Martin Partners

What Martin Partners does

Martin Partners L.L.C. is a retained executive search firm headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, founded in 1998 by Ted Martin. The firm conducts senior-level executive searches for PE/VC portfolio companies, Fortune 500 corporations, and growth-stage startups, with stated focus areas in Healthcare, PE/VC, Industrial/B2B, Consumer/Retail, Technology/Telecom, and Financial Services. Named clients and placements span Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Amgen, AT&T, and Nokia, among others.

The firm operates with a deliberately lean structure: two partners — Ted Martin as Founder/Managing Partner and Sherry Brickman as Partner — conduct searches personally, with no associate or junior researcher layer between principals and clients. The partners hold Kellogg (Martin) and similar graduate business credentials, and the firm cites a proprietary "A player" database and an informal referencing methodology as core operational assets. Service delivery is grounded in a published SLA of four qualified candidates within four weeks, and the firm reports an 85% repeat business rate, indicating a relationship-driven rather than transactional go-to-market model.

Martin Partners generates revenue through retained search fees, the standard pricing structure for the executive search category, though individual fee levels are not publicly disclosed. Global reach is achieved through Alliance Partnership International, a network co-founded by Ted Martin, providing affiliate coverage across 23+ countries without the firm building internal international infrastructure. The firm is also a member of the Illinois Venture Capital Association (IVCA), reinforcing its PE/VC ecosystem positioning. No proprietary technology platform, AI tooling, or software product is part of the offering; the competitive proposition is the partners' personal networks, tenure, and search execution.

Name

Martin Partners

Legal name

Martin Partners L.L.C.

Website

https://martinpartners.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Martin Partners is a Chicago-based retained executive search firm founded in 1998 that places C-suite and senior executives for PE/VC portfolio companies, Fortune 500 firms, and growth-stage startups across healthcare, financial services, technology, industrial, and consumer verticals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Executive Search Services

NAICS

Other Management Consulting Services (541618)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

C-Suite & Board Search (BPACAAAA)

Keywords

• Executive search services
• Retained recruiting
• Senior leadership placement
• C-suite recruitment
• Talent acquisition consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Retained Executive Search Services: Professional services revenue from retained executive search engagements. Clients pay for senior-level recruiting services, typically for C-suite and VP-level positions across multiple industries.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Martin Partners is a retained executive search firm that recruits senior-level executives (C-suite, President, COO, CFO, and chief functional leader roles) for clients across six industry practices: Healthcare, Private Equity/VC, Industrial/B2B Services, Consumer/Retail, Technology/Telecom, and Financial Services. Engagements are partner-led from start to finish, with a methodology built on informal referencing of all candidates before presentation and an SLA to present four candidates within four weeks and resolve searches within 12 weeks. Global capability is delivered through Alliance Partnership International, a consortium of boutique retained search firms across 23 countries.

Product overview

Martin Partners is a retained executive search firm offering a single unified service: senior-level executive recruitment. Their core offering centers on executive search services across six industry practices: Healthcare, Private Equity/VC, Industrial/B2B Services, Consumer/Retail, Technology/Telecom, and Financial Services. The firm differentiates through a methodology emphasizing referencing, quality and speed (presenting four candidates within four weeks), and direct partner involvement without associates or junior recruiters. They also publish the book 'Exposing Leadership: Redefining the Top 20 Leadership Traits' authored by Managing Partner Ted Martin. Their global reach is enabled through membership in Alliance Partnership International, a consortium of retained search firms from multiple countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Executive Search Services Retained executive search services placing C-suite, President, COO, CFO, and other senior-level executives for clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to startups, delivered by partners directly with a methodology built on informal referencing of all candidates.
• Private Equity / VC Executive Search Retained executive search practice dedicated to PE- and VC-backed portfolio companies, recruiting CEOs, General Managers, COOs, Presidents, and chief functional leaders across industries.
• Healthcare Executive Search Retained executive search practice for healthcare and medical device companies, focused on building senior management teams that can navigate regulatory complexity and rapid industry change.
• Industrial / B2B Services Executive Search Retained executive search across functional areas for industrial and B2B services companies in sectors including automotive, chemicals, controls, conveyor processes, electronics, fabricated metals, packaging, and paper.
• Consumer / Retail Executive Search Retained executive search practice for consumer packaged goods and consumer durables companies, ranging from Fortune 50 to startup firms.
• Technology / Telecom Executive Search Retained executive search practice for companies in the fast-changing technology and telecommunications sectors, including software, eCommerce, wireless, and internet firms.
• Financial Services Executive Search Retained executive search practice covering capital markets, investment banking, commercial banking, online/electronic/traditional exchanges, asset management, and wealth management.

Quantifiable outcome

• 85% of work is repeat business
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Alliance Partnership InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal alliance of retained executive search firms formed to serve international client needs. Martin Partners Co-Founder Ted Martin served as Co-Founder and past Chairman. The consortium includes preeminent boutique retained executive search firms from 23 countries worldwide.
• Affiliate Office NetworkminorOthersAffiliate office locations include: Vienna, Austria; Sofia, Bulgaria; Toronto, Canada; Prague, Czech Republic; Copenhagen, Denmark; London, England; Paris, France; Frankfurt, Germany; Budapest, Hungary; Hong Kong; Jakarta, Indonesia; Milan, Italy; Tokyo, Japan; Seoul, Korea; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Amsterdam, Netherlands; Shanghai, PRC; Bucharest, Romania; Moscow, Russia; Singapore; Barcelona, Spain; Madrid, Spain; Zurich, Switzerland; Taiwan; Bangkok, Thailand

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• WittKieffer: Boutique retained executive search firm with deep specialization in healthcare, education, and nonprofit senior leadership. Direct peer for healthcare executive search mandates, one of Martin Partners' named verticals.
• Spencer Stuart: One of the largest global retained executive search firms, with deep C-suite and board practice across industries. Direct competitor to Martin Partners for senior-level mandates, including PE/VC portfolio company placements; comparable boutique-to-mid-size peer model with partner-led engagements.
• Heidrick & Struggles: Global executive search and leadership advisory firm serving PE/VC, Fortune 500, and mid-market clients with C-suite and board placements. Direct peer competing for the same senior executive mandates across the same verticals (financial services, healthcare, technology, industrial, consumer).
• Russell Reynolds Associates: Global retained executive search firm with a strong C-suite and board practice serving large enterprises and PE-backed companies. Direct competitor for senior-level executive recruitment across multiple verticals, with comparable boutique-style partner engagement.
• DHR International: Boutique-style retained executive search firm specializing in senior-level placements across multiple industries including PE-backed companies. Direct peer in the boutique retained search segment with similar partner-led delivery model.
• Egon Zehnder: Privately held global executive search and leadership advisory firm known for C-suite and board work. Directly comparable in partner-led, boutique-style senior search delivery and in serving PE/VC portfolio companies.
• Odgers Berndtson: Global boutique retained executive search firm with partner-led C-suite and board practice across multiple industries. Direct comparable in boutique senior-level search with international delivery capability through partner offices.
• Diversified Search Group: Boutique retained executive search firm serving Fortune 500, PE-backed, and mid-market clients with senior-level placements. Comparable in scale, partner-led model, and industry coverage (financial services, healthcare, industrial, technology).

Broad incumbents

• Korn Ferry: Large publicly traded global organizational consulting firm with a major executive search practice alongside broader talent management and advisory services. Competes for the same senior executive mandates but operates at significantly larger scale with a diversified service portfolio.

Emerging players

• Allen Austin Executive Search: Boutique retained executive search firm focused on C-suite and senior leadership placements for PE-backed, family-owned, and mid-market companies. Comparable niche positioning in PE/VC portfolio company executive search, similar boutique partner-led model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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 Martin Partners