What ADK Consulting & Executive Search does

ADK Consulting & Executive Search is a privately held professional services firm founded in 2003 and headquartered (via PO Box) in Atlantic Beach, Florida, operating with 11-50 employees. The company specializes in C-level and senior executive search for the U.S. aviation and airport management sector, serving airport authorities, port authorities, municipal aviation departments, and adjacent private aviation and transportation companies. Its core offering is project-based executive search for positions such as Airport Director, CFO, COO, VP and other senior leadership roles, with a one-year placement guarantee as a service differentiator.

Beyond search, ADK provides consulting services including organizational studies, compensation studies, performance management and interim airport management. A supporting candidate portal, powered by the third-party Clockwork Recruiting platform, enables confidential applicant submissions. The firm's commercial model is professional-services-fee based, distributed primarily through direct enterprise engagement, association networks (notably AAAE and its regional chapters), industry conferences, and referral business.

ADK reports that over 83% of business comes from repeat clients and that it has completed over 98% of accepted searches, placing hundreds of CEO and C-level executives across major U.S. airports and aviation organizations. Its team is differentiated by industry credentials including A.A.E., C.M., PE, PMP, SHRM-SCP, J.D. and Ph.D. designators, and the firm has been recognized on Hunt Scanlon's 2025 Top 250 Executive Search Firms list and by SWAAAE's Corporate Award of Excellence in 2020.

Name

ADK Consulting & Executive Search

Legal name

ADK Consulting & Executive Search

Website

https://adkexecutivesearch.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ADK Consulting & Executive Search is a U.S. aviation-focused executive search and consulting firm, founded in 2003 and based in Atlantic Beach, FL, placing C-level and senior leaders for airport authorities, port authorities, and aviation-related companies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

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

C-Suite & Board Search (BPACAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Sector, Education & Nonprofit Leadership Search (BPACAAAI), Industrial & Engineering Leadership Search (BPACAAAD), Confidential/Replacement & Succession Search (BPACAAAK)

Keywords

• Aviation executive search
• Airport consulting services
• Executive recruitment
• Organizational development
• Compensation consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlantic Beach

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

Revenue model

1. Executive Search and Placement Services: ADK generates revenue through professional service fees for executive search and recruitment services. Their model is project-based engagement with government agencies and private companies seeking leadership placements. The company offers a one-year placement guarantee, suggesting a performance-based service model.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ADK Consulting & Executive Search is a professional services firm that performs executive search and consulting for public agencies and private companies in the aviation and airport industry. It places senior executives (Airport Directors, CEOs, CFOs, COOs, VPs) and provides advisory services such as organizational studies, compensation benchmarking, performance management, and interim management for airport authorities and aviation businesses.

Product overview

ADK Consulting & Executive Search is a professional services firm specializing in executive search and consulting for the aviation, transportation, and airport management industries. The company operates two primary service lines: Executive Search Services (recruitment and placement for executive positions) and Consulting Services (advisory work including organizational studies, compensation reviews, and operational assessments). A supporting Candidate Portal powered by Clockwork Recruiting enables confidential applicant submissions. The firm serves both public agencies and private companies, with over 83% of business coming from repeat clients since 2003.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Executive Search Services Recruitment and placement services for executive-level positions across public agencies and private companies, specializing in aviation, transportation, and airport management sectors. Placements include Airport Directors, CFOs, COOs, VPs, and other C-level executives.
• Consulting Services Advisory services including organizational studies, compensation studies, performance management, operational reviews, and interim management for aviation and transportation clients.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 98% search completion rate including 'difficult to fill' positions
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• WittKieffer: Executive search and leadership advisory firm with deep public-sector, nonprofit, and healthcare expertise — analogous niche specialist model to ADK but in adjacent institutional verticals.
• Heidrick & Struggles: Global executive search firm with aviation, transportation, and public-sector practices that compete for the same airport executive mandates ADK serves, including C-level placements with public agencies.
• Russell Reynolds Associates: Global executive search firm with sector-specific practices including aerospace and transportation, recruiting C-suite executives for airports and aviation companies — directly comparable on mandate type and seniority.
• DHR International: Global executive search firm with practice groups across industries, regularly serving transportation and infrastructure clients — overlapping with ADK on senior leadership mandates in aviation and related sectors.
• Egon Zehnder: Global executive search firm with sector practices including Transportation & Infrastructure, competing for senior leadership roles at airports and aviation-related organizations at the C-suite level.
• The Caldwell Partners: Executive search firm with sector-specific practices serving public-sector, aerospace, and transportation clients — a comparable mid-sized competitor for senior-level aviation and airport placements.
• Spencer Stuart: Global executive search firm with a dedicated Transportation/Aerospace & Defense practice serving airport authorities and aviation clients — directly comparable to ADK's C-suite search work in aviation.

Others

• Hunt Scanlon Media: Industry media and advisory firm that publishes rankings and guides of top executive search firms (including ADK's 2025 selection); functions as an ecosystem participant shaping buyer awareness in the executive search market.

Emerging players

• AviatorsHQ / Airport Industry Search Boutiques: Smaller aviation-focused recruiting and executive-search boutiques that target airport directors, aviation executives, and related roles — directly competitive with ADK's niche on smaller or specialized mandates.

Broad incumbents

• Korn Ferry: The world's largest executive search and organizational consulting firm with an Aerospace practice and broad HR consulting capability — overlaps with ADK on aviation executive placements and broader organizational consulting engagements.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/adk-executive-search

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles22 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 ADK Consulting & Executive Search