Specialty leaderboard · Updated Nov 11, 2026
Executive search firms, Chicago
Fee models, from the firms' own websites: 3 retained.
Executive Search firms ranked
| Rank | Firm | Focus | Fee model | Terms | Open roles | Index score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| =44 | TalentRise | Executive search and interim C-suite placements across professional industries | Not stated | Not disclosed | 0 | 23.8 |
| =44 | Taylor Transportation Search Group | Transportation, freight rail and logistics executive search | Not stated | Not disclosed | 0 | 23.8 |
| =44 | The Equus Group | — | Not stated | Not disclosed | 0 | 23.8 |
| =44 | The Goodwin Group | — | Not stated | Not disclosed | 0 | 23.8 |
| =44 | The Overture Group | — | Retained | Not disclosed | 0 | 23.8 |
| =44 | TRANSEARCH USA | — | Not stated | Not disclosed | 0 | 23.8 |
| =44 | Victory Search Group | Executive leadership search across corporate and nonprofit sectors | Retained | Not disclosed | 0 | 23.8 |
| =44 | Wells Street Growth | Retained professional and executive recruitment for technology firms and VC/PE portfolio companies | Retained | Not disclosed | 0 | 23.8 |
| =44 | Wesson & Associates | — | Not stated | Not disclosed | 0 | 23.8 |
| =44 | WittKieffer | Executive search for healthcare, life sciences, education and nonprofit organizations | Not stated | Not disclosed | 0 | 23.8 |
| =44 | Workforce Management, Inc.Schaumburg | Professional and executive placement | Not stated | Not disclosed | 0 | 23.8 |
- =44TalentRiseExecutive search and interim C-suite placements across professional industries23.8Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
- =44Taylor Transportation Search GroupTransportation, freight rail and logistics executive search23.8Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
- =44The Equus Group23.8Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
- =44The Goodwin Group23.8Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
- =44The Overture Group23.8RetainedNot disclosed0 open roles
- =44TRANSEARCH USA23.8Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
- =44Victory Search GroupExecutive leadership search across corporate and nonprofit sectors23.8RetainedNot disclosed0 open roles
- =44Wells Street GrowthRetained professional and executive recruitment for technology firms and VC/PE portfolio companies23.8RetainedNot disclosed0 open roles
- =44Wesson & Associates23.8Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
- =44WittKiefferExecutive search for healthcare, life sciences, education and nonprofit organizations23.8Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
- =44Workforce Management, Inc.Schaumburg · Professional and executive placement23.8Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
Score built from public signals · Fee model from firm websites · Terms reported by firms · Terms never affect the score
Executive search firms in every city →The index is free to read and free to be listed in. Our sponsor makes that possible, and has no say in any ranking.
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%
What Exec Search firms charge
Market context · Fee survey
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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.
Post a brief →Executive search firms in Chicago: questions
How do executive search firms in Chicago charge?
Of the firms ranked here, by their own websites: 3 retained. 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.