Specialty leaderboard · Updated Nov 11, 2026

Executive search firms, Sydney

Fee models, from the firms' own websites: 6 retained and 1 hybrid.

155

Executive Search firms ranked

Executive Search recruiting firms in Sydney, ranked within the specialty
Rank	Firm	Focus	Fee model	Terms	Index score
=62	G&S Talentsince 2026	Permanent search for procurement, supply chain, production and operations managers.	Not stated	Not disclosed	23.8
=62	Harper Executive	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	23.8
=62	Hastings People	Executive and senior management, finance, marketing and operational leadership in hospitality, FMCG and retail.	Not stated	Not disclosed	23.8
=62	Hattonneale	Board search, non-executive director recruitment and board advisory	Not stated	Not disclosed	23.8
=62	Heidrick & Struggles	Board, CEO and senior executive search and leadership advisory	Not stated	Not disclosed	23.8
=62	H.I. Executive Consulting	Board, CEO and senior executive search, digital leadership and private markets	Not stated	Not disclosed	23.8
=62	Hoffmann Reed	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	23.8
=62	Horton International Australia	Senior executive, functional leadership and board search	Not stated	Not disclosed	23.8
=62	Human Impact Group	Executive search and permanent recruitment for renewable energy and energy-transition infrastructure	Not stated	Not disclosed	23.8
=62	ICT Talent Australia	ICT country managers, managing directors, general managers, sales and marketing directors	Not stated	Not disclosed	23.8
=62	Janelle King Executive Search	Board, C-suite and leadership appointments	Retained	Not disclosed	23.8
=62	Kai Recruitment	Executive search, lateral partner appointments and strategic team moves	Not stated	Not disclosed	23.8
=62	Kaminishi Recruitment	Supply chain and procurement leaders and specialists; professional logistics and transport appointments	Not stated	Not disclosed	23.8
=62	Kappa Executive Search	Architecture, interior design and quantity surveying search	Not stated	Not disclosed	23.8
=62	Knighton Consulting	Executive search and leadership assessment	Not stated	Not disclosed	23.8
=62	KW PartnersLevel 25, Governor Phillip Tower, Sydney	Board, C-suite, investment-banking, private-equity and family-office executive search.	Not stated	Not disclosed	23.8
=62	LIT Recruitment	Retained search and recruitment for executive, management, technical, engineering and professional roles.	Retained	Not disclosed	23.8
=62	Lotus People	Executive search, HR, business support, accounting, finance, marketing and digital recruitment.	Not stated	Not disclosed	23.8
=62	Mana Partners	CEO, partner and director appointments across industries	Not stated	Not disclosed	23.8
=62	Mandlason Search	Executive search for senior commercial and technology leaders, founders, boards and investors.	Not stated	Not disclosed	23.8
=62	Metro Solutions	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	23.8
=62	N2Growth	Board and C-suite executive search, succession planning and leadership advisory.	Not stated	Not disclosed	23.8
=62	NGO Recruitment	Not-for-profit executives, fundraising and professional roles	Not stated	Not disclosed	23.8
=62	North Search	Executive and technical search across infrastructure, energy and real assets	Not stated	Not disclosed	23.8
=62	North Star Partners	Executive and professional recruitment in cybersecurity, data, AI, technology and go-to-market leadership	Not stated	Not disclosed	23.8
=62	NOVUS Search Partners	Board and C-suite recruitment, executive talent mapping and leadership advisory	Retained	Not disclosed	23.8
=62	Oceans Group	Board, C-suite, senior management and interim executive recruitment	Not stated	Not disclosed	23.8
=62	Optimal Recruitment Australia	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	23.8
=62	Partale Talent	Executive search, recruitment and talent mapping for growing SMEs	Not stated	Not disclosed	23.8
=62	Peritus Recruitment	Executive, senior management and specialist technical recruitment across enterprise and public-sector clients.	Not stated	Not disclosed	23.8
=62	Playbook	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	23.8
=62	ProNEXUS CareersNorth Sydney	Executive and specialist recruitment across infrastructure, energy, utilities and complex project environments.	Retained	Not disclosed	23.8
=62	Prosperity People Solutions	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	23.8
=62	Quay Resources	Technology, financial services, project resources and executive recruitment	Not stated	Not disclosed	23.8
=62	Quinton Anthony	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	23.8
=62	Retailworld ResourcingLevel 7, 44 Market Street, Sydney NSW 2000	Retail-sector executive search and head-office professional recruitment across marketing, IT, finance and HR.	Not stated	Not disclosed	23.8
=62	Riley CameronBarangaroo	Senior professional recruitment, leadership hiring and executive search	Not stated	Not disclosed	23.8
=62	Rowland Sutton Executive Search	CEO, C-suite, board and senior leadership appointments	Not stated	Not disclosed	23.8
=62	Russell Reynolds Associates	Board, CEO and C-suite search, succession and leadership advisory	Not stated	Not disclosed	23.8
=62	Sigma Search	Supply chain, procurement and logistics leadership recruitment	Retained	Not disclosed	23.8
=62	Signium Australia	Board and executive search across industrial, infrastructure, manufacturing, engineering and natural resources.	Not stated	Not disclosed	23.8
=62	Snap Talent International	Leadership, engineering, sales and operations recruitment for technology enabled businesses	Not stated	Not disclosed	23.8
=62	Spencer Stuart	CEO, board and senior executive search and succession	Not stated	Not disclosed	23.8
=62	Stanton Chase	Retained board, C-suite and senior executive search	Retained	Not disclosed	23.8
=62	Talent Avenue	Climate technology, sustainability and ESG leadership	Not stated	Not disclosed	23.8
=62	Talenture	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	23.8
=62	The Aicila Group	—	Hybrid	Not disclosed	23.8
=62	The Insight Group	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	23.8
=62	Thomas Hardy	—	Not stated	Not disclosed	23.8
=62	Tiger Boards	Board search for chairpersons, non-executive directors, committee members and advisory boards	Not stated	Not disclosed	23.8

=62G&S TalentPermanent search for procurement, supply chain, production and operations managers.23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=62Harper Executive23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=62Hastings PeopleExecutive and senior management, finance, marketing and operational leadership in hospitality, FMCG and retail.23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=62HattonnealeBoard search, non-executive director recruitment and board advisory23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=62Heidrick & StrugglesBoard, CEO and senior executive search and leadership advisory23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=62H.I. Executive ConsultingBoard, CEO and senior executive search, digital leadership and private markets23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=62Hoffmann Reed23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=62Horton International AustraliaSenior executive, functional leadership and board search23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=62Human Impact GroupExecutive search and permanent recruitment for renewable energy and energy-transition infrastructure23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=62ICT Talent AustraliaICT country managers, managing directors, general managers, sales and marketing directors23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=62Janelle King Executive SearchBoard, C-suite and leadership appointments23.8
RetainedNot disclosed0 open roles
=62Kai RecruitmentExecutive search, lateral partner appointments and strategic team moves23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=62Kaminishi RecruitmentSupply chain and procurement leaders and specialists; professional logistics and transport appointments23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=62Kappa Executive SearchArchitecture, interior design and quantity surveying search23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=62Knighton ConsultingExecutive search and leadership assessment23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=62KW PartnersLevel 25, Governor Phillip Tower, Sydney · Board, C-suite, investment-banking, private-equity and family-office executive search.23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=62LIT RecruitmentRetained search and recruitment for executive, management, technical, engineering and professional roles.23.8
RetainedNot disclosed0 open roles
=62Lotus PeopleExecutive search, HR, business support, accounting, finance, marketing and digital recruitment.23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=62Mana PartnersCEO, partner and director appointments across industries23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=62Mandlason SearchExecutive search for senior commercial and technology leaders, founders, boards and investors.23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=62Metro Solutions23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=62N2GrowthBoard and C-suite executive search, succession planning and leadership advisory.23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=62NGO RecruitmentNot-for-profit executives, fundraising and professional roles23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=62North SearchExecutive and technical search across infrastructure, energy and real assets23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=62North Star PartnersExecutive and professional recruitment in cybersecurity, data, AI, technology and go-to-market leadership23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=62NOVUS Search PartnersBoard and C-suite recruitment, executive talent mapping and leadership advisory23.8
RetainedNot disclosed0 open roles
=62Oceans GroupBoard, C-suite, senior management and interim executive recruitment23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=62Optimal Recruitment Australia23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=62Partale TalentExecutive search, recruitment and talent mapping for growing SMEs23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=62Peritus RecruitmentExecutive, senior management and specialist technical recruitment across enterprise and public-sector clients.23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=62Playbook23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=62ProNEXUS CareersNorth Sydney · Executive and specialist recruitment across infrastructure, energy, utilities and complex project environments.23.8
RetainedNot disclosed0 open roles
=62Prosperity People Solutions23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=62Quay ResourcesTechnology, financial services, project resources and executive recruitment23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=62Quinton Anthony23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=62Retailworld ResourcingLevel 7, 44 Market Street, Sydney NSW 2000 · Retail-sector executive search and head-office professional recruitment across marketing, IT, finance and HR.23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=62Riley CameronBarangaroo · Senior professional recruitment, leadership hiring and executive search23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=62Rowland Sutton Executive SearchCEO, C-suite, board and senior leadership appointments23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=62Russell Reynolds AssociatesBoard, CEO and C-suite search, succession and leadership advisory23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=62Sigma SearchSupply chain, procurement and logistics leadership recruitment23.8
RetainedNot disclosed0 open roles
=62Signium AustraliaBoard and executive search across industrial, infrastructure, manufacturing, engineering and natural resources.23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=62Snap Talent InternationalLeadership, engineering, sales and operations recruitment for technology enabled businesses23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=62Spencer StuartCEO, board and senior executive search and succession23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=62Stanton ChaseRetained board, C-suite and senior executive search23.8
RetainedNot disclosed0 open roles
=62Talent AvenueClimate technology, sustainability and ESG leadership23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=62Talenture23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=62The Aicila Group23.8
HybridNot disclosed0 open roles
=62The Insight Group23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=62Thomas Hardy23.8
Not statedNot disclosed0 open roles
=62Tiger BoardsBoard search for chairpersons, non-executive directors, committee members and advisory boards23.8
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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Hiring in Executive Search?

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

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Executive search firms in Sydney: questions

How do executive search firms in Sydney charge?

Of the firms ranked here, by their own websites: 6 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.