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Why PE Firms Need Operational CFOs as Executive Growth Planners
Consider a private equity deal team forced to hold a portfolio company well beyond its planned exit timeline—not because the business underperformed, but because the IPO market stalled and potential buyers disappeared. Today, that scenario is more common than exceptional, a recent report from Odgers explained. “In an era where capital is abundant but exits
Executive Hiring Without Borders: Navigating the Opportunities and Risks
Remote work has transformed how we do business. When it comes to hiring, there are no borders. Companies can choose leaders from around the globe to guide their organizations. While beneficial, this can also present issues, according to a new report from Stahl Recruiting Executive Search, an executive search firm specializing in the railway industry. “When
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.
Vetted Solutions Recruits CEO for GO2 for Lung Cancer
Washington, D.C.-based Vetted Solutions has placed David Benson as the new CEO of GO2 for Lung Cancer. “David is an exceptional leader with a deep commitment to improving the lives of people affected by cancer,” said GO2 board president Rick Sherlock. “His collaborative leadership style, strategic vision, and ability to build meaningful partnerships make him the right
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?
TalentRise Assists Grassroots Gardens of WNY with Executive Director Search
TalentRise has assisted in the recruitment of Megan Kelly as the new executive director of Grassroots Gardens of WNY. “We’re thrilled to announce Meg Kelly as the new executive director of Grassroots Gardens WNY,” the organization said. “Meg brings experience to our garden network from her work with the region’s business and entrepreneurship community, and enters
Private Equity Firms Rethink Executive Hiring for Future Growth
PE investors routinely underwrite businesses based on their future state. For example, an investment thesis may assume a restaurant company will double its unit count, accelerate franchising, expand geographically, complete acquisitions, improve margins, or become significantly more institutionalized during the hold period. Executive hiring, however, often remains anchored to the present, according to a new
ON Partners Recruits CFO for Fortera
Partners Josh Nathanson and Chris Clements along with principal Alexis Rohe of ON Partners have placed Albert Luu as the new CFO of cement manufacturer Fortera in San Jose, CA. “Fortera is at a stage where the work we’ve done to prove the technology now has to be matched by our ability to finance and execute at scale,”
BoardWalk Consulting Assists Downtown Atlanta with CEO Search
BoardWalk Consulting has recruited Kyle Waide as the new CEO of Downtown Atlanta Inc. (DAI) to lead in its search for a CEO. The search was led by Sam Pettway, Crystal Stephens, and Patti Kish. The search committee began its work in April of 2026 under the leadership of Egbert Perry, CEO, Integral Group; longtime member of CAP and
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
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
The Execution Gap in AI Is Becoming Private Equity’s Defining Divide
Multimodal’s latest report, The State of Agentic AI in Private Equity, highlights a critical inflection point. While AI adoption is widespread across the industry, very few firms have translated that activity into sustained operational impact. Nearly two-thirds of private equity firms are actively piloting AI, and roughly 40 percent report having formal strategies in place. Yet only
Artico Search Recruits Chief Revenue Officer for Spryker
Mercedes Chatfield-Taylor and Sarah Scheer of Artico Search have assisted in the recruitment of Dustin Deno as the new chief revenue officer of Spryker, a global composable commerce platform for sophisticated use cases in B2B, enterprise marketplaces, and IoT commerce. “We are thrilled to have Dustin join the Spryker leadership team,” said Boris Lokschin, co-founder and CEO at Spryker. “His innovative
Miner Lake Partners Launched by Veteran Search Consultants
John Moon and Han Liou have launched executive search firm Miner Lake Partners. “I’m proud to announce Miner Lake Partners, an executive search firm focused on the building products and industrial industries,” Mr. Moon said in a LinkedIn post. “My business partner Han Liou and I are building this firm on a foundation rooted in
7 Ways a Retained Search Recruiter Can Help Your Career
With the increasing number of emails, calls and texts from colleagues and clients, it is understandable why someone would overlook unsolicited messages from recruiters, especially for professionals happy in their current roles. There is a perception that recruiters focus solely on filling immediate job openings, and nothing more—but nothing could be further from the truth,
A Look at the Crucial Role of Talent Advisory in Guiding Hiring Executives
In today’s dynamic and competitive business environment, attracting and retaining top talent is a strategic imperative for organizations. As companies recognize the critical link between workforce excellence and overall success, the role of Talent Advisory functions has become increasingly vital, according to a report from Comhar Partners. “Talent advisory is not merely a recruitment service;
True Search Recruits CEO for Funko
Global talent provider True has placed Cynthia Williams as the new CEO of NASDAQ-traded Funko, Inc. in Everett, WA. Todd Zangrillo, Ben O’Reilly, Gail Tifford, and Elizabeth Tyler led the assignment. Michael Lunsford is serving as the company’s interim CEO until Ms. Williams joins the company. “There’s a next level of innovation happening in collectibles category,” said Mr.
Ichor Leadership Search Recruits CEO for OSPRI
New Zealand-based executive recruiting firm Ichor Leadership Search has assisted in the recruitment of Sam McIvor as the new CEO of OSPRI. “OSPRI is thrilled to welcome Sam,” said Paul Reynolds, board chair. “Sam will bring extensive practical and strategic experience and a deep understanding of the agricultural sector to drive OSPRI forward and deliver value to
QuantumWork Advisory Acquires KatThree
QuantumWork Advisory, a provider of workforce advisory and transformation services, has acquired KatThree, a workforce management advisory company based in Amsterdam. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. “We are thrilled to welcome KatThree to the QuantumWork Advisory family,” said Andrew Grant, managing partner of QuantumWork Advisory. “Their expertise and experience blends creativity, practicality, and
PitchBook Calls 2024 A Rebuilding Year for Global M&A
M&A deal activity rose five to 10 percent year-over-year in the first quarter, despite falling short of Q4 2023 totals, according to new data released by PitchBook. Deal multiples have remained stable, meanwhile – “a sign that the valuation reset may be complete, and have room to move higher to catch up with elevated prices of
Bespoke Partners Creates Alliances Program and Leader Community to Boost Value Creation Amid Strong Q1
San Diego, CA-headquartered executive search firm Bespoke Partners has announced commercial performance in the first quarter that exceeded all targets and launched its private equity-focused Alliances Program and the Bespoke Leader Community. The firm’s outperformance included winning a record number of searches to recruit executives in software and SaaS companies with private equity sponsors. “Deal flow is a chief
Myers McRae Recruits President for State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota
After a national search, Macon, GA-based Myers McRae Executive Search and Consulting has placed Tommy Gregory as the seventh president of State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF). Kenny Daugherty, the search firm’s president, led the assignment, along with Jessica Thompson, associate vice president and executive search coordinator. A search committee of six members, including SCF faculty, staff, a
FaithSearch Partners Leading President Search for Point Loma Nazarene University
FaithSearch Partners (FSP) was recently retained by Point Loma Nazarene University to lead in a search for its 15th president. Current president Bob Bower recently announced his retirement. The presidential search committee will keep the university community – including faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors, and community partners– informed throughout the process. The Point Loma Nazarene
ZRG Names Leader of Digital and Transformation Practice
ZRG, a global talent advisory firm and portfolio company of RFE Investment Partners, has named Marc Gasperino as managing director and leader for the digital and transformation practice. “Marc Gasperino’s appointment as managing director for our digital and transformation practice marks an exciting addition to the ZRG team,” said Larry Hartmann, CEO. “His extensive experience and commitment
A Look at How the New Rule Banning Noncompete Clauses Could Affect Recruiting Firms
On April 23, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a new rule that bans non-compete clauses for workers across all industries, with limited exceptions. The rule will prohibit most employee non-compete agreements with retroactive effect, except existing non-compete provisions. The rule also requires employers to notify workers, including former employees, that the non-compete clauses are no longer in
Furst Group Recruits President for Sisters of Charity Hospital
Executive recruitment firm Furst Group, which serves the healthcare and insurance industries, recently assisted Catholic Health in the recruitment of Meghan Aldrich as president of Sisters of Charity Hospital and St. Joseph Campus. “Meghan’s experience as a nurse executive and operational leader will be a tremendous asset to Sisters Hospital as we continue to accelerate our strategic
Griffith Group Assists Habitat for Humanity Canada with CEO Search
Toronto-based executive recruitment firm Griffith Group has placed Pedro Barata as the new president and CEO of Habitat for Humanity Canada. Jane Griffith, managing partner and founder, and Caroline McLean, partner, led the assignment. “Pedro has dedicated his entire career to driving systemic long-term improvement on key social and economic initiatives, including poverty reduction and housing policy reform,” said
Saxton Bampfylde Recruits CEO for Britten Pears Arts
Following an extensive search process, U.K.-based executive recruiter Saxton Bampfylde has recruited Andrew Comben as the new CEO of Britten Pears Arts. He succeeds Roger Wright CBE who leaves Britten Pears Arts after 10 years at the helm. Mr. Comben starts his new position in September. “Our appointment of Andrew brings back to Britten Pears Arts someone
Macrae Appoints Chief Operating Officer
Legal search firm Macrae has appointed Leah Guggenheimer as chief operating officer. She will be based in New York. “Leah’s proven leadership and extensive experience directing and enhancing a wide spectrum of business operations at some of the world’s most successful organizations, including a major international law firm, make her a perfect fit for Macrae,”
Heidrick & Struggles Posts 11 Percent Revenue Increase for Q1
Executive search, leadership consulting, and culture shaping services provider Heidrick & Struggles / (NASDAQ:HSII) has posted first quarter revenues of $265.2 million, an 11 percent increase from a year ago. Revenues included the acquisition of Atreus Group GmbH completed on February 1, 2023 and the acquisition businessfourzero completed on April 1, 2023. The firm experienced revenue growth in On-Demand Talent, Heidrick Consulting, and executive
How Search Firms Make the Most of Their Global Reach
Search firm clients expect to be able to choose from the widest possible talent pool. “Whether that is a global multi-billion dollar corporation or privately-owned business, a global search firm is able to access the best talent, wherever that candidate may be located,” said Anthony Harling, founding partner at Harlschon. “Having a strong global brand is
Academic Search Assists the University of Nebraska in Recruiting New President
Jay Lemons, Jennifer Kooken, and George Ross of education-focused executive recruiter Academic Search recently assisted in the recruitment of Jeffrey P. Gold as the ninth president of the University of Nebraska. Past president Ted Carter left the school last year to become the president of Ohio State University, a search that was led by Santa Barbara, CA-based Education Executives. Dr. Gold’s appointment concludes a
NorthWind Partners Recruits CFO for Red River
Reston, VA-headquartered executive search firm NorthWind Partners has placed Brent Pugh as the new CFO for Red River in Claremont, NH. Partner Hunter Murray led the assignment. “Brent’s track record serving the defense industrial base provides tremendous value to Red River and will have immediate benefits to our team, our customers and partner community,” said Brian Roach, CEO for Red
True Launches Talent Advisory Practice
Global talent provider True has launched a talent advisory practice and a strategic alliance with Hogan Assessments, a tool for workplace personality assessment and leadership development. Debu Mishra, partner and head of talent advisory for True, will lead the talent advisory practice from Dubai. “With the launch of our talent advisory practice, we are even better equipped to
Kelly to Acquire Motion Recruitment Partners
Global specialty talent solutions provider Kelly has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Motion Recruitment Partners, LLC (MRP), from Littlejohn & Co., LLC, a private investment firm based in Greenwich, CT. Under the terms of the agreement, Kelly will acquire MRP for $425 million in cash to be paid at close, with additional earnout potential
ECA Partners Recruits CFO for American Lithium Energy
Santa Monica, CA-based search firm ECA Partners recently assisted in the recruitment of Danny Joe as the new CFO of American Lithium Energy. “Mr. Joe is a highly versatile financial leader from the technology sector with a core investment banker toolkit from Goldman Sachs,” ECA Partners said. “His work at Symantec, Blackline, Flywheel.io and others gave him
Frederickson Partners Fills Top HR Post for July Business Services
Global HR search firm Frederickson Partners has placed Ginger H. Gibbs as the new senior vice president of human resources at July Business Services in Waco, TX. “We are thrilled to have Ginger join JULY as our senior vice president of human resources during this exciting period of growth,” said John Humphrey, CEO of JULY. “Ginger’s wealth of
The Christopher Group Recruits Chief People Officer for Clements Fluids
The Christopher Group (TCG), a boutique HR executive search and business solutions recruiting firm, has placed Luanne Carr as the new chief people officer for Clements Fluids in Tyler, TX. Managing partner Pam Noble and recruiting director Kristen Perez led the assignment. “We are delighted to continue our partnership with Clements Fluids by connecting them with Luanne Carr
Ratliff & Taylor Expands Executive Search Practice
Cleveland, OH-based executive search firm Ratliff & Taylor has expanded its executive search practice to support regional demand and continued growth. The firm has named Linda Gray as senior vice president, non-profit executive search and Michael Johnson as senior vice president, executive search. “After opening our New York office in 2023, search engagements surged among our new and
A Look at How to Attract and Retain Gen Z Talent
As the workforce continues to evolve, organizations are facing a new challenge – how to attract and retain the young and upcoming generation, known as Gen Z, with the end goal of filling senior-level positions with professional, experienced leaders. This tech-savvy, ambitious, and socially conscious generation is poised to make a significant impact, but tapping
Unemployment Rate Holds Steady at 3.9 Percent
Employment rose by 175,000 in April as the U.S. unemployment rate rose slightly to 3.9 percent, according to the most recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report. The number of unemployed persons was 6.5 million in April. Job gains occurred in healthcare, in social assistance, and in transportation and warehousing. Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rate for
Lindauer Recruits Chief Engagement Officer for Duke University
Following a national search, Lindauer has assisted in the recruitment of Laura Heilenday as associate vice president and chief engagement officer of Duke University. Senior vice president and managing director Jill Lasman and senior consultant Raegan Harvey led the assignment. Ms. Heilenday’s appointment follows a national search led by Lindauer and an advisory committee that included Duke senior leaders, trustees, Duke
McDermott + Bull Recruits Chief Credit Officer for First Northern Bank
Irvine, CA-based search firm McDermott + Bull has assisted in the recruitment of Brett Hamilton as chief credit officer of First Northern Bank in Dixon, NY. This search was led by McDermott + Bull president Brandon Biegenzahn, managing director Courtney Dorrel, and executive recruiter Rachel Camonayan. “Brett’s leadership and financial acumen should be instrumental in guiding our credit culture and supporting
