicate vision, invest in employee development, and foster strong leadership
Coulter Partners Recruits Chief Scientific Officer for Laigo Bio
Life sciences recruiting specialist Coulter Partners has recruited Richard C.A. Sainson as the new chief scientific officer of Laigo Bio. “It was a privilege to partner with Matthew and the Laigo board,” said Kay Wardle, managing partner at Coulter Partners. “Targeted protein degradation is one of the most exciting frontier areas of drug discovery, and finding a chief
Blue Rock Human Capital Recruits Chief People Officer for Michelli Weighing & Measurement
Talent acquisition strategies at many large companies have become as complex as their balance sheets. And while chief human resource officers play a vital role in overseeing an organization’s broad-based workforce, the chief people officer typically goes beyond overseeing its people policies. The focus instead is on building talent as a key competitive advantage, with more
Raising the Bar for Interim and Fractional Leadership
As companies face mounting pressure to move faster and adapt to constant change, interim and fractional executives are increasingly being brought in not simply to maintain stability, but to drive transformation from day one. Organizations today are seeking experienced leaders who can step into critical roles, solve immediate business challenges, and create momentum while long-term
BoardWalk Consulting Selected by Atlanta Ballet for Executive Director Search
BoardWalk Consulting has was recently tapped by Atlanta Ballet to lead in its search for an executive director. The search is being led by Sam Pettway, Demeika Wheaton, and Patti Kish. The executive director will lead Atlanta Ballet’s administrative and business functions in alignment with the organization’s mission and values, while partnering closely with the artistic
When Search Fatigue Leads to Costly Hiring Mistakes
In executive search, the biggest hiring mistakes are not always caused by weak candidate pools or poor sourcing strategies. More often, breakdowns occur near the finish line, when prolonged interview cycles, competing stakeholder opinions, and mounting business pressures begin to wear down decision-making discipline. What starts as a rigorous evaluation process can gradually shift toward
Preng & Associates Recruits SVP of Government Services for American Bureau of Shipping
Houston-based Preng & Associates has placed Rear Admiral Ronald J. Rábago as senior vice president of government services at American Bureau of Shipping (ABS). “Admiral Rábago brings exceptional government and industry experience that will further enhance the support we provide to our government clients in the U.S. and around the world,” said John McDonald, ABS chairman and CEO. “His
McDermott + Bull Expands in Amsterdam
Irvine, CA-based McDermott + Bull has expanded in Amsterdam with the addition of Gerben van den Hout as managing director. “This strategic hire comes as McDermott + Bull continues to expand its executive search presence across Europe, further strengthening the firm’s ability to support organizations in identifying and placing high-impact leadership talent,” the firm said. “Gerben’s appointment represents an
AI Hiring in 2026: Talent, Pay & Readiness
Artificial intelligence is no longer a side initiative championed by innovation teams executive search consultants continue to tell Hunt Scanlon Media. It has become a strategic lever that shapes competitive positioning, operating models, and enterprise value. As adoption deepens, the conversation is shifting from experimentation to execution — from what AI can do to how
The SR Group Names CFO
Global search company The SR Group has appointed Seim Munif as group chief financial officer. He succeeds Alex Calcutt who will step down to pursue other interests later this year. “Alex has been such an integral part of The SR Group’s success,” said David Buckley, CEO of The SR Group. “I feel privileged to have had his
PE Operating Partners Integrate New Role In Value Creation
After a sluggish year for PE hiring, executive recruiters are beginning to see the pace of staffing mandates pick up across private equity. This, say search consultants, is coming at a time when the sector’s approach to talent is growing ever more complex. According to chief talent officers at PE firms and their portfolio companies,
Employers Add 272,000 Jobs in May
Employment rose by 272,000 in May as the U.S. unemployment rate rose slightly to 4.0 percent, according to the most recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report. The number of unemployed persons was 6.6 million in May. Employment continued to trend up in several industries, led by healthcare; government; leisure and hospitality; and professional, scientific, and technical services. Among
Slone Partners Recruits Chief Business Officer for Arpeggio Biosciences
Life sciences-focused search firm Slone Partners has recruited Kevin Eastwood as chief business officer of Arpeggio Biosciences in South Riding, VA. “Kevin Eastwood is a highly accomplished and dynamic business leader with extraordinary passion and vision and a track record of success,” said Leslie Loveless, managing partner and CEO at Slone Partners. “He brings a high level of strategic
Allen Austin Partners Recruits Inaugural Board of Directors for Stress Engineering Services
Houston, TX-based search firm Allen Austin has completed a board engagement for Stress Engineering Services Inc., to design and build its first fiduciary board of directors. The incoming board was designed to bring the right directors together to advise management on matters of strategy, culture, organizational performance, and specific market sector penetration. “We are confident that
Mercuri Urval Creates Advanced Air Mobility Competence Center
Stockholm, Sweden-based executive search firm Mercuri Urval (MU) has launched its advanced air mobility competence center, which designed to address the leadership need in this emerging industry sector. Consultant Julia Reichel and partner Florian Erhorn have both specialized in electrification, aerospace and aviation industry for many years and are familiar with the opportunities and needs for this sector.
10 Leadership Strategies for Creating a Thriving Culture
Company culture is the shared values, attitudes, behaviors, and standards that make up a work environment. It is about the experience people have at work and how that experience aligns with the external brand and messaging of the company. Culture is what creates the day-to-day experience at a company. In addition, in today’s dynamic business landscape,
The Talent Studios Recruits CEO for The Princeton Review
The Talent Studios has placed Robert Batten as the chief executive officer of The Princeton Review in New York. Jeremy Cohen and Serena Smith led the search assignment. Dr. Batten now also heads The Princeton Review’s affiliate company, Tutor.com, which helps institutions and organizations deliver 24/7, on-demand, personalized homework help at scale. “We are thrilled
Egon Zehnder Recruits CEO for Entrepreneurs’ Organization
Leadership advisory firm Egon Zehnder has placed serial entrepreneur and board member Dave Parker as the new CEO of Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) in Alexandria, VA. His appointment follows a global, months-long search beginning last July with the selection of Egon Zehnder and led by a committee tasked by EO’s global board of directors. EO global board chair and EO
Glue Executive Search Recruits Chief Technology Officer for Grupo Ayudin
A chief technology officer is responsible for managing an organization’s technical operations, including research and development, IT and data management, and product and service development. CTOs are also technical advisors to higher executives, such as the CEO or COO, and may report directly to the board of director. In recent months many organizations turned to search
Recruiting Platform Ashby Secures $30 Million in Funding
Ashby, a recruiting platform that efficiently scales hiring from startup through enterprise, has raised an additional $30 million in equity financing. This round of funding comes with a vote of confidence from existing investors following a 6X growth in revenue. Lachy Groom, who also led Ashby’s seed round led the Series C with participation from
A Look at How the Aging Workforce Has Positive Benefits
It’s a fact, the global workforce is aging. In Lithuania in 2024, for the first time more people will retire than enter the job market. Harvard Business Review found that in Germany, Japan, and Italy, the 55+ cohort accounts for 25 percent or more of the workforce, and according to a Bain & Company study,
Furst Group Assists Health First with CEO Search
Executive recruitment firm Furst Group, which serves the healthcare and insurance industries, has helped to recruit Terry Forde as president and CEO of Health First in Brevard County, FL. “In Terry we found an experienced and sympathetic leader who shares our passion for patient safety, is committed to providing high reliability, has a proven history of success, and
TM² Executive Search Tapped by Paul Quinn College
TM² Executive Search (TM²), a subsidiary of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), has been retained by Paul Quinn College (PQC) to conduct a national executive search for three roles to serve as the chief financial officer, vice president of academic affairs/chief academic officer, and director of development. “Our partnership with Paul Quinn College is a testament to
Cook Silverman Search Recruits Executive Director for the Eviction Defense Collaborative
Greenbrae, CA-based Cook Silverman Search recently assisted in the recruitment of Daniel Casanova as the new executive director of the Eviction Defense Collaborative. Victoria L. Silverman, managing founder of the search firm, led the assignment. Eviction Defense Collaborative was seeking a remarkable civic leader who is passionate about social justice to serve as their next executive director. Mr.
Morgan Samuels Grows Search Staff
Morgan Samuels has expanded with the addition of Eric Tenety as a senior client partner based in New York. “We are thrilled to have Eric join our team,” said Bert Hensley, CEO. “His intense focus on execution excellence is a great fit for our firm. We are confident that he will help us to reduce our median cycle
How Senior Leaders Can Adapt to AI’s Impact on Business
Today, business leaders in all industries can leverage the power of AI to solve challenges that were previously considered unsolvable or very time-consuming, according to a new report from Focus Search Partners’ Adam Charlson. “To effectively do this, however, leaders must skillfully navigate and adapt to critical aspects of this evolving technology,” the study said. “Despite
Funk Associates Leading CEO Search for Purdue for Life Foundation
Funk Associates has been called in by Purdue for Life Foundation to lead in its search for a new president and CEO. Managing vice president Willie Funk is leading the assignment. Purdue for Life Foundation is looking to attract an outstanding leader as its next president and CEO to lead and coordinate all engagement, development,
DHR Global Leading Chief People Officer Search for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Talent acquisition strategies at many large companies have become as complex as their balance sheets. And while chief human resource officers play a vital role in overseeing an organization’s broad-based workforce, the chief people officer typically goes beyond overseeing its people policies. The focus instead is on building talent as a key competitive advantage, with more
ADK Consulting & Executive Search Recruits CFO for the Ontario International Airport Authority
Over the past year, a growing number of transportation companies have enlisted executive search firms to help find senior talent. After a nationwide search, ADK Consulting & Executive Search has recruited Celeste Heinonen as the new CFO of the Ontario International Airport Authority. Rod Dinger and Sia Schatz led the assignment. In this position, Ms. Heinonen
Spencer Stuart Elects Managing Partner and Chair
Spencer Stuart has elected Jordan Brugg as its next managing partner and Frank Birkel as its next chair. With Ben Williams and David Daniel reaching the end of their second terms as managing partner and chair, respectively, the firm’s leadership succession committee led the planned leadership transition process. They will assume their new roles in late July, working closely with Mr. Williams and Mr.
How to Get Ahead in the Hiring Waiting Game
When teams are stretched thin and leadership vacancies slow momentum, it’s easy to get bogged down. But you can keep advancing the ball down the field—and doing more with less—by harnessing the speed and flexibility of on-demand talent, according to a report from by Kelsey O’Neal, an executive director with Business Talent Group (BTG), a Heidrick & Struggles company. “Innovative
SPMB Executive Search Recruits CEO for Suralink
Bianca Moreno, Will Leach and SPMB Executive Search’s CEO practice, have placed Evan Fitzpatrick as the new CEO of Suralink, a client interaction platform for professional services firms. “From all of us at SPMB Executive Search, it was a pleasure to partner with Suralink and Luminate Capital on this important search,” the firm said. “We look
CarterBaldwin Recruits President for Langham Partnership USA
CarterBaldwin Executive Search has recently assisted in the recruitment of Carl Moeller as new president of Langham Partnership USA. “Carl Moeller will be a marvelous addition to Langham Partnership,” Joel Carpenter, LPUSA board chair, said. “He will bring an extraordinary range of experience in international Christian work and a servant’s heart to this role. We are
Kirby Bates Associates Seeking COO for South Denver Gastroenterology
Orlando, FL-headquartered healthcare-focused search firm Kirby Bates Associates was recently retained by South Denver Gastroenterology, P.C. to conduct a search for their inaugural chief operating officer. Leading the assignment are Livonne Engebrecht, senior executive recruiter, and Troy Keach, vice president search services. The chief operating officer, reporting to the chief executive officer, and a dyad relationship with
Cornerstone International Group Names President
Cornerstone International Group, a global executive search and leadership development firm, has appointed Dan Heiman as its new president. His appointment is effective January 1, 2025. “This strategic move is part of our leadership succession plan, initiated in 2021, and marks a significant milestone in our 35-year history,” Cornerstone said. “Mr. Heiman’s extensive experience and
M&A Deal Volumes Jump As CEOs Hunt Down Acquisitions
After a year of wait-and-see, 2024 is proving to be action time for U.S. dealmaking. EY’s forecast in its just-released midyear EY-Parthenon Deal Barometer predicts corporate M&A deal volume rising 20 percent year-over-year – nearly doubling the original 12 percent predicted in the inaugural Barometer release in January. PE deal volume, meanwhile, will increase 16 percent year-over-year,
BarkerGilmore Assists Methodist Healthcare System in Finding New General Counsel
Boutique search firm BarkerGilmore, which specializes in building corporate legal and compliance teams, has assisted in the recruitment of Teresa Burroff as the new general counsel of Methodist Healthcare System in San Antonio, TX. The search was led by managing director Katie Gilmore and partner Brittney McDonough. “Teresa’s appointment as general counsel not only underscores her legal prowess but also
Parker Executive Search Recruits 21st President for Illinois State University
Atlanta-based Parker Executive Search has placed Aondover Tarhule as the 21st president of Illinois State University. Trustees also approved a four-year contract for Mr. Tarhule that will expire March 17, 2028. The transition to the new position takes place immediately following Mr. Tarhule’s year-long interim president appointment and a national search, led by a 29-member search
The Moran Company Recruits CEO for YWCA Northeast Kansas
The Moran Company, an executive recruitment firm that specializes in the non-profit sector, has helped to recruit Cheri Faunce as the new CEO of YWCA Northeast Kansas. Senior search consultant Brandi Fisher led the assignment. Last year, YWCA Northeast Kansas announced that its current CEO, Kathleen Marker, would retire in the spring of 2024 after serving in
EMA Partners Announces Leadership Changes Across India, UAE, and Singapore
EMA Partners International, a global partnership of executive search professionals, has announced leadership changes across India, UAE, and Singapore. “Continuity and longevity of our consultants and relationships is our biggest strength” said K Sudarshan, regional chair, Asia Pacific, EMA Partners. “Each of our colleagues have spent considerable time with the firm and bring with them an







