2020 Executive Search Research Review
Retrospective review published 23 October 2026. Coverage: 2020 and the reporting periods shown below.
This page summarises selected public disclosures for 2020. It is not a whole-market estimate, a ranking or a quality assessment. Firm figures are kept in native currency and native period and are not added or compared as a league table.
Year-specific findings
Egon Zehnder reported global revenues of CHF 678 million for 2020, down 4.6 per cent from the 2019 result at constant exchange rates. The release covers all services, so the figure is not an executive-search-only measure. Heidrick & Struggles reported Executive Search net revenue of US$565.2 million for calendar 2020, with the Americas at US$361.4 million, Europe at US$124.2 million and Asia Pacific at US$79.5 million. Its release states that confirmed executive searches declined 6.3 per cent and gives average revenue per executive search of US$123,200. The release tables are unaudited; the same 2020 figures appear unchanged as audited comparatives in the 2021 Form 10-K. Korn Ferry reported Executive Search fee revenue of US$732.5 million for the fiscal year ended 30 April 2020, with total revenue of US$749.2 million. Its filing states that the COVID-19 pandemic decreased fee revenue significantly in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020. A separate Advisory segment split did not change Executive Search reporting for the year.
| Firm | Period | Measure and native currency | Figure | Primary source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Egon Zehnder | 2020 annual results; fiscal year-end not stated in release | Global revenues, all services, CHF million | 678; down 4.6 per cent at constant exchange rates | Release, 18 March 2021 |
| Heidrick & Struggles | Calendar 2020 | Executive Search net revenue, USD thousands | 565,170 total; Americas 361,416; Europe 124,243; Asia Pacific 79,511 | Release, 22 February 2021 |
| Korn Ferry | Fiscal year ended 30 April 2020; ASC 606 | Executive Search fee revenue, USD thousands | 732,470; total revenue 749,208 | Form 10-K, filed 15 July 2020 |
AESC profession estimate
For 2020 the AESC 2023 snapshot shows US$14 billion. It estimates executive search and leadership consulting together; the public page does not state its method. AESC source.
Methodology and limits
Only linked public disclosures are used. No currency conversion is applied. The AESC figure is separate because its scope includes leadership consulting as well as executive search. See methodology, editorial policy and contact.