Based in the hub of innovation, California, executive search firms act as bridges, linking talented individuals with companies in need of their expertise. These firms specialize in talent acquisition, leadership development, and organisational strategy for companies across diverse sectors such as technology, healthcare, defense, among others. They often identify talented individuals who bring innovation and scale to businesses. Manifold factors indicate an upward trajectory for these firms, driven by increased demand for expert talent in burgeoning sectors such as tech and healthcare.


Top 23 executive search firms in California

1. Korn Ferry

  • Website: kornferry.com
  • Headquarters: Los Angeles, California, United States
  • Founded: 1969
  • Headcount: 10001+
  • Latest funding type: Ipo
  • LinkedIn

Korn Ferry is a global company that offers talent acquisition, leadership development, organization strategy, and career and work architecture services. They help organizations attract, engage, and motivate a diverse workforce through flexible and competitive total rewards strategies. Their targeted learning programs enable individuals at all levels to thrive in today's challenging business environment.


2. SPMB Executive Search

  • Website: spmb.com
  • Headquarters: San Francisco, California, United States
  • Founded: 1977
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • LinkedIn

SPMB is a technology-focused executive search firm that specializes in finding innovative leaders for companies. With over 40 years of experience, they have a proven track record of connecting businesses with top talent. They pride themselves on their ability to identify the intersection of innovation and scale.


3. McDermott + Bull

  • Website: mbexec.com
  • Headquarters: Irvine, California, United States
  • Founded: 2001
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • LinkedIn

McDermott + Bull is an executive search firm that specializes in providing top-level talent for various industries including aerospace, defense, healthcare, technology, and more.


4. BVOH Search & Consulting

  • Website: bvoh.com
  • Headquarters: San Francisco, California, United States
  • Founded: 2004
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Latest funding type: Acquired
  • LinkedIn

BVOH is a top talent search and consulting firm in the Bay Area that provides proven, trustworthy, and world-class talent in finance and accounting. They help power the success of exciting companies by connecting them with qualified professionals. Their team excels in building strong relationships with both candidates and clients, ensuring a good fit for both sides. They offer services like executive search, contingent search, and consulting, catering to the needs of employers and candidates alike.


5. Slingshot Group

Slingshot Group is a professional staffing and executive search firm specializing in nonprofit organizations and churches. We help build remarkable teams by providing executive search services for senior positions and specialized search for unique roles. Our process is thorough and our team is dedicated to finding the perfect candidate for each client. We also offer coaching services to help teams and leaders reach their full potential.


6. Clinical Management Consultants

Clinical Management Consultants is a healthcare executive search firm that specializes in recruiting hospital management professionals and clinical nurse specialists. They offer full-time and interim management services for all clinical and operational departments within a hospital setting.


7. Eca

ECA Partners is a specialized project staffing and executive search firm focused on private equity and PE portfolio companies.


8. Candidate Labs

  • Website: candidatelabs.com
  • Headquarters: San Francisco, California, United States
  • Founded: 2019
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Latest funding type: Seed
  • LinkedIn

Candidate Labs is a modern search firm for GTM hiring. They offer a machine learning platform with data on millions of candidates, companies, and open jobs to quickly identify and target the right candidates. They specialize in executive search, strategic hires, and team building for venture-backed companies.


9. Bench International

Bench International is a global executive search firm specializing in biotech, healthcare, and life sciences industries. We offer retained executive search services, board services, and strategic consulting. Our team is dedicated to serving the executive recruiting needs of our clients worldwide.


10. Reaction Search International (RSI Executive Search)

Reaction Search International is an executive search firm specializing in connecting top-tier professionals with leading companies across various industries. They offer tailored services to both employers and candidates, matching qualified individuals with the right job opportunities.


11. NextDeavor Services

  • Website: nextdeavor.com
  • Headquarters: San Diego, California, United States
  • Founded: 2015
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • LinkedIn

Nextdeavor is a recruiting agency that leverages AI technology and innovative approaches to source visionary executives. They provide professional recruiting services, focusing on relationship building and making the recruiting process more human. With their expertise and market experience, they help companies make strategic hiring decisions and find the right candidates for tech, engineering, marketing, finance, and HR positions.


12. se2quel Partners LLC

  • Website: se2quel.com
  • Headquarters: Pleasanton, California, United States
  • Founded: 1936
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • LinkedIn

se2quel.com is a company that offers strategy and implementation services, executive search, and mergers & acquisitions expertise. They help businesses create market leaders with their innovative strategies and hands-on implementation. With a focus on intellectual property and global reach, se2quel.com can make a difference for businesses.


13. FlowerHire

  • Website: flowerhire.com
  • Headquarters: Manhattan Beach, California, United States
  • Founded: 2017
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • LinkedIn

FlowerHire is a cannabis recruiting agency and executive search company. They offer a solution for high volume hiring through their platform FlowerHire X. They specialize in matching companies with hourly workers looking for careers in the cannabis industry. They provide executive search services for cannabis companies and also have a newsletter to keep people updated on industry news and cannabis job opportunities.


14. Hardesty & Associates, Inc.

Hardesty Associates is a boutique human capital consultancy firm specializing in senior level executive search.


15. Premier Legal Staffing, Inc.

Premier Legal Staffing is an executive search firm specializing in placing legal professionals in various practice areas. They provide staffing solutions for law firms and corporate legal teams, connecting them with highly qualified candidates. Premier Legal Staffing offers personalized and professional recruitment services, ensuring a seamless hiring process for their clients. They have a strong track record of successfully matching candidates with job opportunities and delivering exceptional results.


16. Frederickson Partners

Frederickson Partners is a global executive search firm specializing in conducting executive search consulting for C-Suite, senior executive, and board leaders, with a focus on People/Human Resources executives.


17. The Pacific Firm

  • Website: pacfirm.com
  • Headquarters: San Francisco, California, United States
  • Founded: 1993
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • LinkedIn

The Pacific Firm is a boutique retained executive search firm based in the San Francisco Bay Area. They specialize in technology, retail, consumer products, and financial services. They work collaboratively with clients to understand their business objectives and develop candidate strategies. They fill 98% of all searches and have a research team that quickly identifies excellent candidates for interviews. Their clients include private equity and venture capital firms, emerging and mid-sized companies, and Fortune 500 companies.


18. YES Partners, Inc.

YES Partners is a talent acquisition solutions company that offers in-depth, systematic recruiting techniques with NO upfront costs. They provide executive search services globally and specialize in finding the right people for companies. They enhance employer brands to attract top talent and help companies maximize employee morale to boost retention.


19. Roark

  • Website: roarkfs.com
  • Headquarters: Los Angeles, California, United States
  • Founded: 2015
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • LinkedIn

ROARK is a finance and accounting consulting and executive search firm that offers customized solutions for projects such as audit support, ERP implementations, and GAAP compliance. They provide compliant reporting to third parties and help businesses find high-level finance and accounting professionals. ROARK also offers outsourced finance and accounting services to relieve the pressure on businesses. With locations in Orange County, Los Angeles, and the Inland Empire, they serve clients in Southern California.


20. Scion Executive Search

Scion Executive Search is a firm specializing in executive search services for nonprofit organizations. They have a nationwide presence and a vast network of candidates, offering recruitment solutions for various positions including executive leadership, philanthropy, finance, marketing, IT, and more.


21. Barbachano International, Inc.

  • Website: bipsearch.com
  • Headquarters: Chula Vista, California, United States
  • Founded: 1992
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • LinkedIn

Bipsearch.com is an executive search and leadership advisory firm that provides high-impact executive search, recruiting, and headhunting solutions to diverse industries in the United States, Mexico, Latin America, and Canada.


22. Afflatus LLC.

Afflatus Inc is an executive search firm that specializes in finding and developing great leaders for various industry verticals. They have a network of globally practicing partners and industry experts who help attract and build future ready leaders. The company focuses on building remarkable products that stand out and are adopted by passionate individuals rather than targeting the mass market. Afflatus Inc also has a strong commitment to social responsibility, believing that education is a fundamental right and an equalizer.


23. Arth Consulting - An Executive Search Firm

  • Website: arthitc.com
  • Headquarters: Pleasanton, California, United States
  • Founded: 2010
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • LinkedIn

Arth Consulting Corp is an executive search firm based in Austin, TX. They specialize in executive management and technology search services for global top-tier consulting firms and leading organizations throughout the United States. With decades of collective professional experience, Arth Consulting helps clients identify and hire the talent that drives their successes.


Want to find more executive search firms?


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