Ad Capita Executive Search

What Ad Capita Executive Search does

Ad Capita Executive Search is a privately held, retained executive search firm founded in 2001 by Rui Borges and headquartered at Praça de Alvalade in Lisbon, Portugal (legal entity Ad Capita Recursos Humanos Lda.). It operates a small, partner-led team of approximately 7 employees — including Managing Partner Rui Borges, Partner Victoria Baselga (Madrid), Associated Partner Vasco Sabino, Associate Partner Joana Navarro, Senior Consultant Lidia Alvarado, and Head of Research Cláudia Silva — supplemented by an international Advisory Board spanning LATAM, CEE and the USA. The firm runs a generalist senior-level practice placing C-level, board, and senior executives across Financial Services, Life Sciences/Healthcare, Energy, Consumer & Retail, Agribusiness, Technology/Digital, Industrial/Manufacturing, Education and Professional Services.

The core product is research-driven retained executive search underpinned by a proprietary methodology of business-context analysis, candidate profiling, competency-based assessment, and structured reference checking. Adjacent core offerings include Board Advisory (governance, compensation, succession planning), Interim Executives (time-limited senior placements), Market Intelligence & Talent Mapping (employer branding benchmarks, competitor mapping), and Leadership Assessment & Development. Day-to-day operations rely on the NotActivelyLooking (UK) secure CRM platform for confidential candidate relationship management; the firm maintains GDPR-compliant data practices covering candidates, contractors, referees and clients.

The firm generates revenue exclusively through professional services fees paid by enterprise and mid-market clients, with long-tenure relationships (e.g., BMW Group Portugal since 2003; Galp Energia; Hansgrohe; Grünenthal; PraxisIFM; RiskCo; Audatex/Solera). Direct delivery is provided in Portugal and Spain; global mandates (covering placements into Germany, Brazil, Poland, Oman, Mauritius, UK, France, Mozambique, Angola, and beyond) are executed through an exclusive partnership with INAC Global Executive Search — a network co-founded by Rui Borges in 1992, now spanning 60+ affiliated offices across 36 countries and 6 continents with 250+ consultants. In 2023 the firm was recognized as the only Portuguese executive search firm in the C-Suite CV Secure Top 50 European Executive Search Firms ranking. The firm is privately owned, with no institutional investors, parent entity or publicly disclosed revenue.

Name

Ad Capita Executive Search

Legal name

Ad Capita Recursos Humanos Lda.

Website

https://adcapita.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Ad Capita Executive Search is a privately held, retained executive search firm headquartered in Lisbon with a Madrid office, founded in 2001. It places C-level and senior executives across multiple industries for clients in Portugal, Spain and globally via the INAC network of 60+ offices in 36 countries.

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 industry

PRIMARYBPACAAAF

Financial Services Leadership Search (Banking/Insurance/PE/Asset Mgmt)

Business & Public Services/HR, Staffing & Recruitment Services/Executive Search & Headhunting

Keywords

• Executive search services
• Retained headhunting
• Board advisory services
• Talent mapping
• Leadership assessment

Headquarters

HQ city

Lisbon

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Retained Executive Search: Core retained executive search services for C-level and senior executive placements. The firm conducts exhaustive research, candidate assessment, reference checking, and supports contract negotiation and onboarding integration.
2. Board Advisory Services: Strategic consulting on corporate governance, compensation systems, succession planning, and management team audits for boards and executive committees.
3. Interim Executives: Interim executive placements providing immediate expertise for periods of disruption, growth, transition or major project work.
4. Market Intelligence & Talent Mapping: Customized market intelligence assignments and talent mapping solutions including employer branding benchmarks, market profiling, succession planning support, and diversity mapping.
5. Leadership Assessment & Development: Bespoke executive assessment programs designed to identify high-potential leadership talent and support team and executive development.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Ad Capita is a retained executive search firm providing research-driven, consulting-based identification, assessment and development of senior executive talent (C-level, board and senior leadership). Its core offerings include executive search, board advisory, interim executive placements, market intelligence and talent mapping, and bespoke leadership assessment and development programs for enterprise and mid-market clients in Portugal, Spain and internationally via the INAC network.

Product overview

Ad Capita Executive Search is a retained executive search firm offering a unified portfolio of talent advisory services centered on executive search and leadership solutions. The core offerings include Executive Search (research-driven senior executive placement), Board Advisory (corporate governance consulting), Interim Executives (temporary senior leadership), Market Intelligence & Talent Mapping (talent landscape analysis), and Leadership Assessment & Development (executive evaluation programs). The firm operates as a generalist executive search practice serving clients across multiple industries including Financial Services & Banking, Life Sciences & Healthcare, Energy/Natural Resources, Consumer & Retail, Agribusiness, Technology & Digital, Education, Professional Services, and Industrial & Manufacturing sectors, with global reach through INAC network partnership spanning 60+ offices across 36 countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Executive Search Retained executive search service with a research-driven, consulting-based approach to identify and place senior executives (C-level, board and other senior leaders). Includes business context analysis, comprehensive candidate profiling, competency-based assessments, case-study exercises, structured reference checks, shortlist development, contract negotiation mediation and onboarding support for enterprise and mid-market clients.
• Board Advisory Strategic advisory services for boards and executive committees covering corporate governance improvement, management team audits, compensation systems review, succession planning support, and change management advisory. Intended for boards and executive committees of corporate clients.
• Interim Executives Provision of experienced senior executives for time-limited assignments during periods of disruption, senior executive absence, growth, transition, or major project work, supplying immediate expertise while permanent hires are completed or transformations executed.
• Market Intelligence & Talent Mapping Custom-built analysis of executive talent landscapes providing employer branding benchmarks, market profiling, competitor corporate structure mapping, talent availability assessment, diversity mapping and succession planning support to give clients a competitive edge through in-depth market intelligence.
• Leadership Assessment & Development Bespoke executive assessment programs designed to identify high-potential leadership talent, align executive potential with business strategies, and support team and executive development initiatives through tailored assessment and coaching engagements.

Quantifiable outcome

• Successful placements across diverse industries and geographies including Portugal, Spain, Germany, Brazil, Poland, Oman, Mauritius, UK, France, Mozambique, Angola, and others

Named customers8 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• INAC Global Executive SearchflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1992Ad Capita is the exclusive member firm for Portugal of INAC Global Executive Search, one of the world's first and leading independent international executive search networks. INAC was founded in 1992 in Europe, with Ad Capita's Managing Partner Rui Borges as one of the co-founders. The partnership provides access to 250+ consultants across 60+ offices in 36 countries on 6 continents, spanning Europe, Americas, Asia-Pacific, Africa, and Middle East.
• NotActivelyLookingcoreTechnology or IntegrationNotActivelyLooking Limited (UK) hosts Ad Capita's Customer Relationship Management system. The secure platform is designed for executives to confidentially share and manage CV information and career aspirations through a private candidate portal.
• LOBAminorOthersLOBA (Portugal) provides IT support services to Ad Capita.
• Numeros Certos Chartered AccountantsminorOthersNumeros Certos Chartered Accountants (Portugal) provides accounting services to Ad Capita.
• Stichting INACminorOthersStichting INAC (Netherlands) provides administrative assistant and research services to Ad Capita.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Egon Zehnder: Privately-held global executive search firm with a partner-led model similar to Ad Capita. Both emphasize research-driven, consulting-based retained search for senior executive mandates.
• Korn Ferry: Global organizational consulting firm with a major executive search practice alongside talent management, RPO, and advisory. Overlaps with Ad Capita's retained search and leadership advisory services at the larger end of the market.
• Spencer Stuart: One of the world's largest privately-held executive search firms, serving C-suite and board-level mandates across industries. Highly comparable to Ad Capita's retained search model, but with vastly larger global scale and resources.
• Heidrick & Struggles: Global executive search and leadership advisory firm with a retained search model closely aligned to Ad Capita's. Heidrick's multi-sector practice and international footprint make it a direct incumbent competitor for larger mandates.
• Russell Reynolds Associates: Global executive search firm focusing on senior leadership and board placements. Comparable to Ad Capita in serving C-suite mandates across multiple industries, with a much larger global presence.

Direct peers

• Signium: International executive search firm with a network-based model across multiple countries. Comparable to Ad Capita in its partner-led culture, sector generalism, and cross-border mandate delivery.
• Stanton Chase: Global retained executive search firm operating through a similar affiliate/member-firm model. Closely comparable to Ad Capita in structure, sector breadth, and partner-led delivery for mid-to-large executive mandates.
• Pedersen & Partners: Global retained executive search firm that competes in mid-market and senior executive placements across multiple sectors. Comparable to Ad Capita in boutique scale, partner involvement, and international reach.

Emerging players

• Catenon: Tech-enabled global executive search firm headquartered in Spain with strong Iberian presence. Comparable to Ad Capita in targeting senior executive placements across sectors, with a digital platform differentiating its delivery model.

Regional players

• Egor (Grupo EGO): Portuguese HR services and executive search firm. Most direct domestic competitor to Ad Capita in the Portuguese market, with broader HR services spanning recruitment, outsourcing, and consulting.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ad-capita-executive-search

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Ad Capita Executive Search