Specialty leaderboard · Updated Nov 11, 2026

Executive search firms, Los Angeles

Fee models, from the firms' own websites: 15 retained and 1 hybrid. The typical firm has 13 people; together they advertise 351 open roles.

Executive Search firms ranked

Executive Search recruiting firms in Los Angeles, ranked within the specialty
Rank	Firm	Focus	Fee model	Terms	Open roles	Index score
01	Morris & Bergersince 1984	Nonprofit executive and leadership search.	Retained	Not disclosed	8	61.1
02	DSG Global	Executive search across education, nonprofit, healthcare and corporate leadership	Not stated	Not disclosed	249	58.6
03	Bristol Associatessince 1967	Executive and management search for gaming, hospitality, food, healthcare and nonprofit organizations	Not stated	Not disclosed	17	56.6
04	The Hawkins Companysince 1984	Executive search for public agencies, nonprofits, educational institutions and companies	Not stated	Not disclosed	13	54.3
05	Phifer & Company	Executive leadership in marketing, communications, brand, PR, creative and corporate affairs.	Retained	Not disclosed	14	45.6
06	Leveled Talent	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	10	45.4
07	Envision Consulting	Nonprofit CEOs, development, finance and communications leadership	Not stated	Not disclosed	12	43.8
=08	20/20 Foresightsince 1994	Real estate, financial services and professional services executive search	Retained	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=08	barro global searchsince 2003	Executive appointments using candidate assessment and direct recruitment.	Retained	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=08	Bradley Harris & Associatessince 2011	Senior living executive and management recruitment	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=08	BridgeGatesince 1969	Technology and venture-backed executive appointments	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=08	DB Search Groupsince 2006	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=08	isearch Group Inc.since 1997	Mid-to-senior executive and specialist recruiting across corporate functions.	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=08	Riviera Partnerssince 2001	Technical executive leadership, including gaming, entertainment, media and sports	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=08	Saenger Associatessince 1999	Retained executive recruitment across industrial and consumer sectors	Retained	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=08	Shey-Harding Executive Searchsince 1990	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=08	The Waxman Groupsince 2003	—	Retained	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=08	West Coast Recruitingsince 1989	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
19	Kevin Chase Executive Search Group	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	3	39.7
20	Elite Talent Solutionssince 2013	Executive and specialist recruitment for companies entering the US market.	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	38.9
21	Sterling Search, Inc.	Nonprofit, healthcare and education leadership search	Retained	Not disclosed	10	37.8
22	Norgay Partnerssince 2015	Alternative investments: investing, fundraising, investor relations, finance and operations.	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	36.6
23	UBER Search Partnerssince 2018	Investment management, financial services and commercial real estate leadership.	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	33.1
24	Bridge Partners13 people	Inclusive executive leadership search for mission-driven and corporate organizations	Retained	Not disclosed	6	32.8
25	Water Street Searchsince 2019	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	31.9
26	Shelli Herman and Associates	Executive leadership for nonprofit, higher education and corporate organizations	Not stated	Not disclosed	1	30.4
27	The Byers Group	—	Retained	Not disclosed	2	29.0
28	Teri Black & Co.	Municipal government and special district executive recruitment	Not stated	Not disclosed	6	27.0
=29	4D Executive Search	Executive search and professional talent acquisition	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	23.8
=29	Autonomous Search	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	23.8
=29	Avery James	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	23.8
=29	Berkhemer Clayton	Corporate, board and nonprofit executive search	Retained	Not disclosed	0	23.8
=29	Brentwood Search	—	Retained	Not disclosed	0	23.8
=29	Calibre One	Executive and board search for technology and innovation-led businesses	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	23.8
=29	CareerSMITH	Executive and professional recruitment in engineering, construction, government contracting and energy.	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	23.8
=29	Carmichael Fisher Executive Search	Executive and non-executive director search	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	23.8
=29	Catalyst Talent Group	CEO, CFO, COO, general counsel and senior leadership recruitment.	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	23.8
=29	Chrisman & Company	Senior executives and directors for financial institutions and related businesses.	Retained	Not disclosed	0	23.8
=29	Daversa	Executive leadership recruitment for venture-backed, growth-stage and public technology companies.	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	23.8
=29	Direct Search Alliance	Executive and professional searches, including finance, accounting and human capital roles.	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	23.8
=29	ETA Staffing	Supply-chain professionals and executives	Hybrid	Not disclosed	0	23.8
=29	Executive Branding	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	23.8
=29	Executive Search Research (ESR)	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	23.8
=29	Hire-Search Group	Management recruitment, candidate assessment and targeted searches with direct partner involvement.	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	23.8
=29	JJA Executive Search	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	23.8
=29	Katalyst Group	—	Retained	Not disclosed	0	23.8
=29	Leadership Capital Partners	Consumer, food, nutrition and beauty executive search	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	23.8
=29	Lutzer Global	Chief procurement officers, strategic sourcing and supply chain leadership	Retained	Not disclosed	0	23.8
=29	McDermott + Bull	Retained executive search and interim leadership, including aerospace and defense	Retained	Not disclosed	0	23.8
=29	MIXTEC Group	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	23.8

01Morris & BergerNonprofit executive and leadership search.61.1
RetainedNot disclosed8 open roles
02DSG GlobalExecutive search across education, nonprofit, healthcare and corporate leadership58.6
Not statedNot disclosed249 open roles
03Bristol AssociatesExecutive and management search for gaming, hospitality, food, healthcare and nonprofit organizations56.6
Not statedNot disclosed17 open roles
04The Hawkins CompanyExecutive search for public agencies, nonprofits, educational institutions and companies54.3
Not statedNot disclosed13 open roles
05Phifer & CompanyExecutive leadership in marketing, communications, brand, PR, creative and corporate affairs.45.6
RetainedNot disclosed14 open roles
06Leveled Talent45.4
Not statedNot disclosed10 open roles
07Envision ConsultingNonprofit CEOs, development, finance and communications leadership43.8
Not statedNot disclosed12 open roles
=0820/20 ForesightReal estate, financial services and professional services executive search41.3
RetainedNot disclosed0 open roles
=08barro global searchExecutive appointments using candidate assessment and direct recruitment.41.3
RetainedNot disclosed0 open roles
=08Bradley Harris & AssociatesSenior living executive and management recruitment41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=08BridgeGateTechnology and venture-backed executive appointments41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=08DB Search Group41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=08isearch Group Inc.Mid-to-senior executive and specialist recruiting across corporate functions.41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=08Riviera PartnersTechnical executive leadership, including gaming, entertainment, media and sports41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=08Saenger AssociatesRetained executive recruitment across industrial and consumer sectors41.3
RetainedNot disclosed0 open roles
=08Shey-Harding Executive Search41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=08The Waxman Group41.3
RetainedNot disclosed0 open roles
=08West Coast Recruiting41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
19Kevin Chase Executive Search Group39.7
Not statedNot disclosed3 open roles
20Elite Talent SolutionsExecutive and specialist recruitment for companies entering the US market.38.9
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
21Sterling Search, Inc.Nonprofit, healthcare and education leadership search37.8
RetainedNot disclosed10 open roles
22Norgay PartnersAlternative investments: investing, fundraising, investor relations, finance and operations.36.6
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
23UBER Search PartnersInvestment management, financial services and commercial real estate leadership.33.1
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
24Bridge Partners13 people · Inclusive executive leadership search for mission-driven and corporate organizations32.8
RetainedNot disclosed6 open roles
25Water Street Search31.9
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
26Shelli Herman and AssociatesExecutive leadership for nonprofit, higher education and corporate organizations30.4
Not statedNot disclosed1 open roles
27The Byers Group29.0
RetainedNot disclosed2 open roles
28Teri Black & Co.Municipal government and special district executive recruitment27.0
Not statedNot disclosed6 open roles
=294D Executive SearchExecutive search and professional talent acquisition23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=29Autonomous Search23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=29Avery James23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=29Berkhemer ClaytonCorporate, board and nonprofit executive search23.8
RetainedNot disclosed0 open roles
=29Brentwood Search23.8
RetainedNot disclosed0 open roles
=29Calibre OneExecutive and board search for technology and innovation-led businesses23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=29CareerSMITHExecutive and professional recruitment in engineering, construction, government contracting and energy.23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=29Carmichael Fisher Executive SearchExecutive and non-executive director search23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=29Catalyst Talent GroupCEO, CFO, COO, general counsel and senior leadership recruitment.23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=29Chrisman & CompanySenior executives and directors for financial institutions and related businesses.23.8
RetainedNot disclosed0 open roles
=29DaversaExecutive leadership recruitment for venture-backed, growth-stage and public technology companies.23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=29Direct Search AllianceExecutive and professional searches, including finance, accounting and human capital roles.23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=29ETA StaffingSupply-chain professionals and executives23.8
HybridNot disclosed0 open roles
=29Executive Branding23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=29Executive Search Research (ESR)23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=29Hire-Search GroupManagement recruitment, candidate assessment and targeted searches with direct partner involvement.23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=29JJA Executive Search23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=29Katalyst Group23.8
RetainedNot disclosed0 open roles
=29Leadership Capital PartnersConsumer, food, nutrition and beauty executive search23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=29Lutzer GlobalChief procurement officers, strategic sourcing and supply chain leadership23.8
RetainedNot disclosed0 open roles
=29McDermott + BullRetained executive search and interim leadership, including aerospace and defense23.8
RetainedNot disclosed0 open roles
=29MIXTEC Group23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles

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

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%

Read the full methodology →

What Exec Search firms charge

Market context · Fee survey

Collecting responses. No market range until enough firms answer.

0 of 150 NYC firms so farReport publishes at 150

Anonymous NYC Fee Survey. Ranges will never be tied to a single firm.Run a firm? Take the 6-min survey →

Hiring in Executive Search?

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

Post a brief →

Executive search firms in Los Angeles: questions

How do executive search firms in Los Angeles charge?

Of the firms ranked here, by their own websites: 15 retained 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.