The Clark Group

What The Clark Group does

The Clark Group is a private, founder-owned executive search firm headquartered in Scotts Valley, California, operating under the trade name "The Clark Group – Superior Executive Search." The firm traces its origins to 1998 when Principal Matt Clark began his executive search career; he acquired predecessor Rand Kay & Associates in 2009 and rebranded it as The Clark Group. The firm delivers retained executive search services focused on senior management and C-suite talent across four verticals: high technology (semiconductor, HPC, networking, optics), life sciences and bioscience, enterprise software, and clean technology and renewables. Approximately 90% of search activity is concentrated at Senior Manager through xVP levels, with the remaining 10% at C-suite and Board levels.

The firm operates on a performance-based engagement model where fees are calculated solely on the placed candidate's base salary, with no additional charges for sign-on bonuses, guaranteed bonuses, equity grants, or administrative fees. Placements carry a 12-month guarantee from start date. Approximately 85% of business comes from referrals or repeat clients, and nearly 100% of placements are passive candidates not actively seeking new opportunities. The firm reports that over 70% of candidates are presented to clients within the first three weeks of search activity. Matt Clark personally performs all candidate recruiting and client management, supported by a small research and project management team. Services reach clients from venture-backed startups to Fortune 500 corporations across the US and Canada, with a global partner network extending reach to Asia, Europe, and the Americas.

Name

The Clark Group

Legal name

The Clark Group

Website

https://clarkgroupsearch.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Clark Group is a private, founder-owned executive search firm headquartered in Scotts Valley, California, that places senior management and C-suite talent across high-tech, bioscience, software, and renewables industries, serving clients from venture-backed startups to Fortune 500 corporations through a performance-based fee model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Executive Search Services

NAICS

Executive Search Services (561312)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Functional Leadership Search (HR/Finance/Legal/Marketing/Sales/Ops) (BPACAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

C-Suite & Board Search (BPACAAAA)

Keywords

• Executive search services
• Retained search firm
• Senior management recruiting
• Passive candidate sourcing
• Technology executive placement

Headquarters

HQ city

Scotts Valley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Executive Search Fees: Performance-based fees where payment is only collected upon successful placement. Fees calculated based solely on base salary, without additional fees for sign-on bonuses, guaranteed bonuses, or equity grants. No administrative fee charged.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Clark Group is a boutique executive search firm that delivers retained management search services for senior management talent (Senior Manager through C-suite) in high-tech, bioscience/life sciences, enterprise software, and clean tech/renewables industries. The firm specializes in identifying and placing passive candidates who are not actively seeking new roles, with approximately 90% of search activity performed between Senior Manager and xVP levels. Services include candidate sourcing, profile development, screening, interviewing, reference checking, offer management, and onboarding support, delivered under a performance-based fee model with a 12-month placement guarantee.

Product overview

The Clark Group is a single-product executive search firm offering a unified full-service management search practice for technology industries. The core offering is retained executive search services for senior management talent, delivered through a differentiated performance-based engagement model. Services span candidate sourcing, vetting, interviewing, reference checking, offer management, and onboarding support. The firm specializes in passive candidate acquisition across high-tech, bioscience, software, and renewables sectors, serving clients from venture-backed startups to Fortune 500 companies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Executive Search Services Full-service retained executive search for senior management talent (Senior Manager through C-suite, with ~90% of activity at Senior Manager to xVP levels) specializing in high-tech, bioscience, enterprise software, and clean tech/renewables. Sourcing, qualifying, and placing passive candidates who are not actively seeking new opportunities.
• Performance-Based Engagement Model Distinctive engagement structure where the firm charges exclusively on placement success, with fees calculated solely on base salary and no additional fees on sign-on bonuses, guaranteed bonuses, equity grants, or administrative overhead. Includes a 12-month guarantee on placements from start date.

Quantifiable outcome

• 85% of business comes from referrals or repeat clients
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Group Partner Firms (Americas)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner firms specializing in The Americas region, offering exceptional quality of service, performance-based engagement and robust search processes. Extends Clark Group's reach beyond US and Canada.
• Group Partner Firms (Asia)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner firm specializing in Asia region, offering exceptional quality of service, performance-based engagement and robust search processes.
• Group Partner Firms (Europe)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner firm specializing in Europe region, offering exceptional quality of service, performance-based engagement and robust search processes.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• DHR International: DHR International (now DHR Global) is a large executive search firm with dedicated technology and life sciences practices. A broader incumbent that competes for mid-to-senior executive search engagements.
• Korn Ferry: Korn Ferry is a global organizational consulting firm with a large executive search practice spanning technology, life sciences, and industrial sectors. Acts as a broader incumbent offering search plus broader talent advisory.
• Heidrick & Struggles: Heidrick & Struggles is a global executive search leader serving technology, life sciences, and financial services clients. A broad incumbent against which The Clark Group competes for larger enterprise mandates.
• Russell Reynolds Associates: Russell Reynolds Associates is a global executive search firm with technology and life sciences practices. Competes for the same senior management and C-suite mandates as The Clark Group.
• Spencer Stuart: Spencer Stuart is a leading global executive search and leadership advisory firm with deep technology and life sciences practices. Represents the incumbent tier that competes for the same senior-level mandates.
• Egon Zehnder: Egon Zehnder is a global executive search and leadership advisory firm with strong technology and life sciences practices. A broad incumbent comparable in function though significantly larger in scale.

Direct peers

• ON Partners: ON Partners is a specialized executive search firm with significant focus on technology, industrial, and life sciences verticals. Operates a comparable boutique model with retained and performance-based engagements.
• Riviera Partners: Riviera Partners is a tech-focused executive search boutique with deep relationships in software, semiconductors, and high-growth startups. Directly comparable to The Clark Group's niche in technology executive search.
• Heller Search Associates: Heller Search Associates is a tech-focused executive search firm specializing in C-suite and senior leadership for software, internet, and high-tech companies. Closely aligned with The Clark Group's mid-to-senior technology vertical focus.
• JMJ Phillip Executive Search: JMJ Phillip is a boutique executive search firm serving technology, industrial, and consumer sectors. Comparable to The Clark Group in serving niche technology verticals with a specialized senior leadership practice.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/clarkgrpsearch
• Facebookfacebook.com/clarkgroupsearch
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/clark-group-search

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 The Clark Group