Diversified Search
DSG Global (formerly Diversified Search) is a Philadelphia-based, privately held executive search and consulting firm founded in 1974, placing C-suite and board leaders across 12 industries for Fortune 500, mid-market, and PE-backed clients through four sub-brands.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1974
- HeadquartersPhiladelphia, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Diversified Search does
Diversified Search, operating under the umbrella brand DSG Global since a 2024 rebrand (legal entity: DSG Global, LLC), is a privately held executive search and consulting firm founded in 1974 and headquartered in Philadelphia. The firm places C-suite, board directors, and senior leadership across 12 industry verticals (Life Sciences, Technology/AI/Cybersecurity, Healthcare, Financial Services, Education, Consumer, Aviation/Logistics/Transportation, Industrial & Energy, Insurance, Media/Entertainment/Sports, Nonprofit/Social Impact, Private Capital) and functional specializations including Financial Officers, Human Resources, Legal/Risk/Compliance, Corporate Affairs, and Fundraising/Advancement. It delivers services through four core offerings — Executive Search, Consulting, Convening, and Board and Governance Advisory — and operates a family of wholly-owned sub-brands: Koya Partners (Nonprofit & Social Impact, 20+ years), Storbeck (Education), Grant Cooper (Healthcare, 60+ years), and BioQuest (Life Sciences).
The firm's underlying technology infrastructure is described as a Talent profile platform and candidate relationship management system, supporting a candidate network across its global reach. DSG Global generates revenue through retained executive search engagements with custom, engagement-based pricing tied to scope, seniority, and industry — professional services revenue mechanics rather than subscription or volume transactional models. Distribution is anchored in direct, relationship-based partner-level engagement with Fortune 500 enterprises, mid-market companies, and private equity-backed organizations across global markets, supplemented by international reach through the Alto Partners executive search network. The firm has been family-led across two generations (Judith M. von Seldeneck and Aileen K. Alexander) and remains founder-owned and independently operated per available data.
Diversified Search firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Diversified Search
- Legal name
- DSG Global, LLC
- Website
- https://diversifiedsearch.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1974
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- DSG Global (formerly Diversified Search) is a Philadelphia-based, privately held executive search and consulting firm founded in 1974, placing C-suite and board leaders across 12 industries for Fortune 500, mid-market, and PE-backed clients through four sub-brands.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Diversified Search industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Executive Search Services
- NAICS
- Executive Search Services (561312), Employment Placement Agencies (561311)
- SIC
- Services-Employment Agencies (7361)
- akta.pro primary industry
- C-Suite & Board Search (BPACAAAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Functional Leadership Search (HR/Finance/Legal/Marketing/Sales/Ops) (BPACAAAB), Confidential/Replacement & Succession Search (BPACAAAK), Healthcare & Life Sciences Leadership Search (BPACAAAE), Public Sector, Education & Nonprofit Leadership Search (BPACAAAI)
Keywords
Where Diversified Search is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Philadelphia
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Diversified Search business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Executive Search Services: Retained executive search engagements placing C-suite, board directors, and senior leadership positions across industries. Fees are typically structured as retained search engagements with success-based components.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | — | Custom engagement-based pricing - quotes provided based on role complexity, search scope, and time commitment. Typical retained search fee structures apply. |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Diversified Search product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Diversified Search (operating as DSG Global) is a global executive search and consulting firm that places C-suite executives, board directors, and senior leaders across industries. The firm delivers bespoke, retained executive search engagements augmented by consulting, convening, and board and governance advisory services, leveraging a portfolio of specialized brands (Koya Partners, Storbeck, Grant Cooper, BioQuest) for vertical-specific expertise.
Product overview
DSG Global operates as a unified executive search and consulting platform combining four core service offerings—Executive Search, Consulting, Convening, and Board and Governance Advisory—alongside a family of specialized brands. The platform serves Fortune 500, mid-market, and private equity-backed companies through its Corporate practice while delivering niche expertise through sub-brands including Koya Partners (Nonprofit & Social Impact), Storbeck (Education), Grant Cooper (Healthcare), and BioQuest (Life Sciences). The organization offers functional specialization across Board Directors, CEOs, Corporate Affairs Officers, Technology/AI/Cybersecurity/Data Officers, Financial Officers, Human Resources Officers, and Legal/Risk/Compliance Officers, with industry coverage spanning Life Sciences, Technology/AI & Cybersecurity, Healthcare, Financial Services, Education, Consumer, Aviation/Logistics/Transportation, Industrial & Energy, Insurance, Media/Entertainment/Sports, Nonprofit/Social Impact, and Private Capital.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Koya Partners: Nonprofit & Social Impact executive search practice with 20 years of placing transformational leaders
- Storbeck
- Grant Cooper
Products and services
- Executive Search
Companies that use Diversified Search
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Diversified Search technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Diversified Search partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Alto PartnerscoreAlto Partners is a global executive search network. DSG Global is part of their global reach network covering the Americas, extending their international search capabilities through this partnership.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Diversified Search competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Korn Ferry: Largest global executive search and organizational consulting firm with adjacent RPO and talent consulting. Direct competitor for senior executive search mandates; significantly larger scale, broader service portfolio.
Direct peers
- Spencer Stuart: Closest direct peer — global boutique-style executive search firm with deep board-level practice, partnership model, and similar industry-by-industry vertical coverage including healthcare, education, nonprofit, and PE.
- Heidrick & Struggles: Global executive search leader with strong functional and industry specialization, plus leadership consulting. Directly comparable in C-suite/board placement across DSG's verticals.
- Russell Reynolds Associates: Global executive search firm focused on board, CEO, and senior executive succession across similar verticals including healthcare, life sciences, technology, and financial services.
- Egon Zehnder: Privately-held global executive search firm with partnership structure and deep industry expertise, comparable in culture and approach to senior-level search and advisory.
- Witt/Kieffer: Executive search firm with strongest overlap to DSG's specialty sub-brands — leading practice in healthcare, higher education, and nonprofit executive search, directly comparable to Grant Cooper, Storbeck, and Koya.
- Odgers Berndtson: Global executive search firm with comparable sector-led practice model spanning financial services, life sciences, technology, and consumer — competes for similar Fortune 500 mandates.
- Boyden: Global executive search firm with partner-led model and industry specialization across financial services, life sciences, healthcare, and technology — comparable boutique-feel, multi-vertical structure.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Diversified Search social profiles
Digital presenceDiversified Search financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Diversified Search leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Diversified Search subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Diversified Search funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Diversified Search M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A4 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Diversified Search
What does Diversified Search do?
Diversified Search (operating as DSG Global) is a global executive search and consulting firm that places C-suite executives, board directors, and senior leaders across industries. The firm delivers bespoke, retained executive search engagements augmented by consulting, convening, and board and governance advisory services, leveraging a portfolio of specialized brands (Koya Partners, Storbeck, Grant Cooper, BioQuest) for vertical-specific expertise.
Is Diversified Search a public or private company?
Diversified Search is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Diversified Search founded?
Diversified Search was founded in 1974. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Diversified Search based?
Diversified Search is headquartered in Philadelphia, United States, in the North America region.
How does Diversified Search make money?
One revenue line is on record: executive Search Services.
Who are Diversified Search's main competitors?
Korn Ferry is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are Spencer Stuart, Heidrick & Struggles, Russell Reynolds Associates, Egon Zehnder, Witt/Kieffer, Odgers Berndtson and Boyden.
Does Diversified Search have an API?
No public API is recorded for Diversified Search.
What industry is Diversified Search in?
Diversified Search's product category is Executive Search Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPACAAAA, C-Suite & Board Search, with a secondary code of BPACAAAB, Functional Leadership Search (HR/Finance/Legal/Marketing/Sales/Ops). Its NAICS code is 561312 and its SIC code is 7361.