AGB Search
AGB Search is a Washington, D.C.-based retained executive search firm founded in 2010 that serves exclusively U.S. colleges, universities, and governing boards with senior leadership placements, interim leadership, executive coaching, and compensation benchmarking services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersWashington, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What AGB Search does
AGB Search is a Washington, D.C.-headquartered retained executive search firm founded in 2010 that serves exclusively the U.S. higher education sector. The firm identifies and recruits senior institutional leaders — presidents, chancellors, provosts, deans, CFOs, CIOs, and other cabinet-level positions — for colleges, universities, and state higher education systems, working directly with boards of trustees and search committees. Its operating model is human-expertise-driven professional services with no proprietary technology platform; consultants are predominantly former higher education senior executives, and the firm markets itself as the only search affiliate of the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB), which provides governance credibility and a referral channel.
AGB Search operates through seven integrated service lines: retained Executive Search, Interim Search, Executive Coaching, ExecComp (compensation benchmarking in partnership with CUPA-HR), Presidential Transition Services, Personality Assessment, and the AGB Institute for Leadership & Governance. Revenue is generated primarily through percentage-based retained search fees on position compensation, supplemented by fixed-fee interim placements ($15K–$30K per assignment), subscription-based ExecComp benchmarking, and coaching engagements priced per year (e.g., $97,500 for the Jackson State University new-president contract). The firm completed 1,700+ engagements since founding, including 430+ presidential/chancellor searches and 190+ provost/CAO/VPAA searches, with a disclosed 92%+ placement rate and average candidate pools of 60+ applicants per presidential search in 2024.
Commercially, AGB Search runs a B2B field-sales motion through a national consultant footprint and a content-led thought leadership engine (Perspectives blog, Voices from the Academy video series, AGB Institute programming, published books on presidential search and compensation). The firm is privately held as AGB Search LLC, affiliated with AGB as a strategic partner rather than a subsidiary, with no disclosed venture or private-equity backing. Operational scale is consistent with a mature boutique: 45+ consultants, 101–250 total employees, and 14+ active engagements currently posted across the public searches portal.
AGB Search firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- AGB Search
- Legal name
- AGB Search LLC
- Website
- https://agbsearch.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- AGB Search is a Washington, D.C.-based retained executive search firm founded in 2010 that serves exclusively U.S. colleges, universities, and governing boards with senior leadership placements, interim leadership, executive coaching, and compensation benchmarking services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
AGB Search industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education Executive Search Services
- NAICS
- Executive Search Services (561312)
- SIC
- Services-Employment Agencies (7361)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Sector, Education & Nonprofit Leadership Search (BPACAAAI)
Keywords
Where AGB Search is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
AGB Search business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Retained Executive Search Services: AGB Search provides retained executive search services to colleges and universities for senior leadership positions including presidents, chancellors, provosts, deans, and other cabinet-level roles. Fees are typically structured as a percentage of the position's compensation package.
- Interim Leadership Search: The firm provides interim leadership placement services with fees typically ranging from $15,000 to $30,000 depending on the level of the vacancy and type of effort conducted. The interim search process is streamlined compared to full searches.
- ExecComp Compensation Benchmarking: A partnership with CUPA-HR providing executive compensation benchmarking services to institutions. This service helps boards establish appropriate compensation levels for institutional leaders.
- Executive Coaching: The firm provides executive coaching services to newly appointed leaders, such as the Jackson State University president coaching engagement valued at $97,500 for one year of outside leadership training.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Interim Leadership Search |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Executive Coaching |
| Other | Annual | Presidential Search - Santa Monica College |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
AGB Search product offering
Product offeringCore offering
AGB Search is a retained executive search firm specializing exclusively in higher education leadership placements. The firm provides retained executive search for senior leadership positions (presidents, chancellors, provosts, deans), interim leadership placement, executive coaching, presidential transition services, personality assessments, and executive compensation benchmarking (ExecComp) in partnership with CUPA-HR.
Product overview
AGB Search is an executive search and leadership services firm specializing exclusively in higher education. The company operates as a unified service portfolio organized around seven interconnected core offerings: Executive Search (retained search for permanent senior leadership), Interim Search (rapid interim placements), ExecComp (executive compensation benchmarking partnered with CUPA-HR), Executive Coaching (individualized leadership development), Presidential Transition Services (new president onboarding and support), Personality Assessment (behavioral evaluation tools), and the AGB Institute for Leadership & Governance (leadership development programs). These services are designed to work both independently and in combination—executive coaching often follows executive search placements, and transition services support newly hired presidents recruited through the firm's search practice. The firm focuses exclusively on higher education institutions and does not operate in other sectors.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ExecComp: A compensation benchmarking service for higher education institutions, operated in partnership with CUPA-HR.
Products and services
- Executive Search Retained executive search services for identifying and recruiting senior leadership candidates for colleges and universities, including presidents, chancellors, provosts, deans, and other cabinet-level positions.
- Interim Search
- ExecComp
- Executive Coaching
- Presidential Transition Services
Quantifiable outcome
- 1700+ client engagements completed
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use AGB Search
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
AGB Search technology and API
TechnologyAPI detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AGB Search partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB)coreAGB Search is an affiliate of AGB, the premier association for higher education governing boards. This affiliation provides AGB Search with deep institutional knowledge, credibility with boards of trustees, and access to the broader AGB membership network of college and university trustees and presidents.
- Association of Executive Search and Leadership Consultants (AESC)minorAESC is the global professional association representing excellence in executive search. AGB Search is a proud member, providing credibility and access to industry best practices and networks.
- ACE Executive Search RoundtableminorMembers address the mutual interests of ACE and executive search firms in identifying talented leaders for U.S. colleges and universities.
- College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR)coreAGB Search's ExecComp service is a partnership with CUPA-HR, providing benchmarking of executive compensation for higher education institutions. This partnership enables the firm to offer compensation evaluation services alongside traditional search.
- MercerminorAGB Search principals have co-hosted events with Mercer on topics including workforce planning, HR transformation, and integrated HR/DEI strategies for higher education institutions.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
AGB Search competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Isaacson, Miller: Executive search firm with one of the largest dedicated higher education practices in the US, conducting searches for presidents, provosts, deans, and senior advancement leaders. Directly comparable as a retained search competitor specializing in nonprofit and education leadership.
- WittKieffer: Executive search firm focused on healthcare and higher education leadership, conducting retained searches for presidents, chancellors, provosts, deans, and senior healthcare executives. Closely aligned with AGB Search in serving college and university governing boards on senior leadership transitions.
- Greenwood/Asher & Associates: Women-owned executive search firm specializing exclusively in higher education leadership placements across all institutional types. Directly comparable as a higher-education-only search competitor with deep relationships across college and university governing boards.
- Storbeck/Pimentel & Associates: Executive search firm specializing in higher education and nonprofit leadership, conducting retained searches for presidents, provosts, CFOs, and other senior roles. Direct competitor in the higher-ed executive search market with overlapping client base.
- R. William Funk & Associates: Boutique executive search firm specializing in higher education leadership, including academic medicine and research university placements. Direct competitor with comparable exclusive focus on college and university senior leadership searches.
Broad incumbents
- Korn Ferry: Global executive search and organizational consulting firm with a dedicated Higher Education practice serving university presidents, chancellors, and cabinet-level leaders. Operates at much larger scale with broader portfolio; competes for the same higher education search mandates.
- Heidrick & Struggles: Global executive search firm with an Education and Social Enterprise practice serving colleges, universities, and nonprofit organizations. A broad incumbent that competes for higher education presidential and senior leadership searches alongside AGB Search.
- Spencer Stuart: Global executive search and leadership advisory firm with an Education, Nonprofit, and Social Enterprise practice serving higher education institutions. Competes for presidential and senior leadership searches as one of many industry verticals served.
- Russell Reynolds Associates: Global executive search firm with a dedicated Higher Education practice placing presidents, provosts, deans, and other senior leaders. Broad incumbent that competes selectively with AGB Search on flagship higher education mandates.
Emerging players
- Park Square Executive Search: Executive search firm with a higher education and life sciences practice serving colleges, universities, and research institutions. Emerging player with partial overlap in presidential and senior leadership searches across higher education.
Market position
Strengths1 record
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
AGB Search social profiles
Digital presenceAGB Search financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
AGB Search leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
AGB Search funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
AGB 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 AGB Search
What does AGB Search do?
AGB Search is a retained executive search firm specializing exclusively in higher education leadership placements. The firm provides retained executive search for senior leadership positions (presidents, chancellors, provosts, deans), interim leadership placement, executive coaching, presidential transition services, personality assessments, and executive compensation benchmarking (ExecComp) in partnership with CUPA-HR.
Is AGB Search a public or private company?
AGB Search is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was AGB Search founded?
AGB Search was founded in 2010. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is AGB Search based?
AGB Search is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.
How does AGB Search make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Retained Executive Search Services are the primary driver. The others are interim Leadership Search, execComp Compensation Benchmarking and executive Coaching.
Who are AGB Search's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Isaacson, Miller, WittKieffer, Greenwood/Asher & Associates, Storbeck/Pimentel & Associates and R. William Funk & Associates. Broad incumbents are Korn Ferry, Heidrick & Struggles, Spencer Stuart and Russell Reynolds Associates. Park Square Executive Search is listed as an emerging player.
Does AGB Search have an API?
No public API is recorded for AGB Search.
What industry is AGB Search in?
AGB Search's product category is Higher Education Executive Search Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPACAAAI, Public Sector, Education & Nonprofit Leadership Search. Its NAICS code is 561312 and its SIC code is 7361.