What Moon Executive Search does

Moon Executive Search is a privately held, founder-led UK boutique executive search firm established in June 2000 by Vanessa Moon and headquartered in Bristol. The firm specialises in retained recruitment for C-suite, board-level and senior management appointments — including CEOs, CFOs, CTOs, Finance Directors, Chairs, Trustees and Non-Executive Directors — serving Private Equity backed and Listed Groups, Family Owned businesses, SMEs and the Charity Sector. Operations are delivered through a partner-led model anchored by named practice heads and credentialed advisors including Peaches Golding OBE CStJ (Lord-Lieutenant for Bristol) as Non-Executive Consultant.

The company's product portfolio is organised around four core practices: Executive Search & Selection for senior leadership mandates; the M.E.T. Practice (Management, Engineering & Technical) led by Gemma Wilks, addressing mid-senior management and specialist technical roles in Manufacturing, Mechanical, Electrical and IT Services; the Charity Practice led by Sandy Hinks, focused on charity Trustee, CEO and Chair placements; and Leadership Consulting covering board evaluation, business transformation, organisational strategy, leadership coaching and people strategy. A separate Non-Executive Director placement service completes the board-level offering. Underlying methodology is described as structured research combined with bias-aware assessment frameworks and values alignment evaluation, rather than any technology platform or AI system.

Moon's business model is purely professional services, with revenue generated through quote-based retained executive search fees and bespoke leadership consulting engagements priced per assignment rather than published rates. Go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales supported by community engagement — notably the NED Leadership Lab series with VWV, Narrow Quay HR and Circle2Success, Tech South West and Tech4Good memberships, and 15+ year affiliation with the Recruitment & Employment Confederation. Geographic reach is anchored in the UK South West (Bristol, Bath, Cardiff, Chippenham, Cheltenham, Exeter, Gloucester, Plymouth, Taunton) with extended campaign capability across Europe, Asia Pacific and the Middle East for global branded clients. The firm is founder-owned, employs 11-50 people, and has no disclosed external funding, acquisitions or institutional investors.

Name

Moon Executive Search

Legal name

Moon Executive Search Ltd

Website

https://moonexecsearch.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Moon Executive Search is a Bristol-based, founder-led UK boutique specialising in retained executive search for C-suite, board and senior management roles across PE-backed, listed, family-owned, SME and charity clients, supplemented by a mid-senior M.E.T. Practice and a dedicated Charity Practice.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Executive Search Services

NAICS

Executive Search Services (561312), Employment Placement Agencies and Executive Search Services (56131), Management Consulting Services (54161)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

C-Suite & Board Search (BPACAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Confidential/Replacement & Succession Search (BPACAAAK), Financial Services Leadership Search (Banking/Insurance/PE/Asset Mgmt) (BPACAAAF), Public Sector, Education & Nonprofit Leadership Search (BPACAAAI), Functional Leadership Search (HR/Finance/Legal/Marketing/Sales/Ops) (BPACAAAB), Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Executive Search (BPACAAAL)

Keywords

• Executive search services
• Board-level recruitment
• Retained executive search
• Leadership consulting
• C-suite recruitment

Headquarters

HQ city

Bristol

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Retained Executive Search: Retained executive search services for C-suite, board-level, and senior management appointments. Services delivered on a retained basis ensuring focus, transparency and rigour throughout each campaign.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Moon Executive Search is a boutique executive search firm that delivers retained recruitment services for C-suite, board-level, and senior management appointments across Private Equity backed and Listed Groups, Family Owned businesses, SMEs, and the Charity Sector. The firm operates dedicated practices including Executive Search & Selection, Leadership Consulting, the M.E.T. Practice (Management, Engineering & Technical), and the Charity Practice, along with Non-Executive Director placement services.

Product overview

Moon Executive Search operates as a boutique executive search firm offering a portfolio of specialized recruitment and advisory services. The core offering comprises Executive Search & Selection for C-suite and board-level appointments, supplemented by the M.E.T. Practice (Management, Engineering & Technical) for mid-senior level roles, and the Charity Practice for non-profit leadership placements. Leadership Consulting provides complementary advisory services including board evaluation, business transformation, and people strategy. Non-Executive Director placement services complete the offering for governance and oversight roles. The firm operates from Bristol with UK-wide reach and international campaign capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• M.E.T. Practice: Management, Engineering and Technical Practice focusing on mid-senior management roles across all sectors, with expertise in engineering and technical roles in Manufacturing, Mechanical, Electrical, IT Services and Support.

Products and services

• Executive Search & Selection

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• VWVcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 June 2025Collaborative partner for NED Leadership Lab event series. VWV hosted the second NED Leadership Lab event at their Narrow Quay offices in Bristol, bringing together NEDs, Chairs, and Trustees for governance discussions.
• Narrow Quay HRcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in NED Leadership Lab series, contributing expertise in HR and organisational leadership. Co-hosted events focusing on ethics, governance, and boardroom best practices.
• Circle2SuccessminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in NED Leadership Lab series, supporting governance education initiatives for non-executive leaders.
• Ashfords LLPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading law firm partnership for governance and risk sessions at Tech South West 2025. Ashfords brings expertise in governance, regulatory compliance, and risk management, advising boards on legal frameworks and fiduciary duties.
• Tech South WestminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMember of Tech South West network committed to digital innovation and fostering inclusion in the Southwest region.
• Tech4GoodminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNetwork committed to the power of digital innovation to bridge gaps and foster inclusion, ensuring everyone has equal opportunities to connect and thrive in society.
• EcologiminorOthersEnvironmental partnership since 2022 supporting carbon reduction projects. Monthly donations have led to 1544 trees being planted and 146.3 tCOe being avoided.
• Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerMember for over 15 years. Adheres to recognised standards of professional excellence, ethical recruitment and inclusive practice including REC's nine principles on Good Recruitment Charter. Involved in projects supporting social mobility, disability employment, older workers and women in workplace.
• Change the Race RatiocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerUK-wide campaign focused on improving racial and ethnic representation in leadership. Moon became one of the First 50 signatories, committed to creating inclusive culture where talent from all diversities can thrive.
• Opening Doors – Business in the CommunitycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPart of Opening Doors campaign supporting workplace inclusion and diversity initiatives in British businesses.
• Age-Friendly EmployerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSignatory of Age-Friendly Employer Pledge, demonstrating commitment to age-inclusive workplace practices.
• Good Employment CharterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporter of the Good Employment Charter, demonstrating commitment to fair employment practices.
• BabbasacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLong-term supporter of youth-empowering social enterprise. Simon Quinn served on their board from 2016-2024 and chaired from 2019 to 2024, supporting initiatives to improve employability and address youth unemployment.
• Business Beats Cancer BristolminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSandy Hinks founded Business Beats Cancer Bristol in 2018 and sits on the committee. Moon team has supported annual fundraising dinner since 2018, raising £60,000 in 2025.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Korn Ferry: Global organisational consulting firm with a large executive search and leadership development practice. Overlaps with Moon's search and leadership consulting offerings across multiple sectors.
• Spencer Stuart: Global executive search firm with deep board and CEO practice plus leadership advisory. Competes with Moon for board effectiveness and succession mandates, especially in the FTSE and PE-backed space.
• Russell Reynolds Associates: Global executive search firm focused on board, CEO and senior leadership appointments across industries including financial services, technology and non-profit. Direct competitor on cross-border mandates.
• Heidrick & Struggles: Global executive search and leadership advisory firm operating across board, C-suite and functional leadership. Competes with Moon on PE-backed, listed and non-profit mandates at the upper end of the market.

Direct peers

• Norman Broadbent: UK-listed executive search firm with board, executive and interim practices. Comparable mid-market UK boutique competing for similar PE and listed-company mandates.
• Eton Bridge Partners: UK boutique executive search and leadership consulting firm serving PE-backed, listed and private mid-market clients. Closest size-and-model comparable to Moon in the UK.
• Odgers Berndtson: UK-headquartered mid-to-large executive search firm with a comparable C-suite, board and functional leadership offering across private, public and third-sector clients. Closest scaled UK peer to Moon's positioning.
• Saxton Bampfylde: UK boutique executive search firm with deep public sector, charity and not-for-profit practices. Directly comparable to Moon's Charity Practice and public-sector focus.

Emerging players

• alma ink: European boutique executive search firm operating across multiple sectors with a focus on board and senior leadership placements. Comparable boutique peer with cross-border European reach.

Others

• Change the Race Ratio: UK campaign Moon is a signatory of; included as an ecosystem/ecosystem-partner reference, not a direct competitor. Adjacent to the DEI-focused board recruitment positioning Moon emphasises.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MoonExecSearch
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/moon-exec-search

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Moon Executive Search