TheBoardroom Africa

What TheBoardroom Africa does

TheBoardroom Africa is a retained executive search and leadership advisory firm founded in 2016 by Marcia Ashong-Sam and headquartered in Ebène, Mauritius. The firm operates four practice areas — Executive Search (board, C-suite and senior leadership appointments), Leadership Advisory (succession planning, leadership team assessment, organisational design, executive coaching), Investor-Led Solutions (leadership due diligence and fractional/interim placements for PE, VC and DFIs), and Executive Development (governance/finance programmes, the EMERGE leadership acceleration platform, and the TExEd executive education platform). The partner-led model means every mandate is run by a partner directly, supported by an Executive Network of 15,000+ professionals (with 2,000+ senior executives and 70%+ at C-suite level), an Affiliated Experts Network of senior practitioners, and an in-development AI-backed marketplace intended to scale board search without replacing human curation. Pricing operates on a quote-based, upfront or milestone-based retainer structure, differentiating from contingent recruitment.

The firm targets multinational corporates, listed companies, financial institutions, PE/VC portfolios, development finance institutions, and family-owned enterprises across ten verticals including Financial Services, Technology & Digital, Energy & Infrastructure, Healthcare & Life Sciences, Private Equity & Investment, and Development Finance. Named enterprise clients include MTN Group Fintech (7 board appointments across Group and subsidiaries), MedAccess (6-year governance partnership), and Norsad Capital (4 NED appointments and a CEO since 2020). Geographically the firm operates across Africa and has expanded into the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Europe, and North America. TheBoardroom Africa is B Corp certified, GDPR-compliant, and publishes the annual Industry Trends Report and Board Diversity Index tracking gender diversity across 11 African countries since 2017.

Name

TheBoardroom Africa

Legal name

TheBoardroom Africa

Website

https://theboardroomafrica.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

TheBoardroom Africa is a Mauritius-headquartered retained executive search and leadership advisory firm, founded in 2016, that places board, C-suite and senior leaders across African and international markets for corporates, financial institutions, investors, and development organisations through a partner-led model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Executive Search Services

NAICS

Executive Search Services (561312), Management Consulting Services (54161)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

C-Suite & Board Search (BPACAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Leadership Development & Executive Coaching (BPAHAGAD), Executive Leadership & C-Suite Development (EDABAAAA), C-Suite & Senior Executive Coaching (EDABANAA)

Keywords

• Executive search services
• Leadership advisory
• Board appointments
• Succession planning
• Talent acquisition

Headquarters

HQ city

Ebène

HQ country

Mauritius

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Retained Executive Search: Upfront or milestone-based staged fee structure for board, C-suite and senior leadership appointments. The retained model reflects the depth, rigour, and strategic partnership expected of the firm conducting the search.
2. Leadership Advisory: Advisory fees for succession planning, leadership team assessment, organisational design, and executive coaching services.
3. Investor-Led Solutions: Leadership due diligence and talent solutions for PE, VC and DFIs including fractional and interim leaders.
4. Executive Development Programs: Governance and finance programmes, executive coaching, and EMERGE leadership acceleration platform. CPD-accredited courses in governance, finance, strategy, and ESG.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

TheBoardroom Africa is a retained executive search and leadership advisory firm that places board directors, C-suite executives, and senior leaders for corporate, financial, investor, and development clients. It operates four practice areas: Executive Search (board, C-suite, and senior leadership appointments), Leadership Advisory (succession planning, team assessment, organisational design, executive coaching), Investor-Led Solutions (leadership due diligence and talent solutions for PE, VC, and DFIs), and Executive Development (EMERGE leadership acceleration, TExEd executive education, governance and finance programmes). All engagements are led by a partner directly and supported by a network of 15,000 executives.

Product overview

TheBoardroom Africa is a retained executive search and leadership advisory firm operating four core practice areas: Executive Search (board, C-suite, and senior leadership appointments), Leadership Advisory (succession planning, team assessment, organisational design, coaching), Investor-Led Solutions (leadership due diligence and talent for PE/VC/DFIs), and Executive Development (governance/finance programmes, EMERGE leadership acceleration, TExEd executive education). These services are supported by an activated Executive Network community of 2,000+ senior executives, an Affiliated Experts Network of senior practitioners, and research products including the annual Industry Trends Report and Board Diversity Index (BDI) tracking gender diversity across 11 African countries since 2017.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• EMERGE: Flagship leadership acceleration platform for the next generation of senior talent, supporting leadership development and advisory initiatives.
• TExEd

Products and services

• Executive Search Retained executive search service covering board, C-suite, and senior leadership appointments. Combines deep market mapping with rigorous assessment, evaluating capability, judgement, and growth potential, and is delivered through a partner-led model.
• Leadership Advisory Advisory service covering succession planning, leadership team assessment, organisational design, and executive coaching. Works alongside boards and executive teams before vacancies are declared, applying the same rigour used in search work.
• Investor-Led Solutions Leadership due diligence and talent solutions for private equity, venture capital, and development finance institutions across the full investment lifecycle, including fractional and interim leaders.
• Executive Development Executive development practice delivering governance and finance programmes, executive coaching, and leadership acceleration initiatives for senior professionals, founders, executives, and board-ready leaders seeking governance, financial, and leadership capabilities.
• EMERGE Flagship leadership acceleration platform for the next generation of senior talent, supporting leadership development and advisory initiatives designed to help young leaders and executives grow with confidence and prepare for greater responsibility.
• TExEd Platform for delivering executive education programmes as part of the Executive Development practice, administering participation in courses, events, and other educational services including CPD-accredited courses in governance, finance, strategy, and ESG.

Quantifiable outcome

• 98% client retention rate
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments10 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Draper Richards Kaplan FoundationcoreOthersKanini Mutooni serves as Africa Director. The firm draws on affiliated experts to deepen and enhance advisory work credibility and bring specialist judgement to engagements requiring specific expertise.
• Board ExcellencecoreOthersKieran Moynihan serves as Managing Partner. Board Excellence specialists contribute governance, leadership advisory, and executive assessment expertise to client engagements.
• Kina AdvisorycoreOthersRosalind Kainyah, MBE serves as Managing Director. Contributes specialist expertise in governance and international business to TheBoardroom Africa's advisory practice.
• Cadigan Talent VenturescoreOthersSteve Cadigan, former First CHRO of LinkedIn and Founder of Cadigan Ventures, contributes talent and HR expertise. Contributed insights to 2026 Industry Trends Report.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Heidrick & Struggles: Global retained executive search and leadership advisory firm with deep C-suite and board practice. Directly comparable to TheBoardroom Africa on retained board/C-suite search, leadership advisory, and serves multinational clients across multiple geographies.
• Spencer Stuart: One of the largest global retained executive search firms with a strong board practice. Directly comparable on board and CEO search, leadership advisory, and has been actively expanding its Africa presence.
• Egon Zehnder: Global executive search and leadership advisory firm known for board, CEO, and senior leadership appointments. Closely comparable on retained search model, partner-led engagements, and advisory services.
• Russell Reynolds Associates: Global retained executive search firm with strong board and CEO practice and leadership advisory capabilities. Directly comparable on enterprise retained search and assessment methodology.
• Odgers Berndtson: Global retained executive search firm with active Africa and emerging markets practice. Comparable on partner-led retained board and C-suite search across multiple sectors and geographies.
• Signium Africa: Global executive search firm with strong Africa-focused practice covering board, CEO, and senior leadership appointments. Closely comparable regional peer competing for the same African board and C-suite mandates.
• Pedersen & Partners: Global retained executive search firm with deep emerging markets and Africa practice. Directly comparable on cross-border C-suite and board search, particularly across emerging markets where both firms operate.
• Stanton Chase: Global retained executive search firm with active emerging markets practice and Africa presence. Comparable on partner-led board and senior leadership engagements across multiple sectors.
• Amrop: Global executive search partnership with strong emerging markets and Africa footprint. Comparable on retained C-suite and board search and leadership advisory across diverse sectors.

Broad incumbents

• Korn Ferry: Largest global organizational consulting firm spanning executive search, leadership development, and talent advisory. Comparable on retained search and executive development (EMERGE-style programs), but operates at much larger scale across a broader portfolio.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TBRAfrica
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/theboardroom-africa

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about TheBoardroom Africa