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Focus Search Partners Grows Interim Leadership Practice with Seasoned Leaders Barbara Haith and Matthew Zoltowski

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NASHVILLE, Tenn., Dec. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Focus Search Partners, a Vaco company and leader in retained search and interim leadership, is expanding its Interim Leadership practice by hiring Senior Managing Director Barbara Haith and Managing Director Matthew Zoltowski.

Focus Search Partners expands its interim leadership practice, hires Barbara Haith and Matthew Zoltowski

In their respective roles, Barbara and Matthew are dedicated to placing interim executives at client companies. They provide organizations with access to the specialized skills and deep expertise of tenured leaders—without the long-term commitment of hiring full-time employees. This approach allows organizations to access top-tier talent for critical projects, while reducing costs and driving both agility and innovation.

“Executive-level staffing has rapidly emerged as a key solution in today’s evolving Gig Economy 2.0,” said Paul Frankenberg, Founder and Managing Partner of Focus Search Partners. “As businesses continue to navigate shifting markets and face increasingly specialized needs, the flexibility and expertise offered by interim leaders is invaluable. At Focus Search Partners, we are thrilled to grow our Interim Leadership practice with the deep expertise of Barbara and Matthew, who have proven track records of building strong client relationships, driving organizational success, and delivering tailored solutions that address the dynamic challenges our clients face.”

Barbara Haith

Barbara Haith brings 30-plus years of experience in business development and strategic interim solutions to Focus Search Partners. As Senior Managing Director, Barbara sources highly experienced leaders across a variety of industries with a focus on manufacturing, operations, and consumer products. Her specialty lies in driving middle-market organizations forward by delivering innovative talent solutions and optimizing operations to enhance efficiency, productivity, and profitability. Prior to working at Focus Search Partners, Barbara served as Senior Managing Director at Korn Ferry, where she was primarily focused on interim solutions within manufacturing. She was also a Senior Managing Director at Patina Solutions, which was acquired by Korn Ferry in 2022. Barbara began her career in retail at Banana Republic, where she earned a reputation for innovative talent acquisition strategies and advanced to the role of multi-store regional manager.

“I’m thrilled to join Focus Search Partners and contribute to our mission of helping businesses thrive, particularly during times of transition, transaction, and transformation,” Barbara said. “Our focus is on providing the right interim talent to fuel growth—whether that’s stepping in to fill a leadership gap or bringing in specialized expertise to support key initiatives.”

Matthew Zoltowski

In his role as Managing Director of Focus Search Partners, Matthew delivers customized interim executive solutions that drive client success. Matthew brings more than 20 years of experience in professional services and organizational development to the team. Most recently, Matthew served as the Executive Director of Client Development and Management at Business Talent Group, where he built expertise in strategic workforce planning. He previously held leadership roles at TEKsystems, Slalom, and Gartner. At Focus Search Partners, Matthew’s consultative approach and extensive industry knowledge will help him connect top-tier interim talent with leading organizations.

“With business needs rapidly evolving, it’s an exciting time to join Focus Search Partners as we see increased demand for agile and interim leadership roles,” said Matthew. “Professionals are working differently these days. They prefer to focus on complex projects and challenges, rather than simply punch a clock. Our team is poised to help organizations connect with exceptional interim talent that not only drives meaningful change and accelerates growth—but also delivers cost-saving solutions.”

About Focus Search Partners’ Interim Leadership Practice

From interim board members and C-suite executives to senior-level professionals, the Interim Leadership practice sources for a range of positions and specializes in identifying top-tier talent across key leadership roles. This includes interim chief executive officers, chief financial officers, chief operating officers, vice presidents, and other critical executives who can step in to drive business growth, navigate complex challenges, and lead during periods of change.

Alongside Kate, the Interim Leadership team leader, Barbara and Matthew join existing interim team members Monica Foster, Managing Director, Teresa Hansen, Principal, and Nick Wilkins, Principal. Collectively, the team addresses clients’ provisional talent needs across multiple industries, including healthcare, life sciences, technology, manufacturing, consumer products, and private equity, within both the private and public sectors.

About Focus Search Partners

Founded in 2001, Focus Search Partners specializes in building teams to grow companies, focusing on recruiting board members, executives, and senior-level individuals. In 2014, the company was acquired by Vaco, a $1.1+ billion global professional services firm. Today, Focus Search Partners has 45+ employees and 19 partners spanning the United States and abroad. For more information, visit focussearchpartners.com. 

Media Contact:
Brittney Kowalski
(603) 504-2024
bkowalski@vaco.com

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SOURCE Focus Search Partners

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Optro Establishes UAE Hub to Support Rapid Transition to Agentic GRC Across the Middle East

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Expansion comes as UAE government mandates transition to Agentic AI models, driving demand for continuous assurance and autonomous risk governance.

DUBAI, UAE, Oct. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Optro, the leading AI-powered GRC Intelligence Platform, today announced its expansion into the United Arab Emirates (UAE), establishing Dubai as the company’s newest regional center. The move represents a major step forward in serving global GRC teams and providing localized support for its rapidly growing customer base across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The announcement was made at the 2026 CAE Conference in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

The expansion comes at a historic inflection point for technology governance in the region. Under the “UAE Government 4.0” directive of the UAE National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031, federal institutions are tasked with converting 50 percent of government sectors, services, and operations to autonomous Agentic AI models within a two-year timeline. As non-human agents gain authority to execute workflows, invoke APIs, and issue binding administrative decisions, enterprise and public-sector audit, risk, compliance, and infosec teams are facing unprecedented operational, cybersecurity, and regulatory complexities.

With strict regulatory frameworks taking shape, including Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) AI & ML Guidance, the UAE National AI Policy & Ethics guidelines, the Federal Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL), and Cybersecurity Council/NESA standards, demand is surging for connected, real-time approaches to audit, risk management, data sovereignty, and non-human access control. Optro is built specifically for this paradigm shift. By deploying agentic AI tailored to regional frameworks, Optro gives local practitioners an unmatched ability to execute continuous risk assessments, manage non-human access identities, and automate live compliance mapping against evolving UAE regulations.

“Enterprises and public sector organizations across the Middle East are setting a global benchmark for autonomous innovation,” said Raul Villar Jr., Chief Executive Officer at Optro. “However, deploying agentic AI at scale requires a corresponding evolution in control and assurance. By establishing our regional hub in the UAE, we are delivering the localized presence, partner network, and agentic GRC tools required to help organizations govern autonomous operations, protect data sovereignty, and turn regulatory compliance into a competitive advantage.”

“Internal Audit and GRC functions are playing an increasingly strategic role in helping organizations strengthen resilience, enhance governance, and respond to emerging risks,” said Fady Nader, EY MENA Risk Consulting Partner. “As organizations continue to embrace digital transformation and AI-enabled ways of working, there is a growing need for integrated assurance and timely risk insights. We are pleased to collaborate with Optro in supporting organizations across the region as they evolve their governance, risk and assurance capabilities and adapt to an increasingly dynamic business environment.”

“Our alliance with Optro reflects Deloitte’s commitment to helping clients modernise their control environments,” said James Smith, Controls Assurance Leader at Deloitte Middle East. “Optro’s investment in regional data hosting is another important step and demonstrates their long-term commitment to the region and we are proud to partner with them.”

Optro’s expansion into the UAE follows the company’s recent launch of its Asia-Pacific (APAC) regional hub in Singapore, announced at The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) International Conference in June. Earlier this year, Optro also acquired Midship — the premier AI-native autonomous controls testing solution — delivering highly governed, enterprise-grade AI agents to Optro’s customers and prospects, enabling Optro to rapidly scale across global innovation centers, helping risk, compliance, and audit teams modernize operations and navigate complex regulatory environments in real time.

To learn more about how Optro is transforming risk into opportunity for companies around the world, visit optro.ai.

About Optro 

Optro (formerly AuditBoard) helps enterprises transform risk into opportunity through its AI-powered GRC Intelligence Platform. More than 50% of the Fortune 500 trust Optro to elevate audit, risk, and compliance in addressing a new era of risk. Optro is top-rated by customers on G2 and was named a Leader in the 2025 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) Tools, Assurance Leaders. To learn more, visit optro.ai.

Media Contact
Laura Groshans
press@optro.ai

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Alchemist Group strengthens technology leadership with appointment of fractional CISO

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LONDON, Oct. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Alchemist Group, the parent company behind a portfolio of sales and leadership development brands, has appointed former military cyber-specialist James Griffiths as fractional Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) as it continues to invest in proprietary technology designed to enhance learner experiences.

Bringing over 25 years’ experience across cyber-security, technology and digital transformation, including 17 years in the British Army’s Royal Corps of Signals, Griffiths will provide expertise across technology, cyber-security and digital strategy. His appointment will support the Group’s ongoing technology development while ensuring its systems and data remain secure as the business grows.

Following his military career, Griffiths helped deliver cyber-offensive capabilities for UK government organisations including the Ministry of Defence and GCHQ. He later co-founded Cyber Security Associates, scaling the business from a two-person start-up to a £15 million-plus operation with over 100 employees. He’s now founder of technology consultancy UtopianKnight. 

He joins Alchemist Group as the business builds on the recent launch of its Global Product and Technology function. The new division combines research, human expertise, product design and technology to develop learning systems for global organisations facing increasing pressure to improve performance while adapting to rapid advances in AI and workforce capability.

The function supports the Group’s three brands: Alchemist, a leadership development company; RAIN Group, a sales training specialist; and PCA Law, which provides leadership and business development training for legal professionals.

Appointing Griffiths on a fractional basis has also allowed the Group to bring in senior technology and cyber-security expertise without the lead time associated with a permanent hire.

Will Daniel, global vice president of product and technology at Alchemist Group, said: “As we continue investing in our product and technology capabilities, having the right expertise around us is critical. James brings a wealth of experience across technology and cyber-security, as well as a strategic understanding of how those areas need to support wider business objectives.”

Griffiths added: “Alchemist Group has a clear vision for the role technology can play in enhancing the development and delivery of its learning solutions and client experience, making a robust technology and cyber-security approach essential. I’m delighted to be supporting the Group at such an exciting stage in its growth, helping to align technology, security and business priorities to drive innovation, resilience and long-term success.”

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REGENESYS ANNOUNCES BOOST SCHEDULER TO ENHANCE LINKEDIN CONTENT

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The New Service is the Only Scheduling Tool Available to Optimize Post Performance

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Regenesys, the company that is revolutionizing LinkedIn content distribution has just announced its newest Saas tool – Boost Scheduler – which is an affordable way that allows anyone to schedule boosts for their LinkedIn content. This is an effective tool for brand awareness, trust which also increases reach, followers, profile views and LinkedIn search engine optimization (SEO) to appear at the top of searches.

Boost Scheduler allows users to select the time they wish to publish and is simple and safe to use, a great tool for agencies and social media managers. Many of their clients use this for sales, go-to-market, to meet investors, thought leadership, when exiting their company, or looking for better job opportunities.

Evan Chi, Founder and CEO of Regenesys, said, “Boost Scheduler provides the biggest bang for your buck in terms of LinkedIn performance. There is no other way to solve distribution for content besides paid ads. Our infrastructure removes the ‘luck’ element from LinkedIn. We ensure your most important content gets the eyes it deserves. If you subscribe to Post Booster, you stop leaving your company’s posts to chance. The top 1% of LinkedIn creators are using Regenesys Boost Scheduler to dominate their niche.”

“Before working with Regenesys, our LinkedIn presence was essentially a static resume. By leveraging their post-boosting technology and PR strategies, they completely unlocked our content distribution, helping us turn visibility into a predictable driver of new business. The level of inbound lead generation and profile views we’re seeing now has completely transformed how we acquire clients and grow our pipeline,” said Ryan Baird, CEO of cross border neo-investment bank Baird Augustine.

Evan Chi has also just revamped the Regenesys.io website. He will next launch Regenesys Intelligence, which will be the AI engine for social and competitor intelligence. Regenesys Intelligence will map and score your prospects’ contextual intent against your Ideal Customer Profile (ICP) to surface warm signals and build predictable pipelines.

To further enhance a person or company’s posts, Regenesys also created Omniposte (Omniposte.com), which creates and distributes content across up to 13 social platforms effortlessly. 

About Regenesys

Regenesys has created a LinkedIn system that converts attention to clients more effectively than competing services. It specializes in tools that organically amplify your LinkedIn growth. The company utilizes AI and Social Intelligence to map and score prospects against Ideal Customer Profiles (ICP). Regenesys ensures that content reaches a qualified audience and automates outreach and lead generation.

Media Contact:

Frank Tortorici

frank@marketingmaven.com 

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SOURCE Regenesys

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