Talman Group

What Talman Group does

Talman Group is a privately held boutique executive search and talent management firm founded in 2002 and headquartered in Barcelona, Spain, with a secondary office in Madrid. The firm operates as TALMAN GROUP S.L., a Spanish Sociedad Limitada, and functions as a founder-led partnership under Ignasi Rafel alongside Partners Carlos Alba and Ernesto Caldaya, with a total team of 11–50 professionals. It delivers three interconnected service lines: Executive Search for senior-level direct-hire placements, High Impact Board and Members for governance design and board advisory, and Leadership and Organizational Development covering executive assessment, coaching, and onboarding.

The firm generates revenue through project-based professional services fees negotiated per executive search engagement, with no publicly disclosed pricing, no proprietary technology platform, and no disclosed external funding. Its go-to-motion is direct enterprise field sales — strategic consultants engage client leadership directly to scope mandates and deliver bespoke, culture-matched talent solutions. Talman Group specializes in five primary verticals: family business (succession planning, external CEO placement, professionalization), industrial sector, pharmaceutical and chemical, construction and infrastructure, and public/third sector, serving clients exclusively within Spain. Cumulative track record includes 350 client relationships, 1,250+ completed projects, and a candidate network of 60,000 professionals built over 20+ years.

The firm positions itself as a high-touch boutique alternative to global search firms, leveraging deep domain specialization in family business governance and industrial-sector leadership transitions. Distribution is driven by content marketing, ESADE Alumni and IESE institutional partnerships, professional association memberships, and word-of-mouth referrals through its senior consultant network. No M&A, funding rounds, international expansion, or technology platform development have been disclosed across its 20-year operating history.

Name

Talman Group

Legal name

TALMAN GROUP S.L.

Website

https://talmangroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Talman Group is a Barcelona-based boutique executive search firm (founded 2002) specializing in senior-level placements, board advisory, and leadership development for Spanish family businesses, industrial firms, and public sector clients across its two-office national footprint.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Executive Search Services

NAICS

Executive Search Services (561312)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

C-Suite & Board Search (BPACAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Public Sector, Education & Nonprofit Leadership Search (BPACAAAI)

Keywords

• Executive search
• Leadership consulting
• Board advisory
• Talent acquisition
• Organizational development

Headquarters

HQ city

Barcelona

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Executive Search Services: Direct hire executive search engagements for mid to senior-level management positions. Clients engage Talman Group to identify, evaluate, and place executive talent in their organizations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Talman Group is a boutique executive search firm that recruits senior executives and directors, advises on the composition and impact of high-performing boards, and delivers leadership and organizational development services. The firm focuses on family businesses and clients in the industrial, pharmaceutical, construction, and public sector verticals, primarily in Spain and Europe, from offices in Barcelona and Madrid.

Product overview

Talman Group is an executive search and talent management boutique offering three interconnected services: Executive Search for senior-level recruitment, High Impact Board and Members for governance advisory, and Leadership and Organizational Development for executive coaching and assessment. The firm operates as a single integrated practice rather than a platform with separate modules, positioning itself as a strategic partner rather than a transactional service provider.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Executive Search Direct recruitment of senior executives, CEOs, and directors for client organizations across family businesses, industrial, pharmaceutical, construction, and public sector verticals.
• High Impact Boards Advisory Advisory services for the composition, governance, and impact of corporate boards for client organizations.
• Leadership & Organizational Development Consulting services supporting leadership team development and organizational change for client organizations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 350 companies have trusted Talman Group
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• ESADE AlumnicoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 25 February 2025Talman Group sponsors the Top Management Network events organized by ESADE Alumni. Ignasi Rafel regularly participates as an expert speaker in ESADE Alumni career events, headhunter panels, and executive networking sessions.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Korn Ferry: Global executive search, leadership development, and board advisory firm with a broad portfolio of services. Comparable to Talman Group in core executive search and board services but operates at vastly greater scale across all geographies.
• Spencer Stuart: Privately held global executive search and board advisory firm, particularly strong in CEO and board work. Directly comparable to Talman's executive search and Board Division but operates globally with substantially larger teams.
• Heidrick & Struggles: Global leadership advisory and executive search firm with deep board and CEO placement expertise. Overlaps with Talman Group's executive search and High Impact Boards offerings, but with international scale and broader service lines.
• Egon Zehnder: Global leadership advisory and executive search firm, particularly strong in family business and industrial sectors. Directly overlaps with Talman Group's family business specialization and industrial sector focus.
• Russell Reynolds Associates: Global executive search firm focused on senior leadership and board placements. Comparable to Talman Group in core executive search services but operates across multiple regions with much larger consultant base.

Direct peers

• Odgers Berndtson: International executive search firm with established Spain/Madrid office. Direct competitor to Talman Group in Spanish executive search market, particularly in CEO and board placements for mid-to-large enterprises.
• Amrop: International executive search partnership with significant Iberian footprint. Direct competitor to Talman Group in Spanish executive search market, particularly strong in family business and industrial sectors.
• Linstead Martin: Spain-based boutique executive search firm with similar size and focus to Talman Group. Direct boutique competitor serving similar mid-market and family business clients in the Spanish market.
• Boyden: Global executive search firm with presence in Spain and strong family business practice. Directly comparable boutique-style search with similar industry vertical focus and similar scale to Talman Group.
• Signium International: Global executive search partnership with strong European family business expertise. Comparable boutique-style firm operating in similar verticals to Talman Group, including family business succession and board work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/talman-group
• Xx.com/TalmanGroup

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Talman Group