Executive search

Secure the right leaders for your organisation with our tailored executive recruitment & headhunting service. Our industry-leading recruiters connect you with professionals who share your vision and are ready to drive your business forward.

Connecting like-minded leaders and employers through executive recruitment

The right leader in the right place can inspire organisations to reach new heights. Their impact is felt from boardrooms through to balance sheets and share prices. Their performance sets the bar – and their behaviour sets the tone – for everyone who works for and with the organisation.

Finding first class leaders and matching them with the right organisation is a fine art – and we’ve honed this skill over more than three decades. Individual leaders and employers trust us to understand their respective qualities, vision, and capabilities, and to connect them with like minds from across the UK and overseas.

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Our executive search service recruitment connects the best organisations with the brightest leaders. Contact us to find out more.

Looking to hire

Trusted by over 11,000+ organisations

Areas we recruit in

Secure your next executive hire

Let us connect you with the talent that can take your business forward.

Looking to hire

Why choose Robert Walters to handle your executive search needs?

Receive a tailored service. With over 38 years in operation, we have gained a proven record as a executive search firm that delivers a professional service that is crafted to meet your business needs.
Partner with industry experts. Many of our executive recruiters come from the industries they serve, meaning they have built hyper-specialist knowledge of the industry you operate in.
Acquire data driven insights. Our executive search and headhunting strategy is highly targeted, defined by the insights from our market intelligence function.
Take advantage of our global reach. Our International Candidate Management teams have access to the top talent pools from across the globe.
Share our expertise. Giving you access to our specialist knowledge and in-depth experience though a broad range of insights, advice and thought leadership.

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Executive hiring in the UK: Our specialist recruitment approach

We connect you with expert executive search recruiters specialising across multiple disciplines. Our refined process delivers a tailored shortlist, perfectly aligned with your recruitment brief.

As executive search specialists, we conduct comprehensive research, multi-channel sourcing, and detailed market mapping to create a bespoke talent pool.

This sophisticated search approach provides access to active and passive executives beyond traditional channels, delivering a tailored shortlist to help you find your next leader.

Our track record

43,000

Executive professionals we help start their next chapter
11,000

Organisations who we help acquire executive talent
85%

Of professionals refer us to a friend
90%

Of organisations recruit more than one role through us

Speak to our executive search recruiters

Our success stories

Hear inspiring success stories from our clients and candidates as they flourish in their new career journeys.

Learn more

Our other recruitment services

Temporary recruitment

We have our finger on the pulse for all your contingent hiring needs.
Read more
Interim Management

Connect with interim managers to add strategic value to your organisation.
Read more
Market intelligence

Utilise the latest data to ensure you make the right hiring decisions.
Read more
RPO

Transfer your permanent recruitment needs to an external provider.
Read more

An award-winning service

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Access to top talent: Partnering with an executive search & headhunting firm provides access to exclusive networks and highly qualified candidates who aren't actively job hunting.
Industry expertise: Executive search companies offer deep industry insights and expert assessments, ensuring candidates are a perfect fit for your company culture.
Streamlined recruitment: These firms handle candidate screening, interviews, and assessments, significantly saving your organisation time and resources.
Strategic advantage: Utilising an executive hiring agency gives your company a competitive edge by quickly securing top executive talent ahead of your competitors.

At Robert Walters, we specialize in executive & headhunting recruitment across a range of professional industries. Our expertise includes:

Finance: Recruiting top-tier finance executives such as CFOs, controllers, and treasurers to drive financial strategy and growth.
Corporate Leadership: Placing CEOs, COOs, and other senior executives who can lead and inspire across diverse sectors.
Technology: Identifying leaders like CTOs and IT directors to keep your organisation ahead in the tech landscape.
Healthcare: Sourcing administrators, chief medical officers, and healthcare CFOs to manage and grow healthcare organisations.
Manufacturing and Engineering: Placing executives like procurement managers, VPs of operations, and engineering directors to optimise efficiency and innovation.
Marketing and Sales: Finding dynamic CMOs, sales directors, and other leaders to boost business development and market presence.
Human Resources: Recruiting HR executives, including CHROs and HR directors, to foster organisational culture and drive HR strategies.

We operate in multiple locations across the UK, providing localised expertise with a global reach. Whether you're seeking a CFO in Manchester, a CEO in London, or a finance executive in Liverpool, we have the resources to meet your needs.

Harnessing the strength of our international networks and management programs, we excel in conducting global executive searches. Our seasoned team possesses the expertise to navigate diverse talent pools worldwide, guaranteeing the identification of ideal candidates irrespective of geographical constraints. Our executive search recruitment & headhunting firm boasts a network spanning over 30+ countries across continents and specialised knowledge in cross-cultural dynamics, we are fully equipped to meet your hiring needs on a global scale.

In the realm of executive search, our Salary Survey stands as a comprehensive guide to salaries and hiring trends in the UK. Drawing from the analysis of over 100,000 placements, encompassing permanent, interim, and contract roles, our survey offers in-depth insights into UK-specific salary and benefits across various industries.

Request your copy of the Salary Survey guide to accurately benchmark salaries to attract and retain top talent.

Salary Survey 2025

If you’re growing your team or simply need to retain the talent you have, the Salary Survey guides you with the insights you need to have the right team in place to keep your business moving forward.

Benchmark your team's salaries

Executive search

Connecting like-minded leaders and employers through executive recruitment

Let’s talk

Trusted by over 11,000+ organisations

Areas we recruit in

Secure your next executive hire

Why choose Robert Walters to handle your executive search needs?

Executive hiring in the UK: Our specialist recruitment approach

Our track record

Speak to our executive search recruiters

Our success stories

Our other recruitment services

Temporary recruitment

Interim Management

Market intelligence

RPO

An award-winning service

Related content

FAQs

What are the benefits of partnering with an executive search firm?

What industries do you specialise in for executive recruitment?

Can you assist with international executive searches?

How can I find data to benchmark salaries?

Salary Survey 2025