Specialty leaderboard · Updated Nov 11, 2026

Executive search firms, Chicago

Fee models, from the firms' own websites: 12 retained, 1 contingency and 1 hybrid. Together they advertise 646 open roles.

111

Executive Search firms ranked

Executive Search recruiting firms in Chicago, ranked within the specialty
Rank	Firm	Focus	Fee model	Terms	Open roles	Index score
01	Kittleman & Associates	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	40	76.5
02	Lindauersince 1997	Nonprofit executives, fundraising and advancement leadership	Retained	Not disclosed	75	71.8
03	Gonser Gerbersince 1950	Nonprofit and higher education advancement leadership search	Not stated	Not disclosed	8	69.9
04	Vetted Solutions	Executive, board and senior staff recruitment for associations and purpose-driven organizations	Not stated	Not disclosed	21	65.4
05	ZRG	Retained executive and board search across corporate functions, industries, education and nonprofit organizations.	Not stated	Not disclosed	99	63.4
06	Maneva Group	Nonprofit, foundation and association executive search	Not stated	Not disclosed	22	60.2
07	DSG Globalsince 1974	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	4	56.9
08	Talentfootsince 2010	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	19	56.5
09	Hazard, Young, Attea & Associatessince 1987	Superintendent, cabinet and educational leadership search	Not stated	Not disclosed	17	52.4
10	Academic Searchsince 1976	Higher education presidents, provosts, deans and senior academic and administrative leadership.	Not stated	Not disclosed	9	51.8
11	KEES/Alford Executive Searchsince 2013	Executive search for nonprofit organizations	Retained	Not disclosed	2	50.7
12	Hunt Clubsince 2014	Executive search and team builds for venture capital and private equity-backed companies	Retained	Not disclosed	7	49.5
13	David Gomez PartnersOak Brook · since 1978	Diversity-focused C-suite and senior leadership search	Not stated	Not disclosed	7	48.2
=14	Addison Clark Executive Searchsince 2002	Executive and professional recruitment across corporate functions	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=14	Ansley Consulting Groupsince 1999	Retained senior-level executive search across industries	Retained	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=14	Callan Associatessince 1982	—	Retained	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=14	CEO Search Partnerssince 1996	—	Retained	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=14	Jobplexsince 1996	Emerging leaders and management recruitment across finance, HR, technology and other professional functions	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=14	Kincannon & Reedsince 1981	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=14	McCarthy Bertschy & Associatessince 2002	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=14	Medellin & Associatessince 1994	Diversity-focused retained executive and board search, with professional staffing and HR consulting.	Retained	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=14	OverNorthsince 2011	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=14	People Capital Executive Searchsince 2007	Executive and technical search for food, beverage, flavor, ingredient and nutrition businesses	Hybrid	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=14	P M Clare & Associatessince 1999	Senior corporate executive search	Retained	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=14	Reilly Partnerssince 2005	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
26	The Himmelfarb Groupsince 1990	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	1	41.2
27	Perrett Laver	Education, research, social impact and public-purpose executive and board recruitment	Not stated	Not disclosed	75	40.0
28	Careers In Nonprofits	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	80	39.9
29	hireneXus	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	104	39.7
30	Marc-Allen Associates	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	20	36.7
=31	Kingsley Gatesince 2015	Executive and board search, including private equity portfolio companies and industrial leadership	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	36.6
=31	RainMakers Talentsince 2015	Executive and leadership search, including faith-based nonprofit organizations	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	36.6
=31	Waterstone LLCsince 2015	Retained leadership search and recruitment for sales, marketing, finance, HR and technical roles	Retained	Not disclosed	0	36.6
34	Chamberlain Advisorssince 2016	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	35.4
=35	Joe Amara Executive Search	Retained executive search for power generation, transmission and digital infrastructure	Retained	Not disclosed	3	34.7
=35	Noetic Executive Search	Nonprofit CEOs, executive directors and senior functional leaders	Not stated	Not disclosed	3	34.7
37	Maven Recruiting & Consulting	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	1	30.4
38	JMJ Phillip Executive Search	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	10	30.2
39	Brick Executive Search	Executive and specialist recruitment for fashion, retail and consumer products	Not stated	Not disclosed	6	27.0
40	Cooper Coleman	Nonprofit and social-impact executive, fundraising, finance and professional search	Retained	Not disclosed	4	26.7
=41	AMPlified Search	—	Retained	Not disclosed	3	24.7
=41	B2B-VIP Executive Alliance	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	3	24.7
=41	WeForge Consulting Services	—	Contingency	Not disclosed	3	24.7
=44	Alexander Hughes	Executive and senior leadership search for European companies operating in the US	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	23.8
=44	Arculen	Nuclear-industry executives, engineers, analysts and project leaders	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	23.8
=44	Auctus Search Partners	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	23.8
=44	Baker Montgomery	Corporate, technology, analytics and digital executive leadership search	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	23.8
=44	Baker Tilly	Local-government executives, public-sector leadership and interim management	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	23.8
=44	Boyden	Executive and board search across industrial, consumer, private equity and senior functional roles	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	23.8
=44	Buffkin Baker	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	23.8

01Kittleman & Associates76.5
Not statedNot disclosed40 open roles
02LindauerNonprofit executives, fundraising and advancement leadership71.8
RetainedNot disclosed75 open roles
03Gonser GerberNonprofit and higher education advancement leadership search69.9
Not statedNot disclosed8 open roles
04Vetted SolutionsExecutive, board and senior staff recruitment for associations and purpose-driven organizations65.4
Not statedNot disclosed21 open roles
05ZRGRetained executive and board search across corporate functions, industries, education and nonprofit organizations.63.4
Not statedNot disclosed99 open roles
06Maneva GroupNonprofit, foundation and association executive search60.2
Not statedNot disclosed22 open roles
07DSG Global56.9
Not statedNot disclosed4 open roles
08Talentfoot56.5
Not statedNot disclosed19 open roles
09Hazard, Young, Attea & AssociatesSuperintendent, cabinet and educational leadership search52.4
Not statedNot disclosed17 open roles
10Academic SearchHigher education presidents, provosts, deans and senior academic and administrative leadership.51.8
Not statedNot disclosed9 open roles
11KEES/Alford Executive SearchExecutive search for nonprofit organizations50.7
RetainedNot disclosed2 open roles
12Hunt ClubExecutive search and team builds for venture capital and private equity-backed companies49.5
RetainedNot disclosed7 open roles
13David Gomez PartnersOak Brook · Diversity-focused C-suite and senior leadership search48.2
Not statedNot disclosed7 open roles
=14Addison Clark Executive SearchExecutive and professional recruitment across corporate functions41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=14Ansley Consulting GroupRetained senior-level executive search across industries41.3
RetainedNot disclosed0 open roles
=14Callan Associates41.3
RetainedNot disclosed0 open roles
=14CEO Search Partners41.3
RetainedNot disclosed0 open roles
=14JobplexEmerging leaders and management recruitment across finance, HR, technology and other professional functions41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=14Kincannon & Reed41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=14McCarthy Bertschy & Associates41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=14Medellin & AssociatesDiversity-focused retained executive and board search, with professional staffing and HR consulting.41.3
RetainedNot disclosed0 open roles
=14OverNorth41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=14People Capital Executive SearchExecutive and technical search for food, beverage, flavor, ingredient and nutrition businesses41.3
HybridNot disclosed0 open roles
=14P M Clare & AssociatesSenior corporate executive search41.3
RetainedNot disclosed0 open roles
=14Reilly Partners41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
26The Himmelfarb Group41.2
Not statedNot disclosed1 open roles
27Perrett LaverEducation, research, social impact and public-purpose executive and board recruitment40.0
Not statedNot disclosed75 open roles
28Careers In Nonprofits39.9
Not statedNot disclosed80 open roles
29hireneXus39.7
Not statedNot disclosed104 open roles
30Marc-Allen Associates36.7
Not statedNot disclosed20 open roles
=31Kingsley GateExecutive and board search, including private equity portfolio companies and industrial leadership36.6
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=31RainMakers TalentExecutive and leadership search, including faith-based nonprofit organizations36.6
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=31Waterstone LLCRetained leadership search and recruitment for sales, marketing, finance, HR and technical roles36.6
RetainedNot disclosed0 open roles
34Chamberlain Advisors35.4
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=35Joe Amara Executive SearchRetained executive search for power generation, transmission and digital infrastructure34.7
RetainedNot disclosed3 open roles
=35Noetic Executive SearchNonprofit CEOs, executive directors and senior functional leaders34.7
Not statedNot disclosed3 open roles
37Maven Recruiting & Consulting30.4
Not statedNot disclosed1 open roles
38JMJ Phillip Executive Search30.2
Not statedNot disclosed10 open roles
39Brick Executive SearchExecutive and specialist recruitment for fashion, retail and consumer products27.0
Not statedNot disclosed6 open roles
40Cooper ColemanNonprofit and social-impact executive, fundraising, finance and professional search26.7
RetainedNot disclosed4 open roles
=41AMPlified Search24.7
RetainedNot disclosed3 open roles
=41B2B-VIP Executive Alliance24.7
Not statedNot disclosed3 open roles
=41WeForge Consulting Services24.7
ContingencyNot disclosed3 open roles
=44Alexander HughesExecutive and senior leadership search for European companies operating in the US23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=44ArculenNuclear-industry executives, engineers, analysts and project leaders23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=44Auctus Search Partners23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=44Baker MontgomeryCorporate, technology, analytics and digital executive leadership search23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=44Baker TillyLocal-government executives, public-sector leadership and interim management23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=44BoydenExecutive and board search across industrial, consumer, private equity and senior functional roles23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=44Buffkin Baker23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles

Score built from public signals · Fee model from firm websites · Terms reported by firms · Terms never affect the score

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How these firms are scored

Rank here is within Executive Search. Every score is built from public signals and measures specialisation and activity, not a guarantee of service quality. Terms, claiming and sponsorship never change it.

Specialist focus: 40%
Market activity: 35%
Track record: 25%

Read the full methodology →

What Exec Search firms charge

Market context · Fee survey

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0 of 150 NYC firms so farReport publishes at 150

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Hiring in Executive Search?

Describe the role once. We route it to the Chicago firms that specialise in it, and they reply with their approach and terms.

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Executive search firms in Chicago: questions

How do executive search firms in Chicago charge?

Of the firms ranked here, by their own websites: 12 retained, 1 contingency and 1 hybrid. Most agencies charge a percentage of the hire's first-year base salary. Contingency recruiters are commonly quoted at around 15–25% and are paid only when you hire; retained and executive search firms often charge 25–35%, paid in stages as the search progresses.

How are executive search firms ranked here?

Rank is within this specialty only. The biggest factor is specialist focus: the share of a firm's open roles that are in this field. Hiring activity and track record make up the rest. No firm can pay for placement.

Should I use more than one recruiter?

For contingency roles many employers brief two or three firms at once. Retained searches are exclusive by design. Posting one brief here sends it to the specialists and lets you compare their approach and terms before you commit.