Intrinsic Executive Search
Intrinsic Executive Search is a Pan-European boutique executive search firm founded in 2006, placing C-level, VP, and Director candidates into Enterprise B2B SaaS and Tech Services companies across EMEA and the United States, supplemented by salary benchmarking, coaching, and advisory services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersWinchester, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Intrinsic Executive Search does
Intrinsic Executive Search is a Pan-European boutique executive search firm founded in 2006 and headquartered in Reading, United Kingdom, with additional offices in Frankfurt (DACH region) and Solna (Nordics), and stated coverage of the United States. The firm specializes exclusively in placing senior executives — C-level, VP, and Director-level candidates — into Enterprise B2B SaaS and Tech Services companies across verticals including Customer Experience, Fintech, Insurtech, Martech, E-Commerce, Project Management SaaS, Private Equity, and Venture Capital. The company discloses a roster of enterprise clients such as Apple, Elastic, Talend, Infor, Jahia, Workfront, Kyriba, Lexmark, LG Electronics, and mid-market clients including eGain, Ekomi, Synertrade, Tacton, TrueFit, ForeSee, and Vendavo, alongside a self-reported 95% success rate on all positions worked.
The firm operates as a relationship-intensive professional services practice with no proprietary software products, APIs, or AI capabilities disclosed. Revenue is generated through retainer-based executive search engagements, with industry-standard fees of 25%–35% of the placed candidate's first-year compensation. Complementary services include Executive CV Writing and Career Support, SaaS Salary Data research (annual salary benchmarking across Europe and the USA), Customer Success Consulting, SaaS Coaching and Mentorship, Leadership Planning, Startup Strategy advisory, Funding Advisory, and Corporate Video production. The firm is privately held by its founders — including co-founder Paul French (25+ years of executive search experience) — with no external private equity or venture capital investment, no parent entity, and no subsidiaries disclosed.
Go-to-market is direct and sales-led, supported by content marketing through a blog and SaaS Salary Guides, video content on Vimeo, email marketing via Constant Contact, LinkedIn engagement, and sponsorships of SaaS sector events (Silicon Cup, Gainsight Pulse Europe and US). The firm has announced strategic alliances with Globalization Partners (November 2020, international hiring infrastructure) and Cuvama (January 2022, sales content automation), positioning the practice within the SaaS hiring and international expansion ecosystem.
Intrinsic Executive Search firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Intrinsic Executive Search
- Legal name
- Intrinsic Executive Search Ltd
- Website
- https://intrinsicsearch.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Intrinsic Executive Search is a Pan-European boutique executive search firm founded in 2006, placing C-level, VP, and Director candidates into Enterprise B2B SaaS and Tech Services companies across EMEA and the United States, supplemented by salary benchmarking, coaching, and advisory services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Intrinsic Executive Search industry classification
Industry- 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
- Technology & Product Leadership Search (CIO/CTO/CDO/CPO) (BPACAAAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- C-Suite & Board Search (BPACAAAA), Confidential/Replacement & Succession Search (BPACAAAK)
Keywords
Where Intrinsic Executive Search is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Winchester
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
Intrinsic Executive Search business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Executive Search Placement Fees: The firm charges a percentage of the hired candidate's first-year compensation for executive search placements. Industry standard typically ranges from 25% to 35% of first-year compensation.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Percentage-based placement fees |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Intrinsic Executive Search product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Intrinsic Executive Search is a specialist executive search firm that headhunts and introduces C-level, VP, and Director-level executives to Enterprise SaaS and Tech Services firms across EMEA and the USA. The firm supplements its core executive placement service with SaaS salary data research, executive CV writing and career support, customer success consulting, coaching and mentorship, leadership planning, and startup strategy and funding advisory.
Product overview
Intrinsic Executive Search is a specialist executive search firm focused exclusively on the B2B SaaS and technology sector. The company operates as a single-service advisory practice offering executive recruitment as its core offering, supplemented by complementary services including CV writing and career support, SaaS salary data research, customer success consulting, coaching, leadership planning, startup strategy, and funding advisory. The firm covers EMEA and US markets with offices in the UK (Reading), Germany (Frankfurt), and Sweden (Solna).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Executive Search
- CV & Career Support
- SaaS Salary Guides
- Customer Success Consulting
- SaaS Coaching and Mentorship
- Leadership Planning
- Startup Strategy
- Funding Advisory
- Corporate Videos
Quantifiable outcome
- 95% success rate on all positions worked
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Intrinsic Executive Search
Customer profileNamed customers16 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Intrinsic Executive Search technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Intrinsic Executive Search partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- CuvamaminorIntrinsic Executive Search announced a new partnership with SaaS firm Cuvama, a sales content automation platform, to enhance their executive search and sales hiring services.
- Globalization PartnersminorIntrinsic Executive Search announced an alliance with Globalization Partners to support SaaS firms with international hiring and expansion. The partnership helps clients navigate global employment and talent acquisition across different regions.
- GainsightminorIntrinsic has sponsored Gainsight Pulse events (Pulse Europe and Pulse 2018 in San Mateo) as a Silver Sponsor, demonstrating involvement in the Customer Success and SaaS community.
- Silicon CupminorIntrinsic Executive Search sponsors the Silicon Cup sailing regatta, a sailing event for the tech and SaaS community, supporting the event annually.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Intrinsic Executive Search competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Egon Zehnder: Egon Zehnder is a premium global executive search and leadership advisory firm with strong technology practice coverage. Competitor for senior SaaS leadership searches where clients prefer a global brand.
- Stanton Chase: Stanton Chase is a global executive search firm with a dedicated technology practice serving SaaS and digital businesses. Comparable mid-tier incumbent competing for similar EMEA and US SaaS mandates.
- Korn Ferry: Korn Ferry is the world's largest executive search firm with a significant technology industry practice. Provides direct competition for enterprise SaaS leadership mandates, particularly with global, multi-region scope.
- Spencer Stuart: Spencer Stuart is a global executive search and leadership advisory firm with deep coverage of the technology sector. Frequently competes with Intrinsic for CEO and senior leadership mandates at large SaaS companies.
- Heidrick & Struggles: Heidrick & Struggles is one of the world's largest executive search firms with a dedicated Technology & Services practice. A scaled incumbent competing for the same SaaS C-suite and board mandates Intrinsic targets.
- Caldwell Partners: Caldwell Partners is a North American executive search firm with a Technology practice that serves SaaS and high-growth software firms. Comparable incumbent peer for tech C-suite and board placements.
Direct peers
- True Search: True Search is a global executive search firm focused on technology, SaaS, and PE-backed companies. Direct competitor for C-suite and VP placements in B2B SaaS across the US and EMEA, overlapping strongly with Intrinsic's mandate profile.
- Riviera Partners: Riviera Partners is a tech-specialist executive search firm placing C-level and VP-level talent into SaaS and high-growth technology companies. Most direct comparable to Intrinsic given shared SaaS vertical focus and similar boutique positioning.
- Howard Fischer Associates: Howard Fischer Associates is a US-based executive search firm focused exclusively on software and technology companies. Comparable to Intrinsic as a tech-vertical boutique placing SaaS leadership talent, primarily across North America.
- Wilton & Bain: Wilton & Bain is a global executive search and talent advisory firm specializing in technology, digital, and SaaS leadership. Closely comparable given its EMEA presence and SaaS/CXO focus, competing with Intrinsic for cross-border mandates.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Intrinsic Executive Search social profiles
Digital presenceIntrinsic Executive Search financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Intrinsic Executive Search leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Intrinsic Executive Search funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Intrinsic Executive Search M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Intrinsic Executive Search
What does Intrinsic Executive Search do?
Intrinsic Executive Search is a specialist executive search firm that headhunts and introduces C-level, VP, and Director-level executives to Enterprise SaaS and Tech Services firms across EMEA and the USA. The firm supplements its core executive placement service with SaaS salary data research, executive CV writing and career support, customer success consulting, coaching and mentorship, leadership planning, and startup strategy and funding advisory.
Is Intrinsic Executive Search a public or private company?
Intrinsic Executive Search is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Intrinsic Executive Search founded?
Intrinsic Executive Search was founded in 2006. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Intrinsic Executive Search based?
Intrinsic Executive Search is headquartered in Winchester, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Intrinsic Executive Search make money?
One revenue line is on record: executive Search Placement Fees.
Who are Intrinsic Executive Search's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Egon Zehnder, Stanton Chase, Korn Ferry, Spencer Stuart, Heidrick & Struggles and Caldwell Partners. Direct peers are True Search, Riviera Partners, Howard Fischer Associates and Wilton & Bain.
Does Intrinsic Executive Search have an API?
No public API is recorded for Intrinsic Executive Search.
What industry is Intrinsic Executive Search in?
Intrinsic Executive Search's product category is Executive Search Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPACAAAC, Technology & Product Leadership Search (CIO/CTO/CDO/CPO), with a secondary code of BPACAAAA, C-Suite & Board Search. Its NAICS code is 561312 and its SIC code is 7361.