SCN

What SCN does

SCN (Search Consulting Network) is a privately held B2B executive search and recruiting firm headquartered in Novi, Michigan, founded in 2000 by Jim Guerrera. The firm specializes in placing engineering, sales, technical, and management talent across nine industrial verticals — Advanced Technology, Architecture and Engineering, Automation Technology, Electronics, Engineered Materials, Industrial Products, Information Technology, Metals, and Vehicles — with Construction added more recently. SCN offers two primary service lines: Priority Search (retained) and Contingency Search, supported by Interview Preparation and Employer Branding consulting services. Its proprietary 'Oval Approach' methodology and 'Accuragility' branding emphasize speed and accuracy in candidate matching.

The firm's core operating asset is a hand-built database of over 1 million industry contacts, cultivated since 2001, which underpins its search process. SCN reports 2,022 total candidates placed cumulatively at an average $163K compensation, with $202.2M in cumulative placed annual compensation since 2001. The firm claims 97% one-year retention for Priority Search placements and 95% for Contingency Search, and reports presenting a viable candidate within three days 90% of the time. Revenue is generated through placement fees structured as a percentage of placed candidates' first-year compensation, in line with standard professional services recruiting economics.

SCN is a sales-led, relationship-driven firm with no external institutional funding and no disclosed parent company. It is an active member of the MRI network, where it has earned Pacesetter recognition in 2021 and 2022 and Top 10 billing in the SC Worldwide Division in 2018. Go-to-market channels include direct client engagement, industry trade shows (CES, Automotive Testing Expo, ProMat), thought-leadership blog content, and LinkedIn presence. The firm operates with 11-50 employees led by founder Jim Guerrera alongside a bench of directors and practice leaders, several of whom were promoted in 2022 as part of a leadership succession effort.

Name

SCN

Legal name

SCN - Search Consulting Network

Website

https://scnteam.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SCN (Search Consulting Network) is a privately held B2B executive search firm founded in 2000, placing engineering, sales, and management talent across nine-plus industrial verticals including electronics, vehicles, and industrial products. It serves US-based companies through retained and contingency search using a proprietary 1M+ contact database.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Novi

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Search Consulting Services: SCN provides executive and professional search consulting services to B2B companies. They offer both Priority Search (retained search) and Contingency Search services. The firm recruits exceptional talent across multiple industries including automotive, electronics, manufacturing, and technology sectors. Revenue is generated through placement fees, typically structured as a percentage of the placed candidate's first-year compensation.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

SCN is a B2B search consulting firm that recruits and places exceptional talent for client companies through retained (Priority Search) and contingency-based recruiting engagements. The firm operates across nine industry verticals including Advanced Technology, Architecture and Engineering, Automation Technology, Electronics, Engineered Materials, Industrial Products, Information Technology, Metals, and Vehicles, serving hiring needs from entry-level professional through executive suite.

Product overview

SCN (Search Consulting Network) is a business-to-business executive search and recruiting firm offering two primary service models: Priority Search (retained search) and Contingency Search. The company provides supporting services including interview preparation for candidates and employer branding consulting. SCN's proprietary 'Oval Approach' methodology guides their consulting process. The firm specializes in placing candidates across multiple industry sectors including Advanced Technology, Architecture and Engineering, Automation Technology, Electronics, Engineered Materials, Industrial Products, Information Technology, Metals, and Vehicles. SCN does not operate a software product platform but rather provides human resources and recruiting consulting services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Priority Search Retained executive search service offered to B2B companies, with a 97% candidate retention rate at 1 year after placement. Three-quarters of presented candidates move to phone interview and one-third of face-to-face interviews accept an offer. Used by clients seeking dedicated recruiter engagement for hard-to-fill executive and professional roles.
• Contingency Search
• Interview Preparation
• Employer Branding
• Oval Approach

Quantifiable outcome

• 97% of Priority Search Candidates still employed 1 year after placement
• +3 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Boyden: Global executive search firm with industry practices covering industrial, automotive, and technology. Comparable to SCN on retained executive search in industrial/technical verticals at a similar mid-market positioning.
• Aerotek: Specialist staffing firm focused on industrial, manufacturing, engineering, and technical placements. Closely aligned with SCN's Industrial Products, Metals, and Vehicles verticals and its B2B client base.
• Lucas Group: Executive search firm acquired by HireQuest with strong military-to-corporate and industrial/technical recruiting focus. Comparable to SCN on vertical specialization in manufacturing, engineering, and technical placements.
• True Search: Mid-market executive search firm with retained search practices across technology, industrial, and engineering sectors. Comparable to SCN on size, retained/contingency mix, and focus on technical/industrial mandates.

Broad incumbents

• Robert Half: Large publicly listed staffing and recruiting firm placing both professional and administrative talent. Comparable to SCN on the contingency search side, though it serves a much broader functional mix and is substantially larger.
• Spencer Stuart: Global executive search firm with a strong industrial and technology practice. Closely comparable on the retained search model SCN's Priority Search represents, particularly for engineering and technical leadership roles.
• Heidrick & Struggles: International executive search and leadership advisory firm with deep coverage of industrial, technology, and engineering sectors. Comparable to SCN's retained Priority Search offering for executive-level placements in technical industries.
• Hays plc: Global recruiting and workforce solutions firm with strong industrial and technical practices. Comparable to SCN's vertical specialization model, though operating at much larger scale across multiple geographies.
• Korn Ferry: Global organizational consulting firm with a large executive search practice. Comparable to SCN in the retained search model and industrial/technical client base, though it operates at vastly greater scale across all senior-level mandates.
• MRI Network (Management Recruiters International): The parent franchised network of which SCN is a member office and Top 10 billing firm. Operates a global network of recruiting offices across similar B2B verticals, providing the closest structural comparison and SCN's natural peer set.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/scnteam
• Xx.com/scn_searchcons

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 SCN