Sheer Velocity

What Sheer Velocity does

Sheer Velocity is a privately held, boutique retained executive search firm headquartered in Denver, Colorado, that recruits C-suite, VP, and senior leadership talent on an exclusive retained basis for Fortune 500 companies, private equity portfolio companies, venture capital backed companies, publicly traded organizations, and family-owned businesses. The firm's service stack centers on retained search, augmented by three proprietary practice modules: Hogan Assessments (Big Five psychometric evaluation plus motives, values, and cognitive measures), a Cultural Alignment methodology that maps organizational fit, and an Innovative Onboarding practice led by Senior Partner Michael Burroughs, author of "Before Onboarding: How to Integrate New Leaders for Quick and Sustained Results." Board recruitment and governance advisory are delivered in partnership with The Board Institute, and science-based assessment, competency modeling, and job analysis capabilities were added in 2025 through a partnership with Performance Clinic International (PCI).

The firm operates through seven-plus US offices (Denver HQ, Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco, St. Louis, Boulder, Phoenix/Scottsdale, Houston) and extends internationally via the INAC partnership network, which comprises 36 independent retained search firms and 60+ affiliated offices across 30+ countries. Revenue is generated almost entirely through professional-services fees: retained engagements are typically priced at 30-35% of the hired candidate's first-year total compensation (base salary plus bonus), billed in three milestone payments (one-third on engagement, one-third on candidate presentation, one-third on placement). The business is an LLC, has no disclosed institutional funding or parent company, and has been recognized for five consecutive years in Hunt Scanlon's Private Equity Recruiting Power 100 as a leading US PE recruitment firm, and as a Top 40 International Search Firm via INAC. The senior team is a partner-economy bench of approximately 16 partners, VPs, and advisors, most with prior experience at top-tier retained search firms (Korn Ferry, Heidrick & Struggles) or Fortune 500 operators (Whirlpool, Alcon, Toyota, Allergan, Ingredion, FedEx, Maersk, P&G, Bristol Myers, Reckitt-Benckiser).

Name

Sheer Velocity

Legal name

Sheer Velocity, LLC

Website

https://sheervelocity.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sheer Velocity is a Denver-based, privately held boutique retained executive search firm recruiting C-suite and senior leaders for Fortune 500, PE portfolio, VC-backed, and family-owned companies across seven-plus US cities and 30+ countries via the INAC network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Executive Search Services

NAICS

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

akta.pro primary industry

Functional Leadership Search (HR/Finance/Legal/Marketing/Sales/Ops) (BPACAAAB)

Keywords

• Executive search services
• Retained executive recruitment
• Talent advisory consulting
• Board recruitment services
• Leadership assessment services

Headquarters

HQ city

Denver

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Retained Executive Search Fees: Executive search fees are typically charged at 30-35% of the hired candidate's first-year total compensation (base salary plus bonus). Retained search fees are structured in three payments: one-third upon engagement, one-third at candidate presentation, and one-third upon placement.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Sheer Velocity is a boutique retained executive search firm that identifies and recruits senior-level talent (C-suite executives, VPs, and other critical leadership roles) on an exclusive retained basis for client organizations. Its core offering is augmented by Hogan personality assessments, a proprietary cultural alignment methodology, an innovative executive onboarding program, and board recruitment services delivered in partnership with The Board Institute. The firm also provides talent advisory services to private equity firms and their portfolio companies.

Product overview

Sheer Velocity is a boutique retained executive search firm offering a unified suite of professional services centered on executive recruitment and talent acquisition. The core offering is the Retained Executive Search service, supported by complementary service modules including Hogan Personality Assessments for candidate evaluation, Innovative Onboarding for executive integration, and Cultural Alignment for organizational fit analysis. The firm also provides specialized Board Recruitment Services in partnership with The Board Institute. The business model is service-based rather than technology product-based, focusing on human expertise and assessment methodologies rather than software products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Retained Executive Search Retained executive search service that identifies and recruits senior-level talent (C-suite executives, VPs, and other critical leadership roles) on an exclusive retained basis, with comprehensive candidate assessment and cultural matching for enterprise organizations, private equity portfolio companies, venture capital-backed companies, and publicly traded companies.
• Hogan Personality Assessment Series of psychometric tests evaluating personality traits, strengths, and areas for development used during executive search to assess candidate fit, predict job performance, and identify leadership capabilities based on Big Five personality traits plus motives, values, and cognitive abilities.
• Innovative Onboarding Executive integration service designed to ensure newly placed leaders achieve quick and sustained results through pre-boarding preparation, setting clear expectations, outlining goals, providing key organizational information, and structured first-year support.
• Cultural Alignment Corporate cultural mapping service that identifies candidate compatibility with organizational values and work environment to ensure long-term leadership placement success and higher retention.
• Talent Advisory Services Advisory services provided to private equity firms and portfolio companies for executive hiring, succession planning, and leadership development across various organizational levels.
• Board Recruitment Services Board of directors recruitment services delivered in partnership with The Board Institute, including board effectiveness evaluation and director assessment tools for public and private companies.

Quantifiable outcome

• Higher employee retention through cultural alignment matching and executive onboarding support
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• PCI (Performance Clinic International)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2025PCI is a boutique consultancy providing science-based talent assessments since 1957. Sheer Velocity partnered with PCI in 2025, with Deborah Bell serving as Vice President of Consulting and Talent Advisory Services. PCI provides assessment tools, competency modeling, job analysis, and statistical analysis to document assessment validity and legality.
• INAC (International Network of Allied Consultants)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerINAC is a global executive search network providing talent advisory services in over 30 countries. Sheer Velocity is a member of this international association of independently owned boutique retained search firms, providing unrivaled local expertise and global reach for clients needing international executive search services. INAC has 36 independent executive search firms and 60+ affiliated offices worldwide.
• The Board InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Board Institute provides world-class, web-based, validated tools that evaluate the effectiveness of boards, committees, and individual directors in public and private companies. Sheer Velocity partners with The Board Institute for board recruitment efforts, utilizing their accredited, independent solutions for board education and evaluation. The partnership helps clients assess board strengths and identify gaps when seeking new board members.
• Hogan AssessmentscoreTechnology or IntegrationHogan Assessments is a series of psychometric tests designed to evaluate personality traits, strengths, and areas for development in work settings. Sheer Velocity utilizes the Hogan Assessment to identify potential risks, understand how individuals work together effectively, understand leadership styles and strengths, and help clients make informed hiring decisions. Based on Big Five personality traits plus additional factors like motives, values, and cognitive abilities.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• JM Search: JM Search is a US-focused retained executive search firm specializing in PE-backed and growth company C-suite placements. It directly competes with Sheer Velocity's PE practice and shares a similar boutique / repeatable-process positioning.
• Russell Reynolds Associates: Russell Reynolds is a top-tier global retained search firm with deep functional and industry verticals. It is a direct competitor to Sheer Velocity for C-suite and senior leadership engagements with F500 and PE clients.
• Heidrick & Struggles: Heidrick & Struggles is one of the top global retained executive search firms focused on senior leadership. Several Sheer Velocity partners (e.g., Leanne Fesenmeyer) held senior roles there, making it a direct competitor for the same Fortune 500 and PE clientele.
• Odgers Berndtson: Odgers Berndtson is a global retained executive search firm with deep industry verticals and an international partnership footprint analogous to Sheer Velocity's INAC network.
• Egon Zehnder: Egon Zehnder is a global retained executive search and leadership advisory firm. Its boutique-style partner-led model and focus on board-level and senior executive work closely parallels Sheer Velocity's positioning.
• DHR International: DHR International is a global retained executive search firm with strong PE and board practices. It is a direct competitor for PE portfolio company C-suite placements that anchor much of Sheer Velocity's work.
• ON Partners: ON Partners is a boutique retained executive search firm focused on technology, industrial, and PE-backed clients. It is a close structural analog to Sheer Velocity—partner-led, multi-office, boutique-retained model serving similar buyers.
• Spencer Stuart: Spencer Stuart is a leading global retained executive search firm with strong board and CEO practices. It competes head-to-head with Sheer Velocity for senior executive and board mandates across the same enterprise client base.

Emerging players

• WittKieffer: WittKieffer is a retained executive search firm specializing in healthcare, higher education, and life sciences leadership. It overlaps with Sheer Velocity's healthcare & life sciences practice and competes for similar specialized mandates.

Broad incumbents

• Korn Ferry: Korn Ferry is the largest global executive search and organizational consulting firm. It directly competes with Sheer Velocity in retained C-suite search, but operates at vastly greater scale and also offers RPO, assessments, and consulting adjacencies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SVExecSearch

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 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 Sheer Velocity