8th April 2026

New Appointment: Spencer Knibbe, Head of Americas

Danos Group has appointed Spencer Knibbe as Managing Director, Head of Americas, marking a significant step in the firm’s continued investment in its U.S. business.

Based in New York, Spencer will lead the firm’s Americas strategy, driving growth and building out the team across Compliance, Financial Crime, Legal and Consulting. His appointment strengthens Danos Group’s leadership capability across governance hiring and advisory in a market where demand remains consistent but increasingly specialised.

With over 20 years of experience in governance, risk management and compliance, Spencer brings a combination of in-house leadership and specialist search expertise. He previously founded and led MBK Search, a specialist governance recruitment firm, and held senior roles including Head of Operational Risk Management at Bridgewater Associates and Head of Risk, Americas at ICAP Plc.

Strengthening U.S. Governance Hiring and Advisory Capability

Danos Group has operated from New York since 2014, supporting clients across banking, asset management, insurance and fintech with governance hiring and delivery.

The firm provides integrated solutions across executive search, permanent and interim recruitment, and consulting—aligned to regulatory requirements and business priorities. This model enables clients to build, scale and strengthen governance functions while maintaining continuity across hiring and delivery.

Recent work includes senior leadership appointments, such as Chief Compliance Officers and Heads of Compliance, as well as large-scale consulting deployments. This includes the delivery of a 25-person investigations team on-site in North Carolina, supporting a complex regulatory programme.

Spencer’s appointment builds on this track record, further strengthening the firm’s ability to support clients with senior, high-impact hiring across the Americas.

U.S. Governance Hiring: Market Perspective

The U.S. governance hiring market remains active in 2026, but is becoming more selective.

Hiring has shifted from volume to specialist capability, with firms prioritising individuals who bring expertise across financial crime, regulatory reporting, AI governance and cyber risk. Demand is increasingly focused on professionals who can combine technical knowledge with commercial judgement.

This shift is being driven by increased regulatory scrutiny, geopolitical pressure and the continued adoption of AI and digital assets, all of which are reshaping governance functions and hiring priorities.

At the senior level, organisations are focused on appointing leaders who can operate at C-suite level and deliver immediate impact—particularly in areas such as financial crime and sanctions.

At the same time, the market remains disciplined. Firms are hiring fewer roles, but at a higher level, and there is a continued shortage of individuals who can combine deep technical expertise with leadership capability.

Leadership Perspective

Spencer Knibbe, Managing Director, Head of Americas at Danos Group, commented:

“I joined Danos Group because it’s the right platform to scale what I’ve been building my whole career – a true specialist search offering for compliance, legal and risk leaders across the Americas.”

“My focus is simple: sit at the elbow of the C-suite, understand the real risk and regulatory pressures they’re under, and deliver senior talent who can actually move the needle for the business.”