BrainWorks
BrainWorks is a US executive search firm founded in 1991 that places C-suite, VP, and functional leaders for Fortune 500, private equity, and mid-market clients across 11+ industries via retained, contingent, and interim engagement models.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1991
- HeadquartersWarren, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What BrainWorks does
BrainWorks is a US-based executive search firm founded in 1991 by Andy Miller, headquartered in Warren, New Jersey, with team members distributed nationwide serving clients across North America. The firm operates four core service models: Performance-Based Retained Search (3-5 candidates within 30 days or client doesn't pay), Contingent Recruiting (fee-only upon hire), Interim Leadership Recruiting (six-to-twelve-month executive placements), and Diversity & Inclusion Hiring. Underlying these services are the proprietary Talent Acquisition Process (TAP) and Talent Evaluation Process (TEP) methodologies developed in 2002, which the firm uses to standardize candidate identification and vetting.
The company monetizes through professional services fees (retained) and transaction fees (contingent), with go-to-market executed via direct enterprise and mid-market sales across 16+ dedicated practice areas organized by both function (Accounting & Finance, AI/Data & Analytics, Human Resources, Legal, Sales & Marketing, Supply Chain, Technology) and industry (Banking, Consumer Packaged Goods, Industrial, Life Sciences, Medical Devices, Real Estate, Commodities & Trading). BrainWorks targets Fortune 500 corporations, private equity firms and their portfolio companies, and mid-market organizations for C-suite, VP-level, and specialized functional leadership placements. Recognized customer logos include Walmart, Starbucks, BMO Financial Group, Sonos, Calvin Klein, Campbell's, PetSmart, and multiple PE firms including Centre Lane Partners, Blue Point Capital, and Monomoy Capital Partners. The firm is privately held and founder-led, with the Miller and Levitt families holding senior executive positions, and has achieved 5x revenue growth over five years through 2024 alongside three consecutive Hunt Scanlon Top 50 rankings (2024-2026) and a No. 52 placement on Forbes America's Best Recruiting & Temporary Staffing Firms 2026.
BrainWorks firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- BrainWorks
- Legal name
- BrainWorks
- Website
- https://brainworksinc.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1991
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- BrainWorks is a US executive search firm founded in 1991 that places C-suite, VP, and functional leaders for Fortune 500, private equity, and mid-market clients across 11+ industries via retained, contingent, and interim engagement models.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
BrainWorks industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Executive Search Services
- NAICS
- Executive Search Services (561312), Employment Placement Agencies and Executive Search Services (56131)
- SIC
- Services-Employment Agencies (7361)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Functional Leadership Search (HR/Finance/Legal/Marketing/Sales/Ops) (BPACAAAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Healthcare & Life Sciences Leadership Search (BPACAAAE), Talent Management & Workforce Planning Consulting (BPAHAGAA)
Keywords
Where BrainWorks is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Warren
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
BrainWorks business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Performance-Based Retained Search: Retained search model for C-level, VP positions, and hard-to-fill executive roles with guaranteed results. Clients pay a retainer with the firm guaranteeing 3-5 candidates typically within 30 days or less, or client doesn't pay.
- Contingent Search: Flexible search model where the firm only receives payment if the organization hires their candidate. Eliminates client risk while providing access to the firm's extensive talent network.
- Interim Leadership Services: Placement of interim executive leaders for temporary periods (typically six months to a year or more) in accounting, finance, and other critical business functions during transitions or transformations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Performance-Based Retained Search |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
BrainWorks product offering
Product offeringCore offering
BrainWorks is an executive search firm that recruits C-level, VP, and senior leadership talent for organizations across multiple industries. It delivers services through four core engagement models: performance-based retained search (guaranteed 3-5 candidates within 30 days or no fee), contingent recruiting (pay only upon successful hire), interim leadership placement, and diversity & inclusion hiring. The firm specializes across 18+ functional practice areas and industry verticals including Banking, CPG, Technology, Life Sciences, Industrial, Real Estate, and Commodities.
Product overview
BrainWorks Executive Search is an executive recruiting firm offering a portfolio of talent acquisition solutions organized around four core service models: Performance-Based Retained Search (guaranteed placement within 30 days or client doesn't pay), Contingent Recruiting (payment upon successful hire), Interim Leadership Recruiting (temporary executive placement), and Diversity & Inclusion Hiring (focused on diverse talent acquisition). The firm specializes across multiple practice areas including Accounting & Finance, AI/Data & Analytics, Human Resources, Investments and M&A, Legal, Portfolio Company Executives, Sales & Marketing, Supply Chain & Operations, Technology & Quantitative Analytics, Banking, Consumer Products, Industrial, Life Sciences, Medical Devices, Real Estate, and Commodities Technology & Trading. These specialization practices serve clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to emerging privately funded corporations and private equity-backed organizations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Performance-Based Retained Search
Quantifiable outcome
- 96% average offer acceptance rate in banking practice
- +7 more outcomes
Companies that use BrainWorks
Customer profileNamed customers22 records
Segments11 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
BrainWorks technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
BrainWorks partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
BrainWorks competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Riviera Partners: Executive search firm specializing in technology, product, and engineering leadership placements. Comparable to BrainWorks' Technology & Quantitative Analytics practice and competes for similar mid-to-senior tech executive mandates.
- True Search: Boutique executive search firm with strong private equity and venture capital practice focus. Comparable to BrainWorks' PE practice and portfolio company executive placement service, particularly for growth-stage and PE-backed companies.
Direct peers
- Odgers Berndtson: Global executive search firm with industry-aligned practices including Consumer & Retail, Financial Services, and Technology. Comparable to BrainWorks as a multi-practice retained search firm serving mid-market to large enterprise clients.
- DHR International: Mid-to-large global executive search firm with practice-area structure (PE, Consumer, Technology, Life Sciences) highly analogous to BrainWorks. Closest mid-market direct peer competing for similar PE and Fortune 500 mandates.
Broad incumbents
- Spencer Stuart: One of the world's largest executive search firms with deep C-suite and board practice coverage across industries including PE, CPG, and financial services. Comparable to BrainWorks as a top-tier retained search competitor serving Fortune 500 and PE clients.
- Egon Zehnder: Privately held global executive search firm known for senior leadership and board advisory. Comparable to BrainWorks in serving C-suite mandates for large enterprises and PE-backed organizations across multiple verticals.
- Russell Reynolds Associates: Global executive search firm focused on C-level and board placements with industry-specialized practices. Direct competitor to BrainWorks in retained executive search for PE-backed companies and Fortune 500 leadership transitions.
- Robert Half: Large publicly traded staffing and talent solutions firm with executive search capabilities through its subsidiary Protiviti and direct search practice. Adjacent competitor to BrainWorks for accounting/finance and interim executive placements.
- Heidrick & Struggles: Global executive search and leadership advisory firm with industry-aligned practice areas spanning financial services, technology, consumer, and life sciences. Direct competitor to BrainWorks in retained and interim C-suite placements.
- Korn Ferry: Largest executive search firm globally, also offering talent management consulting and RPO services. Competes with BrainWorks on enterprise retained search and has broader capabilities in assessment and organizational consulting.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
BrainWorks social profiles
Digital presenceBrainWorks financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
BrainWorks leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles18 records
BrainWorks funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
BrainWorks 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 BrainWorks
What does BrainWorks do?
BrainWorks is an executive search firm that recruits C-level, VP, and senior leadership talent for organizations across multiple industries. It delivers services through four core engagement models: performance-based retained search (guaranteed 3-5 candidates within 30 days or no fee), contingent recruiting (pay only upon successful hire), interim leadership placement, and diversity & inclusion hiring. The firm specializes across 18+ functional practice areas and industry verticals including Banking, CPG, Technology, Life Sciences, Industrial, Real Estate, and Commodities.
Is BrainWorks a public or private company?
BrainWorks is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was BrainWorks founded?
BrainWorks was founded in 1991. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is BrainWorks based?
BrainWorks is headquartered in Warren, United States, in the North America region.
How does BrainWorks make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Performance-Based Retained Search is the primary driver. The others are contingent Search and interim Leadership Services.
Who are BrainWorks's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Riviera Partners and True Search. Direct peers are Odgers Berndtson and DHR International. Broad incumbents are Spencer Stuart, Egon Zehnder, Russell Reynolds Associates, Robert Half, Heidrick & Struggles and Korn Ferry.
Does BrainWorks have an API?
No public API is recorded for BrainWorks.
What industry is BrainWorks in?
BrainWorks's product category is Executive Search Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPACAAAB, Functional Leadership Search (HR/Finance/Legal/Marketing/Sales/Ops), with a secondary code of BPACAAAE, Healthcare & Life Sciences Leadership Search. Its NAICS code is 561312 and its SIC code is 7361.