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Daily Newswire
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,
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.
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
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?
ZRG Partners Acquires N2Growth’s Spain Business
ZRG Partners has entered the Spanish market through the acquisition of the business formerly known as Blacksmith that had been doing business since 2023 under the umbrella of N2Growth. Through this integration, ZRG enters the Spanish market with an established local team and the goal of offering Spanish and international clients agile, high-touch advisory backed by
Family Offices Move Into Human Capital M&A
Altss’ latest ranking, The 50 Largest Family Offices in the World (2026), illustrates the scale family capital has reached. The 50 largest offices collectively manage an estimated $2.4 trillion, with the top 10 controlling more than $1.5 trillion. Twenty-eight of the top 50 are headquartered in North America, while private equity represents their largest average portfolio allocation
The Leadership Pipeline Crisis: AI’s Hidden Cost
Companies everywhere are celebrating leaner teams, faster execution, and higher productivity thanks to AI, according to HIRECLOUT. From a business perspective, the logic is easy to understand, according to Avetis Antaplyan, founder and CEO of HIRECLOUT. “Investors reward efficiency,” Mr. Antaplyan said. “Leaders are under pressure to do more with less. Automation is eliminating repetitive
Klein Hersh Recruits CFO for Sparrow Pharmaceuticals
Klein Hersh, a search firm focused on the life sciences and healthcare industries, has recruited George Eldridge as the new CFO of Sparrow Pharmaceuticals, a targeted cardiometabolic therapeutics company. “We are thrilled to welcome George to Sparrow at such an important time for our company,” said Robert Jacks, president and CEO of Sparrow Pharmaceuticals. “George
McCormack + Kristel Seeking Executive Director for NEXT Harm Reduction
McCormack + Kristel has been retained by NEXT Harm Reduction (NEXT Distro) to lead in its search for an executive director. This is a rare opportunity for a visionary leader and skilled fundraiser to take a nationally recognized organization with an urgent mandate and grow it to the scale the moment demands. Reporting to the board
Riviera Partners Expands Public Practice
San Francisco-based Riviera Partners, a recruitment provider specializing in C-level engineering, product, and design leader placements, has expanded with the addition of Archer McFall as a partner within its public practice serving large, publicly-traded companies and late-stage, pre-IPO companies. “Getting the right CTO, CIO, or chief AI officer in place, building the team structure around AI, making sure the
HelloSky Brings Its Graph of People, Investors, and Companies Into Claude and ChatGPT
Executive search firms are increasingly looking for ways to move beyond traditional databases and static candidate profiles as clients demand deeper market intelligence and faster, more precise insight into leadership talent. Advances in artificial intelligence are giving recruiters new tools to connect people, companies, investors, relationships, and career outcomes in ways that can strengthen candidate
Harris Search Associates Leading Senior Assignment for Carnegie Mellon University
Harris Search Associates has been retained by Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) to lead in its search for newly created role of associate vice president for research computing and data (AVP RCD). Jeffrey Harris and Ed Christ are leading the assignment. This role offers a unique opportunity to elevate and transform CMU’s research computing ecosystem positioning it to better support
Preng & Associates Assists SOGC, LLC with President Search
Following a comprehensive executive search, Houston-based Preng & Associates assisted in the recruitment of David French as the new president of SOGC, LLC. “Preng & Associates is proud to have supported this important leadership appointment and continues to partner with energy companies worldwide in identifying and securing transformative executive talent,” the firm said. Mr. French brings
NPAG Appoints Senior Advisor
Executive search firm NPAG has appointed André Blackman as senior advisor. In this new role, he will build and lead a practice focused on mission-driven innovation — connecting dynamic leadership talent and the development resources to keep that talent in seat, to founders and organizations solving problems that matter. “André brings a rare combination of strategic insight, storytelling
Sheffield Haworth Adds Private Equity & Growth Venture Portfolio Assets Veteran
Global leadership advisory and executive search firm Sheffield Haworth has expanded with the addition of Michael McDonnell as managing director, private equity and growth venture portfolio assets. He is based in the New York office and works within the technology sector practice. “We are thrilled to welcome Michael to the team,” said Paul Gillespie, managing director of the
Leadership Needs Shift in a Changing Federal Market
Executive search across the federal contracting, government services, defense, and technology sectors is entering a new phase as companies look for more sophisticated ways to evaluate leadership beyond résumés, references, and past performance. In markets where specialized experience, relationships, and an understanding of complex government customers can be critical, the challenge is not simply identifying
Private Equity Rollup Wave Reshapes Executive Search
What may once have looked like a series of isolated transactions is increasingly taking on the shape of a broader industry shift. As capital moves into the sector and firms rethink where they have true competitive strength, the pattern is becoming harder to ignore. “A year ago, I would have called this a prediction, today,
HARTZ Search Seeking Chief Revenue Officer for Geisinger
Charlotte, NC-based HARTZ Search was recently retained by Geisinger to lead in its search for a chief revenue officer. This executive will direct, manage, and implement programs to ensure efficient revenue management operations and sufficient cash flow to support Geisinger operations and strategic initiatives. The role is responsible for identifying, analyzing, reducing, and resolving revenue management issues
Kincannon & Reed Places Executive Director for the Pennsylvania Dairymen’s Association
Kincannon & Reed (K&R), which exclusively focuses on food, agribusiness, and the related life sciences, has assisted in the recruitment of Patrick Carney as the new executive director of the Pennsylvania Dairymen’s Association. Dave Smith stepped down from his executive role after leading the association for more than 30 years. “Patrick pairs dairy industry knowledge with
Noto Group Expands Global Consumer Practice
Portland, OR-headquartered executive search firm Noto Group has expanded with the additions of Kirsty Schofield and Cody Johns as senior partners in its global consumer practice. “Cody and Kirsty bring highly complementary experience, deep consumer sector expertise, and a genuine connection to how we work,” said Sara Spirko, managing partner of Noto Group. “Both understand that finding
millionways Brings a New Behavioral Intelligence Lever to Executive Recruiters
Hunt Scanlon Ventures this week completed its investment in millionways, a New York-headquartered company that builds a behavioral intelligence layer of AI for human agent workforces, utilizing a proprietary Large Psychology Model called Thorsten-4. The platform focuses on understanding human signals, motives, and behavior patterns, with applications used across AI governance, executive hiring, talent management,
AI Governance Jobs Platform Builds Early Momentum Through Privacy-First Model
AI-Governance-Jobs.com, operated by GRC Careers LLC and led by founder and CEO F. Jay Hall, has built its model combining specialized career content, organic search visibility, and privacy-focused architecture. The company’s latest executive summary reports 134,499 organic impressions over a recent 28-day period, achieved roughly three months after launch — without advertising. As demand grows
Blue Rock Human Capital Assists Linfield University with the Recruitment of Dean of the School of Business
Blue Rock Human Capital has helped to recruit Isaac Wanasika as the new dean of the School of Business at Linfield University. “Blue Rock Human Capital was pleased to work with Linfield University to identify their new dean of the School of Business,” said Jacquelyn Elliot, president and COO of Blue Rock Human Capital. “Today’s higher
CIO Partners Leading Cybersecurity Search for Flexsteel Industries
CIO Partners was recently retained by Flexsteel Industries in Dubuque, IA, to lead in its search for director of cybersecurity. This role partners closely with IT, executive leadership, legal, compliance, operations, and external security partners to reduce cyber risk, strengthen business resilience, and ensure the organization is prepared to prevent, detect, respond to, and recover
Pacific International Launches Leadership Coaching and Onboarding Service
London-headquartered executive search firm Pacific International Executive Search has launched its new leadership coaching & onboarding service. This will support senior leaders through the highest-stakes moments of their careers. “The first months in a new leadership role, a step-change in scope, the pressures of C-suite leadership – these are just a few examples where an experienced coach can turn potential into value faster
Leveraging AI to Drive Business Development in Executive Search
AI is beginning to reshape how executive search firms approach business development, moving the process beyond traditional account lists and periodic outreach toward more continuous market intelligence. By helping recruiters identify meaningful changes across companies, leadership teams, and professional networks, AI is creating new opportunities to engage clients with greater relevance and better timing. The
Korn Ferry Retained by Convergence for CEO Search
Korn Ferry has been retained by Convergence to lead in its search for a new CEO. Joan Larrea will retire as CEO in early 2027 after more than a decade of leadership. Since inception, Ms. Larrea has led the organization through a decade of significant growth, helping establish Convergence as the world’s leading authority on
St. Olaf College Taps Brettschneider Executive Search for Chief Information Officer Search
New York City-based Brettschneider Executive Search has been selected by St. Olaf College to lead in its search for chief information officer. St. Olaf seeks a values-forward, innovative CIO. The next CIO of St. Olaf College will serve as a trusted advisor to the provost, president, and president’s leadership team on the role of information and library resources
Boyden Seeking CEO for Creative BC
Boyden has been retained by Creative BC in Vancouver, British Columbia to lead in its search for a new CEO. Reporting to the board of directors, the CEO will provide strategic and operational leadership to an organization that sits at the center of British Columbia’s creative economy. The CEO will lead the execution of Creative BC’s mandate
The New Engine of Executive Search: How Hunt Scanlon Is Powering a Productivity Revolution
As the executive search industry confronts growing pressure to deliver consistent, high-level performance, recruiting firms are rethinking how their consultants are trained and developed. To that end, Hunt Scanlon and its HSiQ talent intelligence advisory unit last week began rolling out a new Recruiter Performance Training Program designed to bring greater structure, rigor, and scalability
Egon Zehnder Selected by BP to Find New CEO
Leadership advisory firm Egon Zehnder has been called in by BP to lead in its for a new CEO, according to Sky News. Its search is expected to encompass external candidates as well as internal candidates, including the interim chief executive Murray Auchincloss. According to Sky insiders, Mr. Auchincloss, who was previously BP’s finance chief, has
Buffkin / Baker Recruits Director of Athletics for Middle Georgia State University
Partner-led executive search firm Buffkin / Baker has placed Michael Brown as the director of athletics for Middle Georgia State University (MGA) in Macon. Partner Kenn Carrick and principal Janny DeLoache led the assignment. “The goal of transition to NCAA Division II is to provide student-athletes with enhanced opportunities for competition, as well as greater access to
Direct Recruiters Inc. Appoints Practice Leader
Direct Recruiters Inc. (DRI) has named Christian Byrd as practice leader, medical device, overseeing operations in North America and the Asia Pacific region. Mr. Christian will partner with medical device clients across various functions, including commercial, medical, clinical, R&D, regulatory, quality and safety to provide customized recruitment solutions. “We are thrilled to welcome Christian to the DRI
Hudson Global RPO Appoints CEO
Hudson RPO, a global total talent solutions company owned by Old Greenwich, Conn.-based recruiting firm Hudson Global Inc., has named Jacob Zabkowicz as global chief executive officer. “I am excited to welcome Jake to the Hudson RPO team,” said Jeff Eberwein, CEO of Hudson Global. “Jake’s growth orientation and winning mindset will help Hudson RPO achieve its aggressive growth goals. Over the
How Private Equity Outfits are Keeping Recruiters Busy
Attracting and retaining top talent is a challenge given the specialized skills and experience required to be successful in a private equity-backed portfolio company. When seeking potential talent for leadership positions, PE firms are laser-focused on finding specific domains and industry expertise to fit the unique culture and environment of their investments, according to Rob
Caldwell Recruits CISO for West Fraser
Increasingly, organizations of all sizes are awakening to the perils posed by cyberattacks. For years, many groups tried to ignore the problem, dismissing cybersecurity as a concern only for the biggest, most high-profile entities, be they government or corporate. These days, more groups are coming to understand how ruinous such intrusions could be. This has led
Massey Henry Seeking CFO/CRO for SaskCentral
Toronto-based executive search firm Massey Henry was recently retained by SaskCentral to lead in its search for a chief risk officer and chief financial officer. Reporting to the CEO, this executive ensures the financial and operational viability of SaskCentral, leading and supporting the strategic vision and development of high-level corporate business objectives at the board and
Harris Search Associates Recruits Founding Dean for Xavier University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine
Following an extensive national search that included a highly competitive candidate pool from across the country, Harris Search Associates has placed Steven Halm as founding Dean of the Xavier University proposed College of Osteopathic Medicine, which slated to become the nation’s first Jesuit osteopathic medicine school opening its doors to students in 2027. “Xavier is gaining a
NPAworldwide Adds 13 Member Firms in the U.S.
Member-owned recruitment network NPAworldwide has added 13 new member locations in the U.S. “Congratulations to each of our new member firms,” said Dave Nerz, president of NPAworldwide. “By joining our recruiting network, these firms are invested as owners. Our continued membership growth allows independent recruitment firms to more effectively serve their clients and candidates by
Arts Consulting Group Tapped by the Bruce to Lead COO Search
Boston-based search firm Arts Consulting Group (ACG) has been retained by the Bruce Museum (the Bruce) in Greenwich, Conn, to lead in its search for a new chief operating officer. Wyona Lynch-McWhite, senior vice president, and Josyanne Roche, vice president, are leading the assignment for the search firm. The COO, in partnership with the executive director and CEO,
5 Top Skills for Human Resources Leaders Today
Human resources leadership continues to plays an important role in shaping an organization’s success by effectively managing its most valuable asset – its people. As the HR landscape continues to evolve, HR leaders must equip themselves with essential skills that go beyond traditional administrative tasks. In this article, The Christopher Group explores five essential skills
ON Partners Recruits CEO for MacStadium
Co-president Matt Mooney and partner Jake Espenlaub of ON Partners have recruited Kenneth Tacelli as the new president and CEO of MacStadium, an Atlanta-based Mac cloud provider. He succeeds co-founder Gregory McGraw, who has transitioned to executive chair of the MacStadium board of directors. Mr. McGraw recently announced his retirement after a 12 year tenure building and leading the company. “We are thrilled
Bannerot Partners Assists Remington Hospitality with CHRO Search
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,
The Professional Footballers’ Association Taps TurnkeyZRG to Lead Chief Commercial Officer Search
TurnkeyZRG has been tapped by the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) to lead in its search for a chief commercial officer. George Williams, managing director, U.K. and Europe, is leading the assignment. The purpose of this role is to scale the revenues generated by the PFA from commercial partnerships with sponsors, brands, media organizations and other key stakeholders
The Current State of Executive Recruiting
Look back three months and optimism was high. Everyone was hoping for a rebound and many were willing to believe certain data points—a market rally, continued growth in executive hiring—served as confirmation we were there—or, at least, almost there. Despite stubbornly high interest rates and global conflicts, Q2 was a proof point for the optimist.
Renovata & Company Recruits International President for RLDatix
Global executive search and private equity advisory firm Renovata & Company has placed Chris Baker as president international of RLDatix in Chicago. “Chris understands the healthcare industry and the challenges it faces,” says Thomas Jepsen, partner at Renovata & Company. “He also has a successful track record of driving enterprise software strategies that deliver innovation and
Myers McRae Tapped by Dakota Wesleyan University to Lead Provost Search
Macon, GA-based Myers McRae Executive Search and Consulting has been retained by Dakota Wesleyan University to lead in its search for a new provost. Kenny Daugherty, the search firm’s president, is leading the assignment, along with Darrel Colson, senior consultant. The provost leads the university’s efforts in academic and student affairs, supporting faculty and staff who offer students
Campbell & Company Retained by Outreach International to Find New Leader
Campbell & Company has been retained by Outreach International to lead in its search for a new president and CEO for Outreach International. Leading the assignment are Dan Nevez, vice president, executive search, Alexandra Catuara, senior consultant, and Angèle Bubna, consultant. The president and CEO of Outreach International will have an inspiring and fulfilling opportunity
August Leadership Names Head of Global Operations
Executive recruitment firm August Leadership has appointed Faiza Savul as a partner and head of global operations. She will be based out of Karachi, Pakistan. With Faiza’s remarkable dedication and diverse experience, we have no doubt she’ll be an outstanding addition to the team,” August Leadership said. “She’s exceptionally skilled at developing innovative HR initiatives and strategies to
The Keys to Scaling: It’s More Than Just an Experienced CEO
Scaling a company is a significant milestone that many businesses aspire to achieve. However, the common misconception is that it takes an experienced CEO at the helm to successfully navigate this crucial phase. In reality, scaling has more to do with readiness, purpose, and a specific set of required leadership traits and skills that often
JM Search Recruits CEO for RX Green Technologies
Kristian Shannon and Jocelyn Scott of JM Search have recruited Gary Santo as CEO of RX Green Technologies, a producer of commercial cultivation supplies for the cannabis industry. He replaced Wes Matelich, who will remain on the board as an advisor. “With such a strong foundation in place, RX Green Technologies is ready to scale,” said Mr.
The Moran Company Leading Search for the Arizona Parks and Recreation Association’s New Leader
The Moran Company, an executive recruitment firm that specializes in the non-profit sector, has been retained by the Arizona Parks and Recreation Association to lead in its search for a new executive director. Senior search consultant Mike English is leading the assignment. Reporting to the board of directors, the executive director will have overall strategic and operational responsibility
ZRG Partners’ Swift and Strategic Road to Expansion
Larry Hartmann is a seasoned veteran of the people business. As the chief executive of ZRG, he leads one of the fastest growing, global talent management hubs in the human capital sector. It wasn’t always this way. Mr. Hartmann founded ZRG 24 years ago on the core principle of building a better recruiting platform. Simple enough.
Shelli Herman and Associates Recruits CEO for the YWCA Greater Los Angeles
Los Angeles-based Shelli Herman and Associates has assisted in the recruitment of Lori Carmona as the new CEO of the YWCA Greater Los Angeles (YWCA GLA). “YWCA conducted an extensive, thoughtful search process to identify the right leader for our organization, and Lori Carmona emerged as the standout candidate,” said Alva P. Adams, YWCA’s board chairwoman. “Lori has
BroadView Talent Partners Recruits COO for Archway Communities
BroadView Talent Partners has assisted in the recruitment of Laura Brudzynski as the new chief operating officer of Archway Communities in Lakewood, CO. “We are thrilled to have Laura join our team,” said Sebastian Corradino, CEO of Archway Communities. “Laura understands the housing landscape in Colorado, and I am confident in her ability help Archway
ON Partners Recruits Chief Revenue Officer for Logile
ON Partners’ Tindall (Sewell) Hein and Jake Espenlaub recently helped recruit Brett Friedman as the new chief revenue officer of Logile, Inc., a Dallas, TX-based retail labor planning, workforce management, inventory management, and store execution provider. “Brett is the right leader to bring in now,’’ said Purna Mishra, president and CEO of Logile. “He is a
Focus Search Partners Names Managing Director for Enterprise Technology Practice
Executive search firm Focus Search Partners, a Vaco company, has expanded with the addition of Seth Blumenthal as managing director to lead executive- and board-level engagements for their enterprise technology practice. “Seth’s track record of success, diverse experience and knowledge across business funding, organizational design, regulatory frameworks and executive search make him an incredible expert in
Bigger is Not Always Better When Selecting an Search Firm
Senior leadership hires can make or break an organization. Various studies show that the failure rate of executives coming into new companies is 30 to 40 percent after 18 months. This makes the selection of the right executive search firm essential for organizations. Bigger is not always better when selecting an executive search firm and
Virginia Tech Selects Greenwood Asher & Associates to Find New CFO
Miramar Beach, FL-based executive recruitment firm Greenwood Asher & Associates has been called in by Virginia Tech to lead in its search for a new CFO. Denice Perdue and Jeremy Duff are leading the assignment. The CFO has fiduciary responsibility for university funds, business processes, and serves as the principal financial officer for the university. They
Wilton & Bain Recruits CEO for Spring Fibre
Wilton & Bain has assisted in the recruitment of Gareth Greppellini as the new CEO of Spring Fibre in the U.K. Jay Siddiki, a partner in the global technology & digital infrastructure practice at Wilton & Bain, led the search. “It’s an exciting journey ahead for Spring Fibre,” said Mr. Siddiki. “Whilst the AltNet industry is going through
ECA Partners Grows Search Staff with PE Veteran
Santa Monica, CA-based search firm ECA Partners has expanded with the addition of Curtis Wise as a senior director. “Curtis brings significant experience in lower middle-market and middle market private equity, as ECA continues to expand in the space,” said Burt Francis, managing director at ECA. “Most notably, he comes with a strong track record of supporting his







