Executive Search
The people trusted to place leadership at the highest levels.
Justin Abraham
Karim Akram
Deutsche Bank
Laurence Ashby
Hanover
Lucy Atkinson
Carl Bernadotte
IBM
Rob Bowerman
The Bowerman Group
Hope Brick
Brick Executive Search
Andrew Caraballo
Solomon Page
Joyce Clinton
The Bowerman Group
Zarina Contractor
Wilton & Bain
Christelle COUESNON
Mercuri Urval
Margot Desachy
Heidrick & Struggles
Thomas Dove
Fraser Dove International
Jamie Doyle
PSD Group
Shailja Dutt
Stellar Search
Duncan Finlayson
Calibre One
James Heinlein
Otsuka Pharmaceutical Companies (U.S.)
Heike Hiss
Box
Meghan Houle
The Bowerman Group
Sharon Hulce
ERG
Amy Johnston
Concero Search Partners
Kelly Kaufmann
Cultivated Talent
James Kenyon
Essenta
Holly Lithgow
Norman Broadbent
Julia Markell
Haleon
Jen Meyer
Govig & Associates
Daniel Müller
Mercuri Urval
Chad Pace
Hadrian
Michael Pietrack
Kaye/Bassman International
Gary Pikul
Boyden
Yumi Prentice
Rich Talent Group
Natasha Robbins
BioTc Search
Gagan Saini
Emerging Tech and Innovation- Russell Reynolds Associates
Michelle Smalls
Fustech Consulting
Mark Di Staulo
17 Oranges
Niklas Sutela
Mercuri Urval
Laura Thomas
Haleon
Hannah Vincent
JBM
Larry Weinberg
ACC Recruiters
Annie Wenzel
SwingSearch
Dr Ty Wiggins
Russell Reynolds Associates
About this category
Executive Search recognizes up to 100 honorees each year. The Class of 2026 includes 41 leaders in this category, put forward by peers or by our selection committees for the work they have done. They lead talent and recruiting work at organizations including Mercuri Urval, The Bowerman Group, Haleon, 17 Oranges, and ACC Recruiters. Each profile covers how they got into recruiting, how their team hires today, and what they think is changing about the work.
Honorees are selected through a dual-path process: about half are nominated directly by fellow people and recruiting leaders, and the rest by selection committees of senior talent practitioners and industry advisors who seek out leaders who may be under-recognized. Nominations are free and selection is based on merit. See the Talent 100 overview for the full process, or browse every category of the class.
Other Talent 100 categories
- Enterprise Technology - Talent leaders at the world's established technology companies.
- Technology & Digital Platforms - Talent leaders across software, cloud, and the digital platforms powering global business.
- Startups & Venture-Backed Tech - The people building teams at startups, scaleups, and venture-backed companies.
- AI, Data & Security - Talent leaders shaping hiring at AI, data, and cybersecurity companies.
- Financial & Professional Services - Talent acquisition across banking, fintech, insurance, legal, and consulting.
- Healthcare & Life Sciences - The talent leaders behind healthcare systems, biotech, and pharma.
- Consumer, Retail & Hospitality - Hiring leaders across consumer brands, retail, travel, and hospitality.
- Industrial, Energy & Manufacturing - Talent leaders powering industrial, energy, logistics, and manufacturing teams.
- Agency & Staffing - The standout talent leaders at agencies and staffing firms.
- Recruiting Operations & Enablement - The builders behind recruiting operations, tooling, and enablement.
- Talent Leadership & People Operations - Senior people leaders whose scope spans far beyond recruiting.
- Founders & Independents - Founders and independent practitioners charting their own course.