Talent Search

What Talent Search does

Talent Search is a Lisbon-headquartered executive search and talent management consultancy founded in 2000 by José Caetano da Silva, a former Ray & Berndtson partner with prior consulting experience at Accenture. The firm specializes in senior and middle-management executive search, anchored by its proprietary RoTé (Return on Talent) methodology — a registered trademark that structures the search process around comprehensive market analysis rather than database reliance, and includes a performance guarantee under which mandates are repeated at no cost if client expectations are not met. Beyond core Executive Search, Talent Search offers four adjacent service lines: Talent Assessment (skills modelling, questionnaires, and executive evaluation with development paths), Talent Benchmark (comparative wage and skills analysis), Talent Consulting (Human Capital advisory covering Corporate Governance, Skill Models, and Executive Pay Systems), and Talent Development. The company is described as fully computerized and informatized since inception, with approximately 30% of billing reinvested in technology and people, though no AI/ML capabilities are disclosed.

The business operates on a professional-services, project-based revenue model. Talent Search serves large enterprises and multinationals with Iberian operations as the primary segment, alongside medium-sized and family-managed businesses undergoing management professionalization. Disclosed sector mix is led by Retail (~25%), Technology/Telecom (~15%), Pharma/Healthcare (~13%), Professional Services (~10%), and Financial Services (~7%), with additional exposure to hospitality, construction/infrastructure, and Angolan commercial banking. Distribution is direct enterprise consulting with no marketplace or self-service channels; client engagement begins with a briefing, followed by a structured search strategy and assessment process.

Geographically, the firm operates from Lisbon (Portugal, headquarters), Madrid (Spain, opened 2003), and Luanda (Angola, opened 2009 as a joint venture with Centro de Estudos Estratégicos de Angola — CEEA — and the first international executive search firm to incorporate under Angolan law). The Iberian market is the strategic core, with channel partnerships extending coverage into Italy, Greece, and Brazil. The company is privately held by its founder, with no disclosed external investors or parent company, and has reported sustained growth of 15–20% annually since 2003, accelerating to 25% in the most recently disclosed year.

Name

Talent Search

Legal name

Talent Search

Website

https://tal-search.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Talent Search is a Lisbon-based executive search and talent management consultancy founded in 2000, serving large enterprises and family businesses across Portugal, Spain, and Angola with senior-level recruitment, assessment, and human capital advisory services anchored by its proprietary RoTé methodology.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Executive Search Services

NAICS

Executive Search Services (561312), Human Resources Consulting Services (541612)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

C-Suite & Board Search (BPACAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Confidential/Replacement & Succession Search (BPACAAAK)

Keywords

• Executive search services
• Talent assessment
• Human capital consulting
• Executive recruitment
• Talent management

Headquarters

HQ city

Lisbon

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Executive Search Services: Search and selection of management executives using the RoT (Return on Talent) methodology. The company provides a guarantee and repeats projects at no cost if initial expectations are not met.
2. Talent Assessment: Analysis of internal talent available at the company through defined skill models, questionnaires, tests, and evaluation culminating in a result report with development paths.
3. Talent Benchmark: Customized studies comparing wage packages and skills of executives at client companies with those of competitors.
4. Talent Consulting: Top Management consultancy services concerning Human Capital management including Corporate Governance, Skill Models, Executive Pay Systems, and related areas.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Talent Search provides executive search and talent management services for senior management positions, using its proprietary RoTé (Return on Talent) methodology. The firm searches for and selects management executives through comprehensive market analysis, offers talent assessment of internal company talent, produces talent benchmark studies comparing wage packages and skills against competitors, and delivers top-management consulting on human capital issues such as corporate governance, skill models, and executive pay systems.

Product overview

Talent Search is an executive search and talent management company offering a suite of complementary services. The core offering includes Executive Search (recruitment of senior executives using Return on Talent methodology), Talent Assessment (analysis of internal talent and skills), Talent Benchmark (competitive wage package analysis), Talent Consulting (human capital management advisory), and Talent Development. These services are designed to work together to provide comprehensive talent management aimed at maximising return on strategic investment for clients.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Executive Search Search and selection of senior management executives using the RoTé (Return on Talent) methodology. Talent Search defines a search strategy based on client briefings and comprehensively identifies candidates meeting required conditions through market analysis rather than reliance on existing databases. The service includes a performance guarantee: projects are repeated at no cost to the client if initial expectations are not met.

Quantifiable outcome

• Executives changing companies earn on average 15% to 25% salary increase to compensate for risk of change

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Centro de Estudos Estratégicos de Angola (CEEA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 April 2009Joint venture partnership to create Talent Search Angola, Consultoria para o Desenvolvimento, SA - the first international executive search company to create an Angolan law company. Investment of USD 500,000 for talent research, recruitment and development in Angola. The partnership aims to contribute to angolanization through development of capable executives for various companies.
• Ronald McDonald Children's FoundationminorOthersCorporate social responsibility partnership supporting children in need. Talent Search joined forces with the foundation to help those most in need, demonstrating commitment to social responsibility.
• Os Violinhos (ACORDARTE)minorOthersTalent sponsorship program supporting music education through the Os Violinhos Music Academy. The company believes talent can be taught and sponsors future musicians or music lovers in Portugal.
• United Nations World Food ProgrammeminorOthersTalent Search supports the United Nations World Food Programme through the 'Walk against Hunger' initiative, demonstrating commitment to global social causes.
• Local Partners (Italy, Greece, Brazil)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal partnerships in Italy, Greece, and Brazil through carefully selected partners subject to the same rules that govern Talent Search activities, guaranteeing the same level of service and quality.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Odgers Berndtson: Global executive search firm (formerly Ray & Berndtson, where the founder José Caetano da Silva was a partner). Direct competitor in Iberian and international C-suite search, with overlapping methodology and client base.

Broad incumbents

• Heidrick & Struggles: Global executive search and leadership advisory firm with established offices in Madrid and Lisbon. Competes for the same senior executive mandates across retail, financial services, and industrial clients in Iberia.
• Spencer Stuart: Global executive search firm operating across Europe and Africa. Directly comparable for C-suite and board-level executive search engagements in Iberian and emerging African markets.
• Korn Ferry: Large global organizational consulting firm spanning executive search, talent assessment, and executive pay consulting — directly overlapping with Talent Search's full service suite (executive search, talent assessment, benchmark, consulting).
• Egon Zehnder: Global executive search and leadership advisory firm with strong presence in European markets. Competes for board, CEO, and senior executive mandates across industrial, financial, and consumer sectors overlapping with Talent Search's mix.
• Russell Reynolds Associates: Global executive search firm with established Iberian coverage. Directly competes for senior executive assignments across financial services, technology, and consumer sectors that anchor Talent Search's revenue mix.
• Michael Page: Global professional recruitment firm with deep Iberian presence and significant executive search practice. Adjacent peer for senior-level executive recruitment across the same enterprise client base.
• Robert Walters: International recruitment firm with established offices in Portugal and Spain. Competes for senior executive and middle-management mandates across financial services, tech, and industrial sectors.
• Hays: Global recruitment and workforce solutions firm with strong Iberian operations. Comparable for executive and senior management talent acquisition across multiple sectors, albeit at a broader scale than Talent Search.

Regional players

• Catenon: Spanish-headquartered international executive search firm with a strong Iberian and emerging-market footprint. Closest Iberian-headquartered peer with comparable regional focus and similar size profile.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Talent Search