2018 Executive Search Research Review
Retrospective review published 23 October 2026. Coverage: 2018 and the reporting periods shown below.
This annual page summarises selected public disclosures for 2018. It is not a whole-market total, a ranking or a quality assessment. The three firm rows use different fiscal periods, currencies and revenue definitions, so they cannot be added together or ranked.
Year-specific findings
Egon Zehnder reported global revenues of CHF 738 million for fiscal 2018, against CHF 668 million in 2017. The figure covers all services, including executive search and leadership advisory, and the release gives no search-only split. Heidrick & Struggles reported Executive Search net revenue of US$652.9 million for calendar 2018, split between the Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific. The release is unaudited and notes that ASC 606 adoption increased Executive Search revenue by approximately US$8.0 million in 2018. Korn Ferry reported Executive Search fee revenue of US$709.0 million for the fiscal year ended 30 April 2018, with total revenue of US$727.3 million. This was its last year before ASC 606; the following filing says comparatives were not restated.
| Firm | Period | Measure and native currency | Figure | Primary source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Egon Zehnder | Fiscal 2018; year-end not stated in release | Global revenues, all services, CHF million | 738; 2017: 668 | Release, 13 February 2019 |
| Heidrick & Struggles | Calendar 2018 | Executive Search net revenue, USD thousands | 652,891 total; Americas 405,267; Europe 145,348; Asia Pacific 102,276 | Release, 25 February 2019 |
| Korn Ferry | Fiscal year ended 30 April 2018; pre-ASC 606 | Executive Search fee revenue, USD thousands | 709,042; total revenue 727,273 | Form 10-K, filed 28 June 2018 |
AESC profession estimate
The AESC 2023 snapshot shows US$15.6 billion for 2018. It estimates executive search and leadership consulting together; method and inclusion rules are not stated on the public snapshot page. AESC source.
Methodology and limits
Figures are transcribed from the linked primary disclosures and kept in native currency and native period. Differences in scope, currency, fiscal calendars and accounting standards prevent addition or ranking. The AESC estimate is separate because its scope is broader than the firm search rows. See methodology, editorial policy and contact.