Common Agenda

What Common Agenda does

Common Agenda is a boutique executive search firm founded in 1997 by Matthew Reaves and headquartered in Brielle, New Jersey, operating as a limited partnership (Common Agenda, LLP). The firm specializes in placing senior-level talent — from individual contributors to C-suite executives — within the technology sector (telecommunications, optical networking, IT, software, SDN/NFV, cloud, AI, 5G, IoT) and non-profit professional associations (IEEE, IEEE Computer Society, Optica). Its core offering is full-service retained and contingency executive search, supported by a proprietary candidate database, dedicated research staff, and a structured four-step process built on the proprietary Rival Research methodology that combines direct sourcing, organizational chart mapping, and white paper review to access passive candidates.

The firm's technology platform consists of internal web applications and a proprietary candidate database that the firm describes as containing technology professionals and executives considered inaccessible to other recruiters. The team is small (1-10 employees), and throughput is approximately 50 executive searches completed per year, with 75% of searches identifying qualified candidates within 14 days and 19% within 15-30 days. The business is relationship-driven: the founder personally drives marketing, business development, sourcing, screening, and closing, supported by a Senior Client Partner focused on non-profit and industry association work and a Board of Advisors spanning business development, operations, procurement, and financial strategy.

Common Agenda's revenue model is transaction-based, charging executive search fees as a percentage of placed candidate first-year compensation. The firm does not disclose pricing publicly and operates a quote-based engagement model typical of the industry. More than 90% of clients request additional services beyond their initial engagement, signaling strong relationship stickiness, but the firm has remained bootstrapped and founder-owned with no external funding and no institutional investment. Distribution is exclusively direct — consultants engage clients and candidates personally, with marketing support from a LinkedIn company page, career resources content, testimonial marketing, and a resume submission database.

Name

Common Agenda

Legal name

Common Agenda, LLP

Website

https://commonagenda.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Common Agenda is a boutique executive search firm founded in 1997 that places senior leaders into technology companies and non-profit professional associations using a proprietary candidate database and structured Rival Research methodology, completing approximately 50 searches per year.

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

Public Sector, Education & Nonprofit Leadership Search (BPACAAAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Executive Leadership & C-Suite Development (EDABAAAA)

Keywords

• Executive search services
• Technology recruitment
• Leadership hiring
• Nonprofit association recruiting
• Senior talent placement

Headquarters

HQ city

Brielle

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. Executive Search Retainer: Contingency-based or retainer-based executive search fees, typically a percentage of the placed candidate's first-year compensation. The firm emphasizes long-term relationships with clients, with over 90% of clients requesting additional services beyond their initial engagement.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Common Agenda is a boutique executive search firm that recruits senior-level leaders for technology companies and non-profit professional associations. Its practice centers on a four-step Define-Coordinate-Establish-Build search process powered by a proprietary candidate database and a Rival Research approach that combines market analysis, organizational chart mapping, and white paper review to surface passive candidates. Engagements are consultant-led, typically structured as retainer or contingency search fees tied to placed candidate compensation.

Product overview

Common Agenda is a boutique executive search firm offering a unified service centered on executive recruitment for the technology sector and non-profit associations. The core offering consists of executive search and recruitment services powered by their proprietary Rival Research approach and candidate database. Supporting services include resume writing guidance, interview preparation, and access to their candidate network. The company also maintains a Board of Advisors panel for strategic guidance. Their practice areas span Telecommunications, SDN/NFV, Data Science, Big Data, Digital Media, Cloud Computing, Virtualization, Software, Artificial Intelligence, Energy Tech, Wireless, Sensing Technology, Optical, IT, Automation, 5G, Data & Analytics, SD-WAN, and Internet of Things, serving both private/public technology companies and non-profit professional societies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Executive Search & Recruitment Services Full-service executive search and recruitment connecting technology and non-profit association clients with senior-level leaders across functions including sales, marketing, engineering, and executive management.
• Four-Step Search Process

Quantifiable outcome

• 75% of searches identify candidates within 1-14 days; 19% within 15-30 days
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments3 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

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Spencer Stuart: One of the leading global executive search firms with a strong technology, media, and telecommunications practice. Represents the type of large incumbent Common Agenda competes against for Fortune 500 executive placements.
• Korn Ferry: Global organizational consulting firm with a large executive search practice spanning multiple industries including technology. It is a scaled incumbent competitor to Common Agenda's boutique technology executive search offering.
• Egon Zehnder: Global executive search and leadership advisory firm with a technology officers practice. Comparable to Common Agenda in serving senior technology executives but at materially larger scale.
• Korn Ferry Hay Group: Broader talent consulting arm of Korn Ferry providing leadership assessment, succession planning, and executive search across technology verticals; represents an adjacent competitor in senior technology executive placement.
• Russell Reynolds Associates: Global executive search firm with a dedicated Technology, Media, and Telecommunications practice. Direct competitor for senior technology executive placements at enterprise scale.
• Heidrick & Struggles: International executive search and leadership advisory firm with deep technology officer and board practice. Competes with Common Agenda for senior-level technology mandates at enterprise clients.

Direct peers

• DHR Global: Executive search firm with specialized technology and non-profit practices. Similar mid-sized boutique structure competing for technology officer and association leadership mandates.
• Witt/Kieffer: Executive search firm focused on healthcare, education, and not-for-profit sectors, with overlap to Common Agenda's professional society and association executive director placements.
• Heller Search Associates: Boutique executive search firm specializing in technology and non-profit association sectors. Closely mirrors Common Agenda's dual-vertical positioning and firm size profile.
• CarterBaldwin Executive Search: Boutique executive search firm serving technology and growth-stage companies. Comparable in scale and client segment to Common Agenda's enterprise technology practice.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/common-agenda
• Xx.com/commonagenda

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Common Agenda