ZRG Partners acquires Sterling Martin Associates. May 15, 2026 - ZRG Partners has acquired Sterling Martin Associates, a Washington, D.C.-based executive search firm specializing in professional associations, trade organizations, and mission-driven non-profit organizations. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Larry Hartmann, CEO of ZRG, said the acquisition reflects ZRG's disciplined approach to growth. "This is not about scale for scale's sake," he explained. "Sterling Martin brings earned credibility in sectors where leadership decisions carry lasting consequences. Their addition meaningfully advances our ENSI platform and our ability to serve organizations whose missions extend beyond the bottom line." "ZRG has built a strong foundation in the education, nonprofit, and social impact space, and Sterling Martin meaningfully strengthens it," said Rosa Morris, managing director and leader of ZRG's education, non-profit & social impact practice. "They bring dedicated association expertise and judgment earned over time. Combined with ZRG's reach and capabilities, this allows us to support boards with a sharper, more informed perspective when leadership decisions matter most." Founded by David Martin in 2006, Sterling Martin Associates has built enduring relationships with national associations and non-profit organizations, supporting leadership transitions at moments of growth, complexity, and transformation. The firm has advised organizations including the National PTA, the Society for Neuroscience, the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges, and the Ecological Society of America, among others. Mr. Martin will join ZRG as managing director. He will be joined by a geographically diverse team of consultants and professionals located in the Washington, D.C. area, Chicago, and Denver, further enhancing ZRG's national capabilities and client reach. "There is a natural fit between how Sterling Martin works and how ZRG has built its ENSI practice," Mr. Martin said. "Both firms are focused on serving as trusted long-term advisors to boards and senior leaders. We also share a common approach grounded in the dual nature of this work, bringing together association leadership expertise with deep sector and industry insight. Together, we expand our capabilities and strengthen how we support organizations navigating complex governance, mission-driven leadership, and strategic growth." ZRG, founded in 1999, is a fast-growing global talent advisory firm with the financial backing of private equity investor RFE Investment Partners. It provides a full suite of executive, middle management, and customized search solutions through its offices in North America, Europe, South America, and Asia. The firm finds leaders across a broad spectrum of business markets, including aerospace, consumer, education, healthcare services, and solutions, industrial, life sciences, non-profit, private equity and venture capital, and technology. ZRG is based in Rochelle Park, NJ. Recent Deals Hunt Scanlon Ventures has facilitated a number of M&A transactions across the executive search space in recent months. Here is a look at a few: Talento Human Capital has acquired R2 Global, a highly respected technology recruitment and staffing firm known for its niche expertise across cloud & data, business systems, and e-commerce. This strategic move will expand TalentoHC's existing footprint in the technology sector and launch, as well as strengthen, its technology search & staffing service lines. "The combination of TalentoHC's talent acquisition expertise with R2's deep technical focus marks an exciting new chapter for both organizations," said Juan Gaitan, CEO of TalentoHC, based in Coral Gables, FL. "R2's agile approach to technology staffing and recruiting aligns perfectly with our mission to deliver tailored recruitment solutions. Together, as R2 Powered by Talento, we are positioned to become a premier go-to partner for IT talent and innovation," he added. "TalentoHC and R2 Global customers will benefit tremendously from the portfolio of human capital offerings that the combined organizations now provide," said Scott A. Scanlon, CEO and co-founder of Hunt Scanlon Ventures. Global talent advisory firm ZRG has acquired Aspen Leadership Group, a search firm focused on placing and supporting top fundraising leaders and executive talent in educational institutions and the broader non-profit sector. "The addition of Aspen Leadership Group is nothing short of transformative," said Larry Hartmann, CEO of ZRG. "Their expertise in development and advancement is the perfect complement to our growing education practice, and as we roll into 2025 we are unlocking the collective power of these exceptional niche businesses under the unified banner of ZRG's education practice, creating unmatched solutions for academic and non-profit leadership." Aspen Leadership Group, established in 2013, conducts a wide range of searches across the fundraising, education and non-profit sector and is widely considered the eminent leader in its field. Its clients include Brown University, PBS, Robin Hood, the Humane Society of the United States, the Leakey Foundation, Carnegie Mellon University, and the Denver Zoological Foundation, among others. Talento Human Capital (TalentoHC) has acquired The PeterSan Group and PeterSan Legal Staffing. The merger brings expertise in legal recruiting to TalentoHC's customer experience model and comprehensive human capital services, including retained executive search, professional and management recruiting, RPO, staff augmentation, and human capital consulting. Managing partners Peter Gosule, Peter Goldfeder, and Sandy Friedman of The PeterSan Group will lead the TalentoLegal business unit from New York City, where the firm has been rooted for three decades. "The PeterSan transaction fits in well with our platform strategy as we build onto our customer-centric model and expand our industry and functional vertical focus," said Juan Gaitan, CEO of TalentoHC, based in Coral Gables, FL. "The intersection of these two approaches will create opportunities for continued growth and value for our customers, candidates, associates and shareholders." ZRG acquired Jamesbeck, a New York City-based recruitment firm specializing in senior-level talent for the broad investment management community across private market and traditional firms. "This strategic move aims to establish ZRG's presence in asset management and will support the firm's existing private markets clients by adding a new channel for senior roles at the management company level across investments, product, and fundraising," said ZRG. "Jamesbeck has been at the forefront of decisive changes that have impacted asset management leadership for more than two decades," said Scott A. Scanlon, CEO of Hunt Scanlon Ventures. "The firm's acquisition by ZRG will be beneficial to clients across the global investment management space who have come to rely on its network, judgment and guidance around senior-level leadership talent," he noted. Jamesbeck specializes in the investment management industry across public and private markets. The firm recruits senior-level talent across investing, distribution, product and C-suite positions on behalf of a range of clients from boutiques to the largest multi-product organizations. Jamesbeck's Melissa Norris, managing partner, and Beth Rustin, founding partner, will become the co-heads of asset management search at ZRG. Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor - Hunt Scanlon Media

ZRG acquires Sterling Martin Associates, expanding leadership platform. ROI-NJ Staff(Rochelle Park) May 14, 2026 ZRG, a global talent advisory firm with an office in Rochelle Park, announced the acquisition of Sterling Martin Associates, a Washington, D.C.-based executive search firm specializing in professional associations, trade organizations and mission-driven nonprofit organizations. The acquisition expands ZRG's Education, Nonprofit & Social Impact (ENSI) practice and deepens its leadership advisory capabilities where governance, mission and external stakeholders shape executive decision-making. Sterling Martin is recognized for a highly personalized, high-touch approach and deep credibility in the association space, advising organizations where leadership must balance industry influence with organizational stewardship. "ZRG has built a strong foundation in the education, nonprofit and social impact space, and Sterling Martin meaningfully strengthens it," said Rosa Morris, managing director and leader of ZRG's ENSI practice. "They bring dedicated association expertise and judgment earned over time. Combined with ZRG's reach and capabilities, this allows us to support boards with a sharper, more informed perspective when leadership decisions matter most." David Martin, founder and CEO of Sterling Martin Associates, will join ZRG as managing director. He will be joined by a geographically diverse team of consultants and professionals located in the Washington, D.C., area, Chicago and Denver, further enhancing ZRG's national capabilities and client reach. Sterling Martin Associates will integrate into ZRG's ENSI practice, with a focus on continuity for clients and expanded access to ZRG's broader data-driven platform and global advisory capabilities.

ZRG expands education and Social Impact practice with Sterling Martin Associates acquisition. May 13, 2026 Larry Hartmann, CEO of ZRG ZRG, the fastest-growing global talent advisory firm, today announced the acquisition of Sterling Martin Associates, a Washington, DC-based executive search firm specializing in professional associations, trade organizations, and mission-driven nonprofit organizations. The acquisition expands ZRG's Education, Nonprofit & Social Impact (ENSI) practice and deepens its leadership advisory capabilities where governance, mission, and external stakeholders shape executive decision-making. Sterling Martin is recognized for a highly personalized, high-touch approach and deep credibility in the association space, advising organizations where leadership must balance industry influence with organizational stewardship. Founded by David Martin in 2006, Sterling Martin Associates has built enduring relationships with national associations and nonprofit organizations, supporting leadership transitions at moments of growth, complexity, and transformation. The firm has advised organizations including the National PTA, the Society for Neuroscience, the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges, and the Ecological Society of America, among others. "ZRG has built a strong foundation in the education, nonprofit, and social impact space, and Sterling Martin meaningfully strengthens it," said Rosa Morris, Managing Director and Leader of ZRG's Education, Nonprofit & Social Impact practice. "They bring dedicated association expertise and judgment earned over time. Combined with ZRG's reach and capabilities, this allows us to support boards with a sharper, more informed perspective when leadership decisions matter most." David Martin, Founder and CEO of Sterling Martin Associates, will join ZRG as Managing Director. He will be joined by a geographically diverse team of consultants and professionals located in the Washington, DC area, Chicago, and Denver, further enhancing ZRG's national capabilities and client reach. "There is a natural fit between how Sterling Martin works and how ZRG has built its ENSI practice," said David Martin, Founder and CEO of Sterling Martin Associates. "Both firms are focused on serving as trusted long-term advisors to boards and senior leaders. We also share a common approach grounded in the dual nature of this work, bringing together association leadership expertise with deep sector and industry insight. Together, we expand our capabilities and strengthen how we support organizations navigating complex governance, mission-driven leadership, and strategic growth." Larry Hartmann, CEO of ZRG, said the acquisition reflects ZRG's disciplined approach to growth. "This is not about scale for scale's sake," Hartmann said. "Sterling Martin brings earned credibility in sectors where leadership decisions carry lasting consequences. Their addition meaningfully advances our ENSI platform and our ability to serve organizations whose missions extend beyond the bottom line." Sterling Martin Associates will integrate into ZRG's Education, Nonprofit & Social Impact practice, with a focus on continuity for clients and expanded access to ZRG's broader data-driven platform and global advisory capabilities. ZRG is the fastest-growing full-service talent advisory in the world, revolutionizing how companies hire and manage talent. With a data-driven approach to executive and professional search, ZRG is changing the way clients think about finding top talent. The company's digital Zi platform combines talent intelligence, candidate insights, and process improvements to deliver executive searches more quickly and with proven better results. Backed by private equity investor RFE Investment Partners, ZRG is the fastest-growing firm in the search industry, offering a full suite of retained search, on-demand talent, and consulting and advisory solutions across the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Australia. For more information, visit www.zrgpartners.com. About Sterling Martin Associates Sterling Martin Associates is a Washington, DC-based executive search firm specializing in professional associations, trade organizations, and nonprofit organizations. The firm partners closely with boards and senior leaders to recruit CEOs, executive directors, and senior leadership aligned with organizational mission, culture, and long-term strategic goals.