Savage Partners Appoints COO

January 11, 2022 – Savage Partners, a boutique executive search firm serving the technology sector, has named Kenneth Vancini as its new chief operating officer. “We are thrilled to welcome Ken to Savage Partners,” said Todd Savage, managing director and co-founder of the firm. “His extensive industry experience and expertise will help us continue to serve our clients with exceptional service and place the most highly qualified candidates in the industry. We know he will make an invaluable addition to the team.” Mr. Vancini, a long-time leader in executive recruiting, has been brought on board to help lead Savage Partners’ collaborative and team-driven approach to executive search. In his new role, he will oversee daily operations. Savage Partners was founded in 2005 as an executive search firm specializing in assisting growth-focused technology companies with an emphasis on software and internet-enabled businesses.

Mr. Vancini’s hiring marks a significant investment by the search firm into people, research, and infrastructure to support its ability to maintain a market-leading position in a rapidly growing industry. “Savage Partners operates with a consultative approach and has cultivated a broad relationship network of executives, enabling them to fill positions with precision and accuracy,” the firm said.

Mr. Vancini has worked in several executive level roles for major executive search firms, including as founder and president of ZRG Partners, a firm he ran for 16 years. ZRG grew to serve clients in 33 countries with more than 25 cities around the globe. RFE Investment Partners ultimately acquired ZRG in 2019. Most recently, Mr. Vancini was with Thrive TRM, a talent relationship management platform that develops cutting-edge applications which help recruiters, talent executives, and many Fortune 100 companies make better hiring decisions.

Founded in 2005, Savage Partners specializes in partnering with high-growth technology firms. The focal point of Savage Partners is information technology, with a particular emphasis on software, eCommerce, and Internet-enabled companies. The firm is headquartered in West Palm Beach.

Leadership Appointments Rising at Recruiting Firms

Top leadership appointments, of men and women, have been gaining traction at executive search firms over the past year. Here’s a look at several examples taken from the Hunt Scanlon Media archives:

Russell Reynolds Associates appointed Constantine Alexandrakis, currently head of the firm’s Americas region, as its new CEO succeeding Clarke Murphy, who will remain with the firm, transitioning back to full-time client work. “Constantine is a demonstrated leader who has an inspiring vision,” said Mr. Murphy. “With his global orientation, collaborative leadership, inclusive mindset, and passion for the business, I am confident that he will lead this organization forward with tremendous success. I am proud to be a part of the firm’s legacy and am looking forward to continuing to work with Constantine as he positions us for the future.” Mr. Alexandrakis served on the firm’s executive committee between 2015 and 2018 and in 2018 was appointed head of the Americas – including the U.S., Canada, and Latin America – overseeing the firm’s growth and expansion in the region.

Diversified Search Group (DSG), a leading search firm backed by private equity firm ShoreView Industries, appointed vice chairman Aileen K. Alexander to chief executive officer, reporting to Judith M. von Seldeneck, founder and chair. Ms. Alexander’s accession comes following Dale E. Jones’ recent decision to step down after nine years as CEO. Under Mr. Jones’s leadership, the firm’s revenue grew from $27 million to more than $100 million. Mr. Jones will remain with the firm as a senior adviser, serving clients in its corporate board and CEO practice. “I would like to thank Dale for his leadership and the significant contributions he’s made to this firm. He has cemented his legacy as a pioneer in this industry and as a transformative leader in the growth of Diversified Search Group,” said Ms. Seldeneck. “The board and our management team believe that Aileen Alexander is the ideal leader to position our company for even greater growth and success in the future as we focus on cultivating new leaders for this changing world.”

The board of directors of Isaacson, Miller appointed Ericka Miller as the firm’s next president and CEO. “As one of the first women of color to lead a major national executive search firm, Ericka brings a deep and lifelong commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, consistent with Isaacson, Miller’s core values,” the search firm said. “Ericka has done an excellent job of building and leading our PreK-12 education and education improvement practice, chairing the promotions committee, and serving as an indispensable member of the board of directors,” said John Isaacson, founder and chair of Isaacson, Miller.

San Diego, CA-headquartered executive search firm Bespoke Partners added a new president and chief operating officer to its leadership team as it seeks ways to drive and scale its human capital advisory service offerings. Joining Bespoke as president is Eric Walczykowski, a technology industry veteran who has served in leadership roles in business development, sales and marketing. He is charged with driving Bespoke’s transformation from a pure executive search firm to a full-service human capital advisory firm. Mark Hood joins as chief operating officer, bringing decades of experience in operations, management, and capital market activities. Mr. Hood will be expected to build the firm’s talent and management infrastructure to scale its capacity across multiple service lines, while sustaining the firm’s track record of performance, quality, and client satisfaction.