Specialty leaderboard · Updated Nov 11, 2026

Executive search firms, Melbourne

Fee models, from the firms' own websites: 2 retained. Together they advertise 117 open roles.

126

Executive Search firms ranked

Executive Search recruiting firms in Melbourne, ranked within the specialty
Rank	Firm	Focus	Fee model	Terms	Open roles	Index score
01	Ironside Resourcessince 2012	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	10	46.5
02	Future Leadership	Board and executive appointments, interim executives and leadership roles across professional sectors.	Not stated	Not disclosed	24	43.2
=03	Logical Executive SolutionsPort Melbourne · since 2006	Executive and professional recruitment for transport, logistics, supply chain and manufacturing	Not stated	Not disclosed	2	41.6
=03	Pacific Search Partnerssince 2010	Board, C-suite and senior executive search	Not stated	Not disclosed	2	41.6
=05	Beaumont Peoplesince 2001	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=05	Dakin Partnerssince 1986	Executive, senior management, finance, fundraising and not-for-profit recruitment	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=05	Davidsonsince 1991	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=05	Dean & Ling Executivesince 2006	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=05	Devereaux Consultingsince 2000	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=05	Generator Talentsince 2004	Executive talent acquisition and succession planning	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=05	Infront SportsMelbourne CBD · since 2010	Sports-industry executive and marketing recruitment	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=05	Johnson Partnerssince 2005	CEO, board, senior executive search and leadership succession	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=05	McArthursince 1969	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=05	MitchelLakesince 2001	AI, innovation, transformation and growth leadership	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=05	NGO Recruitmentsince 2004	Executive, fundraising and professional recruitment for charities and not-for-profit organisations	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=05	Omera Partnerssince 2002	C-suite and board search, interim management, financial services, technology, government and healthcare leadership.	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=05	Search Partnerssince 2010	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=05	Strataconsince 2008	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=05	Tanner Menziessince 1988	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=05	Touchstone Executive Searchsince 2003	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
=05	Weskaysince 2007	Board and executive search	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	41.3
22	Prosearch Partnerssince 2013	Sales, revenue and go-to-market leadership.	Retained	Not disclosed	0	38.9
=23	Allura Partners	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	22	37.8
=23	Think Talentsince 2014	Executive leadership and specialist digital, product, marketing and people roles.	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	37.8
25	Watermark Search International	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	2	35.5
26	Galvin-Rowley Executive501 Bourke Street	Board, C-suite, senior leadership and interim executive appointments	Not stated	Not disclosed	3	34.7
27	Gembridge	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	14	33.0
28	Jacob Thomas Executive	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	1	30.4
29	1st Executive	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	10	30.2
30	Impact Partnershipsince 2021	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	29.6
31	Options Consulting Group	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	8	28.6
32	Searchlight GroupMelbourne CBD	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	3	27.6
33	Daimad RecruitmentMelbourne CBD	Customer experience leadership and customer contact management.	Not stated	Not disclosed	5	26.2
34	Haystack Executivesince 2024	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	26.1
35	Grant Executive Search	Senior finance, strategy, corporate development, investment and superannuation recruitment	Not stated	Not disclosed	4	25.4
36	MATCH Executive	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	3	24.7
=37	ANZUK Executive	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	2	24.1
=37	Mayers Recruitment	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	2	24.1
=39	Alex Kaar	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	23.8
=39	Amadeus Group	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	23.8
=39	Birmont Group	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	23.8
=39	Boehunter	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	23.8
=39	BOOM Talent	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	23.8
=39	Boyd & Moore Executive Search	Executive search across technology, industry, life sciences and corporate functions in Australia and APAC	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	23.8
=39	Brebner Somerville	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	23.8
=39	Brooker Consulting	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	23.8
=39	Carrington King	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	23.8
=39	Christie Executive	—	Retained	Not disclosed	0	23.8
=39	Cononbrig Partners	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	23.8
=39	Cordiner King	Higher-education and public-sector executive and board search	Not stated	Not disclosed	0	23.8

01Ironside Resources46.5
Not statedNot disclosed10 open roles
02Future LeadershipBoard and executive appointments, interim executives and leadership roles across professional sectors.43.2
Not statedNot disclosed24 open roles
=03Logical Executive SolutionsPort Melbourne · Executive and professional recruitment for transport, logistics, supply chain and manufacturing41.6
Not statedNot disclosed2 open roles
=03Pacific Search PartnersBoard, C-suite and senior executive search41.6
Not statedNot disclosed2 open roles
=05Beaumont People41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=05Dakin PartnersExecutive, senior management, finance, fundraising and not-for-profit recruitment41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=05Davidson41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=05Dean & Ling Executive41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=05Devereaux Consulting41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=05Generator TalentExecutive talent acquisition and succession planning41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=05Infront SportsMelbourne CBD · Sports-industry executive and marketing recruitment41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=05Johnson PartnersCEO, board, senior executive search and leadership succession41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=05McArthur41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=05MitchelLakeAI, innovation, transformation and growth leadership41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=05NGO RecruitmentExecutive, fundraising and professional recruitment for charities and not-for-profit organisations41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=05Omera PartnersC-suite and board search, interim management, financial services, technology, government and healthcare leadership.41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=05Search Partners41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=05Stratacon41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=05Tanner Menzies41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=05Touchstone Executive Search41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=05WeskayBoard and executive search41.3
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
22Prosearch PartnersSales, revenue and go-to-market leadership.38.9
RetainedNot disclosed0 open roles
=23Allura Partners37.8
Not statedNot disclosed22 open roles
=23Think TalentExecutive leadership and specialist digital, product, marketing and people roles.37.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
25Watermark Search International35.5
Not statedNot disclosed2 open roles
26Galvin-Rowley Executive501 Bourke Street · Board, C-suite, senior leadership and interim executive appointments34.7
Not statedNot disclosed3 open roles
27Gembridge33.0
Not statedNot disclosed14 open roles
28Jacob Thomas Executive30.4
Not statedNot disclosed1 open roles
291st Executive30.2
Not statedNot disclosed10 open roles
30Impact Partnership29.6
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
31Options Consulting Group28.6
Not statedNot disclosed8 open roles
32Searchlight GroupMelbourne CBD27.6
Not statedNot disclosed3 open roles
33Daimad RecruitmentMelbourne CBD · Customer experience leadership and customer contact management.26.2
Not statedNot disclosed5 open roles
34Haystack Executive26.1
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
35Grant Executive SearchSenior finance, strategy, corporate development, investment and superannuation recruitment25.4
Not statedNot disclosed4 open roles
36MATCH Executive24.7
Not statedNot disclosed3 open roles
=37ANZUK Executive24.1
Not statedNot disclosed2 open roles
=37Mayers Recruitment24.1
Not statedNot disclosed2 open roles
=39Alex Kaar23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=39Amadeus Group23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=39Birmont Group23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=39Boehunter23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=39BOOM Talent23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=39Boyd & Moore Executive SearchExecutive search across technology, industry, life sciences and corporate functions in Australia and APAC23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=39Brebner Somerville23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=39Brooker Consulting23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=39Carrington King23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=39Christie Executive23.8
RetainedNot disclosed0 open roles
=39Cononbrig Partners23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=39Cordiner KingHigher-education and public-sector executive and board search23.8
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 Melbourne firms that specialise in it, and they reply with their approach and terms.

Post a brief →

Executive search firms in Melbourne: questions

How do executive search firms in Melbourne charge?

Of the firms ranked here, by their own websites: 2 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.