Ranking Methodology

The ranking order for the Top 20 Executive Search Firms list is derived algorithmically based upon a proprietary weighting of several criteria.  These include: annual revenue, number of placements, number of ancillary services or practice areas, level of searches handled by average salary, completion ratio, average time to complete, stick rate, client satisfaction (testimonials/votes), social media presence, executive thought leadership, and editorial input.

The executive search industry, trade associations, and various executive search firms produce a wide array lists and rankings and no such list / ranking, including this one, should substitute for due diligence on behalf of prospective clients or employees. The rankings noted on this site are deemed reliable, but cannot be guaranteed as some of the data is provided by firms ranked on the list, and such data, especially in the case of privately held companies, can be biased and cannot be exhaustively verified.