Pekarsky & Co. and Humanis Advisory Merge
March 25, 2024 – Calgary-based Pekarsky & Co. and Edmonton-headquartered Humanis Advisory have formed a strategic partnership. Combining their renowned expertise and deep-rooted legacies, the newly company will be called Humanis Talent Acquisition & Advisory. “This merger is a testament to our shared values and vision,” said Adam Pekarsky, founding partner of Pekarsky & Co. “We are excited to preserve the traditions that have made us so highly respected while embracing the opportunities of the future. This really is a new beginning, and it is just the beginning.”
“Our combined talents and resources will enable us to remain at the forefront of our industry,” said Diane Wheatley, managing partner of Humanis Advisory. “Together, we will push boundaries and deliver exceptional solutions to our clients. Not just in Alberta, but across the country.”
With planning underway to expand east and west, the combined entity will act as a collection of local firms with national reach. The leadership team, comprised of key executives from both companies, is committed to ensuring a seamless transition for employees, clients, and partners.
Pekarsky & Co., founded in 2009, specializes in executive search across all industries and functions, including in the legal, not-for-profit, board, and civic recruitment space. Recently awarded the 2023 Small Business of the Year Award from connectFirst Credit Union, the firm has provided recognized for its service to its community through engagement, thought leadership, and philanthropic efforts.
Humanis Advisory dates back to the early 2000s, with its core group of leaders having once worked together at Conroy Ross Partners. The firm has placed senior leaders across sectors including energy, manufacturing, construction, real estate, non-profit, sports and entertainment, and professional services. Humanis Advisory also has a fractional recruitment practice that addresses urgent interim placement needs with senior talent.
Recent Partnerships
Alliances and partnerships continue to gain traction in the executive search industry. Here is a sampling from the Hunt Scanlon Media archives:
Saenger Associates and GrowthPhases AG have formed an alliance to expand each firm’s client offering to include retained executive search, interim management and business consulting. The two firms were founded in 1999 and 2000 respectively. Saenger Associates is a retained executive search firm based in the Santa Clarita, CA, Valley. The firm’s practice areas include Industrial Products, Aerospace & Defense, and Consumer Products. Its clients include private, public, Fortune 500, and non-profit companies that are both established and emerging. GrowthPhases is an international interim management and M&A consultancy firm, which consists of former C-suite executives from multinational corporations and private equity-backed companies. GrowthSpaces, the consulting platform, is focused on interim management and consulting assignments. GrowthPhases’ focus is on working with private equity and investment banks on acquisitions and investment platforms and on investment strategies and opportunities.
Direct Recruiters Inc. (DRI) and INNOVA People, Starfish Partners companies, have launched INNOVA Healthcare and INNOVA Tech staffing practice areas. “We have diligently been searching for the right firm to merge our existing staffing business with since the inception of Starfish Partners,” said Dan Charney, president and CEO of Direct Recruiters, Inc. “Joel Slenning and INNOVA People are the ideal partner based on their existing footprint in the hospital IT space. Additionally, their expertise in several other areas of hospital staffing will allow us to become a complete solution for our clients. Frank Myeroff, practice leader and managing partner of the Direct Recruiters existing staffing group will work closely with Joel to continue to grow this division for Starfish across leading medical centers and several other strategic markets that we have identified.” Leveraging decades of experience in healthcare and technology recruiting and merging the staffing divisions of INNOVA People and Direct Recruiters Inc., this newly formed staffing company offers solutions, including contract, contract-to-hire, and temporary placements. In addition, they will offer customized staffing services encompassing consulting, sourcing, identifying, acquiring, onboarding, and retaining senior executives to organizations. Moving forward, the combined staffing companies will be operating under the INNOVA People brand.
Global leadership advisory and executive search firm Sheffield Haworth has formed an alliance with Progress Together, an initiative focused on addressing the socio-economic disparity within the financial services sector. This strategic alliance comes in response to the recent study commissioned by Progress Together and conducted by Bridge Group called Shaping Our Economy, which highlighted socioeconomic background is more likely to impact a person’s route to success in financial services than gender or ethnicity. “At Sheffield Haworth, we firmly believe in the power of diversity and inclusion,” said Frances Denny, managing director and head of the socio-economic diversity group at Sheffield Haworth. “Our partnership with Progress Together underscores our dedication to creating a level playing field for everyone, regardless of their socio-economic background. Together, we are working towards fostering an industry that embraces and celebrates differences, leading to a more vibrant and innovative workforce.” The collaboration between Progress Together and Sheffield Haworth will include a series of initiatives, including webinars, workshops, and training sessions designed to educate businesses about the significance of socio-economic diversity.
Egon Zehnder has formed an alliance with The 350 Club, an online community that connects the FTSE 350 global board community. This partnership combines Egon Zehnder’s boardroom expertise with The 350 Club’s shared vision to fostering an online platform for board members to exchange insights and learnings. “We are incredibly honored to be chosen as The 350 Club’s exclusive search firm partner,” said Karoline Vinsrygg, who leads Egon Zehnder’s U.K. board practice. “This collaboration reflects our mutual commitment to supporting boards and exceptional board leaders, all while championing diversity and innovation. We look forward to leveraging our extensive network and experience to support the growth and success of The 350 Club’s members.” With representation from chairs, group CEOs, board members, and executive committee members across 89 percent of the FTSE 100, as well as board members from 75 percent of the FTSE 250, The 350 Club has a depth of influence across FTSE boardrooms. Both Egon Zehnder and The 350 Club share a commitment to diversity and inclusion. Egon Zehnder has been tracking boardroom diversity globally for nearly 20 years and has developed practices to promote inclusive boardroom cultures. The 350 Club helps to foster a variety of perspectives by curating a group of FTSE 350 board-ready members, with a particular focus on diversity and digital.
Related: Coulter Partners Forms Alliance with the Institute of Neurodiversity
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor; Lily Fauver, Senior Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
