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Kaye/Bassman Names Practice Leader for the South Division
Plano, TX-based executive search firm Kaye/Bassman International (KBIC), a Starfish Partners company, has named Ashley Richards as practice leader for the South division. “Ashley’s leadership, consistency, and track record of performance have made her one of the most respected partners within our organization. Her ability to build deep client relationships, while delivering exceptional talent solutions, has been instrumental to our
Human Capital Moves to the Center of Private Equity Value Creation
Private equity firms are placing increasing emphasis on leadership as a primary driver of value creation, reshaping how talent is evaluated and deployed across portfolio companies. The role of human capital has moved beyond support function status to become a central component of investment strategy and execution. As a result, firms are adopting more structured,
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.
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
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 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,
Wilson Forms New Alliance with Poetry to Advance AI capabilities
Global talent solutions provider Wilson has formed a new partnership with Poetry to strengthen its AI-enabled recruitment capabilities. The collaboration supports Wilson’s continued focus on embedding technology into its RPO delivery model through Wilson Workspace, its technology ecosystem. “We’re excited to announce our new partnership with Poetry,” said Charles Faigle, chief delivery officer at Wilson. This
What Executive Candidates Want From Employers Today
The executive talent market today has fundamentally shifted and senior leaders are evaluating employers through a far more demanding lens. They no longer weigh opportunities primarily on compensation or title; they assess the total leadership experience: governance, culture, organizational stability, purpose, autonomy, flexibility and long-term growth, according to a report from Kestria. “To attract and retain
WittKieffer Retained by Roosevelt University for President Search
Oak Brook, IL-based WittKieffer has been retained by Roosevelt University in Chicago to lead in its search for its seventh president. Ali Malekzadeh is retiring after being with the school since 2015. Senior partner Christine Pendleton, consultant Sandra Chu, senior associate Maya Holt-Brockenbrough, and senior advisor Ray Crossman. Roosevelt University seeks a student-centered president who is committed
Buffkin / Baker Acquires HR-Focused Benson Executive Search
Partner-led executive search firm Buffkin / Baker has acquired Boston, MA-based Benson Executive Search, a boutique firm focused on the human resources sector. Financial terms of deal were not disclosed. The acquisition strengthens Buffkin / Baker’s HR functional capabilities and gives the firm a stronger presence in the Northeast. “We’re thrilled to welcome Benson Executive Search to
SPMB Recruits Fills Senior Finance Position for Uber
Steven Popper of SPMB Executive Search has placed Wendy Drummond Craig as senior director, technical accounting, reporting, and M&A at Uber. In her new role, she will oversee teams responsible for technical accounting matters, SEC reporting, and accounting for mergers and acquisitions. “Wendy brings an extraordinary combination of technical accounting expertise, SEC reporting experience, and strategic advisory leadership
True Launches AI Capability Index for Executive Assessment
Global executive talent platform True has launched the True AI Capability Index, a proprietary framework that predicts executive performance in the AI-transformation age. “We are entering a phase where relationship depth and judgment matter more than ever,” said Brad Stadler, co-founder and CEO of True Platform. “The cost of finding names is decreasing. True’s advantage lies in our ability
AI-Native Talent Won’t Fix AI-Foreign Organizations
As artificial intelligence moves from experimentation to enterprise-wide adoption, organizations are grappling with a fundamental question: what does it actually mean to become AI-native? While the term has quickly entered the business lexicon, many leaders are still struggling to define the capabilities, operating models, and cultural shifts required to make that vision a reality. “Some
ZRG Partners Acquires Fortium
ZRG Partners has acquired Fortium, a Dallas-based search firm that provides fractional, interim, and project-based CIO, CTO, and CISO leadership. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. “Companies are making more nuanced decisions about leadership than they did even a few years ago, particularly in technology,” said Mark Viner, leader of interim solutions & project
Lochlin Partners Recruits SVP of HR for the National Association of Corporate Directors
Lochlin Partners has placed Marian Stevens as senior vice president, human resources of the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) in Washington, D.C. “Marian’s deep experience in talent development, organizational effectiveness, and culture will help NACD to continue building the internal capabilities needed to support our growth and deliver on our mission,” said Peter Gleason, president and CEO of
JDG Associates Tapped by Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute to Find New Leader
Rockville, MD-based executive search firm JDG Associates has been retained by the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI) to lead its search for a new president and CEO. The Chicago-based institute, the leading technical institute and trade association for the precast, prestressed concrete industry in North America, seeks a visionary and collaborative executive to succeed its long-serving chief executive,
PitchBook’s 2026 PE Outlook Puts Talent at the Center of Value Creation
PitchBook’s 2026 U.S. Private Equity Outlook describes a market that is reopening – but under pressure. Exit activity improved meaningfully in 2024 and 2025, yet the inventory of PE-backed companies continues to grow older. As of Q3 2025, U.S. PE inventory had expanded to nearly 12,900 companies, with roughly 30 percent held for seven years or longer and
Six Recruiting Trends Effecting Non-Profits
As the last quarter of 2023 approached, a new report from DHR Global’s Sara Garlick Lundberg and James Abruzzo reflects on the trends affecting recruiting in the non-profit industry. Non-profits are navigating a number of challenges – from new work habits to political currents – as they plan for greater impact in 2024, the study
WittKieffer Leading President Search for the University of Hartford
A number of colleges and universities across the country are opening searches that, if all goes to plan, will provide high-profile leaders to take them into a new era of fundraising, digitalization, sports and, increasingly the case, globalization. Oak Brook-IL-based WittKieffer has been selected by the University of Hartford to lead in its search for its seventh
Greenwich Harbor Partners Fills Senior Post for Fetch Pet Insurance
Greenwich Harbor Partners has assisted in the recruitment of Kristen Easterday as the new controller of Fetch Pet Insurance. Ms. Easterday is a versatile leader with a diverse background and thought process. She uses an extensive data analysis as well as a collaborative team approach. Ms. Easterday was most recently the controller at Roof Maxx, a consumer-facing roofing
Cooper Coleman Expands Search Staff
Chicago-based Cooper Coleman LLC has expanded with the addition of John Toolan as vice president, executive search. “Welcoming John into our firm was not a difficult choice,” said Johnny Cooper, founder and CEO. “We place exceptional value on authentically representing our clients as if we are members of their teams; centering a rich, dignified candidate experience
Achieving Boardroom Diversity Without Marginalizing Anyone
While women have come a long way, there is still a long way to go before we reach gender parity at the top levels of corporate America. As CEO of a women-owned search firm with the serious intention and track record of placing women and members of underrepresented groups in boardrooms and the C-suite (85
JDG Associates Recruits CFO for the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board
Rockville, MD-based executive search firm JDG Associates has recruited Trevor Williams as the new chief financial officer for the Washington, D.C.-based Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB), which manages the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), a retirement plan available to federal employees and members of the armed services. Mr. Williams is a financial executive with more than 26 years of
Hobson Leavy Recruits Chief Revenue Officer for Serko Limited
Auckland, New Zealand-based executive search firm Hobson Leavy has assisted in the recruitment of Liz Fraser as the new chief revenue officer of Serko Limited. “Liz has extensive experience driving revenue growth across both the travel and media sectors in senior leadership roles at TVNZ, Air New Zealand and most recently as commercial director at MediaWorks,” said
TRANSEARCH Adds Involved Partners in Sweden
TRANSEARCH International has added Involved Partners in Helsingborg, Sweden as its newest member firm. Peter Ohman joins TRANSEARCH as senior consultant and manager. Mr. Ohman focuses on serving the industrial, utility/power, and FMCG market sectors. With a wealth of experience in both management and consultancy roles, Mr. Ohman brings a track record of catalyzing organizational, business, and
Compensation for Cybersecurity Leaders is on the Rise
The CISO role was partially shielded from the macroeconomic challenges of 2023. The average increase in total compensation among CISOs was 11 percent in the latest comp cycle—a drop from 14 percent in 2022, but a relatively small dip in light of the economic climate. One in five CISOs didn’t receive an increase in compensation.
Academic Search Seeking New Leader for the American Association of State Colleges and Universities
Jay Lemons, Jennifer Kooken, and Maria Thompson of education-focused executive recruiter Academic Search was recently selected by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) to lead in its search for a new president and CEO. After five years of service, the current president, Mildred García, has stepped down. The president leads an accomplished and diverse staff of
ON Partners Recruits Chief Product Officer for MacStadium
Co-president Matt Mooney and partner Jake Espenlaub of ON Partners have recruited Jason Davis as chief product officer of MacStadium, an Atlanta-based Mac cloud provider. “We’re thrilled to welcome Jason to the team,” said Michael Landreth, MacStadium’s co-founder and CEO. “His proven track record of success in product strategy and development will be a significant advantage for us.
Randstad Announces Senior Leadership Changes
Randstad N.V. has made changes to its executive leadership team. “Our people are our foundation and we focus on ensuring our strong culture, values, and spirit of entrepreneurship are present at all levels of the organization,” said Sander van ‘t Noordende, CEO of Randstad. “We are fortunate to have exceptional home grown talent, who live our
Inside the Evolving CEO Hiring Landscape in Private Equity
The Economist wasn’t wrong in recently declaring, “Private equity is entering a new era.” Between ongoing inflation, rising credit costs, and lingering macroeconomic uncertainty, the near-term future for PE firms looks different, with fewer deals, more challenging exits, and longer holding periods. Having led more than 100 CEO searches for PE clients, Tony Hazen of
Diversified Search Group | Koya Partners Recruits Executive Director for TransitCenter
Koya Partners, a part of Diversified Search Group, recently assisted in the recruitment of Stephanie Lotshaw as the new executive director of TransitCenter in New York City. Managing director Anne McCarthy, senior search associate Claire Hunt, and senior search coordinator Kaley Blaszinski led the assignment. “After months of careful searching, interviews, and dialogue we are proud to announce that
RH Perry & Associates Seeking President for New Mexico Highlands University
RH Perry & Associates has been retained by New Mexico Highlands University to lead in its search for its 19th president. Sam Minner recently retired after nine years with the school. Leading the assignment are senior consultants Sue DeWine and Pam Shockley-Zalabak. The president serves as chief executive officer of the university and reports to the board
BarkerGilmore Recruits Chief Compliance Officer for ChristianaCare
Boutique search firm BarkerGilmore, which specializes in building corporate legal and compliance teams, has recruited Gregory Ehardt as the new senior vice president and chief compliance officer of ChristianaCare. The assignment was led by partner Brittney McDonough and managing director Katie Gilmore. “Greg’s emotional intelligence is off the charts,” said Ms. Gilmore. “ChristianaCare’s leadership team and board were immediately blown
Newland Associates Forms Alliance with Pandatron
Newland Associates, a provider of workforce development solutions, has formed a strategic partnership with Finland-based Pandatron, a provider of artificial intelligence micro coaching solutions. Through this collaboration, Newland Associates will introduce Pandatron’s AI micro coaching solution to its clients in the U.S. and assist Pandatron in expanding its reseller partnerships across multiple continents. “The bottom-up
Unemployment Rate Holds Steady at 3.8 Percent
Employment rose by 336,000 in September as the U.S. unemployment rate was unchanged at 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 September. Job gains occurred in leisure and hospitality; government; healthcare; professional, scientific, and technical services; and social assistance. Among the major worker groups, the
ECA Partners Recruits CEO for Vital Care Industries; Places President and COO for United Pet Care
Santa Monica, CA-based search firm ECA Partners has assisted in the recruitment of Harsh Singh as the new chief executive officer of Vital Care Industries. “Based on Harsh’s healthcare background and previous roles in banking, business development, investment management, and operational leadership, we believe that he is uniquely suited to execute on a growth strategy that
Shelli Herman and Associates Seeks Director for Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Park
Los Angeles-based Shelli Herman and Associates has been selected to find the next director for the Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Park, a $230 million, 425-acre zoo expansion project that is scheduled to open to the public in 2027. “The realization of the WildCare Park will offer a new and exciting tourist attraction in St. Louis and
Kalon Executive Search Announces Launch
Veteran search consultant Liesl Bernard has launched Kalon Executive Search and Staffing, a new health and wellness recruiting firm focused on the health, wellness, and beauty industries. The firm will concentrate on finding executive talent in all sectors in the market from CPG, food and beverage, vitamins and supplements, personal care, organics, and natural cosmetics.
TrueBridge Appoints Head of EMEA
TrueBridge, True’s interim, fractional, and advisory executive search division, has named Alastair Coutts as head of EMEA. “Alastair’s background aligns seamlessly with our collaborative, teamwork-based culture,” said David Beuerlein, CEO of TrueBridge. “Throughout his career and during his tenures at Lynk and GLG, Alastair demonstrated a remarkable ability to build and maintain large, senior teams. He embodies
The Evolving Role HR Plays In Private Equity
The Christopher Group (TCG) was founded 25 years ago with a vision to transform the HR executive search and business solutions space. Along the way, the firm has established itself as one of the nation’s premier recruiting boutiques. While it has evolved into a multifaceted talent provider serving large corporations, it is the firm’s focus
6 Key Personality Traits for Disruptive Innovation Leaders
Digital transformation is no longer the sole domain of IT developers and coders. The evolution towards digital solutions is beginning to encompass all industries. Companies that hop on this train early can expect to see themselves pull ahead in terms of operational efficiency. However, embracing digital transformation comes with several challenges, including significant changes in
ZRG Partners Recruits Chief Creative Officer for Marketing Architects
ZRG Partners, a leading search firm backed by private equity firm RFE Investment Partners, recently assisted in the recruitment of Steve Babcock as the new chief creative officer for Marketing Architects. Sue Hardek and Darren Mooney led the assignment on behalf of ZRG. Mr. Babcock succeeds Rob DeMars, who has been with Marketing Architects for 19 years. Mr. DeMars
McDermott + Bull Recruits Chief Risk Officer for Bank of the Sierra
Irvine, CA-based search firm McDermott + Bull has recruited Natalia Coen as executive vice president and chief risk officer at Bank of the Sierra. The search was completed by McDermott + Bull president Brandon Biegenzahn, managing director Courtney Dorrel, and senior executive recruiter Rachel Loye. “We are overjoyed to add Natalia to the team at Bank of the Sierra,” said Kevin
Coulter Partners Forms Alliance with the Institute of Neurodiversity
Life sciences recruiting specialist Coulter Partners has formed a partnership with the Institute of Neurodiversity (ION). As a global neurodiversity changemaking organization and community, ION looks to foster awareness, acceptance, and appreciation of neurodiversity. They work with organizations, governments, the third sector, educators, and policymakers to raise awareness and advocate for policies that support neurominority inclusion. “We
The Emergence of the Chief Generative AI Officer
In the ever-evolving landscape of technology, one phenomenon has firmly captured the collective imagination and discussions of innovators and industry leaders alike: generative AI. This technology is no longer just a promising concept on the horizon; it has swiftly become the focal point of transformative conversations, according to a just released report from H.I. Executive
ON Partners Recruits Chief Revenue Officer for ConnexPay
ON Partners has assisted in the recruitment of George Hansen as the new chief revenue officer for ConnexPay in Minneapolis, MN. Partners Jake Espenlaub and Tara Flickinger led the assignment. “Throughout his career, George has demonstrated an unwavering focus on what is at the core of revenue growth: the customer,” said Bob Kaufman, founder and CEO at ConnexPay. “This customer-centric
Harris Search Associates Fills Senior Position for Nuvance Health
Following an extensive search that included a highly competitive candidate pool from across the country, Harris Search Associates has recruited Jeffrey Joyce as vice president for research and innovation at Nuvance Health. Dr. Joyce most recently served as senior associate dean for research and graduate programs at Florida State University’s (FSU) College of Medicine, a role
Furst Group Places President of the Denver Hospice
Executive recruitment firm Furst Group, which serves the healthcare and insurance industries, recently assisted in the recruitment of Ernesto Lopez as the new president of the Denver Hospice. Mr. Lopez is an accomplished healthcare executive with over 20 years of healthcare leadership experience. Most recently he served as president and chief executive officer at Hospice of
