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Kingsley Gate Launches IGNYTE AI Ensuring Executive-Level Quality for Every Professional Hire

New AI-powered, consultant-led solution delivers executive-level precision to professional search and high-scale hiring with unmatched speed and quality.

Kingsley Gate, a leading global, executive search and human capital advisory firm, today announced the continued strengthening of its international presence with the appointment of five new partners across key regions. Dan O’Donovan joins the firm’s Chicago office, Spencer Knibbe joins the New York office, Tatyana Freitas and Loreto Montoya strengthen the Latin American presence in São Paulo and Santiago respectively, while Alejandro Salazar-Simpson enhances the firm’s European capabilities from Madrid.

“These strategic appointments reflect our commitment to expanding our global footprint and delivering world-class executive search and advisory services to our clients across diverse markets,” said Andrew Holmes, CEO of Kingsley Gate. 
Andrew Holmes, CEO of Kingsley Gate
“Each of these accomplished professionals brings unique expertise and deep regional knowledge that will be invaluable as we continue to help organizations identify and secure high-impact decision makers. Their collective experience across technology, industrial, consumer goods, private equity, risk management, financial services and transformation initiatives significantly enhances our ability to serve clients with increasingly complex talent needs in today’s evolving business landscape.”

“Each of these accomplished professionals brings unique expertise and deep regional knowledge that will be invaluable as we continue to help organizations identify and secure high-impact decision makers. Their collective experience across technology, industrial, consumer goods, private equity, risk management, financial services and transformation initiatives significantly enhances our ability to serve clients with increasingly complex talent needs in today’s evolving business landscape.”

Kingsley Gate, a leading global executive search firm, today announced the launch of IGNYTE AI, an innovative solution that combines proprietary AI technology with decades of executive search expertise. The new platform empowers organizations to hire faster and more intelligently beyond the executive level — without sacrificing quality.

Built to address growing demand for sophisticated, quality hiring beyond the C-suite, IGNYTE AI extends Kingsley Gate’s proven executive search rigor to professional search and high-scale hiring. Whether organizations need to hire one person or 200, finding the right talent to optimize company performance requires both advanced technology and human expertise.

“IGNYTE AI disrupts the old trade-off between quality and speed,” said JL Baker, who leads IGNYTE AI. “We’ve developed IGNYTE AI to challenge traditional recruiting by combining our proprietary native AI platform with decades of executive search expertise. Our clients no longer have to choose between deep human insight and data-driven precision — they get both.”

IGNYTE AI offers two distinct service lines:

Professional Search: Applies executive-level rigor to critical mid-level roles, using advanced algorithms that go beyond keywords to analyze experience, competencies, and decision-making styles. This strategic approach helps discover hidden talent that traditional methods would miss.

High-Scale Hiring: Extends our signature executive white-glove service to large-scale hiring initiatives (2–200 roles), ensuring the same consultative attention and strategic rigor typically reserved for C-suite searches.

Clients work directly with experienced consultants while the platform’s proprietary IGNYTE Intelligence accelerates every stage of the search—from role definition to candidate shortlist. This native AI human capital platform was developed from over 20 years of executive search experience and insights from thousands of successful placements.

Each engagement includes a dedicated team — Partner, Client Partner, Project Manager, and specialized recruiters — ensuring strategic alignment and seamless delivery from search initiation through onboarding.

“IGNYTE AI represents the future of talent acquisition,” said Andrew Holmes, Chief Executive Officer of Kingsley Gate. “By extending our proprietary search methodology beyond the executive suite, we help clients build a cohesive, high-performing workforce that magnifies leadership impact and accelerates results across the enterprise.”

IGNYTE AI operates with enterprise-grade security standards, including SOC-2 and GDPR compliance, ensuring safe and trusted data handling for global operations. The platform serves key corporate functions including Finance, Sales, Marketing, Operations, HR, and IT across North America.

The business unit begins operations immediately, offering organizations a radically different way to hire that delivers both quality and speed without compromise.

Learn more at www.ignyteai.com

About IGNYTE AI

IGNYTE AI brings executive-level precision to mid-level and high-scale hiring. Unlike generic AI recruiting tools, IGNYTE AI runs on our proprietary AI-native platform with a purpose-built small language model designed specifically to augment human capital intelligence.

Guided by experienced consultants, this specialized technology helps organizations “find the person behind the profile” through fast, data-driven, and human-centered Professional Search and High-Scale Hiring solutions.

About the Consultants

Spencer

Vice President

Dan joins Kingsley Gate as a Partner specializing in advising private equity firms and family offices on executive talent acquisition for their portfolio companies. With a consultative approach characterized by curiosity, candor, and the relentless pursuit to add value, Dan has successfully led over one hundred searches across various functions and industries including manufacturing, distribution, business services, food & beverage, consumer, and healthcare services. Prior to Kingsley Gate, he served as a Partner at Randall Partners and previously consulted with organizations from startups to Fortune 500 companies on payroll, HR, insurance, and recruiting. Dan holds a Biology degree from Marquette University and is based in Chicago.

“I decided to join Kingsley Gate because of their innovative approach to leveraging technology to transform the executive search industry,” said O’Donovan. “Their commitment to creating exceptional client experiences aligns perfectly with my vision for delivering unparalleled value through strategic talent acquisition.”

David O’Brien

Vice President

Spencer joins Kingsley Gate as a Partner specializing in executive search for risk, compliance, and audit leadership roles for Financial Services firms. With over 20 years of hands-on industry experience in governance, risk management, and compliance (GRC), Spencer founded MBK Search to establish a specialized practice focused on GRC recruiting after organizations sought his expertise in building high-performing teams. Prior to his executive search career, Spencer held senior leadership positions including Head of Operational Risk Management at Bridgewater Associates and Head of Risk – Americas at ICAP, Plc. His client-centric approach spans multiple sectors including banking, asset management, insurance, fintech, and corporate environments, specializing in C-suite placements such as Chief Risk Officers, Chief Compliance Officers, and Heads of Audit. Spencer holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government, Cum Laude, from Harvard University. Spencer is based in New York.

“I chose Kingsley Gate for their exceptional global platform spanning multiple industries and their team of highly driven professionals,” said Knibbe. “Their collaborative culture and commitment to excellence made this the perfect place to leverage my risk and compliance expertise in executive search.”

Tatyana Freitas

Vice President

Tatyana joins as a Senior Partner bringing nearly two decades of experience in executive search and leadership assessment to Kingsley Gate, with particular expertise in the Technology, Consumer, Professional and Financial Services sectors. Based in São Paulo, she previously co-led the Technology & Digital practice in Latin America at Russell Reynolds Associates and headed the DE&I practice for the region. Her career includes leadership roles at Caccuri Consultores, Korn Ferry, and Interbrand, where she led Brand Strategy & Valuation projects across Latin America and Europe. Earlier in her career, she held positions at General Electric and Procter & Gamble. Tatyana holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of São Paulo and a postgraduate degree in Business Administration from Fundação Getúlio Vargas, and is fluent in Portuguese, English, and Spanish.

“Kingsley Gate offers a unique combination of an extensive international network and global capabilities with a boutique approach,” Freitas commented. “The team is both experienced and entrepreneurial—a rare combination that creates a distinctive market positioning. The firm’s growth mindset and collaborative culture embedded in its DNA were key factors in my decision to join.”

About Kingsley Gate

Kingsley Gate is a global executive search firm born with native AI and people at its core. Founded in 2015 to disrupt a recruitment model that hadn’t evolved in nearly a century, the firm combines seasoned human expertise with a proprietary AI platform purpose-built for executive search.

By embedding artificial intelligence into every stage of the process, Kingsley Gate helps organizations hire leaders who fit their specific strategy, culture, and ambition – rather than just a job description.

Operating as one unified global firm, Kingsley Gate serves more than 2,000 clients across 50+ countries, partnering with Global 2000 organizations, private equity–backed companies, and high-growth VC firms to deliver leaders who perform, adapt, and endure in their roles.
The firm is backed by private equity firm Crescent Cove Advisors.

For more information, please visit www.kingsleygate.com

Editorial contact:

Justin Goldstein
Email: [email protected]
516-578-8623
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