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Kestria Adds New Member Firm in the U.K.
Global search consortium Kestria has added Spectrum Executive Search in the U.K. as its newest member firm. Established in London in 2001, Spectrum specializes in retained board, executive and interim search, and leadership advisory solutions, to technology and technology-enabled organizations and their venture capital, family office and private equity investors. Spectrum is functionally agnostic and recruits across
Powering an AI-Driven Workforce
As artificial intelligence moves from experimentation to enterprise infrastructure, organizations are fundamentally rethinking how talent is identified, assessed, developed, and led. AI is no longer confined to isolated recruiting tools — it is reshaping leadership requirements, workforce planning, internal mobility, and how human judgment operates alongside intelligent systems. The challenge today is not whether to
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.
Brettschneider Executive Search Seeking Inaugural SVP of Advancement for Wilmington University
New York City-based Brettschneider Executive Search has been retained by Wilmington University (WilmU) to lead in its search for an inaugural senior vice president of advancement to lead the University’s next phase of philanthropic growth. Reporting to WilmU president LaVerne Harmon, the SVP will partner closely with the president, board and University leaders to advance the University’s strategic
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?
August Leadership Expands in London
August Leadership has expanded with the addition of Honor Pollok as a partner in London. Ms. Pollok brings over 20 years of executive search and leadership experience. She has led numerous high-profile placements in chair, non-executive director, CEO and the full spectrum of C-suite roles. Her search expertise spans key commercial, financial, creative, human resource, functional,
Hunt Scanlon and HSiQ Spotlight New Approach to Recruiter Training
As the executive search industry faces mounting pressure to improve performance and consistency, firms are increasingly reevaluating how recruiters are trained and developed. Hunt Scanlon and its HSiQ talent intelligence advisory unit recently launched a new Recruiter Performance Training Program designed to bring greater structure, commercial rigor, and scalability to recruiter development in an industry long driven by
Building Team Alignment in an Era of Continuous Change
Ask any team to describe its top strategic priorities and you will often get as many answers as there are people in the room. The problem is not that the strategy hasn’t been communicated, according to recent report from AIIR Consulting. “The problem is that it was communicated into an environment that has since shifted
Isaacson, Miller Helps Recruit 28th President for Texas A&M
Boston-based Isaacson, Miller has assisted in the recruitment of Susan Ballabina as the 28th president of Texas A&M. Andy Lee and Julie Filizetti, led search with Raul Bernal and Luciano Zuniga, and Madeline Fitzpatrick. The members of the Board of Regents conducted a national search that produced a strong pool of candidates. Dr. Ballabina emerged through that process based on her experience, her understanding of
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
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,
Winning the CFO Talent War in a Competitive PE Market
Competition for experienced chief financial officers in private equity-backed companies has intensified as sponsors pursue growth, exits, and operational transformation on tighter timelines. In today’s candidate-driven environment, firms are finding that traditional recruiting approaches are no longer sufficient to secure high-impact finance leaders. Success increasingly hinges on proactive relationship-building, precise role calibration, and the ability
IIC Partners Adds New Member Firm in Buenos Aires
IIC Partners Executive Search Worldwide has added Buenos Aires, Argentina-based Wall Chase to its global network of executive search firms. “This represents a significant milestone in IIC Partners’ strategic efforts to enhance its global footprint and further develop its presence in Latin America,” the search consortium said. “We are thrilled to welcome Wall Chase to IIC Partners,”
AI Leadership: Driving Cross-Disciplinary Innovation
As a partner at SPMB, Natalie Ryan has observed the transformative impact of the newly formed chief artificial intelligence officer (CAIO) role within the modern business ecosystem. “Far from being confined to the realms of technology alone, the CAIO has emerged as a vital driver of innovation across diverse organizational domains, including marketing, sales, customer
Harris Search Associates Assists Johnson County Community College with Senior HR Search
Executive recruiters are in hot pursuit of chief human resource officers and other senior-level HR leaders across the nation. Why such pent-up demand for top flight HR experts? Corporate leaders want HR leaders who are sophisticated, proactive and strategic-minded, with strong business savvy to drive their people capabilities like they would a P&L, according to
Calibrate Recruits Chief Legal Talent and Inclusion Officer for Fish & Richardson
Austin, TX-based management consulting and executive search firm Calibrate recently assisted in the recruitment of Dana Gray as chief legal talent and inclusion officer for Fish & Richardson, a global intellectual property law firm headquartered in Boston, MA. “Dana is a leader who is dedicated to promoting excellence and a culture of collaboration,” said Kristine McKinney, chief
Royer Thompson Recruits CTO for Workers’ Compensation Board of Nova Scotia
After an extensive search that attracted interest from within Nova Scotia and across Canada, Royer Thompson has assisted in the recruitment of Gaëtan Boudreau P.Eng as the chief technology officer of Workers’ Compensation Board of Nova Scotia. “Attracting a leader of Gaëtan’s caliber is a big step forward, and I’m confident he will bring a new
NPAworldwide Elects New Board
Member-owned recruitment network NPAworldwide has elected a new slate of representatives to its board of directors. “As president of NPAworldwide, I am delighted to welcome our newly-elected board of directors members,” said Kerry Crockett, president and chief operating officer. “Each individual brings a unique blend of expertise and passion to our organization, embodying the spirit of
Unemployment Rate Edges Down to 3.8 Percent
Employment rose by 303,000 in March as the U.S. unemployment rate fell to 3.8 percent, according to the most recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report. The number of unemployed persons was 6.4 million in March. Job gains occurred in healthcare, government, and construction. “This is another really strong report,” said Lauren Goodwin, economist and chief market strategist at New
AGB Search Recruits 22nd President for Seton Hall University
Washington, D.C.-based recruitment firm AGB Search, which specializes in higher education leadership assignments, has assisted in the recruitment of Monsignor Joseph R. Reilly as the 22nd president of Seton Hall University in South Orange, NJ. Melissa K. Trotta and Matthew J. Kilcoyne led the assignment. “There is no one better suited to leading the university at this
Phillips Oppenheim Seeking CEO for Inspirica
New York City-based Phillips Oppenheim has been retained by Inspirica in Stamford, CT, to lead in its search for a new CEO. Susan Gluck Pappajohn and Addie Jones are leading the assignment on behalf of Phillips Oppenheim. Inspirica is seeking an energetic and compassionate leader with a strong operational and fundraising background and a track record
Vanguarde Names Managing Partner and Head of Operations
Global leadership advisory and executive search firm Vanguarde has appointed Gabrielle Brown as managing partner & head of operations. She will report to LP Green, chairman and CEO of Vanguarde. “We welcome Gabrielle and the experience that she brings to the Vanguarde team,” said Mr. Green. “With her wealth of knowledge in fostering a best-in-class employee experience, boosting productivity, and
Alexander Hughes Adds New Member Firm in Paris
Executive search consultants are seeing an increase in hiring mandates from around the world. To meet demand, they continue to develop new practices, hire new recruiters and open new locations. Global recruiting consortiums, meanwhile, are taking advantage of a resurgence in certain geographic areas. Paris-headquartered search firm Alexander Hughes has added Kienbaum Executive Consultants International in Paris as its
Connecting Talent with Opportunity Across Borders
Securing top leadership talent is essential in the dynamic and fast-paced business world. Global executive search firms are entrusted with identifying and recruiting experienced and qualified executives worldwide. A recent report from N2Growth’s Leslie Goldhill explains that their reach extends beyond borders, tapping into a wider pool of talent and thus making their services invaluable to
BraddockMatthews and David Barrett Partners Join Forces
Alliances and partnerships continue to gain traction in the executive search industry. BraddockMatthews LLC and David Barrett Partners have closed a transaction to combine their firms, creating asset management executive search firm BraddockMatthewsBarrett. The merging of the two firms, which serve complementary segments of the investment management industry, creates an international executive search firm with
KEES Tapped by the Los Angeles County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency to Find New Leaders
The Los Angeles County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency (LACAHSA) has tapped Kistner Eddy Executive Search (KEES) as its executive search consulting partner leading the spring 2024 interim CEO search, followed by the permanent CEO search anticipated to begin in November 2024. Leading the assignment for KEES are president and CEO Heather Eddy, executive search manager Yoo-Jin Hong, and
Cardinal Grange Retained by Stephen F. Austin State University to Lead AD Search
Stephen F. Austin State University has hired search firm Cardinal Grange to lead in its search for a new athletic director. The school has also formed an in-house committee to work alongside Cardinal Grange during the recruitment process. “The decision means that Stephen F. Austin will benefit from the leadership and vision of Cardinal Grange’s Jim Nichols, who has over
Hobson Leavy Recruits Chief Commercial Officer for ProCare
Auckland, New Zealand-based executive search firm Hobson Leavy has placed Jonathan Duncan as the chief commercial officer for New Zealand-based healthcare provider ProCare. “Jonathan will focus on two key areas across the organization,” said Bindi Norwell, group CEO at ProCare. “The first, is ensuring that the organization is future-proofed and has the resources and capability to deliver services
Private Equity’s Shift In Thinking On Talent
More than half of the assignments NU Advisory Partners works on these days are for companies owned by private equity investors. To be sure, private capital is becoming an increasingly significant player in a growing number of industries and search firms dedicated to the space are reaping big rewards. In the U.S., some 12 million people are
Hanold Associates Recruits CHRO of THOR Industries
CHROs have become critical stakeholders in defining the strategy of a company. Their job description calls for them to tackle the HR challenges and evolving expectations of a dynamic workplace environment that will consist of constant change, calculated risk-taking, and evolving expectations from top stakeholders. Those well-equipped to achieve the greatest success will have diverse skill-sets,
University of New Hampshire Using Isaacson, Miller to Find 21st President
Vijay Saraswat, Gale Merseth, Raul Bernal, and Debbie Scheibler of Boston-based Isaacson, Miller are currently seeking a new president for the University of New Hampshire (UNH). President James Dean announced that he would be stepping down on June 30, 2024, after serving six years in the school’s top role. The search firm seeks a passionate, articulate, and visionary
Mirams Becker Retained by Chatham-Kent Health Alliance to Lead in its Search for a New CEO
Ontario-based Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) has secured Mirams Becker as the executive search firm to lead the recruitment process for its next president and CEO. Current president and CEO Lori Marshall recently announced her retirement in the summer of 2024. “The utilization of an executive search firm ensures that the hospital receives specialized knowledge and
Mercuri Urval Appoints Global Practice Head for Newly Formed ESG Practice
Stockholm, Sweden-based executive search firm Mercuri Urval (MU) has named Peter Torjussen as global practice head for its new ESG practice. “MU has a clear strategy that aims to constantly strengthen our position in the leadership segment, international business, and industry expertise,” the firm said. “Our plan is to grow all these areas with care and continue to
10 Benefits of Using an Executive Search Firm
Are you tired of sifting through endless resumes, conducting unproductive interviews, and still struggling to find the perfect addition to your team? Time wasted on recruitment can feel like a never-ending drain on productivity, leaving you longing for those hours back to focus on what truly matters – building exceptional teams, according to a recent
Spencer Stuart Retained by Dentons to Lead CEO Search
Spencer Stuart has been retained by global law firm Dentons to lead in its search for a new CEO. Elliott Portnoy recently announced that the 5,900-attorney law firm would maintain its aggressive international growth strategy when he leaves his post as global CEO in November, promising business as usual. “A new global CEO will have to
RH Perry & Associates Recruits 12th President for Saint Martin’s University
Following a competitive nationwide search, RH Perry & Associates has assisted in the recruitment of William Brownsberger as the 12th president of Saint Martin’s University in Lacy, WA, to lead in its search for a new president. Leading the assignment were senior consultants Sue DeWine and Jean Scott. “We look forward to this next chapter for Saint Martin’s with Dr. Brownsberger’s
PFM Executive Search Recruits Chief Social Purpose Officer for British Columbia Lottery Corporation
PFM Executive Search has placed Natasha Questel as the new chief social purpose officer and vice president, marketing with British Columbia Lottery Corporation. Partners Allison Rzen and Jennifer Madden led the assignment. “As British Columbia Lottery Corporation continues to mature as a social purpose company working to generate win-wins for the greater good, it’s integral that we
Riviera Partners Expands Private Equity Practice
San Francisco-based Riviera Partners, a recruitment provider specializing in C-level engineering, product, and design leader placements, has added Rick Harris to its private equity-backed practice as a partner. “With more than 20 years of experience placing top executives for many of the world’s leading software and consumer tech companies, Rick will be a valuable asset within our private equity-focused team,”
Keys for First-Turn Portfolio Companies Using Executive Search Firms
For first-turn portfolio companies—companies that are typically founder-led and partnering with a private equity firm for the first time—the experience of working with an executive search firm often varies. Founders are often new to partnering with search firms, as they have mostly hired through their networks. While PE firms want to hire world-class talent and
Pearl Street Collective Recruits Chief Development Officer for the Elaine Marieb College of Nursing at University Of Massachusetts Amherst
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. Boston-based executive search firm Pearl Street
Morris & Berger Leading CEO Search for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Medical Group and Pediatric Management Group
The non-profit sector is one of the fastest growing areas within executive search today. Recently, Morris & Berger, a recruitment firm that specializes in searches for non-profit organizations, was called by Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Medical Group and Pediatric Management Group to lead in its search for a new CEO. The search committee is seeking an exceptional visionary
The Chason Group Recruits CEO for Southern Conservation Trust
The Chason Group has placed dedicated and proven conservation enthusiast Chris Doane as president and CEO of Southern Conservation Trust in Fayetteville, GA. He is replacing Katie Pace Quattlebaum who served seven years as CEO and executive director until stepping down in May of 2023. “Chris’ experience in the areas of leading and building a
Horton International Forms Alliance with Brown & Chase
Horton International has formed a strategic partnership with Brown & Chase, a distinguished name in the Australian Search and HR Advisory landscape. The search consultancy will leverage the expertise brought in by Brown & Chase managing director, Brian Russell and partner, Noel Rowland. “With this latest collaboration, Horton International continues its journey of global expansion which has seen it extend
