Rowe Global

What Rowe Global does

Rowe Global, LLC is a Dallas-based retained executive search and human capital solutions firm founded by William (Bill) D. Rowe II, operating from the Old Parkland Campus with additional offices in Atlanta, Denver, Seattle, Washington DC, and Shanghai. The firm conducts C-level and senior executive searches for the Private Equity community (funds and their portfolio companies) and Global 1000 corporate clients, with practice coverage spanning at least eleven industries including Energy, FMCG, Food Manufacturing, Industrial, Healthcare, Technology, Transportation, Professional Services, Financial Services, Retail, and Communications.

The core service offering is Retained Executive Search, delivered by individual senior consultants on a 24/7 basis and supported by Middle Management Recruitment, Board of Director Recruitment, Management Audit and Organizational Consulting, and Market and Compensation Analysis. Pricing is structured around a three-instalment retained fee (one-third at start, one-third at 30 days with shortlist, final one-third at verbal acceptance) backed by a one-year placement guarantee, with Fixed Project Fee, Research Project Fee, and Monthly Retainer alternatives for multi-search or non-traditional engagements. There is no proprietary technology platform; the value proposition rests on senior partner judgment, long-tenured relationships, and character/culture matching alongside technical qualifications.

The go-to-market motion is relationship- and referral-driven, with named clients including RedBird Capital Partners, Houlihan Lokey, Ensco, TDIndustries, Mc Dean, McLane Company, CH Guenther & Son, and JLL. Capacity is delivered through a combination of internal Managing Directors and a network of strategic alliance partners (Adam James International for finance/accounting, Foster Partners for China, Leaders International for Canada, Equity Search Partners, Preston Reffett Associates, AEOS Talent Acquisition for Asset Management, Black Bear Partners for growth capital). Headcount is reported at 1–10 employees, consistent with a boutique operating model.

Name

Rowe Global

Legal name

Rowe Global, LLC

Website

https://roweglobal.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Rowe Global is a Dallas-based retained executive search boutique founded by Bill Rowe, serving Private Equity funds, their portfolio companies, and Global 1000 corporates across multiple industries with C-suite, board, and human capital consulting engagements delivered through senior consultants and strategic alliance partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Executive Search Services

NAICS

Executive Search Services (561312), Employment Placement Agencies and Executive Search Services (56131), 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 industries

Functional Leadership Search (HR/Finance/Legal/Marketing/Sales/Ops) (BPACAAAB), Financial Services Leadership Search (Banking/Insurance/PE/Asset Mgmt) (BPACAAAF), Confidential/Replacement & Succession Search (BPACAAAK), General Permanent Placement (Multi-Industry) (BPACAFAA)

Keywords

• Retained executive search
• Human capital solutions
• Executive recruitment services
• Board of director search
• Talent acquisition consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Dallas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Retained Executive Search Fees: Traditional retained search model with fees tied to deliverables and search completion. Professional fee invoiced in three installments: 1/3 upon start as initial retainer, 1/3 at 30 days from start date with initial candidate shortlist, and final 1/3 upon verbal acceptance of offer.
2. Fixed Project Fee: Fixed fee option for specific search projects, providing cost certainty for clients.
3. Research Project Fee: Customized research project fees for specific market intelligence or sourcing needs.
4. Monthly Retainer Project: Monthly retainer arrangements for clients requiring multiple placements across various geographies and positions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Rowe Global is a retained executive search firm that recruits C-suite and senior-level executives for Private Equity firms, their portfolio companies, and Global 1000 corporate clients. The firm matches candidate personality and culture fit alongside technical qualifications and provides complementary human capital solutions including middle management recruitment, board of director recruitment, management audit and organizational consulting, and market/compensation analysis. Every search is backed by a one-year placement guarantee.

Product overview

Rowe Global is a retained executive search and human capital solutions firm offering a portfolio of recruitment services centered around its core Retained Executive Search offering. The company provides a comprehensive suite that includes Middle Management Recruitment & Selection, Management Audit and Organizational Consulting, Market and Compensation Analysis, and Board of Director Recruitment. These services are supported by flexible pricing structures including Fixed Project Fee, Research Project Fee, and Monthly Retainer Project options. The company operates a structured 5-step execution process and provides a one-year placement guarantee on all searches.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Retained Executive Search Retained executive search for C-suite and senior leadership positions across all industries, with focus on matching candidate personality and culture fit alongside technical qualifications; includes a one-year placement guarantee. For Private Equity firms, their portfolio companies, and Global 1000 corporate clients.
• Middle Management Recruitment & Selection Recruitment services for middle management positions, extending human capital solutions beyond C-suite recruitment needs. For clients needing mid-level executive talent across industries.
• Board of Director Recruitment Recruitment services for board leadership positions, leveraging the firm's recruiting capabilities to identify qualified board candidates. For corporate boards and PE-backed companies building governance oversight.
• Management Audit and Organizational Consulting Management evaluation and organizational consulting services to assess leadership capabilities and organizational structure. For clients needing diagnosis of leadership and organizational effectiveness.
• Market and Compensation Analysis Custom market intelligence and compensation analysis services covering compensation trends and market comparisons to inform hiring decisions. For PE and corporate clients supporting executive hiring with market data.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% success rate on difficult search projects (from partner Dru George's track record)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Leaders InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey Alliance Partners in Canada. Rowe Global maintains this partnership to extend executive search capabilities across Canadian markets as part of their global reach strategy.
• AEOS Talent Acquisition (Tom Lamson)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTom Lamson serves as Industry Specialist Partner with 25+ years of specialization in the Asset Management sector. In 2018, Tom started AEOS Talent Acquisition to develop customized search for client partners in the asset management sector.
• Black Bear Partners (Aaron Enrico)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAaron Enrico serves as Industry Specialist Partner and Founder/Principal of Black Bear Partners, a growth capital investment firm in Dallas. Background includes CFO/CDO role at Genesco Sports Enterprises, Principal at CIC Partners LP, and McKinsey & Company.
• Foster Partners (Trevor McCormick)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrevor McCormick serves as Managing Partner for China operations. Foster Partners was established in 1989 as successor to KPMG Peat Marwick's US Executive Search practice. Global HQ moved to Hong Kong in 1999 and Shanghai in 2001.
• Equity Search Partners (Jason Roberts)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJason Roberts serves as Managing Partner with close to 25 years of experience assisting clients with critical hires from middle management to executive level. Previously co-founded Q&A Recruiting which was sold to Gryphon Investors in 2007 and evolved to SNI Companies.
• Preston Reffett Associates (Bill Reffett)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBill Reffett serves as Managing Partner. Co-founded Preston Reffett Associates with Gary Preston after 10+ years building Reffett and Associates. Former VP/Partner at Korn/Ferry International where he initiated the national supermarket practice.
• Adam James InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture partner. Ken Philbrick joined Adam James International (a Rowe Global joint venture partner) in 1997 shortly after the company was founded in 1996. Ken specializes in retained search for executive level finance and accounting positions.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Egon Zehnder: Privately held global executive search firm known for culture-heavy, character-based candidate evaluation — the same differentiator Rowe Global emphasizes. Competes for the same premium C-suite retained mandates.
• Russell Reynolds Associates: Global executive search firm with deep financial services and PE practice areas. Directly comparable in retained C-suite searches and increasingly focused on culture/character matching — same value proposition as Rowe Global.
• Korn Ferry: Global executive search leader and publicly traded (NYSE: KFY) firm. Bill Reffett (Rowe Global Managing Partner) was a former VP/Partner at Korn/Ferry International, and John J. White was also a Senior Client Partner there. Direct competitor for Fortune 1000 and PE-backed C-suite searches.
• Options Group: Financial services-focused executive search and talent advisory. Russell Kopp (Rowe Global Managing Director) was previously Asian CEO at Options Group. Directly comparable in financial services leadership search.
• Heidrick & Struggles: Public (NASDAQ: HSII) global executive search firm with a strong financial services and PE practice. Directly competes for the same C-suite assignments for PE portfolio companies and Fortune 1000 clients.
• Pearson Partners International: Dallas-based retained executive search firm of comparable size to Rowe Global. Robyne Townsley (Rowe Global VP) spent nearly a decade at Pearson Partners in roles including Search Consultant and VP, indicating strong operational overlap.
• DHR International: Global executive search firm with strong PE portfolio company practice. Directly comparable in mid-to-large cap PE-backed executive search mandates, and a credible competitor for the same client base Rowe Global targets.
• Spencer Stuart: Privately held global executive search firm with strong board and CEO practice. John J. White served as Senior Client Partner at Spencer Stuart before joining Rowe Global. Directly comparable in C-suite and board-level retained search delivery.
• Boyden: Global executive search firm with mid-market and PE-backed company focus, operating through a partner-led model similar to Rowe Global. Comparable in culture/character-based evaluation and global coverage via partner offices.

Regional players

• Adam James International: Retained executive search firm specializing in finance and accounting leadership placements; Rowe Global joint venture partner since 1996 with Ken Philbrick serving as Partner. Operates as both an alliance partner and a partial market overlap in CFO/VP Finance searches.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rowe-global

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Rowe Global