HireQuest has revealed a strategic transition for its global executive search division, MRINetwork, transferring majority ownership to a newly formed leadership group of experienced franchise owners while maintaining partial ownership and ongoing infrastructure support to accelerate network growth and performance.
The new ownership group brings decades of hands-on recruiting and franchise experience directly into strategic decision-making. Shana Applebaum, previously Managing Partner and Chief Revenue Officer at Northbound Executive Search, steps into the role of Managing Director based in New York City, tasked with strengthening client partnerships, unifying the global office network, and driving cohesive high-performance operations.
Rick Hermanns, CEO of HireQuest, emphasized the strategic alignment:
"This is a tremendous moment for MRINetwork. By aligning the brand's leadership with experienced franchise owner-operators, we ensure the network is guided by those who live its mission each day. Shana's history of joining organizations and fueling growth makes her the perfect leader to take MRINetwork into its next chapter. HireQuest remains fully committed to MRINetwork's success by providing shared services, scale advantages and integrated staffing-and-recruiting solutions to our clients."
Shana Applebaum shared her vision:
"I am honored to step into the role of Managing Director at MRINetwork. Alongside our new leadership team, we will leverage our deep recruiting expertise, strengthen best-practice processes, and build a network that is more connected and primed for growth. I'm excited to bring our offices closer together, enhance collaboration, and position MRINetwork for long-term success."
This ownership transition combines entrepreneurial leadership with the backing of HireQuest’s broader ecosystem, delivering enhanced value across multiple dimensions. Current and future franchise owners gain from owner-operator governance that deeply understands daily operations, while continuing to benefit from HireQuest’s national purchasing scale, integrated staffing-recruiting solutions, technology platforms, training programs, and back-office infrastructure.
The structure creates a compelling one-stop talent solution for clients with complex needs, blending MRINetwork’s executive search expertise with HireQuest’s on-demand and commercial staffing capabilities.
Amid industry headwinds giving way to renewed executive recruiting demand—driven by demographic shifts and near-record turnover—the repositioned MRINetwork is ideally placed to capture significant market share through a unified, growth-focused network.
The transaction is expected to close in the coming weeks, with the new leadership collaborating on an enhanced service model and network-wide initiatives launching in Q1 2026.
About MRINetwork
MRINetwork has been a leader in the search and recruitment industry since 1965, offering a full range of talent advisory solutions through a global network of offices. As a HireQuest division, MRINetwork unites industry insight with global reach to deliver the talent that drives impactful organizational change.
About HireQuest
HireQuest is a global franchisor of on-demand, executive search, and commercial staffing solutions. Through its divisions including HireQuest Direct, Snelling Staffing, MRINetwork, TradeCorp, and others, the company provides employment for thousands of individuals each year across a wide range of industries.
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