Adam James International

What Adam James International does

Adam James International is a privately held boutique retained executive search firm founded in 1996 by Warren Nadolsky and headquartered in Greenwood Village, Colorado. The firm specializes in C-suite and senior-level executive placements on a retained basis, with functional depth across finance, accounting, tax, internal audit, operations, sales, human resources, investor relations, legal, and diversity & inclusion. It also offers interim management and turnaround management services to bridge leadership gaps during transitions.

The firm serves private equity firms and their portfolio companies, Fortune 500/100 corporations, privately held companies, and select nonprofit organizations. Its go-to-market is a consultative, relationship-driven direct sales model executed by Partners, Principals, and a Managing Director of business development, with no channel partners, resellers, or digital distribution. Client logos span Arrow Electronics, The Carlyle Group, Liberty Global, Gates Corporation, RE/MAX, and DigitalGlobe, among others, across 12+ industries.

Revenue is generated through retained executive search fees per engagement, with no disclosed pricing. The firm's competitive positioning rests on a proprietary strategy model and methodology, 60+ years of combined partner expertise (with Big 4 audit backgrounds including Deloitte and KPMG), and a culture-fit and retention-focused placement approach. The firm has expanded to offices in Saint Petersburg, FL and Houston, TX, with operating geographies across 8 US metros. Adjacent offerings include the Private Equity Boardroom sub-brand (a community for PE operating partners and executives), a sister company called Carter Mackenzie International, and an SMS Text Alert Service for candidate engagement. No proprietary technology platform or AI/ML capabilities are evidenced.

Name

Adam James International

Legal name

Adam James International

Website

https://adamjames.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Adam James International is a privately held boutique retained executive search firm founded in 1996 that places C-suite and senior-level executives for private equity firms, Fortune 500/100 corporations, and privately held companies across 12+ industries in the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Greenwood Village

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Retained Executive Search Services: Retained executive search fees for C-suite and senior level placements. The firm specializes in retained search (as opposed to contingency), indicating upfront engagement fees and successful placement fees.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Adam James International is a boutique retained executive search firm that places C-suite and senior-level executives into private equity, Fortune 100/500, and privately held companies across finance, accounting, tax, internal audit, operations, sales, human resources, investor relations, legal, and diversity & inclusion functions. The firm also provides interim management and turnaround management services to bridge leadership gaps during transitions. Engagements are conducted on a retained basis by partners and principals using a proprietary strategy model.

Product overview

Adam James International is a boutique retained executive search firm offering a unified suite of talent acquisition services centered on C-Suite and senior-level executive placement. The core offerings include Retained Executive Search, Interim Management, and Turnaround Management services. The firm operates alongside its sister company Carter Mackenzie International and has launched a related venture called Private Equity Boardroom for PE professionals. A supplementary Text Alert Service provides SMS notifications to candidates. The company was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Greenwood Village, Colorado.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Private Equity Boardroom: An exclusive group of board members, chief level executives, and operating partners who seek to drive enterprise value for the companies they serve. Upcoming events planned for Fall 2025.

Products and services

• Retained Executive Search Boutique retained executive search service providing C-suite and senior-level executive placement for private equity, Fortune 500, and privately held companies across finance, accounting, tax, internal audit, operations, sales, human resources, investor relations, legal, and diversity & inclusion functions. Engagements are conducted on a retained basis using a proprietary strategy model.
• Interim Management Provides temporary executive-level staffing solutions to bridge leadership gaps during organizational transitions, sourcing interim C-suite and senior leaders for companies that need short-term executive coverage.
• Turnaround Management Executive placement service focused on placing leaders specifically equipped to manage organizational turnaround situations and stabilize performance during periods of distress or change.
• Private Equity Boardroom An exclusive community of board members, chief-level executives, and operating partners that seeks to drive enterprise value for the companies they serve, featuring networking events and content for private equity professionals.
• Text Alert Service SMS-based job notification service delivering real-time alerts to executive-level professionals about relevant executive career opportunities matching their background and expertise.

Named customers15 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Denver Metro Young LifeminorOthersCommunity partnership focused on improving lives of Denver's youth. AJI has partnered with this organization committed to helping disaffected teens in Denver and Aurora thrive as they confront challenges of adolescence.
• Colorado UpliftminorOthersCommunity partnership with organization that employs full-time staff committed to at-risk students. AJI supports their relational approach that produces superior results through long-term mentoring relationships.
• Tennyson CenterminorOthersCommunity partnership with organization that empowers children who have experienced abuse, neglect, and trauma to safely change their life's story. AJI supports their mission to build a community of game changers.
• Private Equity BoardroomcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAn exclusive group of board members, chief level executives, and operating partners who seek to drive enterprise value for the companies they serve. AJI is proud to announce this new venture as a separate initiative.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• DHR International: Mid-sized global retained executive search firm with strong financial officer and PE practice. Directly overlaps with AJI on retained CFO and senior finance placements for PE-backed companies.
• Odgers Berndtson: Global retained executive search firm with senior-level placement focus. Comparable to AJI in retained C-suite search for large enterprise and PE-backed clients.
• Heidrick & Struggles: Global retained executive search firm with dedicated Financial Services, Private Equity, and CFO practices. Directly comparable to AJI on retained C-suite search for PE-backed and Fortune 500 clients.
• Egon Zehnder: Global retained executive search firm focused on senior leadership placements. Comparable to AJI for confidential C-suite search and culture-fit-led placements.
• Russell Reynolds Associates: Global retained executive search firm with strong financial officer and PE-backed company practices. Directly comparable boutique-style retained search model against AJI's C-suite placements.
• Spencer Stuart: Premier global retained executive search firm specializing in board-level and C-suite placements. Comparable to AJI for senior executive search engagements, particularly within financial officer functions.
• Signium International: Mid-sized global retained executive search firm with multi-region coverage. Comparable to AJI on senior executive placements and PE-backed company mandates.

Emerging players

• Witt Kieffer: Specialized retained executive search firm with strong healthcare, nonprofit, and higher education verticals. Comparable to AJI on retained search for specialized industries and culture-fit-led placements, particularly for private-market clients.

Broad incumbents

• Korn Ferry: Larger organizational consulting firm with a substantial executive search practice serving Fortune 500 and PE-backed clients. Overlaps with AJI on C-suite retained search, but operates at far greater scale with broader services.
• Robert Half International: Large staffing and search firm with a dedicated executive search division serving finance and accounting leadership roles. Overlaps with AJI on mid-to-senior finance placements but operates at significantly greater scale with a contingency-leaning model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/in/ken-philbrick-cpa-mba-8095521

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Adam James International