What Lock Search Group does

Lock Search Group is a privately-held executive search and recruitment firm founded in 1983 by Richard Lock and headquartered in Toronto, Canada. The firm operates 12 offices across Canada (Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Moncton, Ottawa, Quebec City, Saskatoon, Winnipeg) and two US locations (Boston/Cambridge and Chicago), employing 101-250 staff with 30+ consultants and associates. Lock Search Group delivers executive search, retained search, and contingency search services across primary verticals including Life Sciences, Consumer Packaged Goods, Industrial, Technology (including Digital and AI), Private Equity/Venture Capital, and Supply Chain & Logistics, serving mid-market and enterprise clients with C-suite, board, and senior leadership placements.

The firm's core operational model is a proprietary 'contained' search engagement that combines the rigour of traditional retained search with performance-based accountability, complemented by a fractional and interim finance leadership practice that places part-time CFOs, Heads of Finance, VPs, Directors, and Controllers. Each consultant is required to have held a leadership role in the industry they recruit for, and the firm reports an average consultant tenure of 12 years, supporting both candidate pipeline depth and a 220+ returning client base. In May 2025, the firm launched Lockin AI, an agentic AI business development tool co-developed with MiA and BRISK that automates identification and engagement of growth-minded companies for strategic hiring mandates.

Lock Search Group generates revenue through placement-based professional services fees (retained, contained, and contingency models), with pricing negotiated per engagement and not publicly disclosed. Distribution is entirely direct via enterprise field sales, supported by a content and LinkedIn-led marketing presence (135,000+ followers) and partnerships including the Lense & Lumen Global Alliance for cross-border mandates. Reported placement volumes include 4 board members, 8 CEOs, 10 CFOs, 9 COOs, and over 100 VP and director-level placements, with named clients spanning pharmaceuticals (Indivior, Valneva, BeiGene, Eisai), medical devices (Alcon, Allergan Aesthetics), consumer goods (Ferrero, Henkel Canada, Mark Anthony Group, KIND Canada), industrial (Ritchie Bros, GF Piping Systems, A-SAFE), security (Gardaworld), and private equity (1440 Capital, Third Eye Capital).

Name

Lock Search Group

Legal name

Lock Search Group

Website

https://locksearchgroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Lock Search Group is a privately-held Canadian executive search and recruitment firm founded in 1983, operating 12 offices across Canada and the US. It places C-suite and senior leadership talent in Life Sciences, CPG, Industrial, Technology, AI, and Private Equity, using a proprietary 'contained' search model and Lockin AI.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Executive Search Services

NAICS

Executive Search Services (561312), Employment Placement Agencies and Executive Search Services (56131)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

C-Suite & Board Search (BPACAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Healthcare & Life Sciences Leadership Search (BPACAAAE), Consumer & Retail Leadership Search (BPACAAAG), Industrial & Engineering Leadership Search (BPACAAAD), Financial Services Leadership Search (Banking/Insurance/PE/Asset Mgmt) (BPACAAAF)

Keywords

• Executive search services
• Retained executive search
• Contingency recruitment
• Fractional finance leadership
• Life sciences recruitment

Headquarters

HQ city

Moncton

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices13 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Executive Search Services: Performance-based 'contained' model combining retained search rigor with accountability metrics. Services include Executive Search, Retained Search (exclusive partnership with upfront commitment), and Contingency Search (success-based payment upon placement).
2. Fractional and Interim Finance Leadership: Provides fractional CFOs, Heads of Finance, VPs of Finance, Directors, and Controllers on a part-time, project-based or interim basis for organizations needing senior finance expertise without full-time hires.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Lock Search Group is an executive search and recruitment firm that places C-suite executives, board members, presidents, vice presidents, and directors across practice areas such as Life Sciences, Consumer Packaged Goods, Industrial, Technology, Digital/AI, Private Equity/Venture Capital, and Supply Chain/Logistics. Engagements are delivered through a contained executive search model, a retained search exclusive partnership, a contingency-based success-fee search, and a dedicated fractional/interim finance leadership practice. Clients engage the firm directly on a per-engagement, performance-accountable basis.

Product overview

Lock Search Group is a leading executive search and recruitment firm offering a comprehensive suite of talent acquisition services. The core offering includes Executive Search (contained model combining retained search rigor with performance-based accountability), Retained Search (exclusive partnership for senior positions), Contingency Search (flexible success-based recruitment), and Fractional & Interim Finance Leadership services. The firm differentiates through Lockin AI, an AI-powered business development tool developed in collaboration with MiA that automates company identification and engagement for strategic hiring. Lock Search Group operates across 12 practice areas spanning Life Sciences, Consumer Packaged Goods, Industrial, Technology (including AI/Digital), Private Equity/Venture Capital, and Supply Chain/Logistics, with offices across Canada and in Boston and Chicago.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Lockin AI: AI-powered business development tool developed by Lock Search Group in collaboration with MiA, designed to identify and engage with growth-minded companies and connect with better roles and candidates.

Products and services

• Executive Search Lock Search Group's distinctive contained executive search model combining the thoroughness of traditional retained search with performance-based accountability to deliver C-suite and senior leadership talent for enterprise clients.
• Retained Search Exclusive partnership service for organizations seeking to fill critical senior and mid-level positions through a comprehensive, priority-based approach with extensive market mapping and talent pipelines.
• Contingency Search Flexible, success-based recruiting solution designed to efficiently fill professional and technical positions with qualified talent, with payment required only upon successful placement.
• Fractional & Interim Finance Leadership Dedicated practice delivering fractional and interim CFOs, Heads of Finance, VPs of Finance, Directors, and Controllers who provide part-time, project-based, or interim senior finance expertise to organizations needing senior finance leaders without a full-time hire.
• Lockin AI AI-powered business development tool developed by Lock Search Group in collaboration with MiA that uses agentic AI to identify and engage with growth-minded companies, enabling consultants to uncover better roles, attract exceptional candidates, and forge stronger partnerships before hiring needs become urgent.

Quantifiable outcome

• 220 clients return repeatedly for recruitment needs
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers34 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability3 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MiA (MiA Analyst)coreTechnology or IntegrationMiA, led by AI leader Ankush Seth, is a pioneering AI platform powering agentic AI for organizations. Lock Search Group collaborated with MiA to develop Lockin AI, an innovative AI-powered business development tool designed to identify and engage with growth-minded companies for strategic talent acquisition.
• Lense & Lumen Global AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA proud member of the Lense and Lumen Global Alliance, which unlocks a global talent pool and seamlessly connects clients with top professionals across North America, Europe and Asia. Through this membership, Lock Search Group provides global reach while maintaining local expertise.
• Ron Brown Scholarship FundminorOthersCo-founded Canadian Registered Charity in memory of Ron Brown, a former Senior Consultant. The fund supports students from Isla Mujeres with access to education. Lock covers all operating expenses so all donations go directly to students. Raised close to $100,000 over 10 years.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Boyden: Global mid-market-focused executive search firm with established North American operations and multi-vertical practice coverage, closely mirroring Lock's positioning and service mix.
• Stanton Chase: International executive search firm focused on senior leadership across multiple industries, with comparable mid-market reach and practice-area structure to Lock Search Group.
• IQ Partners: Canadian executive search and recruitment firm competing directly with Lock in the Toronto and broader Canadian market across professional and executive placements.
• Odgers Berndtson: Global executive search firm with strong Canadian presence across multiple practice areas and verticals, directly competing with Lock for mid-market and enterprise senior leadership mandates.
• Christianson Search Partners: North American executive search firm with a multi-vertical practice model similar to Lock's, competing for C-suite and senior leadership placements in life sciences, CPG, and industrial sectors.

Broad incumbents

• Russell Reynolds Associates: Global executive search firm with comparable vertical coverage in life sciences, technology, and consumer, competing for the same C-suite and senior leadership engagements Lock pursues.
• Spencer Stuart: Global executive search leader with deep board and CEO practice; overlaps with Lock's senior leadership mandates at the highest end and competes for cross-border engagements.
• Korn Ferry: Largest global executive search and organizational consulting firm; operates a much broader portfolio but competes for the same C-suite mandates Lock targets, especially in life sciences and industrial.
• Heidrick & Struggles: Global executive search and leadership advisory firm with comparable practice-area breadth across life sciences, technology, industrial, and consumer, competing with Lock on mid-to-senior mandates.
• Egon Zehnder: Global executive search and leadership advisory firm; overlaps with Lock's C-suite and board practice, particularly for senior mandates in regulated and industrial sectors.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lock-search-group

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Lock Search Group