CEO search firm reviews, how to hire a CEO headhunter in the Bay Area, San Francisco, New York, or other hubs, and how to evaluate CEO headhunter services in a structured manner. This guide reviews 10 of the best executive search firms for CEO roles in 2025, with Christian & Timbers first, followed by nine widely recognised global players. It also explains how to use CEO search firm reviews, how to hire a CEO headhunter in the Bay Area, San Francisco, New York, or other hubs, and how to evaluate CEO headhunter services in a structured way.
How this 2025 review was built
The firms in this list consistently appear in independent rankings, such as Forbes America’s Best Executive Recruiting Firms, Hunt Scanlon's top fifty search firms, and specialist reviews of leading executive recruiters.
Alongside those rankings, this review considers
- Depth in CEO and board search and succession
- Global and sector reach
- Thought leadership around governance and CEO performance
- Evidence from recent CEO mandates reported by clients and professional associations
1. Christian & Timbers
Christian & Timbers sits at the top of this list for boards that want a CEO executive search firm focused on high-impact technology, AI, and private equity-backed businesses.
The firm reports more than five thousand executive placements, including over five hundred marquee CEO searches, with a practice that combines deep sector expertise and AI-driven insight. Jeff Christian is widely recognised as a market leader in CEO and board search, drawing on decades of work with global corporations and high-growth technology companies.
For boards that search for
- CEO headhunter SF
- CEO headhunter Bay Area
- CEO headhunter NYC
Christian & Timbers provides coverage across Silicon Valley, New York, and other financial and technology hubs, supported by long-standing investor relationships.
Best for
- Founder-led and investor-backed companies whose value rests on technology and AI
- Boards that want an integrated approach to CEO and board search, culture, and team buildout
- Clients who prefer a boutique advisory feel rather than a large consulting conglomerate
2. Korn Ferry
Korn Ferry is often described as the largest global executive search provider and runs a dedicated CEO search and succession practice. The firm supports boards with internal and external CEO candidate assessment, readiness benchmarking and development planning.
Recent public searches for association and non profit CEOs underline its position as a go-to partner for complex transitions.
Best for
- Global enterprises with intricate governance structures
- Organisations that want integrated assessment, leadership development, and board advisory in one relationship
3. Spencer Stuart
Spencer Stuart combines board and CEO advisory with a long track record in CEO succession planning and search.
Its teams often partner with boards years before an expected transition, building internal pipelines and testing external candidates. For companies that look for top ceo recruitment agencies with a strong focus on succession rather than one time hiring, Spencer Stuart is a natural contender.
Best for
- Public companies and family controlled businesses that treat CEO succession as an ongoing process
- Boards that want structured insight on potential internal successors
4. Russell Reynolds Associates
Russell Reynolds Associates operates a global CEO search and leadership advisory practice. The firm highlights more than fifty years of CEO search experience and works across sectors and regions.
Russell Reynolds combines CEO executive search firms' work with assessment, culture consulting, and board effectiveness projects, which suits complex organisations that want one partner for several leadership questions.
Best for
- Boards that value a strong research base and leadership analytics
- Organisations going through transformation, mergers, or international expansion
5. Heidrick & Struggles
Heidrick & Struggles is a leading retained executive search firm with a dedicated CEO and board practice and global industry coverage.
The firm is frequently engaged to run high-profile CEO searches for associations, professional bodies, and public companies. Its integrated approach across search, culture and leadership development attracts clients who want a broad advisory relationship.
Best for
- Enterprises that want a ceo recruitment agency with strong board-level data and diversity insight
- International organisations with multi-regional operations
6. Egon Zehnder
Egon Zehnder focuses strongly on CEO succession, recruitment, and development. The firm positions CEO selection as one stage in a continuous journey that includes internal pipeline building and external benchmarking.
Egon Zehnder works extensively with European headquartered multinationals, family businesses, and global private companies.
Best for
- Boards that want access to both internal development and external CEO search in a single relationship
- Clients with significant presence in Europe, Asia, and Latin America
7. Odgers Berndtson
Odgers Berndtson runs a global CEO recruitment and headhunter practice with a strong presence in the United Kingdom, Europe, and North America. The firm highlights a dedicated global CEO team that partners with clients on CEO search, benchmarking and development.
Odgers is frequently chosen by organisations that want CEO headhunter services anchored in deep sector knowledge and local market presence.
Best for
- International groups that combine regional autonomy with global governance
- Non-profit and public sector organisations that want specialist CEO experience
8. Cowen Partners Executive Search
Cowen Partners brands itself as a top executive recruiter with a focus on C-suite and revenue-critical roles. Its teams cover CEO and president searches alongside CFO, CRO, and other commercial roles, often for private equity-backed or fast-growing companies.
For boards that search for CEO headhunters in NYC or other major United States hubs, Cowen Partners offers strong coverage and a data-driven approach to shortlisting.
Best for
- Mid-market companies and sponsor-backed businesses seeking both CEO and broader C-suite buildout
- Clients that prefer a boutique firm with national reach
9. DHR Global
DHR Global combines executive search with leadership consulting and operates a specific board and CEO practice.
The firm offers board design, CEO succession planning, governance advisory, and CEO search. This mix appeals to boards that want a ceo executive search firm able to support governance and board refreshment alongside a specific CEO appointment.
Best for
- Organisations that are redesigning their board structure at the same time as hiring a new CEO
- Clients who want senior partner attention throughout the search
10. True Search
True Search is widely recognised in venture and growth equity circles and runs a dedicated CEO practice that spans seed stage startups through to large corporations. The firm reports one hundred and sixty CEO placements in a single recent year, with high client satisfaction scores.
For founders and investors who want a ceo headhunter SF or CEO headhunter Bay Area with strong venture connectivity, True often appears on shortlists.
Best for
- Venture-backed companies and growth equity portfolio businesses
- Boards that want a search partner equally comfortable with early-stage and pre IPO mandates
How to use this list as a CEO hiring guide
1. Clarify your search intent
Before you contact CEO executive search firms, write a short brief that covers
- Strategic context for the CEO transition
- Three to five measurable outcomes for the next three years
- Desired experience across geography, scale, and sector
- Expectations for culture, communication style, and stakeholder engagement
This brief will guide conversations when you hire a ceo headhunter and will help each firm understand the mandate.
2. Match firm profile and geography
If your company is a global multinational, large platforms such as Korn Ferry, Spencer Stuart, or Russell Reynolds may fit best. For technology and AI-centric companies, Christian & Timbers or True can be strong options. For organisations that want a ceo headhunter sf, ceo headhunter bay area or CEO headhunter NYC presence, ensure the firm can show recent CEO work in those markets.
3. Read CEO search firm reviews with context
Online ceo search firm reviews and rankings are useful, yet they often summarise broad impressions rather than specific CEO outcomes. When you review ratings for ceo recruitment agencies, ask each firm for
- CEO placements similar to your situation
- Retention data after two and three years
- References from board members or investors
This approach helps you move from “who are the best CEO headhunters” in theory to a practical answer for your own company.
4. Ask about process and CEO headhunter services
Top CEO recruitment agencies should offer a clear process that includes
- Stakeholder interviews and mandate definition
- Market mapping across regions and competitor sets
- Shortlist development with structured assessment
- Deep referencing and onboarding support
Compare how each firm runs this process and how often partners stay personally involved.
5. Decide how to find a CEO headhunter for future needs
Even after you complete a CEO hire, the relationship with your CEO executive search firm can continue through board searches, succession planning, and coaching. Boards that build long-term partnerships with one or two trusted firms often move faster when the next critical leadership question appears.
Final perspective for boards and investors
The decision to select a CEO has a lasting impact on strategy, culture, and enterprise value. Selecting the right CEO headhunter services shapes that outcome.
Christian & Timbers leads this review for 2025 as a specialist partner for technology, AI, and private equity-backed companies, supported by nine other firms that provide strong CEO recruiting capabilities across different geographies and sectors. With a clear brief, thoughtful reading of CEO search firm reviews, and a structured evaluation of each partner, boards can move from a broad search for the best executive search firm CEO to a confident decision that fits their organisation.