Pinnacle Search Partners

What Pinnacle Search Partners does

Pinnacle Search Partners, LLC is a privately held, boutique retained executive search firm headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, founded in 2009–2010 and acquired by current President Bill Creekmuir in November 2015. The firm operates as a single-service professional services business, placing C-suite and senior leadership (VP-level and above) executives into private equity-backed portfolio companies and mid-to-large corporations, with stated experience of 500+ cumulative client engagements. It organizes delivery around six declared industry verticals — Private Equity (flagship practice), Home Furnishings, Industrial/Manufacturing, Business Services, Building Products & Services, and Chemicals & Plastics — each led by partners with prior operating experience in those sectors (e.g., former Thomas H. Lee Partners Managing Director Margaret Covell leads PE; former Mattress Firm/Bed Bath & Beyond executive Lori Ellis leads Furnishings; former EVP/CFO of Simmons Bedding Bill Creekmuir brings operator credibility).

The firm has no proprietary technology platform; its core product is human-delivered retained search executed by partners, executive search consultants, and dedicated research managers using proprietary candidate networks and a multi-lingual team (fluency across French, Spanish, German, Chinese, Ukrainian, Russian, and Swedish). International reach into Europe and Asia is delivered through affiliate partnerships rather than owned offices. Revenue is generated purely through retained executive search engagements, with fees structured as a percentage of placed-candidate first-year total compensation; pricing is not publicly disclosed.

The go-to-market is consultative and relationship-driven: sourcing flows through PE relationships, referrals, industry conferences (ISPA EXPO, RSM Atlanta CFO events), content marketing (a regularly updated blog and active LinkedIn presence), and Bill Creekmuir's board and advisory positions with the American Home Furnishings Alliance and Party City Holdco. Distribution is entirely direct/B2B with no digital self-serve, marketplace, or reseller channels. The firm does not disclose revenue, ARR, or headcount growth metrics publicly, and there is no disclosed venture or institutional ownership.

Name

Pinnacle Search Partners

Legal name

Pinnacle Search Partners, LLC

Website

https://pinnaclesearch.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Pinnacle Search Partners is a privately-held, Atlanta-based boutique retained executive search firm placing C-suite and VP-level executives for private equity sponsors, PE-backed portfolio companies, and middle-market corporations across six verticals: Private Equity, Home Furnishings, Industrial, Business Services, Building Products, and Chemicals & Plastics.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Executive Search Services

NAICS

Executive Search Services (561312)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

C-Suite & Board Search (BPACAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Functional Leadership Search (HR/Finance/Legal/Marketing/Sales/Ops) (BPACAAAB), Confidential/Replacement & Succession Search (BPACAAAK)

Keywords

• Executive search services
• Retained executive recruitment
• C-suite talent placement
• Private equity search
• Leadership recruitment firm

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Retained Executive Search Services: Pinnacle Search Partners generates revenue through retained executive search engagements, placing C-suite and senior leadership candidates across multiple industries for private equity-backed companies and corporations. Fees are typically structured as a percentage of the placed candidate's first-year total compensation, with engagement scopes spanning VP to C-suite level roles.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Pinnacle Search Partners is a global boutique executive search firm that identifies, qualifies, and delivers executive talent for leadership positions (VP to C-suite) across specialized industries. The firm conducts retained executive searches organized by industry vertical (Private Equity, Home Furnishings, Industrial/Manufacturing, Business Services, Building Products, Consumer Services, Chemicals & Plastics) and by function (Finance & Accounting, Sales & Marketing, Operations, HR). Engagements are sourced via direct outreach, professional networks, referrals, and industry events, executed globally via international affiliate partners.

Product overview

Pinnacle Search Partners is a global boutique executive search firm that specializes in identifying, qualifying, and delivering executive talent for leadership positions. The firm operates as a single service offering focused on executive recruitment and talent acquisition across specialized industries including Private Equity, Home Furnishings, Business Services, Building Products, Industrial, and Consumer Services sectors. The company delivers retained and contingency search services for C-suite, VP, and other senior leadership roles, with practices organized by industry vertical and function (Finance & Accounting, Sales & Marketing, Operations, HR). As a service-based firm rather than a software product company, Pinnacle Search does not offer distinct product modules or technology platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Private Equity Executive Search
• Home Furnishings & Furniture Executive Search
• Industrial & Manufacturing Executive Search
• Business Services Executive Search
• Building Products & Services Executive Search
• Consumer Services Executive Search
• Chemicals & Plastics Executive Search
• CFO-Suite Executive Search Practice

Quantifiable outcome

• 500+ clients served since founding in 2010
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Egon Zehnder: Global executive search and leadership advisory firm specializing in board, CEO, and senior executive placements. Comparable boutique-style culture with global reach, directly competing for senior executive mandates Pinnacle pursues.
• Spencer Stuart: Global executive search and leadership advisory firm focused on board, CEO, and senior executive placements. Directly comparable to Pinnacle's C-suite and VP retained search model, with significantly greater scale and global reach.
• Russell Reynolds Associates: Global executive search firm placing C-suite and senior leaders across functions and industries. Closely comparable to Pinnacle in service offering (retained executive search) with a larger international footprint and broader functional practices.
• Heidrick & Struggles: Global executive search and leadership consulting firm with deep private equity and functional practices. Directly competes for PE-backed and corporate C-suite mandates similar to Pinnacle's core work, with stronger proprietary technology and assessment capabilities.
• Charles Aris Executive Search: Mid-market executive search firm with strong private equity practice and sector verticals including retail/CPG. Directly comparable boutique retained search model — Pinnacle has hired from Charles Aris (Cam Roberts was a Senior Researcher there).
• True Search: Executive search firm with a strong private equity and growth-equity practice, placing operating partners and functional leaders at PE-backed companies. Directly competes with Pinnacle's flagship PE vertical for portfolio company mandates.
• Caldwell Partners: Executive search firm serving board, CEO, and senior executive placements across industries with PE exposure. Comparable retained search offering targeting mid-market and PE-backed clients, similar in scale and positioning to Pinnacle.
• Chamberlain Advisors: Executive search firm specializing in private equity-backed company placements. Directly comparable in PE vertical focus — Pinnacle's Chavie Sosa previously led the PE practice at Chamberlain Advisors.
• DHR International: Global executive search firm with strong PE-backed and functional practice alignment. Directly comparable in retained executive search offering with similar mid-market and PE-backed client focus as Pinnacle.

Broad incumbents

• Korn Ferry: Global organizational consulting firm spanning executive search, talent assessment, and RPO. Overlaps with Pinnacle's retained executive search work but operates as a much larger diversified talent advisory with proprietary assessment IP.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pinnacle-search-partners
• Facebookfacebook.com/pinnaclesearch

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Pinnacle Search Partners