Executive search firms (informally called headhunting firms) provide specialized recruitment services that find top-level candidates for senior, executive, or other highly specialized positions for companies. Not restricted to providing just recruitment services, top executive search firms also helps organizations with training of professionals and other personnel induction programs.

Here is our list of the top 10 executive search firms/headhunting firms in India who work in retained and contingent search to recruit highly qualified candidates for senior-level and executive jobs across the various industries in the private sectors as well as for not-for-profit organizations.

#1 : ABC Consultants Key People: B P Agrawal – Chairman

Shiv Agrawal – MD Founded in 1969 One of the oldest executive search firm in India, they have a tagline that says, “A million results are useless unless you find the One that makes your search worthwhile”. They have three sister concerns namely HeadCount, FlexAbility and HeadHonchos, each recruiting across different business verticals. Contact details Their corporate office is in Delhi, with regional offices across major indian cities.

1st Floor, Eros Corporate Tower

Nehru Place

New Delhi 110 019

Get Directions T: +91 11 4934 3900

E: info@abcconsultants.in

#2 : Pipal Tree Services : Executive Search Firm Key People Sonia Sharma – Director/Founder : sonia@pipaltreeservices.com

Rahul Bahuguna – Director/Founder

A relative new entrant in the market, Pipal Tree Services has brings together “human factor” in the executive search by bringing together its understanding of its client requirements with industry knowledge and human talent. Contact details Their corporate office is in Delhi, with regional office in Mumbai .

#3 : Korn Ferry International Key People:

Ashutosh Khanna : ashutosh.khanna@kornferry.com

Madhav Sharan : madhav.sharan@kornferry.com

Navnit Singh . : navnit.singh@kornferry.com Started almost at the same time as ABC, Korn Ferry is a global executive search firm which operates through 78 offices in over 37 countries and has a team of approximately 3,900 employees. Korn Ferry has won numerous accolades including No.1 Global Executive Recruitment firm. Korn Ferry main business operations includes Executive Search, Leadership and Talent Consulting and Futurestep. Contact details Their corporate office is in Delhi, with regional offices in Mumbai and Bangalore. DLF Phase 5,Two Horizon Center , Second Floor, Gurugram, Haryana 12200

T: 0124 432 1000

#4 : Spencer Stuart Key People: Kevin Connelly – CEO

Rohit Kale – Business Head India : rkale@spencerstuart.com Spencer Stuart started in 1956 and now has over 56 offices in 30 countries and advisors spread worldwide. Spencer Stuart is a privately held executive search firm which provides its clients with counseling and guidance for their senior leadership needs as well as other advisory services and assessments. Contact details Their corporate office is in Delhi, with regional offices in Mumbai .

#5 : Stanton Chase Key People: Mickey Matthews – Managing Director

Founded in 1990, Stanton Chase boasts of operations in 9 countries, 72 offices backed by 350 consultants and 9 global practice groups. Stanton Chase is a renowned executive search firm with over thousands of satisfied customers. Contact details Their corporate office is in Delhi, with regional offices in Mumbai and Bangalore.

#6 : Accord India Key People: Sonal Agrawal – Managing Partner, India

A boutique retained executive search firm, Accord specializes in CXO and specialist searches. Having operations in Bombay, Delhi and Bangalor, it has services ranging from diversity searches, forensic due diligence, career transition services and market mapping services. Accord is also a founding member of AltoPartners, the leading global alliance of independently owned executive search firms, with over 50 offices across over 30 countries in the Americas, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific. In India

#7 : Anzy Careers

Key People: Deepak Singh – Founder

Founded in 2010 , Anzy Careers is an HR consulting firm with a focus on IT and Technology startups. They specialize in executive search, leadership search and resource process outsourcing. This executive search firm helped build teams for high-end technology startups like Flipkart, Myntra, InMobi, Vdopia, etc.

#8 : Egon Zehnder Key People: Rajeev Vasudeva – CEO

Damien O’Brien – Chairman

Another privately held executive search and talent management consultancy in this list, Egon Zehnder has presence across 41 countries and boasts of about 400 consultants in 69 offices. Their specialties include senior-level executive search, CEO succession, board search and advisory, family business advisory and leadership assessment. Their client base ranges from the world’s largest corporations to the just emerging companies along with government and regulatory bodies, and educational and cultural organizations.