StevenDouglas Expands Search Staff
February 25, 2025 – Executive search firm StevenDouglas has expanded with the addition of Greg von der Linden as director, human resources search. “Greg’s approach to recruiting is relationship-driven, built on trust, clear communication, and responsiveness,” StevenDouglas said in a LinkedIn post. “He focuses on providing meaningful, lasting solutions that align with the goals of both his clients and candidates. With experience on all sides of executive search—leading searches, working with hiring managers, and being placed as a candidate—Greg ensures a seamless and world-class experience for all stakeholders.”
Mr. von der Linden is an accomplished executive search leader with over 20 years of HR experience, including more than five years as a CHRO. His career includes senior roles at organizations such as Opus Bank, Confie, and PIMCO. At PIMCO, Mr. von der Linden led global talent acquisition, doubling the firm’s headcount by recruiting over 1,500 professionals in five years, including numerous senior-level hires.
“A big thank you to Elizabeth Jacobs and Matt Shore for the opportunity to join such an incredible team,” said Mr. von der Linden in a LinkedIn post. “I look forward to collaborating with my new teammates and helping our clients secure exceptional talent to accelerate their business goals, while providing an outstanding candidate experience to everyone we engage with.”
Established in 1984, StevenDouglas is a boutique executive search and interim resources firm. Its client base is industry agnostic and ranges from start-ups and emerging middle-market to Fortune 500 companies and private equity firms. StevenDouglas has experience in a variety of key areas of expertise, as well as rapid-growth, highly competitive practices, such as IT staffing and consulting. The firm is headquartered in Miami and was founded by Steve Sadaka. StevenDouglas focuses in the areas of finance & accounting, information technology, financial services, human resources, sales, marketing & operations, and health services.
Related: StevenDouglas Names VP, Technology Executive Search
Mr. Sadaka started StevenDouglas in Miami after gaining experience in public accounting and seeing a need for highly qualified talent in the region. Today, he focuses on continuing the firm’s growth strategy and nurturing the company’s great culture and business relationships.
Executive Search in 2024: Challenges, Trends, and Hopes for a Hiring Resurgence in 2025
For many search firms in almost all industry segments, 2024 has been a tough year. There are many reasons for the recent downturn, and some firms have experienced a dip in revenues for even longer, according to Tim Tolan, founder, chairman, and managing partner of The Tolan Group. “Lots of changes are on the horizon for 2025 on the hiring front, and search firms are waiting with bated breath while hiring decisions are on hold, and draft fee agreements are (still) sitting in DocuSign waiting to be signed,” he said. “Decisions are dragging, as are active search engagements, as hiring managers and leaders struggle to make hiring decisions in the environment, we are all trying to navigate.”
In the Hunt Scanlon 2024 Executive Recruiting State of the Industry Report, the numbers reflected a double-digit downturn in demand for executive recruiting, with the private equity sector being the most affected. “We’ve seen and experienced that firsthand, but we feel positive changes are on the horizon,” Mr. Tolan said.
Mr. Shore, CEO of the firm, joined StevenDouglas in 2006 and has played an integral role in the company’s significant growth. With all of his additional responsibilities, he continues to focus on senior-level financial search, managing the firm’s CFO search practice.
Over 40 Years in Business
StevenDouglas recently celebrated 40 years in business. “On this big milestone anniversary, I am feeling grateful for the trust and confidence that our amazing clients, candidates and employees have put in us for so many years”, said Mr. Sadaka. “I remain committed to our roots as a boutique high-touch service business, with a great culture where employees can be themselves and enjoy coming to work, while having great opportunities to grow personally and professionally. We are doing something special here and I can’t imagine the last 40 years any other way.”
“It’s an honor every day to lead such an amazing team and be a part of a South Florida mainstay that companies have counted on since the early 1980’s,” said Mr. Shore. “Over the last two decades we’ve used our drive and passion for excellence to expand our footprint and capabilities to be able to serve a broader client base and create more positive outcomes for our clients and candidates.”
Related: StevenDouglas Opens New Offices in Cleveland and Dallas
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
