Perrett Laver
Perrett Laver is a global, employee-owned executive search firm that places senior leaders across higher education, research, social impact, environment, healthcare, and arts sectors for clients in 70+ countries through 21 offices and ten sector practices.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Perrett Laver does
Perrett Laver is a global executive search firm specialising in retained searches and leadership advisory services for purpose-driven organisations across higher education, research and innovation, social impact, environment and sustainability, health and life sciences, schools, arts/culture/sport, government, board, and professional services. Founded in 2001 and headquartered in the UK, the firm operates through 21 offices across the Americas, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia Pacific, working with clients in over 70 countries with a team of 160+ professionals.
The firm's core offering is a campaign-management-led executive search process that combines a proprietary analytics model (developed by an in-house research team with academic backgrounds) with sector-specialised consultant teams. Beyond Executive Search, it delivers Multi-Role Campaigns for organisations executing complex multi-appointment transitions and an Advisory Services line covering horizon scanning, governance reviews, talent assessment, and onboarding. The product surface is organised into ten sector practices, each led by Partner & Sector Leads, with dedicated Country Managing Partners providing regional coverage and candidate movement across borders (over half of appointees relocate internationally).
The firm is 100% employee-owned through an Employee Ownership Trust, with no external parent, private equity, or venture capital ownership. Revenue is generated through professional services fees on retained, quote-based engagements with pricing tailored to scope, complexity, and geography. Quantified track record includes 400+ Vice-Chancellor/President/Rector searches, 3,000+ senior academic leaders placed, 1,000+ professorial appointments, and 800+ Head of School appointments, with named clients including the University of Cambridge, MIT, the World Health Organization, IKEA Foundation, Save the Children UK, and the University of Toronto.
Perrett Laver firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Perrett Laver
- Legal name
- Perrett Laver
- Website
- https://perrettlaver.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Perrett Laver is a global, employee-owned executive search firm that places senior leaders across higher education, research, social impact, environment, healthcare, and arts sectors for clients in 70+ countries through 21 offices and ten sector practices.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Perrett Laver industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Executive Search
- NAICS
- Executive Search Services (561312)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Sector, Education & Nonprofit Leadership Search (BPACAAAI)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Functional Leadership Search (HR/Finance/Legal/Marketing/Sales/Ops) (BPACAAAB)
Keywords
Where Perrett Laver is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices21 records
Markets served
Perrett Laver business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Executive Search Services: Perrett Laver generates revenue through professional services fees for executive search engagements. They identify and place senior executives and board members for client organizations across their defined sectors. Revenue is derived from retained search assignments, advisory services, and multi-role campaign management.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom Executive Search Engagements |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels8 records
Perrett Laver product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Perrett Laver is a global executive search firm that identifies impactful and diverse senior leaders (Vice-Chancellors, CEOs, board members, professors, heads of school, senior professional service leaders) for mission-driven public, private, and non-profit organisations. Its work is delivered through three core services — Executive Search, Multi-Role Campaigns (complex multi-appointment projects), and Advisory Services (governance reviews, talent assessment, onboarding) — organized across ten sector practices including Higher Education, Research/Technology/Innovation, Social Impact, Environment & Sustainability, Health & Life Sciences, Schools, Arts/Culture/Sport, Government, Board, and Professional Services.
Product overview
Perrett Laver is a leading global executive search firm offering a unified suite of services centered on identifying exceptional leaders for purpose-driven organizations. The core offerings consist of Executive Search (tailored talent acquisition), Multi-Role Campaigns (complex multi-appointment projects), and Advisory Services (consultancy on governance, strategy, and talent assessment). These are delivered through specialized sector practices spanning Higher Education, Research/Technology/Innovation, Social Impact, Environment & Sustainability, Health & Life Sciences, Global Schools, Arts/Culture/Sport, Government, Board, and Professional Services. The firm operates across 21 global offices in over 70 countries with a team of over 160 professionals.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Executive Search Core executive search service providing tailored talent acquisition solutions for senior leadership appointments across multiple sectors globally.
- Multi-Role Campaigns Comprehensive campaign management service for complex assignments requiring multiple senior appointments, featuring structured strategy and project management support.
- Advisory Services Consultancy offerings including horizon scanning, strategic development, governance reviews, talent assessment, change management, and onboarding support.
- Higher Education Practice Specialized executive search for universities and higher education institutions, including Vice-Chancellor, academic leadership, and governance appointments.
- Research, Technology & Innovation Practice Executive search for research institutes, technology organizations, and innovation-focused entities including academic translation, RTOs, and industrial R&D leadership.
- Social Impact Practice Executive search for NGOs, foundations, impact investors, and social enterprises focused on addressing global challenges.
- Environment & Sustainability Practice Executive search for environmental NGOs, policymakers, and organizations focused on climate action, biodiversity, and sustainability.
- Health & Life Sciences Practice Executive search for healthcare organizations, academic medicine, research institutes, and life science industry leadership.
- Global Schools Practice Executive search for independent schools, academies, and educational organizations globally, including Head of School and senior leadership appointments.
- Arts, Culture & Sport Practice Executive search for museums, performing arts, heritage organizations, sporting bodies, and cultural foundations.
- Government Practice Executive search for government departments, agencies, and public sector organizations for leadership and policy positions.
- Board Practice Non-executive board appointments including Chair, Board Director, and governance-level searches across all sectors.
- Professional Services Practice Executive search for professional services functions including HR, finance, advancement, communications, digital/IT, and operations.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 400 Vice-Chancellor/President/Rector searches advised
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Perrett Laver
Customer profileNamed customers30 records
Segments10 records
Ideal customer profiles7 records
Perrett Laver technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Perrett Laver partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Sport EnglandcorePartnership on Diversity in Sport Leadership Network - a programme to address lack of diversity on Boards and identify diverse 'Board-ready' candidates, strengthen inclusive recruitment processes and improve inclusion and belonging in sports governance.
- UK SportcoreCollaboration on Diversity in Sport Leadership Programme alongside Sport England to support diversity action plans and governance improvements in UK sports sector.
- Governance Apprenticeship ProgrammecorePartnership initiative aimed at developing a pipeline of future governing body members from diverse backgrounds for Higher Education Institutions. Helps develop talent for future members of Governing Bodies.
- RiSE Leadership NetworkminorNetwork partnership supporting leadership development and diversity initiatives.
- Women in Higher Education NetworkminorPartnership supporting better diversity and inclusion in universities.
- Action for Trustee Racial DiversityminorInitiative partnership supporting racial diversity in governance roles.
- Disability ConfidentminorUK government scheme partnership supporting disability inclusion in the workplace.
- Governors for SchoolsminorPartnership supporting school governance excellence.
- Living Wage FoundationminorAccredited Living Wage employer demonstrating commitment to fair pay.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves11 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Perrett Laver competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Odgers Berndtson: Odgers Berndtson is a leading global executive search firm with strong UK and Canadian footprints that compete directly with Perrett Laver in universities, government and nonprofit leadership appointments. Fiona Carruthers also previously worked at Odgers Berndtson, reflecting the direct competitive overlap.
- Heidrick & Struggles: Heidrick & Struggles is a publicly-traded global executive search firm with comparable sector practices including Education, Social Impact, Healthcare and Life Sciences, with which Perrett Laver directly competes. Note that Perrett Laver's Fiona Carruthers previously worked at Heidrick & Struggles, underscoring the direct labor-market overlap.
- Spencer Stuart: Spencer Stuart is one of the largest global executive search firms with deep practices across education, nonprofit, healthcare and social impact—directly competing with Perrett Laver in university VC and INGO CEO appointments. Both firms are privately held, partnership-driven, and emphasize sector specialization and cross-border mobility of candidates.
- Russell Reynolds Associates: Russell Reynolds Associates is a top-tier global executive search firm with comparable sector and CEO search practices serving universities, healthcare systems, NGOs and social enterprises. It directly competes with Perrett Laver for senior academic and nonprofit mandates in North America and Europe.
- Witt Kieffer: Witt Kieffer is a US-headquartered executive search firm specializing in healthcare, higher education, life sciences and not-for-profit appointments—directly overlapping with multiple Perrett Laver practices including Higher Education, Health & Life Sciences, and Social Impact. Both firms are considered the leading specialist firms in education executive search.
- Egon Zehnder: Egon Zehnder is a privately-held, partnership-led global executive search firm that competes head-to-head with Perrett Laver in higher education, research leadership and social impact mandates. Both firms emphasize cross-border candidate mobility, sector specialization, and advisory-led client relationships.
- Isaacson, Miller: Isaacson, Miller is a US-based executive search firm exclusively focused on the not-for-profit sector including education, arts & culture, social justice, healthcare and philanthropy—directly mirroring Perrett Laver's Higher Education, Arts/Culture/Sport and Social Impact practices. Both firms are widely considered the leading nonprofit-specialist search boutiques.
Broad incumbents
- Korn Ferry: Korn Ferry is a publicly-traded global organizational consulting firm whose Executive Search segment is the largest in the industry, competing with Perrett Laver across virtually all of its sectors while also offering RPO, assessment and advisory services. As a broad incumbent, it competes for the same university, healthcare and nonprofit mandates from a scaled platform.
- Stanton Chase: Stanton Chase is a global executive search firm with offices in many of the same countries as Perrett Laver, with growing practices in healthcare, education and social impact. It is a broader incumbent competitor with a more generalist approach but reaches the same senior clients.
Regional players
- Saxton Bampfylde: Saxton Bampfylde is a UK-headquartered executive search boutique with strong practices in higher education, charities, arts & culture and the public sector—directly competing with Perrett Laver in UK university and charity leadership appointments. Operates primarily in the UK whereas Perrett Laver has broader global reach.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Perrett Laver social profiles
Digital presencePerrett Laver financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Perrett Laver leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles24 records
Perrett Laver funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Perrett Laver 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 Perrett Laver
What does Perrett Laver do?
Perrett Laver is a global executive search firm that identifies impactful and diverse senior leaders (Vice-Chancellors, CEOs, board members, professors, heads of school, senior professional service leaders) for mission-driven public, private, and non-profit organisations. Its work is delivered through three core services — Executive Search, Multi-Role Campaigns (complex multi-appointment projects), and Advisory Services (governance reviews, talent assessment, onboarding) — organized across ten sector practices including Higher Education, Research/Technology/Innovation, Social Impact, Environment & Sustainability, Health & Life Sciences, Schools, Arts/Culture/Sport, Government, Board, and Professional Services.
Is Perrett Laver a public or private company?
Perrett Laver is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Perrett Laver founded?
Perrett Laver was founded in 2001. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Perrett Laver based?
Perrett Laver is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Perrett Laver make money?
One revenue line is on record: executive Search Services.
Who are Perrett Laver's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Odgers Berndtson, Heidrick & Struggles, Spencer Stuart, Russell Reynolds Associates, Witt Kieffer, Egon Zehnder and Isaacson, Miller. Broad incumbents are Korn Ferry and Stanton Chase. Saxton Bampfylde is listed as a regional player.
Does Perrett Laver have an API?
No public API is recorded for Perrett Laver.
What industry is Perrett Laver in?
Perrett Laver's product category is Executive Search. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPACAAAI, Public Sector, Education & Nonprofit Leadership Search, with a secondary code of BPACAAAB, Functional Leadership Search (HR/Finance/Legal/Marketing/Sales/Ops). Its NAICS code is 561312 and its SIC code is 8742.