Hanold Associates
Hanold Associates is a boutique retained executive search firm, founded in 2010 and acquired by CAA Executive Search in 2024, specializing exclusively in senior HR and Chief People Officer placements across multiple industries for enterprise and mid-market clients.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersEvanston, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Hanold Associates does
Hanold Associates is a privately-held, boutique retained executive search firm founded in 2010 and headquartered in Evanston, Illinois. The firm is exclusively focused on senior Human Resources and Chief People Officer (CPO) placements, covering HR sub-disciplines including Total Rewards, Talent Acquisition, Compensation, Talent Management, Learning and Development, and Labor Relations. Its clients span enterprises and mid-market organizations across multiple industries — notably Manufacturing/Industrial, Pharmaceutical, Consumer Goods, Technology, Financial Services, and Non-Profit — though no specific customer logos are publicly disclosed.
The firm's core service is retained executive search for HR and People leadership roles, augmented by interim HR executive solutions and executive coaching delivered through the integrated CAA Executive Search platform. Operating geographies and precise headcount beyond the 11–50 employee band are not disclosed; revenue figures are similarly private. Distribution is relationship-driven, with a digital presence through the CAA/Hanold website and LinkedIn, and direct consultative engagement with prospective clients.
In 2024, Hanold Associates was acquired by CAA Executive Search, the executive search and leadership advisory arm of Creative Artists Agency. The acquisition integrated Hanold's specialized HR search capabilities into CAA's broader cross-functional executive search portfolio (spanning General Management, Finance, Legal, Data & Analytics, Marketing, etc.) and enabled expansion into Manufacturing/Industrial and Pharmaceutical verticals. The firm's business model relies on traditional retained search fee structures — typically a percentage of the placed executive's first-year compensation — with retainer payments common for senior-level mandates.
Hanold Associates firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Hanold Associates
- Website
- https://hanold-associates.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Hanold Associates is a boutique retained executive search firm, founded in 2010 and acquired by CAA Executive Search in 2024, specializing exclusively in senior HR and Chief People Officer placements across multiple industries for enterprise and mid-market clients.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Hanold Associates industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Executive Search Services
- NAICS
- Executive Search Services (561312)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Technology & Product Leadership Search (CIO/CTO/CDO/CPO) (BPACAAAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Confidential/Replacement & Succession Search (BPACAAAK)
Keywords
Where Hanold Associates is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Evanston
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Hanold Associates business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels2 records
Hanold Associates product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Hanold Associates is a retained boutique executive search firm specializing exclusively in placing senior HR and Chief People Officer (CPO) leaders, including roles in Total Rewards, Talent Acquisition, Compensation, Talent Management, Learning and Development, and Labor Relations. The firm serves organizations ranging from large enterprises to mid-market companies across multiple industries, delivering targeted executive placements and leadership advisory support. Following its 2024 acquisition by CAA Executive Search, the Hanold practice operates within CAA's broader retained search and leadership advisory ecosystem.
Product overview
Hanold Associates operated as a specialized executive search firm focused exclusively on HR and Chief People Officer placements. Following its 2024 acquisition by CAA Executive Search, it became part of CAA's broader talent advisory portfolio, complementing CAA's existing executive search capabilities across multiple functions (General Management, Operations, Finance, Strategy, Legal, Data and Analytics, Revenue, Marketing) and industries (Professional Sports, Media, Technology, Healthcare, Financial Services, Non-Profit, and others). The acquired Hanold Associates brand added deep HR specialization including Total Rewards, Talent Acquisition, Compensation, Talent Management, Learning and Development, and Labor Relations search capabilities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- HR and Chief People Officer Executive Search A specialized retained executive search practice identifying and placing top-tier HR and Chief People Officer leaders, covering Total Rewards, Talent Acquisition, Compensation, Talent Management, Learning and Development, and Labor Relations roles for organizations worldwide. Targeted at enterprises and mid-market companies across multiple industries.
- Strategic Talent Consulting Consulting services helping companies build and sustain high-performing teams, including aligning talent to business strategy, building leadership pipelines, and supporting organizational transformation. Available through CAA Executive Search's leadership advisory offering, accessible to clients of the Hanold HR search practice.
- Interim HR Executive Solutions Provision of interim HR leaders who step in to guide organizational change, manage complex initiatives, and keep the organization moving forward during leadership transitions. Offered through CAA Executive Search's Leadership Advisory capability.
- Executive Coaching
Companies that use Hanold Associates
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Hanold Associates technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Hanold Associates partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- CAA (Creative Artists Agency)coreIn 2024, CAA Executive Search acquired Hanold Associates HR Executive Search, a global leader in HR and Chief People Officer search. The acquisition expands CAA Executive Search's capabilities to include specialized Human Resources executive search services, covering Total Rewards, Talent Acquisition, Compensation, Talent Management, Learning and Development, and Labor Relations. Hanold Associates' specialized expertise is now integrated into CAA's broader ecosystem of executive search and leadership advisory services.
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Hanold Associates competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- DHR Global: Privately-held retained executive search firm with a dedicated Human Resources Practice. Directly comparable to Hanold in size and specialization, competing for mid-market and enterprise HR officer mandates.
- Spencer Stuart: Global retained executive search firm with a well-established Human Resources Practice. Directly competes with Hanold for senior HR/CHRO/CPO search mandates across industries, with similar retained-fee model and comparable client base.
- Egon Zehnder: Privately-held global executive search and leadership advisory firm with deep HR/CPO functional expertise. Direct peer competing on senior people-leadership searches via a partner-led, boutique-style model similar in ethos to Hanold.
- Russell Reynolds Associates: Global retained executive search firm with a strong HR Officers practice. Direct peer on senior HR leadership searches with comparable retained methodology and similar enterprise client base.
- Odgers Berndtson: Global retained executive search firm with an active HR practice. Comparable to Hanold on functional HR leadership search, particularly in consumer, industrial, and life sciences verticals that overlap with CAA's expanded scope.
- Heidrick & Struggles: Major global retained executive search firm with a dedicated HR Officers practice. Overlaps directly with Hanold on CHRO, CPO, and Total Rewards leadership searches, and is a primary competitor for enterprise HR mandates.
Broad incumbents
- Korn Ferry: Largest global organizational consulting firm combining executive search, talent assessment, and RPO. Competes with Hanold on HR officer placements while offering a much broader portfolio that bundles search with broader HR consulting work.
Emerging players
- Koya Leadership Partners: Boutique executive search firm exclusively focused on mission-driven organizations with a strong HR and DEI leadership practice. Closely comparable to Hanold on D&I Officer and CHRO searches in nonprofit and social-impact sectors.
- Allen Austin: Mid-sized retained executive search firm with HR officer capabilities and leadership advisory services. Comparable to Hanold on senior HR functional placements with a similar boutique client-engagement model.
- true (True Search): Boutique retained search firm with growing HR and People Officer practice. Smaller-scale peer that competes with Hanold on premium mid-market CHRO/CPO searches, particularly in technology and consumer.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Hanold Associates social profiles
Digital presenceHanold Associates financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Hanold Associates leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Hanold Associates funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Hanold Associates 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 Hanold Associates
What does Hanold Associates do?
Hanold Associates is a retained boutique executive search firm specializing exclusively in placing senior HR and Chief People Officer (CPO) leaders, including roles in Total Rewards, Talent Acquisition, Compensation, Talent Management, Learning and Development, and Labor Relations. The firm serves organizations ranging from large enterprises to mid-market companies across multiple industries, delivering targeted executive placements and leadership advisory support. Following its 2024 acquisition by CAA Executive Search, the Hanold practice operates within CAA's broader retained search and leadership advisory ecosystem.
Is Hanold Associates a public or private company?
Hanold Associates is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was Hanold Associates founded?
Hanold Associates was founded in 2010. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Hanold Associates based?
Hanold Associates is headquartered in Evanston, United States, in the North America region.
Who are Hanold Associates's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are DHR Global, Spencer Stuart, Egon Zehnder, Russell Reynolds Associates, Odgers Berndtson and Heidrick & Struggles. Korn Ferry is listed as a broad incumbent. Emerging players are Koya Leadership Partners, Allen Austin and true (True Search).
Does Hanold Associates have an API?
No public API is recorded for Hanold Associates.
What industry is Hanold Associates in?
Hanold Associates'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 BPACAAAK, Confidential/Replacement & Succession Search. Its NAICS code is 561312 and its SIC code is 8742.