Top 10 Executive Search Firms in India for 2025: Your Go-To Guide for Leadership Hiring

Finding the right leadership talent is a game changer for any organization. Whether you’re a multinational corporation, a family-owned business, or a fast-growing startup, hiring the right CEO, CXO, or board member can steer your company toward success. India’s executive search landscape is rich and diverse, featuring global giants and strong local players, each bringing unique strengths to the table.

Below is a carefully researched list of the top 10 executive search firms in India for 2025—with an “about” section for each, plus their expertise, sector focus, and what makes them stand out. This guide will help you navigate your leadership hiring journey with confidence.

1. Egon Zehnder

About: Egon Zehnder is widely recognized as the world’s leading leadership advisory firm, with a mission to discover, develop, and transform leaders for a better world. Operating as “One Firm” across industries and geographies, Egon Zehnder leverages deep industry experience and diverse insights to provide impactful advice and build long-term trust with clients. Their collaborative approach, rooted in mutual trust and partnership, enables them to address every leadership challenge—expected or unexpected—across the globe.

Specialization: CEO, Board, and C-suite hiring

Sectors: Technology, Industrial, FMCG, Pharma, Financial Services, and more.

What Sets Them Apart: Leadership advisory, CEO succession planning, and culture assessment.

Ideal For: Organizations seeking a holistic leadership partner focused on long-term success and cultural fit.

2. Korn Ferry India

About: Korn Ferry is a global organizational consulting firm, renowned for helping clients design optimal structures, hire the right people, and develop professionals throughout their careers. With a growing digital presence in India—including a software product development center in Bangalore—Korn Ferry combines advanced data science, AI-driven talent analytics, and a robust Intelligence Cloud platform to help organizations solve business-critical issues around talent mobility, acquisition, and development. Their global expertise is seamlessly blended with deep local insights.

Specialization: Executive search, leadership assessment, and development

Sectors: IT, BFSI, Manufacturing, Healthcare.

What Sets Them Apart: Scientific psychometric tools and leadership development programs.

Ideal For: Companies looking for data-driven hiring combined with leadership growth.

3. Spencer Stuart

About: Spencer Stuart is an American global executive search and leadership consulting firm, founded in 1956 and headquartered in Chicago. With 70 offices in 33 countries, it is the largest privately held search firm in the world. Spencer Stuart is known for its work with Fortune 500 companies and government agencies, offering services that span executive search, leadership training, strategic planning, and digital transformation. Their legacy includes high-profile placements and a strong reputation for confidentiality and process rigor.

Specialization: Board, CEO, and senior leadership hiring.

Sectors: Consumer, Industrial, Technology, Private Equity.

What Sets Them Apart: Board advisory and a data-driven search process.

Ideal For: Firms seeking top-tier leadership with a global perspective and confidentiality.

4. Russell Reynolds Associates

About: Russell Reynolds Associates (RRA) is a leading management consulting firm established in 1969 in New York. With 46 offices in 26 countries, RRA provides executive search, board & CEO advisory, culture advisory, diversity & inclusion, assessment, and succession planning services. The firm is recognized for helping both international and domestic companies develop leaders, assess business processes, and recruit new executives, with a strong track record in high-impact placements across sectors.

Specialization: Digital leadership, ESG, family-owned businesses

Sectors: Technology, Financial Services, Industrial, Startups

What Sets Them Apart: Focused on transformational leadership and sustainability.

Ideal For: Organizations prioritizing innovation, digital transformation, and ESG.

5. Heidrick & Struggles

About: Heidrick & Struggles is a premier provider of global leadership advisory and on-demand talent solutions, serving more than 70% of Fortune 1000 companies. Founded in 1953 in Chicago, the firm has expanded worldwide, offering data-driven methodologies and a personalized, high-touch approach. Heidrick & Struggles is committed to inclusion, belonging, and helping organizations create diverse, high-performing teams. Their expertise spans executive search, leadership consulting, and transformation services.

Specialization: Leadership search, succession planning, diversity hiring.

Sectors: PE-backed firms, family businesses, innovation-driven companies.

What Sets Them Apart: Leadership agility and transformation, with a focus on diversity.

Ideal For: Companies focused on leadership evolution and inclusion.

6. ABC Consultants

About: ABC Consultants is one of India’s oldest and most respected HR consulting firms, founded in 1969. With over 350 consultants across 16 industries, ABC Consultants has placed more than 145,000 leaders and managers. Their mission is to be the largest domestic executive search firm and redefine middle to senior-level recruitment in India, offering employment agency services, HR consulting, and outsourcing with a strong local presence.

Specialization: Executive and senior management hiring

Sectors: IT, Telecom, Consumer, Healthcare.

What Sets Them Apart: Deep Indian market knowledge and a legacy in leadership hiring.

Ideal For: Indian businesses seeking trusted local expertise.

7. Stanton Chase India

About: Stanton Chase is a global executive search and leadership consulting firm with a strong presence in India’s major business hubs. Their Mumbai office exemplifies the firm’s global growth story, combining rich practice expertise and strong local industry contacts with seamless support from Stanton Chase’s global partners. The firm is known for nurturing long-term partnerships with clients and candidates, delivering value through executive search and assessment7.

Specialization: Board, CXO, and functional leadership roles

What Sets Them Apart: Customized, sector-specific leadership search with global reach.

Ideal For: Organizations wanting tailored search solutions with international standards.

8. Quadrangle (by Naukri Group)

About: Quadrangle, founded in 1997, is one of India’s leading offline search and selection firms and a division of Info Edge India Pvt. Ltd. With offices in seven major business centers and a global footprint across 25+ locations, Quadrangle specializes in leadership hiring, lateral hiring, executive search, and market research. Their deep integration with Naukri.com gives them unparalleled access to job seekers and recruiters, leveraging technology for smart matching and personalized search.

Specialization: Mid-to-senior leadership roles.

Sectors: Technology, Fintech, EdTech, BFSI.

What Sets Them Apart: Vast domestic network and data-driven candidate insights.Ideal For: Companies seeking strong local market reach and data-driven insights.

9. Native (formerly Catenon India)

About: Native, previously known as Catenon India, is a tech-enabled executive search firm specializing in global talent mapping and remote hiring. With a focus on innovation and technology, Native leverages video-based assessments and a remote hiring stack to efficiently source and evaluate leadership talent worldwide. Their approach is particularly suited for organizations seeking agile, global talent solutions.

Specialization: Global talent mapping and remote hiring

What Sets Them Apart: Video assessments and remote hiring technology.

Ideal For: Firms embracing remote leadership hiring and global talent pools.

10. Michael Page India

About: Michael Page India is part of the global PageGroup, a leading executive search and recruitment firm with a presence in over 36 countries. In India, Michael Page is known for its sector-specialist consultants, transparent processes, and strong candidate database. They offer mid-to-senior and C-suite hiring across industries, blending international best practices with deep local market knowledge to deliver tailored leadership solutions.

Specialization: Mid-to-senior and C-suite hiring across industries

Sectors: BFSI, Technology, Consumer, Industrial, Healthcare, and more

What Sets Them Apart: International best practices, sector expertise, and consultative approach.

Ideal For: Companies seeking a blend of global process and local execution.

The Emerging Boutique Alternative: GoodHiresOnly

While the above firms are established leaders in executive search, there is a notable gap in the market for startups and SMEs. Most traditional firms focus on large enterprises and come with premium pricing and longer timelines.

GoodHiresOnly is India’s only executive search firm dedicated exclusively to startups and SMEs. We bring the same level of meticulous candidate vetting and hiring quality as the global giants—at a price point that emerging companies can afford. Our focus is on precision-led leadership hiring with a human touch, helping startups and SMEs build leadership teams that truly drive growth.

GoodHiresOnly - India #1 Executive Search Firm for StartUps

Final Thoughts

India’s executive search ecosystem offers a rich variety of options—from global heavyweights to nimble boutique firms. Your choice should align with your company’s size, sector, and leadership needs.

For startups and SMEs looking for affordable, high-quality leadership hiring, GoodHiresOnly is the trusted partner that fills the gap between premium global firms and emerging company realities.

Ready to build your leadership dream team? Connect with GoodHiresOnly and experience executive search tailored for your growth journey.