2021 Executive Search Research Review
Retrospective review published 23 October 2026. Coverage: 2021 and the reporting periods shown below.
This page sets out selected public disclosures for 2021. It is not a market total, a ranking or a quality assessment. The rows differ in reporting scope, currency, fiscal period and accounting, so no addition or ranking is valid.
Year-specific findings
Egon Zehnder reported global revenues of CHF 804 million for 2021, up 20 per cent from 2020 at constant exchange rates. The release covers all services and adds that leadership advisory services grew 37 per cent. It gives no executive-search-only split. Heidrick & Struggles reported Executive Search net revenue of US$868.8 million for calendar 2021, with the Americas at US$581.4 million, Europe at US$170.3 million and Asia Pacific at US$117.0 million. The audited Form 10-K repeats the 2019 and 2020 Executive Search comparatives unchanged and states that confirmed searches rose 44.6 per cent. Korn Ferry reported total Executive Search fee revenue of US$637.0 million for the fiscal year ended 30 April 2021, with total revenue of US$639.3 million. The filing attributes lower Executive Search fee revenue primarily to the impact of COVID-19 on economies in which the firm operated in fiscal 2021.
| Firm | Period | Measure and native currency | Figure | Primary source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Egon Zehnder | 2021 annual results; fiscal year-end not stated in release | Global revenues, all services, CHF million | 804; growth 20 per cent at constant exchange rates | Release, 13 April 2022 |
| Heidrick & Struggles | Calendar 2021 | Executive Search net revenue, USD thousands | 868,760 total; Americas 581,440; Europe 170,312; Asia Pacific 117,008 | Form 10-K, filed 28 February 2022 |
| Korn Ferry | Fiscal year ended 30 April 2021; ASC 606 | Executive Search fee revenue, USD thousands | 637,035; total revenue 639,280 | Form 10-K, filed 28 June 2021 |
AESC profession estimate
For 2021 the AESC 2023 snapshot shows US$19.9 billion. It covers executive search and leadership consulting together, and its method is not public on the page. AESC source.
Methodology and limits
Figures are kept in native currency and period. The AESC estimate is shown separately because it includes leadership consulting as well as executive search. See methodology, editorial policy and contact.