Debra Schwartzfarb is an executive recruiter and talent strategist with over 20 years of experience spanning executive search and human resources leadership. She began her career in senior HR roles at Toys “R” Us and Gap Inc., later joining Macy’s Inc. as Vice President of Human Resources for the company’s private brands organization.
In 2011, Debra was recruited to Kirk Palmer Associates as Senior Partner, where she led C-suite and functional searches for public, private equity-backed, and founder-led companies across retail, direct-to-consumer, beauty, and fashion. She earned recognition for building long-standing client relationships and driving diversity in executive placements.
She later served as Vice President of Global Talent Acquisition Strategies and Solutions at FIRST, a global events and experiences agency, where she rebuilt and scaled the talent acquisition function during a period of rapid growth.
Most recently, Debra has conducted senior-level searches for Madison Square Garden Entertainment, supporting its entertainment, sports, and Sphere businesses.
Debra specializes in placing senior executives across consumer-facing industries, including retail, entertainment, sports, and media. Her work spans CEO, CFO, CMO, and functional leadership roles in marketing, merchandising, finance, human resources, procurement, and operations. She partners with leadership teams to deliver strategic, high-impact talent solutions for public companies, private/family-owned businesses, and private equity portfolio companies.
• Executive Search & Talent Acquisition
• Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Leadership Hiring
• Human Resources & Organizational Design
• Succession Planning & Executive Coaching
• Consumer, Retail, Entertainment & Sports Industries