Transearch

What Transearch does

TRANSEARCH USA is the Chicago-based US operation of TRANSEARCH International, a global retained executive search firm founded in 1982 operating a network of approximately 60 offices in over 40 countries. Its core business is identifying and placing C-suite, board, vice-president, and director-level executives across specialized industry practices including Architecture/Engineering/Construction, Energy/Mining/Utilities, Cleantech and Renewable Power, Data Centers and Digital Infrastructure, Defense and Aerospace, Food and Beverage, Industrial and Manufacturing, Private Equity, and Security and Cybersecurity. The firm differentiates through its proprietary Orxestra® methodology — a structured framework evaluating culture, performance, leadership, and team fit — combined with Hogan Assessments (HPI, HDS, MVPI) for psychometric evaluation and a 12-month integration workbook for newly placed leaders.

The portfolio is organized around four pillars: Search (Executive, Board, Interim, and Talent Scouting), Development (Leadership Development, Organizational Culture Workshops), Planning & Consulting (Succession Planning, Leadership Consulting), and Board Services (Board Advisory and Board Assessments). The Renew platform extends the firm into alignment, attraction, and retention engagements, creating recurring advisory relationships beyond transactional search. Service delivery runs on a retained fee model, typically structured as a percentage of the placed executive's first-year compensation with a placement guarantee, and is sold exclusively through direct enterprise field sales led by managing directors who act as domain practice leaders.

Operationally, TRANSEARCH USA runs a lean Chicago hub (Managing Directors Chris Swan covering AEC and John Ryan covering Power/Renewable Energy, plus a Director of Business Development, Director, and research staff), with cross-border mandates executed through the TRANSEARCH International network. Reported performance metrics include a 92.5% search fill rate (versus a 67% industry benchmark), an average 98-day placement cycle, a 90% two-year retention rate on placements, and self-reported "Top 10 global search firm" positioning. Named enterprise clients include SunEdison, S&C Electric, BP, M.C. Dean, Golder Associates, ABN AMRO, and Senvion (REpower USA). The firm holds AESC membership and is GDPR-compliant.

Name

Transearch

Legal name

TRANSEARCH

Website

https://transearchusa.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Transearch is the US arm of global retained executive search firm TRANSEARCH International, placing C-suite, board, and senior executives across specialized sectors including AEC, energy, data centers, defense, and private equity using its proprietary Orxestra® methodology and Hogan Assessments.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Executive Search Services

NAICS

Employment Placement Agencies (561311), Human Resources Consulting Services (541612)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

General Permanent Placement (Multi-Industry) (BPACAFAA)

Keywords

• Executive search services
• Leadership consulting
• Board advisory services
• Talent assessment
• Succession planning

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Retained Executive Search Services: TRANSEARCH operates as a retained executive search firm, charging clients for conducting executive-level searches. The model involves an upfront commitment and engagement to fill senior-level positions (C-suite, VP, Director, Board members). The firm guarantees replacement if a placed candidate fails during the guarantee period.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

TRANSEARCH is a global retained executive search and leadership consulting firm that identifies, assesses, and places C-suite, VP, director, and board-level executives for enterprise clients. Engagements are delivered using the proprietary Orxestra® methodology and Hogan Assessments to evaluate culture, leadership, performance, and team fit, and are supported by a global network of 60 offices in 40+ countries and complementary services such as leadership development, succession planning, board advisory, and the Renew retention platform.

Product overview

Transearch is a global executive search firm offering a comprehensive suite of leadership solutions built around its proprietary Orxestra® methodology. The core offering centers on retained executive search services (Executive Search, Board Search, Interim Search, Talent Scouting), complemented by development and consulting services (Leadership Development, Organizational Culture Workshops, Succession Planning, Leadership Consulting). Assessment capabilities include Hogan Assessments and Executive Assessments, while the Renew platform addresses employee retention and workforce optimization. The portfolio is organized around four practice areas: Search (talent identification and placement), Development (leadership growth), Board Services (governance enhancement), and Assessments (data-driven hiring decisions).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Orxestra®: Proprietary assessment methodology providing unique perspective on culture, performance, leadership, and team fit for executive placements.
• Renew

Products and services

• Executive Search Global retained executive search service for identifying, hiring, and integrating top executive talent. Uses a wide-ranging approach that evaluates and integrates diverse leadership styles for optimal results, targeting C-suite, VP, Director, and Board-level assignments for enterprise clients.
• Board Search Specialized search service for identifying and placing board members and non-executive directors, helping organizations strengthen leadership oversight, governance, and board composition.
• Interim Search Temporary executive placement services to fill critical leadership gaps during transitions, providing immediate access to qualified interim leaders.
• Talent Scouting Proactive identification and cultivation of exceptional talent, particularly for organizations seeking to build pipelines of future leaders ahead of need.
• Leadership Development Programs designed to unlock leaders' full potential while strengthening organizational agility by identifying and developing future leaders for long-term success.
• Organizational Culture Workshops Interactive workshops helping organizations define, assess, and align their culture with strategic objectives, ensuring foundational elements that underpin long-term success.
• Succession Planning Strategic planning services to identify and develop internal candidates for leadership transitions, ensuring continuity and reducing risk during generational shifts in leadership.
• Leadership Consulting Advisory services providing strategic guidance on leadership decisions, organizational structure, and talent strategy for C-suite and board-level needs.
• Board Advisory Consulting services to help boards strengthen governance, decision-making, accountability, and alignment with organizational strategy.
• Board Assessments Comprehensive evaluation of board effectiveness, composition, and dynamics to identify gaps and opportunities for improvement in governance.
• Executive Assessments Data-driven evaluation of executive candidates using structured methodologies (including Hogan-based assessments) to assess competencies, leadership style, and organizational fit.
• Orxestra® Proprietary, trademarked assessment and integration methodology that evaluates culture, performance, leadership, and team fit, and includes an Integration Workbook for onboarding support of newly placed executives.
• Renew Comprehensive talent management solution addressing alignment, attraction, and retention to help organizations tackle workforce challenges and foster high-performing cultures, offered with modules for Alignment, Attraction, and Retention.

Quantifiable outcome

• 92.5% of searches filled vs 67% industry average
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments11 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• TRANSEARCH InternationalcoreOthersTRANSEARCH USA is part of the TRANSEARCH International network, a global retained executive search organization with approximately 60 offices in over 40 countries. This network enables cross-border search capabilities and access to global talent pools for North American clients.
• Association of Executive Search and Leadership Consultants (AESC)coreOthersTRANSEARCH is a vetted member of AESC, the professional association for executive search and leadership consulting. AESC sets standards for quality and ethics in the industry and provides access to BlueSteps career management platform for senior executives.
• Hogan AssessmentscoreTechnology or IntegrationTRANSEARCH integrates Hogan personality assessments (HPI, HDS, MVPI) into their executive search process to evaluate candidate fit, identify leadership potential, and assess derailers. Team members including Nic Karczewski and Cristina Franzoni are certified Hogan Assessment administrators.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Korn Ferry: Korn Ferry is the largest publicly traded executive search and organizational consulting firm globally, with an executive search practice that directly competes with TRANSEARCH for C-suite and board mandates across multiple industries; it also offers wider HR consulting and RPO services.

Direct peers

• Spencer Stuart: Spencer Stuart is a privately held global executive search firm with deep practice-area specialization (similar to TRANSEARCH's sector model) and a reputation for board and CEO searches, making it one of the closest direct competitors for senior-level mandates.
• Heidrick & Struggles: Heidrick & Struggles is a publicly traded global executive search firm organized around industry and functional practices, competing head-to-head with TRANSEARCH in retained C-suite and board placements across energy, industrial, and PE sectors.
• Russell Reynolds Associates: Russell Reynolds is a privately held, globally networked executive search firm with strong sector practices (including industrial, energy, and technology), directly comparable in business model and mandate size to TRANSEARCH.
• Egon Zehnder: Egon Zehnder is a privately held partnership-style global executive search firm with deep functional and sector specialization, comparable in operating model (partnership structure, expert-led practices) and mandate scope to TRANSEARCH.
• Caldwell Partners: Caldwell Partners is a publicly traded executive search firm with industry-aligned practices (industrial, private equity, technology) and a comparable retained search model targeting C-suite and board mandates.
• Boyden: Boyden is a privately held global executive search firm with an extensive partner-led, sector-specialized practice model closely aligned with TRANSEARCH; it serves similar C-suite and board mandates across industrial, energy, and technology sectors.

Emerging players

• DHR Global: DHR Global is a privately held, rapidly growing executive search firm with sector-specialized practices; it competes with TRANSEARCH for senior-level mandates and has been expanding through acquisitions into adjacent talent services.
• WittKieffer: WittKieffer is a privately held executive search firm specializing in healthcare, higher education, and nonprofit sectors; while not a direct competitor in TRANSEARCH's core industries, it shares the specialist-practice business model and retained search delivery approach.
• Odgers Berndtson: Odgers Berndtson is a privately held international executive search firm with strong presence in the UK, Canada, and Australia; comparable in its partnership-style model and sector-specialist practice areas, though primarily competing in geographies outside the US.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/in/chrisswantransearch

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Transearch