Focus Search Partners
Highspring (formerly Focus Search Partners) is a global professional services firm offering consulting, managed services, and executive search to enterprise and PE-backed clients across six industries including technology, manufacturing, and financial services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersBrentwood, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Focus Search Partners does
Focus Search Partners was a professional services firm specializing in retained executive search and strategic talent solutions for C-suite and board-level placements, serving organizations from mid-market through enterprise. The firm has been repositioned as Highspring following a 2025 rebrand that merged Focus Search Partners with MorganFranklin Consulting and Built Global under a single platform, with parent ownership by Vaco Holdings. The unified organization now delivers three integrated service lines — Consulting, Managed Services, and Talent Solutions — across six primary verticals: Aerospace and Defense, Consumer Goods and Retail, Financial Services, Manufacturing, Private Equity, and Technology.
Highspring monetizes through professional services engagements including retained executive search fees, project-based consulting, interim leadership placements, and ongoing managed services outsourcing for critical business operations such as finance and accounting, governance/risk/compliance, and transaction advisory. Solution verticals span Artificial Intelligence, Business Transformation, Data, Digital, Enterprise Applications, Finance & Accounting, GRC, and Supply Chain Management. Go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales targeting C-suite and board-level decision makers, supported by thought-leadership content (blog, white papers, case studies), industry events, and a multi-channel social presence.
No proprietary technology platform, AI models, patents, or trademarks are disclosed. The firm leverages 'top technology partners' to deliver digital and AI advisory work. Global operations span multiple geographies with localized English and French-Canadian support. Operational scale (headcount, revenue, office count) is not publicly disclosed; the firm characterizes itself as a 'leading global professional services organization' with an expanding international footprint.
Focus Search Partners firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Focus Search Partners
- Website
- https://focussearchpartners.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Highspring (formerly Focus Search Partners) is a global professional services firm offering consulting, managed services, and executive search to enterprise and PE-backed clients across six industries including technology, manufacturing, and financial services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Focus Search Partners industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Executive Search and Professional Services
- NAICS
- Executive Search Services (561312), Employment Placement Agencies and Executive Search Services (56131), Management Consulting Services (54161)
- SIC
- Services-Employment Agencies (7361), 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), Financial Services Leadership Search (Banking/Insurance/PE/Asset Mgmt) (BPACAAAF), Technology & Product Leadership Search (CIO/CTO/CDO/CPO) (BPACAAAC), Consumer & Retail Leadership Search (BPACAAAG), Buy-Side Search & Acquisition Advisory (FSAEAIAD)
Keywords
Where Focus Search Partners is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Brentwood
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Focus Search Partners business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Consulting Services: Advisory and expertise services to move business initiatives forward with confidence. Delivered through retained engagements and project-based consulting.
- Managed Services: Outsourcing for critical business operations. Ongoing service delivery model for operational support.
- Executive Search / Talent Solutions: Retained search for C-suite and board-level executives, as well as strategic staffing services. Engagements include retained search fees and contingency staffing.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels9 records
Focus Search Partners product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Focus Search Partners, now operating as Highspring, provides integrated professional services spanning consulting, managed services, and talent solutions. The firm delivers retained executive search for C-suite and board-level roles, strategic staffing, interim leadership placement, and advisory engagements across verticals such as Private Equity, Aerospace and Defense, Consumer Goods and Retail, Financial Services, Manufacturing, and Technology.
Product overview
Highspring is a unified professional services platform that combines consulting, managed services, and talent solutions under a single brand. Formed through the merger of Focus Search Partners, MorganFranklin Consulting, and Built Global, the platform offers industry-specific solutions across verticals including Artificial Intelligence, Business Transformation, Data, Digital, Enterprise Applications, Executive Search (with Retained Search and Interim Leadership offerings), Finance and Accounting, Governance Risk and Compliance, and Transaction Advisory. Services are delivered to industries including Aerospace and Defense, Consumer Goods and Retail, Financial Services, Manufacturing, Private Equity, and Technology.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Consulting
Quantifiable outcome
- Interim CFO re-engineered order-to-cash cycle for $120M Platform-as-a-Service company
Companies that use Focus Search Partners
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Focus Search Partners technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Focus Search Partners partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- VacocoreVaco has rebranded to 'Vaco by Highspring' as part of the unified brand transformation. Vaco serves as a trusted contact connecting clients to Highspring's expanded capabilities. Vaco continues as the point of contact for existing clients while connecting them to the full spectrum of Highspring services.
- MorganFranklin ConsultingcoreLegacy brand that merged into Highspring. MorganFranklin Consulting brought advisory and consulting expertise that is now integrated into Highspring's unified service offerings.
- BuiltcoreLegacy brand (Built Global) that merged into Highspring. Brought additional professional services capabilities that are now part of Highspring's integrated consulting, managed services, and talent solutions.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Focus Search Partners competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Heidrick & Struggles: Global executive search and leadership advisory firm with deep expertise across C-suite, board, and functional leadership searches. Directly competes with Highspring's executive search offering and shares the same enterprise buyer persona.
- Spencer Stuart: One of the world's leading executive search firms specializing in board, CEO, and senior leadership placements across industries. Highly comparable to Highspring's retained search and C-suite placement practice, and a direct competitor for the same premium mandates.
- Egon Zehnder: Global executive search and leadership advisory firm with deep C-suite and board practice. Directly comparable to Highspring's executive search core and competes for the same Fortune-level leadership mandates.
- Russell Reynolds Associates: Global executive search firm focused on board, CEO, and senior functional leadership assignments. Direct competitor for Highspring's retained C-suite and board-level search engagements across financial services, technology, and industrial sectors.
- Korn Ferry: Global organizational consulting firm combining executive search, talent consulting, and advisory services. Highly comparable to Highspring's three-in-one structure (search + consulting + RPO/managed services) and serves the same enterprise and PE clientele.
Broad incumbents
- Robert Half: Large global staffing and talent solutions firm serving finance, technology, and administrative roles. Comparable to Highspring's talent solutions and interim leadership practices, though Robert Half operates at much broader scale and is publicly traded.
- BearingPoint: Global management and technology consulting firm with deep finance transformation, GRC, and digital practices. Comparable to Highspring's consulting and managed services lines serving large enterprise and PE-backed clients across regulated industries.
Others
- MorganFranklin Consulting: Legacy brand now fully integrated into Highspring; previously operated as an independent advisory and consulting firm specializing in finance, technology, and risk. Included here because its former service lines closely mirror Highspring's consulting and GRC offerings.
- Vaco: Strategic operating parent of Highspring (formerly Focus Search Partners); Vaco provides staffing, consulting, and managed services and has rebranded to 'Vaco by Highspring.' Sister entity under shared ownership and the source of shared go-to-market and operational infrastructure.
Regional players
- Hays: Global staffing and workforce solutions firm focused on professional and executive recruitment across industries. Comparable to Highspring's talent solutions and retained search offerings, with particular overlap in financial services and technology verticals outside the U.S.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Focus Search Partners social profiles
Digital presenceFocus Search Partners financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Focus Search Partners leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Focus Search Partners funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Focus Search Partners M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A2 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Focus Search Partners
What does Focus Search Partners do?
Focus Search Partners, now operating as Highspring, provides integrated professional services spanning consulting, managed services, and talent solutions. The firm delivers retained executive search for C-suite and board-level roles, strategic staffing, interim leadership placement, and advisory engagements across verticals such as Private Equity, Aerospace and Defense, Consumer Goods and Retail, Financial Services, Manufacturing, and Technology.
Is Focus Search Partners a public or private company?
Focus Search Partners is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Focus Search Partners founded?
Focus Search Partners was founded in 2010. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Focus Search Partners based?
Focus Search Partners is headquartered in Brentwood, United States, in the North America region.
How does Focus Search Partners make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Consulting Services are the primary driver. The others are managed Services and executive Search / Talent Solutions.
Who are Focus Search Partners's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Heidrick & Struggles, Spencer Stuart, Egon Zehnder, Russell Reynolds Associates and Korn Ferry. Broad incumbents are Robert Half and BearingPoint. Others are MorganFranklin Consulting and Vaco. Hays is listed as a regional player.
Does Focus Search Partners have an API?
No public API is recorded for Focus Search Partners.
What industry is Focus Search Partners in?
Focus Search Partners's product category is Executive Search and Professional Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPACAAAA, C-Suite & Board Search, with a secondary code of BPACAAAB, Functional Leadership Search (HR/Finance/Legal/Marketing/Sales/Ops). Its NAICS code is 561312 and its SIC code is 7361.