SPMB Executive Search
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1981
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
SPMB Executive Search firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SPMB Executive Search
- Legal name
- SPMB, LLC
- Website
- https://spmb.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1981
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SPMB Executive Search industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Executive Search Services
- NAICS
- Executive Search Services (561312)
- SIC
- Services-Employment Agencies (7361)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Technology & Product Leadership Search (CIO/CTO/CDO/CPO) (BPACAAAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- C-Suite & Board Search (BPACAAAA), Functional Leadership Search (HR/Finance/Legal/Marketing/Sales/Ops) (BPACAAAB), Financial Services Leadership Search (Banking/Insurance/PE/Asset Mgmt) (BPACAAAF), Consumer & Retail Leadership Search (BPACAAAG)
Keywords
Where SPMB Executive Search is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
SPMB Executive Search business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Retained Executive Search: Retained search engagements for placing C-level and VP-level executives. The firm charges retainer fees typical of retained executive search, with payment structures based on placed executive compensation.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Enterprise Executive Search - Retained Search |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
SPMB Executive Search product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SPMB Executive Search is a retained executive search firm that places C-level, VP-level, and board executives for technology and innovation companies. Engagements are delivered through dedicated functional practices (Board/CEO/President, Go To Market, Technology/AI/Product, Investment Practice, Finance/HR, Operations) and industry verticals, with specialized practices in Digital Transformation & AI, CFO, Consumer & Digital Markets, and Innovation & Sustainability. The firm operates on a direct retained-search model with custom-quoted fees structured as a percentage of placed executive compensation.
Product overview
SPMB Executive Search is a retained executive search firm, not a software product company. It offers a unified portfolio of executive recruitment services organized by functional practice (Board/CEO, Go To Market, Technology/AI/Product, Investment Practice, Finance/HR, Operations) and industry vertical (Technology, Consumer, Healthcare, Financial Services, Sustainable Technology, Industrial, Comms/Media/Entertainment). The firm's core offering is human capital advisory and executive placement services, delivered through specialized practices such as the Digital Transformation & AI Practice (Mike Doonan), CFO Practice (Steven Popper), Consumer/Digital Markets Practice (Becky Stein, Nicole North), and Innovation & Sustainability Practice (Todd Greenhalgh). There are no software products, platforms, APIs, or SaaS offerings.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Retained Executive Search Services Retained executive search engagements placing C-level, VP-level, and board-level executives for technology and innovation companies. Engagements cover multiple industries including technology, consumer, healthcare, financial services, and sustainable technology, and are delivered through dedicated functional and industry-vertical practices.
- Digital Transformation and AI Practice Specialized executive search focused on recruiting digital transformation and AI leadership, including CTOs, CIOs, Chief Data Officers, and Chief AI Officers, for pure-play technology companies and enterprise clients undergoing digital evolution.
- CFO Practice Financial leadership search practice providing CFO placements for public companies and PE/VC-backed businesses across software, fintech, biotech, consumer tech, and sustainability sectors, including CFO search for portfolio companies of investment firms such as IVP, Accel, Sequoia Capital, Warburg Pincus, Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), Kleiner Perkins (KPCB), and Spectrum Equity.
- Consumer and Digital Markets Practice Executive search services for consumer technology and retail companies, placing leadership in digital commerce, consumer products, and consumer technology organizations across North America.
- Innovation & Sustainability Practice Executive recruitment for cleantech, sustainability, and clean technology companies, including placements in green tech, renewable energy, electric vehicles, and ESG-focused organizations requiring leaders who can manage asset-heavy business models.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 350 C-level and VP-level searches successfully executed by Managing Partner Mike Doonan alone over 20 years
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use SPMB Executive Search
Customer profileNamed customers26 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
SPMB Executive Search technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
SPMB Executive Search partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
SPMB Executive Search competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- True Search: True Search is a technology-focused retained executive search firm with similar specialization in placing executives at VC-backed growth-stage technology companies. Closest direct boutique competitor to SPMB's startup-to-scale positioning.
- Riviera Partners: Riviera Partners is a technology-focused retained search firm specializing in engineering, product, and GTM leadership for venture-backed companies. Direct competitor to SPMB's Technology/AI/Product practice among growth-stage tech clients.
- Christensen Group: Christensen Group is a search firm specializing in finance officer placements (CFOs, VPs of Finance) — directly comparable to SPMB's CFO Practice led by Steven Popper. Both serve public companies and PE/VC-backed businesses.
Broad incumbents
- Korn Ferry: Korn Ferry is the largest global executive search firm and a direct competitor in C-suite and technology executive placements. SPMB has explicitly poached talent from Korn Ferry (e.g., Becky Stein in 2015), confirming head-to-head overlap in technology and consumer markets.
- Heidrick & Struggles: Heidrick & Struggles is a major global executive search and leadership consulting firm with strong technology and financial services practices. Competes directly with SPMB on CIO/CTO and CFO searches for Fortune 500 clients.
- Caldwell Partners: Caldwell Partners is a publicly-traded executive search firm serving technology, financial services, and consumer clients. Competes with SPMB on technology executive mandates and provides a comparable boutique-to-mid-tier market position.
- Russell Reynolds Associates: Russell Reynolds is a top-tier global executive search firm. Becky Stein previously led Russell Reynolds' consumer practice for the Americas before joining SPMB, demonstrating direct overlap on consumer/digital executive mandates.
- Spencer Stuart: Spencer Stuart is one of the world's largest retained executive search firms with deep CEO/Board practice. Comparable to SPMB on C-suite and Board placements across technology, consumer, and financial services sectors.
- Egon Zehnder: Egon Zehnder is a privately-held global executive search and leadership advisory firm. Comparable to SPMB on CEO/Board succession work across technology, consumer, and industrial sectors.
Emerging players
- Tuft & Needle (recruiting) / Toft Group: Toft Group is an executive search firm with emerging focus on consumer/digital markets. Comparable emerging boutique competitor in the consumer technology executive placement space where SPMB's Becky Stein and Nicole North also operate.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
SPMB Executive Search social profiles
Digital presenceSPMB Executive Search financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SPMB Executive Search leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
SPMB Executive Search funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SPMB Executive Search M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SPMB Executive Search
What does SPMB Executive Search do?
SPMB Executive Search is a retained executive search firm that places C-level, VP-level, and board executives for technology and innovation companies. Engagements are delivered through dedicated functional practices (Board/CEO/President, Go To Market, Technology/AI/Product, Investment Practice, Finance/HR, Operations) and industry verticals, with specialized practices in Digital Transformation & AI, CFO, Consumer & Digital Markets, and Innovation & Sustainability. The firm operates on a direct retained-search model with custom-quoted fees structured as a percentage of placed executive compensation.
Is SPMB Executive Search a public or private company?
SPMB Executive Search is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was SPMB Executive Search founded?
SPMB Executive Search was founded in 1981. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is SPMB Executive Search based?
SPMB Executive Search is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does SPMB Executive Search make money?
One revenue line is on record: retained Executive Search.
Who are SPMB Executive Search's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are True Search, Riviera Partners and Christensen Group. Broad incumbents are Korn Ferry, Heidrick & Struggles, Caldwell Partners, Russell Reynolds Associates, Spencer Stuart and Egon Zehnder. Tuft & Needle (recruiting) / Toft Group is listed as an emerging player.
Does SPMB Executive Search have an API?
No public API is recorded for SPMB Executive Search.
What industry is SPMB Executive Search in?
SPMB Executive Search's product category is Executive Search Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPACAAAC, Technology & Product Leadership Search (CIO/CTO/CDO/CPO), with a secondary code of BPACAAAA, C-Suite & Board Search. Its NAICS code is 561312 and its SIC code is 7361.