THE PRODIGY REPORT

2025: A YEAR IN REVIEW

A Message From Our Leaders

A few years ago, we closed a half dozen searches in the final 10 days of the calendar year. To say it was a unique holiday season in the executive search business is putting it mildly. Yet, signed offer letters in late December are always a welcomed gift!

We often get asked about the ebbs and flows of the recruitment business and while there are often lulls during the summer due to vacations and entering a new school year, the period from Thanksgiving through New Years Day tends to be generally fickle. You will find plenty of organizations that metaphorically (or quite literally) shut down their offices during the holidays. Out of office email responses and voicemails become the norm along with “let’s circle back after the New Year.”

Stating the obvious - many of our clients and candidates simply want to hit the reset button as the calendar flips to 2026 while others show a sense of urgency. Delaying this reset could add stress and uncertainty over the time off.

We have no rooting interest this time of year, nor do we want to force our agenda on hiring processes to conclude. We're human too - with families, holiday travel, 2026 road maps, goal setting plans, etc. Yes, we love motivated clients who want to make a critical hire regardless of the day or time, and of course, an inbox full of signed offer letters brings joy, but regardless of the upcoming wrap-up of 2025, let's all remember the popular song lyric: "It's the most wonderful time of the year.”

We wish you all Happy Holidays, a very Merry Christmas, and a healthy, happy, and successful New Year!

_______

Scott Carmichael, Founder & CEO

Mark Gress Jr., Partner | Kevin Carmichael, Partner

I N T E G R I T Y . C R E D I B I L I T Y . D I V E R S I T Y . C H A R A C T E R . P A S S I O N

THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF PRODIGY SEARCH: Q4 2025

2025 Executive Placement Success

Looking back on 2025, we are profoundly grateful to our new clients as well as the long-term partners who have relied on us for their most important executive hires. Your trust in Prodigy Search underscores our dedication to delivering exceptional results, and we appreciate the strong relationships that have grown from our collaboration. Throughout the year, we have had the honor of guiding a diverse portfolio of searches and aligning organizations with leaders who bring great depth and experience within the industry.

A partial selection of our Executive Placements from 2025 include:

Additional clients that we've worked with include:

To learn more about Prodigy Search, visit our webpage .

THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF PRODIGY SEARCH: Q4 2025

In the Spotlight

Celebrating 18 Years

For 18 years, Prodigy Search has been connecting top-tier talent with leading organizations in sports and entertainment. With over 200 clients served and more than 1,000 placements completed, we are proud of our track record of excellence and the trusted relationships we’ve built across the industry.

Our team specializes in executive-level searches, achieving an average tenure of 6 years for our C-suite placements and seeing 73% of clients return for additional assistance. We have successfully placed executives across more than 20 Olympic National Governing Bodies (NGBs) and numerous professional leagues, teams, venues, and other industry-leading organizations.

We have earned the trust of some of the world’s most iconic organizations, including the Dallas Cowboys, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Lakers, Pittsburgh Steelers, TD Garden/Boston Bruins, AEG Worldwide, Liverpool Football Club, United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, Oak View Group, Live Nation, PGA TOUR, Legends Global, the TGR (Tiger Woods) Foundation and Endeavor.

Recognized by the Sports Business Journal as one of the Best Places to Work in Professional Services for two consecutive years, Prodigy Search continues to uphold our values of Integrity, Credibility, Diversity, Character, and Passion.

Best Place to Work in Sports

We are truly honored to be named one of the BEST PLACES TO WORK in Sports by Sports Business Journal!

Our culture is rooted in connection, impact, and shared purpose. Giving back is central to who we are— and these initiatives not only make a difference externally but also bring our team together around something bigger than ourselves.

Being named one of the Best Places to Work in Sports for the second consecutive year is a meaningful reflection of our team and leadership efforts - past, present and future. In our recent celebration of 18 years, we’re proud to have built a strong, adaptable, and values-driven team—one that delivers the same level of care internally as we do to the partners and organizations we serve.

Search Success Driven by the Numbers

In 2025, our search process continued to demonstrate both efficiency and precision. On average, clients received a fully vetted shortlist of candidates within the first three weeks of launching a search, allowing hiring teams to move quickly and confidently. The strength of our initial outreach was reflected in the results—75% of all eventual placements came directly from our first slate of recommended candidates.

As a retained search firm, we maintained a swift and effective timeline, with the average search moving from initial outreach to a signed offer letter in just over two months. Our commitment to inclusive hiring also remained central to our work, with 44% of our placements representing diverse talent. Perhaps most meaningful, 70% of our projects in 2025 came from returning clients, a testament to the trust, satisfaction, and long-term partnerships we strive to build with every engagement.

Follow our social media outlets to stay up-to-date on our latest announcements!

THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF PRODIGY SEARCH: Q4 2025

Highlighted Openings

Below are some of our current projects, hyperlinked to their respective job descriptions. We welcome you to apply directly or share with your network.