Revenues Rise, Mandates Decline

(November 19, 2013) –  Latest search industry data for the third quarter reveals a mixed bag in C-level and senior executive assignments.

Third quarter 2013 data released by the Association of Executive Search Consultants (AESC) reveals a global increase in the value of senior executive search assignments butr fewer of them.

The average fee per executive search assignment increased quarter-on-quarter and year-on-year in the (+4.4% and +6.4% respectively), while the number of new executive search starts declined (-6.6% quarterly and -11.2% yearly).

However, the declining search volume is also set against a strong rise in year-on-year revenues of +11.7 per cent from Q3 2012 to Q3 2013.

“The third quarter results, building on the trends of the last year, clearly reflect client demand is focused on higher level searches as opposed to the volume associated with more middle level recruiting,” said Peter Felix, President of AESC. “The retained search firms are gaining momentum at the top level of the executive suite, where more complex, confidential and global assignments are often standard.”

The third quarter market share outlook revealed that Financial Services and Consumer Products both held small year-on-year increases in market share. Life Sciences/Healthcare had no change in its market position, while the Industrial and Technology sectors slowed modestly, compared to greater comparative gains in Financial Services and Consumer new search starts.