2022 Executive Search Research Review
Retrospective review published 23 October 2026. Coverage: 2022 and the reporting periods shown below.
This page summarises selected public disclosures for 2022. It is not a whole-market figure, a ranking or a quality assessment. The firm rows use different periods, currencies and definitions, so they cannot be added together or ranked.
Year-specific findings
Egon Zehnder reported global revenues of CHF 883 million for fiscal 2022, which ended 31 October 2022, a 12 per cent increase over fiscal 2021 at constant exchange rates. The release covers all services, including leadership advisory, and gives no search-only split. Heidrick & Struggles reported Executive Search net revenue of US$901.9 million for calendar 2022, with the Americas at US$612.9 million, Europe at US$176.3 million and Asia Pacific at US$112.8 million. Its release states that confirmations decreased 5.3 per cent and gives average revenue per executive search of approximately US$144,000. The release tables are unaudited; the same 2022 figures appear unchanged as audited comparatives in the 2024 Form 10-K. Korn Ferry reported total Executive Search fee revenue of US$935.6 million for the fiscal year ended 30 April 2022, with total revenue of US$939.9 million. The total is the sum of four search reportable segments. The filing places the Lucas Group and Patina Solutions acquisitions in RPO & Professional Search, not Executive Search.
| Firm | Period | Measure and native currency | Figure | Primary source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Egon Zehnder | Fiscal year ended 31 October 2022 | Global revenues, all services, CHF million | 883; growth 12 per cent at constant exchange rates | Release, 21 March 2023 |
| Heidrick & Struggles | Calendar 2022 | Executive Search net revenue, USD thousands | 901,922 total; Americas 612,881; Europe 176,275; Asia Pacific 112,766 | Release, 27 February 2023 |
| Korn Ferry | Fiscal year ended 30 April 2022; ASC 606 | Executive Search fee revenue, USD thousands | 935,561; total revenue 939,908 | Form 10-K, filed 28 June 2022 |
AESC profession estimate
For 2022 the AESC 2023 snapshot shows US$21.1 billion. It estimates executive search and leadership consulting together, with no public method detail on the page. AESC source.
Methodology and limits
Only linked primary disclosures are used, in native currency and period. The AESC figure is separate because it includes leadership consulting alongside executive search. See methodology, editorial policy and contact.