Global Talent Solutions

What Global Talent Solutions does

Global Talent Solutions (GTS) is a privately held, franchise-exclusive executive search firm headquartered in Irvine, California. Founded in 2006 by Michael Ruiz, who serves as CEO and President, the firm specializes in retained executive search for franchisors, placing C-suite and VP-level leaders — including CEOs, CMOs, COOs, CFOs, Chief Growth Officers, Presidents, and VPs of Franchise Development, Operations, and Marketing — across franchise brands. Its core product is a systematic, candidate-centric search process that separates the three core elements of talent acquisition (sourcing, vetting, and engagement) so they run in parallel rather than sequentially, with a stated goal of delivering qualified candidates up to 3x faster than traditional firms and up to 6x faster than internal recruiting. Every placement carries a 100% iron-clad 5-year replacement guarantee.

GTS makes money through retained executive search fees billed to franchisors. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, but the engagement model is consistent with sector norms for senior executive retained search. Customer acquisition is dominated by direct enterprise sales and reputation-driven referrals, anchored by deep relationships with multi-brand franchise operators. Lifetime metrics cited by the firm — 3,168 searches conducted, 96,516 candidates screened, 452 clients served — indicate an established but boutique-scale operation, corroborated by a headcount of 51-100.

The firm's competitive position rests on three pillars: (1) exclusive focus on the franchise industry, which has produced a specialized candidate pipeline that generalist search firms lack; (2) a deep anchor relationship with Xponential Fitness and its eight brands (43+ executive placements); and (3) a reputation moat reinforced by Entrepreneur Magazine's 2021 "Best in Service" and Top Franchise Consultant #7 designations. The customer base spans fitness, wellness, beauty, pet services, healthcare, education, and food franchising. GTS is bootstrapped and founder-owned, with no disclosed venture or private equity capital, and partners selectively — notably with Hyrell in 2020 on a COVID-19 relief program combining ATS distribution with outplacement services.

Name

Global Talent Solutions

Legal name

Global Talent Solutions, Inc.

Website

https://gtsrecruiters.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Global Talent Solutions is a privately held, franchise-exclusive executive search firm placing C-suite and VP-level leaders for franchisors across fitness, wellness, beauty, healthcare, and education; it operates via retained search engagements with a 100% 5-year placement guarantee.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

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

General Permanent Placement (Multi-Industry) (BPACAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Talent Acquisition (Recruiting) & Applicant Tracking (ATS) (BPACAPAD)

Keywords

• Executive search services
• Franchise recruitment
• Talent acquisition
• C-suite placement
• Retained search firm

Headquarters

HQ city

Irvine

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Retained Executive Search Services: GTS operates as a retained executive search firm, charging franchisors for placing C-suite and VP-level executives. The company offers a unique 100% iron-clad 5-year guarantee on placements, with a promise to replace any candidate who doesn't perform to satisfaction at no additional cost.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Global Talent Solutions (GTS) is a retained executive search firm that identifies, attracts, and places C-suite and VP-level executives for franchise organizations. The firm uses a systematic, candidate-centric process that separates the three core elements of talent acquisition to work simultaneously, and every placement is backed by a 100% 5-year replacement guarantee.

Product overview

Global Talent Solutions operates as a single, unified executive recruitment service rather than a platform with modular products. Their core offering is a systematic franchise executive search process that separates three core elements of talent acquisition to work simultaneously, enabling franchisors to access high-caliber candidates quickly. The company offers retained executive search engagements for placing executives at various levels including C-suite (CEO, CFO, COO, CMO, Chief Growth Officer, Chief Development Officer) and VP-level positions (VP of Franchise Development, VP of Operations, VP of Marketing, VP of Analytics). Their service includes a 100% 5-year guarantee on all placements.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Franchise Executive Search & Recruitment Services Systematic, candidate-centric executive search and recruitment service that identifies, attracts, and places top industry talent at the C-suite and VP levels within franchise organizations. Includes a guaranteed 5-year placement performance guarantee and delivers candidates up to 6x faster than traditional methods. Serves franchise franchisors across fitness, wellness, beauty, pet, education, and healthcare verticals.

Quantifiable outcome

• Candidates delivered up to 3x faster than traditional search firms and up to 6x faster than internal recruitment methods
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers20 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• HyrellminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2020GTS partnered with Hyrell, the franchise industry's leading applicant tracking software provider, to help franchisors and executives navigate COVID-19 economic challenges. The partnership combined GTS's executive recruitment expertise with Hyrell's hiring technology, including a COVID-19 relief program where Hyrell committed $270,000 and GTS matched with outplacement services for displaced executives.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Heidrick & Struggles: Global retained executive search firm placing C-suite and senior leaders across industries. Directly comparable to GTS's retained executive search model and target buyer (enterprise franchisors needing senior leadership), though at much larger scale and across all verticals rather than franchise-only.
• Spencer Stuart: Premier global executive search and leadership advisory firm. Comparable to GTS in delivering C-suite and board-level retained search engagements for enterprise clients, with a similar candidate-centric methodology but broader sector coverage.
• Russell Reynolds Associates: Global executive search firm focused on senior leadership placements. Directly comparable business model (retained search, C-suite/VP focus) and serves similar enterprise buyers, including franchise and multi-unit retail/consumer clients.
• Egon Zehnder: Global executive search and leadership advisory firm. Comparable retained executive search model serving enterprise clients across industries, with similar emphasis on long-term client relationships and candidate quality — a direct peer at a larger scale.
• DHR International: Global executive search firm focused on mid-to-senior level placements. Comparable retained search model and target buyer profile (enterprise and growth-stage companies needing senior leadership), with similar practice-area specialization approach.
• Odgers Berndtson: Global executive search firm placing senior leaders across consumer, industrial, and services sectors. Comparable retained executive search business model and serves similar enterprise franchisor-type clients in consumer and retail categories.
• Stanton Chase: Global retained executive search firm with strong mid-market and growth-company focus. Comparable in delivering C-suite and VP-level search for entrepreneurial and multi-unit businesses, including consumer and services sectors where franchise clients operate.
• Boyden: Global executive search firm with industry-specialized practices serving consumer, retail, and services clients. Comparable retained search model and franchise/multi-unit retail client base, though broader in sector coverage than GTS's franchise-only focus.

Broad incumbents

• Korn Ferry: Global organizational consulting firm with a large executive search practice alongside RPO, talent acquisition, and HR consulting. Comparable on the executive search service line, but operates as a broad incumbent with technology, RPO, and consulting offerings that GTS does not have.
• LinkedIn Talent Solutions: Talent acquisition platform offering executive search, sourcing tools, and recruitment advertising to enterprise buyers. A broad incumbent in the executive hiring space that competes with retained search firms on sourcing efficiency and is increasingly used by franchisors as a complement or alternative to retained search.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/GlobalTalentSolutions
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/franchise-executive-search
• Xx.com/gtsrecruiters

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Global Talent Solutions