Wild Search

What Wild Search does

Wild Search is a UK-based executive search and advisory firm founded in 2010 by Edward Wild and headquartered at 70 Cowcross Street, London. The legal entity is E W Search & Selection Limited, and the firm operates exclusively in the United Kingdom serving values-led organisations. The firm provides end-to-end executive search for chair, non-executive, trustee, and senior executive appointments, alongside strategic advisory services covering merger and acquisition reports, remuneration benchmarking, and board reviews. Wild Search also offers an Executive and Board Career Advisory service for individual candidates navigating transitions, and runs Wild Research, a thought leadership division established in 2011 that has produced 36 publications on education governance, charities, careers, farming, and urban development.

The firm serves four primary verticals: education (schools, colleges, universities, academy trusts, independent schools, and education groups), charities (ranging from sub-£1m turnover to the largest national charities), Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) across London and provincial UK cities, and the farming/agricultural sector including trade bodies and agricultural societies. Secondary segments include membership and trade bodies, government departments, and arts/heritage organisations. Client engagement is sales-led, operating through direct outreach to boards and chief executives, professional networks, and sector events; pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, with selected components of executive search offered on a per diem basis to existing clients.

Wild Search is founder-controlled and privately held, with no disclosed external investors or parent holding structure. The team comprises a Managing Director, a Director of Research, a Finance Director/Charities Adviser, a Head of Operations, and Senior Advisors covering education, charities, agriculture, and faith-based organisations. Many senior advisers are former sector leaders (former MP and Education Select Committee Chair, former ISA Chair, City of London Corporation elected members, former CEOs of major academy trusts and exam boards), giving the firm deep institutional credibility in its chosen verticals. Operating geographies are UK-only with no disclosed international expansion plans.

Name

Wild Search

Legal name

E W Search & Selection Limited

Website

https://wildsearch.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Wild Search is a London-based executive search and advisory firm, founded in 2010, serving UK values-led organisations across education, charities, BIDs, and farming through senior leadership recruitment, advisory, and thought leadership.

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), Functional Leadership Search (HR/Finance/Legal/Marketing/Sales/Ops) (BPACAAAB), Confidential/Replacement & Succession Search (BPACAAAK)

Keywords

• Executive search services
• Leadership recruitment
• Board advisory services
• Nonprofit executive search
• Education sector recruitment

Headquarters

HQ city

City Of London

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. Executive Search Services: Core service providing proactive and extensive search process from candidate brief drafting to appointment. Includes in-person meetings, candidate brief preparation, advertising advice, salary advice, 4-5 week proactive search, candidate assessment, interview preparation, referencing, and offer management. Components available on a per diem basis for existing clients.
2. Advisory Services: Strategic advisory including merger and acquisition reports, remuneration reports, and board reviews. Services provided to new and existing clients at critical times in their evolution.
3. Leadership and Career Advisory: Tailored advisory service for individuals navigating career transitions, preparing for board appointments, developing portfolio careers, or considering executive roles. Includes one-on-one advisory sessions and ongoing support programmes.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Wild Search provides end-to-end executive search for senior leadership, board, trustee and non-executive appointments to values-led organisations, typically delivered through a 4-5 week proactive search. It complements this with strategic advisory mandates (M&A reports, remuneration benchmarking, board reviews) and an Executive and Board Career Advisory service for individual executives. The firm operates a dedicated thought leadership division, Wild Research, that has produced 36+ publications on education, charities, farming, careers and urban development since 2011.

Product overview

Wild Search is an executive search and advisory firm offering a unified service portfolio centered on senior leadership recruitment. The core offering is Executive Search, providing end-to-end recruitment from brief to appointment, complemented by Advisory Services for strategic reviews and remuneration benchmarking. The firm also operates Wild Research, a thought leadership division producing sector-specific publications since 2011. Additionally, Executive and Board Career Advisory provides individual career coaching for executives and board candidates. The company works across education, charities, BIDs, and agricultural sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Wild Research: The thought leadership division of Wild Search, established in 2011, which produces research reports on education governance, careers, farming, charities, and urban development. Has published 33+ reports since its inception.

Products and services

• Executive Search End-to-end executive search for senior leadership, board, trustee and non-executive appointments to values-led organisations. Delivered as a typically 4-5 week proactive search from candidate brief drafting through in-person meetings, candidate assessment, interview preparation, referencing and offer management. For clients in education, charities, BIDs and agricultural sectors.
• Advisory Services Strategic advisory for values-led organisations covering merger and acquisition reports, remuneration benchmarking and board reviews. Provided to new and existing clients at critical points in their evolution, with confidential reports supporting organisational decision-making.
• Executive and Board Career Advisory Tailored leadership and career advisory for individual senior executives and prospective board members. Includes career direction clarification, positioning advice, interview preparation, networking strategies and ongoing support programmes for those navigating career transitions, preparing for board appointments, developing portfolio careers, or considering executive roles.

Quantifiable outcome

• Rigorous 4-5 week proactive search process drawing on extensive network, fresh research and direct contact
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.

• CairneaglecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 September 2025Partnership with Cairneagle on publication 'Leading Education' celebrating a century of education secretaries (1925-2025). Cairneagle Managing Partner Arun Kanwar also appointed as independent board member for HMC.
• VTCT SkillscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 June 2025Partnership with VTCT Skills on publication 'Synergies for Success: Making Education Groups Work' (2025). VTCT Skills Deputy CEO Ashley Barnes contributed to the report examining challenges and opportunities of creating effective education groups.
• Northbank BIDsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Commissioned 'Let's All Go Down the Strand: Northbank Revealed' (2019) celebrating history and future of The Northbank area of London.
• Dukes EducationsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Partnership on 'What Makes A Good Teacher?' report (2021) examining teaching quality in schools, colleges and universities following rapid adaptation to online and blended learning.
• Keystone TutorssupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Partnership on 'What Makes A Good Teacher?' report (2021) and 'World Class Education' report (2018) providing perspectives on global education trends for high net worth families.
• UCEC (UK-China Education Exchange)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Partnership on 'What Makes A Good Teacher?' report (2021). UCEC CEO Neil Carmichael also serves as Wild Search Senior Advisor. UCEC facilitates educational exchange and cooperation between UK and China.
• BeyondAutismsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Commissioned Wild Research to produce 'Advancing Autism: Working Together for Improved Outcomes' (2020) exploring approaches to supporting those with autism across educational and support settings.
• Booksellers AssociationsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Partnership on 'Studying Success: The Role of Books in Higher Education' (2019) by Neil Carmichael examining the value of books in learning.
• Oxford AQAsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Support on 'Exporting Excellence: Creating Great British Schools Internationally' (2019) examining success and future prospects for British schools setting up abroad.
• Study GroupsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Partnership on 'Universities Challenged? Embedding Diversity, Empowering Institutions' (2018) providing analysis of diversity and inclusion issues within higher education.
• Victoria Business Improvement District (VBID)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Commissioned 'Victoria the Great' (2018) illustrated history of Victoria area from the Great Plague to present day.
• Alpha Plus GroupsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Partnership on multiple education publications including 'Exporting Excellence: Creating Great British Schools Internationally' (2019), 'Education: The Greatest British Export' (2017), and 'A Culture of Innovation: British Schools Overseas' (2022).
• RathbonessupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Partnership on 'United and Valued: Reflections on Military Charities Today' (2017) addressing issues facing the military charity sector and ways charities make a difference.
• GL AssessmentsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Partnership on 'Sharing Resources, Securing Success: Making Sure MATs & Education Groups Work' (2017) exploring challenges and benefits of sharing services across education groups.
• PeabodysupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Collaboration on 'Foresight, Tenacity, Vision' (2014) commemorating 40th anniversary of the 1974 Housing Act.
• Dulwich College InternationalsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Partnership on 'Education: A Great British Export' (2012) emphasising education as a major export market for the UK.
• Swan Housing GroupminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Commissioned 'Robin Hood Gardens, Blackwall Reach: A search for a sense of place' (2012) documenting the debate around Brutalist architecture redevelopment.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Perrett Laver: UK-headquartered executive search firm with deep specialisation in the education, social impact, and non-profit sectors; directly comparable to Wild Search by vertical focus, boutique scale, and values-led positioning.
• Saxton Bampfylde: Boutique UK executive search firm focused on chair, chief executive, and trustee appointments across education, charities, and the public sector — closely comparable in mandate type, client profile, and scale.
• Millar Cameron: Executive search firm specialising in non-profit, international development, and mission-driven organisations — overlapping with Wild Search's charity and values-led mandate focus.
• Society Consulting: Executive search firm focused on social purpose and charity sector leadership appointments; directly comparable in client base (charities, foundations) and values-led positioning.
• Richmond Associates: UK executive search boutique serving the not-for-profit, education, and association sectors; comparable by sector mix, mandate type, and London-based boutique structure.

Broad incumbents

• Korn Ferry: Global executive search and organisational advisory firm whose Education and Nonprofit practice competes with Wild Search for chair, CEO, and senior leadership appointments.
• Spencer Stuart: Global executive search firm with a long-standing Education, Non-Profit, and Social Enterprise practice; a broad incumbent whose practice area directly overlaps Wild Search's primary verticals.
• Egon Zehnder: Global executive search and leadership advisory firm with practices serving education and non-profit clients; comparable as a broader incumbent competing for senior education and charity mandates.
• Heidrick & Struggles: Global executive search firm with a dedicated Social Impact, Education, and Non-Profit practice; competes for larger education and charity leadership mandates that Wild Search also serves.
• Odgers Berndtson: Large UK-headquartered executive search firm with a dedicated Education, Not-for-Profit, and Membership Bodies practice; a broader incumbent that overlaps with Wild Search in education and charity mandates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/wildsearch1

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Wild Search