Madison Wells
Madison Wells is a privately-held Chicago-based retained executive search firm placing senior leaders (Director, VP, C-suite) in market research, analytics, and commercial functions for growth-stage and investor-backed organizations across CPG, technology, financial services, and media.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Madison Wells does
Madison Wells is a privately-held retained executive search firm founded in 2002 by Alex Bell and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The firm specializes in placing senior leaders — Director, VP, Head of Function, and select C-suite roles — at the intersection of market research, advanced analytics, and commercial growth. Its core client base spans Consumer Packaged Goods, Technology, Financial Services, Advertising/Media, Retail, Gaming, and research/analytics suppliers, with a deliberate focus on growth-stage and investor-backed organizations as well as Fortune 500 employers. The firm operates on a national basis across the United States with capability for international searches.
The firm's service portfolio is built around two engagement models: Retained Search for discrete, confidential, high-stakes executive placements, and the Talent Partner Program, an embedded, fractional recruiting retainer that generates recurring revenue and an ongoing extension-of-team relationship with clients. Specialized practices cover Market Research Executive Search and Analytics Executive Search (including data science and AI roles). Madison Wells uses AI-driven sourcing tools combined with human market mapping and judgment; the firm does not develop or sell proprietary technology products. The firm also operates a separate Madison Wells (Media) entity that produced the 2025 documentary "Prime Minister."
The business is founder-owned, with no disclosed external investors, no funding rounds, and no M&A activity. The firm runs a limited number of searches at a time, pricing is custom and not publicly disclosed, and average alliance or partnership structure is not leveraged for client delivery. Revenue, headcount detail beyond 1–10 employees, and detailed financials are not publicly disclosed.
Madison Wells firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Madison Wells
- Legal name
- Madison Wells Executive Recruiting
- Website
- https://madisonwells.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Madison Wells is a privately-held Chicago-based retained executive search firm placing senior leaders (Director, VP, C-suite) in market research, analytics, and commercial functions for growth-stage and investor-backed organizations across CPG, technology, financial services, and media.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Madison Wells industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Executive Search Services
- NAICS
- Executive Search Services (561312)
- SIC
- Services-Employment Agencies (7361)
- akta.pro primary industry
- C-Suite & Board Search (BPACAAAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Technology & Product Leadership Search (CIO/CTO/CDO/CPO) (BPACAAAC), Consumer & Retail Leadership Search (BPACAAAG)
Keywords
Where Madison Wells is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Madison Wells business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Retained Executive Search: Madison Wells is retained by clients to conduct focused executive searches. The firm charges fees for executive search engagements, with both Contingency and Retained search models offered. Engagements often extend into ongoing Talent Partner (fractional recruiting) relationships that provide recurring revenue from active client partnerships.
- Talent Partner Program (Fractional Recruiting): An embedded, always-on recruiting partnership where Madison Wells operates as an extension of the client's team, building pipelines and executing across roles as needs evolve. This is a retainer-based, ongoing engagement model generating recurring professional services revenue.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Contingency Search — fee paid upon successful hire |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Retained Search — focused, advisory-led senior executive search |
| Subscription | Annual | Talent Partner Program (Fractional/Ongoing Retainer) |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Madison Wells product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Madison Wells is a retained executive search firm that places senior leaders (Director, VP, Head of Function, and select C-suite roles) in market research, advanced analytics, and commercial/growth functions across CPG, technology, financial services, advertising/media, retail, gaming, and research supplier organizations. It offers both Contingency and Retained search models plus an embedded Talent Partner (fractional recruiting) program for ongoing hiring needs. The firm maps the market, engages senior talent directly, and manages the full search process from alignment through placement.
Product overview
Madison Wells operates as a retained executive search firm offering two primary service lines: Madison Wells Executive Recruiting and Madison Wells Leadership Search. The core offering combines Retained Search (for specific senior or confidential executive hires) with the Talent Partner Program (fractional, embedded recruiting for ongoing hiring needs). Specialized practices cover Market Research Executive Search and Analytics Executive Search, serving clients across CPG, Technology, Financial Services, Gaming, and other industries. The portfolio is structured around placing Director-level through C-suite leaders in insights, analytics, and commercial functions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Madison Wells Executive Recruiting Retained executive search firm specializing in the placement of senior leaders in market research, advanced analytics, and commercial functions. Serves organizations across Consumer Packaged Goods, Technology, Financial Services, and related industries.
- Madison Wells Leadership Search Executive search partner dedicated to identifying senior leaders for growth-stage and investor-backed organizations navigating leadership transitions. Focuses on Director, VP, C-suite, and executive advisory roles across multiple industries.
- Talent Partner Program (Fractional Recruiting) Embedded, always-on recruiting partnership where Madison Wells operates as an extension of the client's team. Builds candidate pipelines, covers the market, and executes across multiple roles as hiring needs evolve. Designed for ongoing or multi-role hiring in insights, analytics, and commercial leadership.
- Retained Search Focused, advisory-led executive search for senior or business-critical hires. Aligns upfront with clients, runs proactive market searches, and engages senior talent with discretion and credibility. Best for executive, confidential, or high-stakes searches.
- Market Research Executive Search Specialized executive search for market research professionals including EVP/SVP/Director of Research, Director/Sr./Manager of Shopper Insights, Director/Sr./Manager of Consumer Insights, and competitive/market intelligence roles.
- Analytics Executive Search Specialized recruitment services for marketing analytics, business analytics, data science, and big data professionals including Marketing Analytics, CRM Analytics, Digital Analytics, and Artificial Intelligence roles.
Quantifiable outcome
- Madison Wells placed 4 Consumer Insights Managers for a CPG client within a single calendar year. 3 of those candidates were identified in the first week of search.
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Madison Wells
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Madison Wells technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Madison Wells partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Madison Wells competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- DHR International: Mid-sized retained executive search firm with practices across consumer, technology, financial services, and life sciences. Closely comparable to Madison Wells in business model (retained search), target seniority (Director through C-suite), and cross-sector approach, though at larger scale.
- Diversified Search: Boutique-to-mid-market retained executive search firm with practices across consumer, financial services, technology, and healthcare. Similar to Madison Wells in size band, retained-search model, and multi-industry senior-level focus.
- Bileddo Associates: Boutique executive search firm focused on market research, consumer insights, and analytics leadership placements. Closest niche-comparable peer to Madison Wells given overlapping specialization in research, insights, and analytics senior talent.
Broad incumbents
- Korn Ferry: Large global organizational consulting firm with a substantial executive search practice across industries and functions. Competes with Madison Wells for senior C-suite and functional leadership mandates but operates at significantly greater scale and breadth.
- Egon Zehnder: Global executive search and leadership advisory firm with practices across consumer, technology, financial services, and industrial sectors. Competes with Madison Wells for senior leadership mandates but with broader capabilities and global infrastructure.
- Spencer Stuart: Global executive search firm with deep practice areas across consumer, financial services, technology, and industrial sectors. Overlaps with Madison Wells on senior leadership searches but offers a much wider industry and functional footprint.
- Heidrick & Struggles: Global executive search firm with practices across multiple functions and industries, including insights, analytics, and consumer. Comparable to Madison Wells at the senior leadership search layer but with vastly broader scale, geographic footprint, and service portfolio.
- Russell Reynolds Associates: Global executive search firm serving boards, CEOs, and functional leaders across consumer, technology, financial services, and healthcare. Comparable on senior-level retained search but at materially larger scale and broader geographic reach.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Madison Wells social profiles
Digital presenceMadison Wells financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Madison Wells leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Madison Wells funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Madison Wells 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 Madison Wells
What does Madison Wells do?
Madison Wells is a retained executive search firm that places senior leaders (Director, VP, Head of Function, and select C-suite roles) in market research, advanced analytics, and commercial/growth functions across CPG, technology, financial services, advertising/media, retail, gaming, and research supplier organizations. It offers both Contingency and Retained search models plus an embedded Talent Partner (fractional recruiting) program for ongoing hiring needs. The firm maps the market, engages senior talent directly, and manages the full search process from alignment through placement.
Is Madison Wells a public or private company?
Madison Wells is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Madison Wells founded?
Madison Wells was founded in 2002. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Madison Wells based?
Madison Wells is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Madison Wells make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Retained Executive Search is the primary driver. The others are talent Partner Program (Fractional Recruiting).
Who are Madison Wells's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are DHR International, Diversified Search and Bileddo Associates. Broad incumbents are Korn Ferry, Egon Zehnder, Spencer Stuart, Heidrick & Struggles and Russell Reynolds Associates.
Does Madison Wells have an API?
No public API is recorded for Madison Wells.
What industry is Madison Wells in?
Madison Wells's product category is Executive Search Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPACAAAA, C-Suite & Board Search, with a secondary code of BPACAAAC, Technology & Product Leadership Search (CIO/CTO/CDO/CPO). Its NAICS code is 561312 and its SIC code is 7361.