Kaye/Bassman International

What Kaye/Bassman International does

Kaye/Bassman International is a Plano, Texas-based executive search firm founded in 1981 by Jeff Kaye, operating as the largest single-site search firm in the United States according to Executive Search Review. The firm provides retained and contingency executive search and professional recruitment services across 15+ industry verticals including Healthcare, Life Sciences, Construction, Energy, Financial Services, Academic Medicine, Higher Education, and Consumer Products. Its service portfolio spans C-suite, board, physician leadership, nursing management, revenue cycle, healthcare IT, and academic leadership placements.

The firm's core intellectual property consists of two proprietary registered methodologies — Client Focused Search™ and Market Mastery™ — which structure consultant-led candidate identification, attraction, evaluation, and acquisition around customizable engagement terms. Delivery relies on 40+ specialized search consultants organized by industry, function, and geography, supported operationally by PCRecruiter for candidate tracking and a broader content marketing footprint (website, LinkedIn, video resources, and practice-area collateral). The firm holds no proprietary AI/ML technology; service delivery is human-capital-driven.

Commercially, Kaye/Bassman generates revenue through retainer fees and contingency placement fees on senior placements, supplemented by Next Level Exchange training and consulting revenue. The company is a founding member of the Starfish Partners platform, alongside Direct Recruiters, Sanford Rose Associates International (175+ offices), Next Level Exchange, Raymond Search Group, and HireMinds — collectively reporting $300M+ in annual revenues. Enterprise customers span healthcare systems, general contractors, pharmaceutical and biotech firms, energy companies, and academic medical centers, with high repeat-client rates (75% in pharma/biotech). The firm is privately held under Starfish Partners and does not disclose financials.

Name

Kaye/Bassman International

Legal name

Kaye/Bassman International, Corp.

Website

https://kbic.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Kaye/Bassman International is a Plano, Texas-based executive search firm founded in 1981, providing retained and contingency recruitment across healthcare, life sciences, construction, energy, and financial services verticals for enterprise clients seeking senior leadership talent.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Executive Search Services

NAICS

Employment Placement Agencies and Executive Search Services (56131)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial & Engineering Leadership Search (BPACAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Construction & Real Estate Direct Hire (BPACAFAN)

Keywords

• Executive search services
• Retained executive search
• Healthcare executive recruiting
• Construction executive search
• Pharmaceutical recruitment

Headquarters

HQ city

Plano

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Retained Executive Search: Full-range permanent placement options including retained search engagements where clients pay upfront fees for dedicated search services, typically for senior-level and critical positions.
2. Contingency Search: Contingency-based placement services where fees are contingent upon successful candidate placement.
3. Next Level Exchange Training Services: Recruiting training and professional services through affiliated company, generating revenue from training programs and consulting services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Kaye/Bassman International is an executive search and professional recruiting firm that identifies, attracts, evaluates, and acquires high-impact talent for critical positions across multiple industries. The firm operates as a single-site organization with 40+ specialized consultants serving clients through proprietary methodologies including Client Focused Search™ and Market Mastery™.

Product overview

Kaye/Bassman International is a Plano, Texas-based executive search firm founded in 1981, operating as the largest single-site search firm in the United States. The company offers a portfolio of specialized recruitment services built around its proprietary Client Focused Search™ and Market Mastery™ methodologies. Their practice areas span Construction, Commercial Real Estate, Energy (Oil & Gas and Infrastructure), Life Sciences (Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology, Medical Device & Diagnostics), Healthcare (IT, Finance, Nursing, Revenue Cycle, Pharmacy, Therapy), and Academic Medicine across 40+ specialty areas. The firm is part of the Starfish Partners network, which also includes Direct Recruiters, Sanford Rose Associates, Next Level Exchange (training and consulting), and other affiliated recruiting companies. Notable specialized services include Board Search and Acquisition Advisory services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Client Focused Search®: Proprietary search methodology that enables identification, attraction, evaluation and acquisition of the right candidates for key positions with flexibility in process, relationship and terms.
• Market Mastery™

Products and services

• Construction Executive Search

Quantifiable outcome

• 75% of pharmaceutical and biotech business from repeat clients
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 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

Integration1 record

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Executive Biotech Advisors (EBA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 October 2025Collaboration to launch a contract field medical program supporting biotech and pharmaceutical companies in the US, Europe, and globally. Focuses on deploying contract Medical Science Liaison (MSL) and Clinical Trial Liaison (CTL) teams efficiently with recruitment and operational oversight.
• Michael PietrackcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 October 2025Managing Director at Kaye/Bassman partnering with Executive Biotech Advisors to lead the contract field medical program. Handles recruitment and operational oversight of contract MSL and CTL teams for biotech and pharma clients globally.
• Direct Recruiters, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the Starfish Partners family of companies. Recognized as a relationship-focused search firm assisting organizations with recruiting high-impact talent. Serves clients across North America and internationally with 100+ team members and 25+ practice areas. Acquired in 2022 by Starfish Partners.
• Sanford Rose Associates International (SRAI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the largest collaborative search firm networks globally with over 175 offices in North America and Europe. Part of the Starfish Partners family. Grew offices by over 250% and network revenues by over 2000% within a decade of acquisition.
• Next Level ExchangecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded in 2006, recognized as the largest recruiting consulting organization in the industry with over 3,000 clients in 30+ countries. Provides training, coaching, and digital marketing solutions for the search and staffing industry.
• Dimensional SearchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCardinal division of Sanford Rose Associates Network, providing an accelerative platform for executive search and staffing businesses. Founded in 1959 with Executive Leadership Team boasting 300+ combined years of recruiting industry experience.
• Raymond Search GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecruits talent for organizations in Construction, Real Estate, Engineering, Architecture, HVACR/R, Building Automation Systems, and Manufacturing. Acquired by Starfish Partners in 2022.
• HireMindsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading executive recruiting firm specializing in Marketing & Communications, Life Sciences, and Finance & Accounting placements. Offers direct-hire, contract, and contract-to-hire placements with over 25 years of industry experience.
• Starfish Partners FoundationminorOthersNot-for-profit organization dedicated to charitable giving, fostering hope and personal growth, supporting medical research, and enhancing lives of people in need. Donated over $1,800,000 to beneficiaries since inception.
• Innova PeopleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the Starfish Partners family of executive search companies.
• Ninja JobsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the Starfish Partners family of executive search companies.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Spencer Stuart: Premier global executive search and leadership advisory firm with strong board and CEO practice — competes directly for the most senior mandates KBIC targets.
• Egon Zehnder: Global executive search and leadership advisory firm with strong sector specialization across healthcare, life sciences, and industrial — overlapping with KBIC's key verticals.
• Russell Reynolds Associates: Global executive search firm focused on senior leadership transitions across multiple sectors, with strong healthcare and life sciences coverage — comparable in vertical mix to KBIC.
• Korn Ferry: The largest global executive search and organizational consulting firm; competes for senior executive mandates and offers broader talent advisory, RPO, and consulting services.
• Heidrick & Struggles: Major global executive search firm with deep C-suite and board practice, plus culture shaping and consulting services — direct competitor for senior-level retained search work.

Direct peers

• DHR Global: Mid-to-upper-tier global executive search firm with comparable size and vertical specialization — closest size-matched competitor to KBIC for senior-level mandates.
• Boyden: Global executive search firm with industry-focused practices including healthcare, life sciences, and industrial — comparable in mid-market positioning and vertical depth to KBIC.
• Direct Recruiters, Inc. Sister company under Starfish Partners operating the same executive search model with 100+ team members across 25+ practice areas. Acquired by Starfish in 2022, it is the closest functional peer to KBIC.
• Sanford Rose Associates International: Fellow Starfish Partners founding member and one of the largest collaborative executive search networks globally with 175+ offices in North America and Europe — directly comparable retainer/contingency search model.

Emerging players

• HireMinds: Executive recruiting firm specializing in Marketing & Communications, Life Sciences, and Finance & Accounting, also part of Starfish Partners — comparable practice mix to KBIC's specialized verticals.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xlinkedin.com/company/16163077/admin
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kayebassman-international

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Kaye/Bassman International