Hunt Scanlon Ventures Serves as Strategic Advisor to ZRG and Aspen Leadership Group In M&A Transaction

GREENWICH, Conn., Feb. 6, 2025 — Hunt Scanlon Ventures, the leading M&A advisory firm focused on the human capital markets, announced today that it has facilitated a transaction between ZRG and Aspen Leadership Group while serving as a strategic advisor on the deal.

“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 sector. 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.

A Breakthrough Win

“This acquisition carries ZRG’s brand further into C-suite recruiting and opens an expansive ‘leader-to-leader’ consulting services channel which is one of the fastest growing segments within human capital solutions,” said Scott A. Scanlon, co-founder of Hunt Scanlon Ventures who worked on the deal alongside HSV managing director Drew Seaman.

“This is another breakthrough win for ZRG as its leadership team continues to rapidly develop, evolve and scale the business.”

“Aspen Leadership Group is well known for its focus on recruiting and supporting CEOs and executive directors, chief development & advancement officers and their teams, and chief financial and operational officers – including COOs, CFOs, general counsels, and other C-suite leaders,” said Mr. Seaman.

“This is another breakthrough win for ZRG as its leadership team continues to rapidly develop, evolve and scale the business,” he added.

With Aspen Leadership Group’s specialized focus in development and advancement, and its complementary expertise in finance and operations, the acquisition boosts ZRG’s education sector offerings, including The Registry – which concentrates on interim leadership for academic institutions, TurnkeyZRG – which targets college sports recruiting, and Helbling & Associates – which focuses on real estate and facilities searches in academia.

Hunt Scanlon Ventures served as a strategic advisor on The Registry and Turnkey transactions.

ZRG, founded in 1999, is one of the fastest-growing global talent advisory firms 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.

About Hunt Scanlon Ventures:

Hunt Scanlon Ventures is the leading M&A advisory firm focused on the human capital markets. The firm assists in global merger and acquisition advisory, sourcing and facilitating transactions, buyouts, and growth capital investments as it guides founders to successful exits. Hunt Scanlon is an investor in data-driven and AI-powered human capital platforms where the firm works in partnership with management teams to scale and grow their businesses through a combination of capital investment, acquisitions, and other strategic initiatives.

Contact: Drew Seaman
Managing Director
(602) 622-1392
[email protected]

SOURCE Hunt Scanlon Media