TalentWave appointed AJ Atkinson as VP – business solutions, responsible for driving enterprise sales in the southeastern region of the US. Atkinson has more than 34 years of experience in the human capital management industry. Prior to joining TalentWave, he was involved with HCM software and services solutions for two ERP providers, WFM vendors and a provider of outsourced payroll services. TalentWave is the new brand for the combined operations of independent contractor compliance/payrolling firms ICon Professional Services and Synergy Services, which joined forces in October.

Executive search firm Korn Ferry International Inc. (NYSE: KFY) announced Jonathan Dahl joined the firm as VP, chief content officer. He will oversee print and digital news content, including Briefings magazine and the Korn Ferry Institute website. Dahl previously served as editor in chief at two publications for The Wall Street Journal — SmartMoney and WSJMoney.

Employee Solutions, a Plano, Texas-based light industrial staffing company, announced Operations Manager James Garibay will lead its new office in Roanoke, Texas, located north of Fort Worth. This is the company’s ninth North Texas office and its 13th location overall. Garibay joined Employee Solutions in 2012 and has 22 years of staffing industry experience. The Roanoke office staff also includes Area Manager Connie Gage and Branch Manager Jan Fulton.

Active Staffing Services, a temporary staffing provider headquartered in New York, announced Branch Lead Yajaira Lopez will be in charge of its new office in Jackson Heights, Queens, NY, the company’s eighth branch. George Yuret from Active’s Bronx office will also join the Queens branch. Active Staffing has targeted the industrial market since 1947, and in recent years expanded into construction and real estate placements.

KORE1, an IT recruiting and staffing firm headquartered in Irvine, Calif., announced Meghan Dewey is the managing director of its new branch location in Philadelphia. Dewey has more than six years of staffing solutions experience, with previous experience as a director of business development and branch director.

Executive search firm Heidrick & Struggles International Inc. (NASD: HSII) added Lisa Baird as a partner in its leadership consulting practice. Baird will be based in the firm’s New York City office, working within both the financial services and leadership consulting practices. She most recently was the chief human resources officer at Taconic Capital Advisors.

Lucas Group, an Atlanta-based executive search firm, promoted seven individuals representing four practice areas of the firm, including Linda Oberman-Brody, executive senior partner, accounting and finance; Jeremiah Leeper, senior partner, information technology; Patrick Whittaker, senior partner, manufacturing; Brittany Blow, senior executive search consultant, sales and marketing; Kevin Fahrner, senior executive search consultant, sales and marketing; Katherine Hearty, senior executive search consultant, accounting and finance; and Ramona Solis, senior executive search consultant, sales and marketing.

Sapeare Executive Search, a subsidiary of Charter Global Inc., added Jim Thorsten to its team to lead the company’s national human resources practice division. Thorsten has 25 years of experience in the recruiting and staffing industry.