What Goldstone Associates does

Goldstone Associates is a London-based specialist executive search and leadership advisory firm operating under the legal entity David Goldstone Associates Limited (UK company number 11018142). The firm is led by founder and CEO David Goldstone, who brings 30 years of executive search experience, and runs a small team of approximately 5-6 staff including executive search consultants, a leadership advisory lead, communications and brand, and an executive assistant. The firm targets founders, Chairs, and investors in investor-backed growth companies, delivering retained executive search for C-suite and senior leadership positions alongside fractional, consulting, and interim appointments.

The firm's core product is retained executive search, with a horizontally segmented, cross-sector, cross-function, cross-geography approach. It supplements core search with a Leadership Advisory offering built around a licensed AI-driven assessment tool that measures observable behaviours, values, and cognitive EQ for profiling, development, appraisals, 360s, and succession planning. Through its VOCASO sub-brand, the firm operates a community platform connecting companies with Non-Executive Directors, Chairs, and Board Advisors. A secondary content brand, the Gold Access Leader Series, delivers a weekly short-form video series by email.

The business model is professional services on a bespoke, quote-based retained search fee structure typical of the executive search industry. Revenue is generated from search retainers and advisory engagements, with pro bono placements for selected charities (OCD Action, Shaw Trust, Grief Encounter, Jai Dog Rescue) used as brand-building rather than revenue. Go-to-market is consultative and relationship-driven, supported by thought leadership content, LinkedIn presence, newsletter marketing, and the Gold Access video series. The firm is founder-owned, bootstrapped, and privately held, with no disclosed external funding, parent company, or revenue figures.

Name

Goldstone Associates

Legal name

David Goldstone Associates Limited

Website

https://goldstoneassociates.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Goldstone Associates is a London-based boutique executive search and leadership advisory firm placing C-suite, senior, and board-level leaders for investor-backed growth companies, with cross-sector, cross-function, and cross-geography reach.

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-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

C-Suite & Board Search (BPACAAAA)

Keywords

• Executive search services
• Retained search firm
• Leadership advisory
• Board advisory services
• Leadership assessment

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Retained Executive Search: Core retained executive search service placing senior and C-suite leaders. They also offer fractional, consulting, and interim appointments as supplementary services.
2. Leadership Advisory Services: Includes AI-driven assessment, coaching (ICF-qualified), onboarding/integration support, team effectiveness programs. Delivered through licensed tool and coaching panel.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Goldstone Associates provides retained executive search for senior and C-suite leadership, supplemented by fractional, consulting, and interim appointment placements. It also delivers Leadership Advisory services — including a licensed AI-driven assessment tool, ICF-qualified coaching, onboarding/integration support, and team effectiveness programs — and operates NED/Chair/Board Advisor matching through the VOCASO community. The portfolio is delivered as distinct but complementary offerings with executive search as the primary revenue driver.

Product overview

Goldstone Associates is a specialist executive search and leadership advisory firm offering a portfolio of professional services. The core offerings comprise: Executive Search (retained, fractional, consulting, and interim senior leadership placements), Leadership Advisory (AI-driven assessment and coaching services), and NED/Advisory services powered by VOCASO (board-level talent matching). Gold Access Leader Series is an educational video content brand. The services are delivered as distinct but complementary offerings, with the executive search serving as the primary revenue driver and leadership advisory providing pre- and post-hire support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• VOCASO: A community platform connecting businesses with senior leaders for NED, Chair and Board Advisor roles, powered by Goldstone Associates

Products and services

• Executive Search Retained executive search service identifying, assessing, and attracting senior and C-suite leaders for organisations, including fractional, consulting, and interim appointments. Delivers end-to-end recruitment from candidate identification and pack creation through interviews to onboarding.
• Leadership Advisory AI-driven leadership assessment and advisory service that measures leaders' observable behaviours, values, and cognitive EQ. Includes profiling, ICF-qualified coaching, onboarding/integration support, team effectiveness workshops, 360s, appraisals, and aligned succession planning.
• NED / Advisory powered by VOCASO Non-Executive Director, Chair, and Board Advisor placement service powered by the VOCASO community, connecting businesses with senior leaders for board-level engagements through retained, fractional, and interim arrangements.
• Gold Access Leader Series Short-form video series delivering leadership insights and growth strategies from top-tier executives, distributed weekly via email every Monday at 8am and available on-demand, supporting Goldstone's thought leadership and executive audience engagement.

Quantifiable outcome

• Case study: 30% revenue increase within first year following Chief Commercial Officer placement for mid-sized technology company

Named customers11 records

Segments5 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

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• VOCASOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVOCASO is a partner company and community of deployable senior talent. Goldstone Associates provides NED, Chair and Board advisor services via VOCASO. It is an active ecosystem connecting businesses with senior leaders ready to serve as Chairs, Non-Executive Directors (NEDs), and Advisors. VOCASO enables portfolio careers through paid opportunities, training, events and peer network. Goldstone Associates powers this service.
• Maudsley CharitycoreOthersGoldstone Associates' Charity of the Year partnership. They donate a portion of each client fee to support the Pears Maudsley Centre for Children and Young People - a ground-breaking mental health centre in South London. The centre is set to transform children's mental health services.
• Shaw TrustminorOthersGoldstone Associates provides pro bono recruitment support for this social purpose organisation challenging inequality and breaking down barriers to enable social mobility. Placement includes Marketing and Communications Director.
• OCD ActionminorOthersGoldstone Associates provides pro bono executive search for this charity that has delivered frontline services for people with OCD for over 25 years. Placements include Trustee Strategy, Trustee Fundraising, Head of Fundraising, Trustee Finance, Trustee Marketing.
• Grief EncounterminorOthersGoldstone Associates provides pro bono support for this charity supporting bereaved children and young people. Placement includes Clinical Director.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Egon Zehnder: Global executive search and leadership advisory firm with cross-sector reach and proprietary assessment tools. Closely comparable on combination of retained search plus integrated leadership advisory, similar in cross-sector philosophy to Goldstone.
• Odgers Berndtson: Major international executive search firm headquartered in the UK with strong cross-sector and board-level practices. Closely comparable to Goldstone on UK origination, cross-sector positioning, NED/Chair placements, and mid-market through large-cap C-suite mandates.
• Stanton Chase: Global executive search firm focused on senior leadership placements across sectors. Directly comparable to Goldstone on retained cross-sector C-suite search and boutique-style partner-led engagement model.
• Heidrick & Struggles: Global executive search firm with strong focus on CEO, board, and executive-level search plus leadership advisory. Directly competes with Goldstone on retained C-suite mandates and leadership assessment/development offerings for senior leadership.
• Spencer Stuart: One of the world's largest retained executive search firms specializing in C-suite and board-level placements across sectors. Directly comparable on core search offering, NED/Chair services, and leadership advisory; Goldstone differentiates primarily on boutique scale and investor-backed growth focus.
• Russell Reynolds Associates: Global executive search firm delivering senior leadership and board-level placements plus leadership advisory. Directly comparable across core search and advisory services for C-suite and board mandates.
• Transearch: Global executive search firm with strong cross-border and cross-sector practices, including leadership advisory and assessment. Comparable to Goldstone on cross-sector, cross-function, cross-geography retained C-suite search.

Emerging players

• True Search: Executive search firm focused on technology, digital, and growth-stage companies. Comparable to Goldstone's investor-backed growth positioning and cross-function tech leadership placements, with overlap on fractional/interim support.
• Heybridge Search Partners: Boutique executive search firm specialized in C-suite and board-level placements with sector-spanning reach. Closely comparable to Goldstone as a boutique, founder-led alternative to large incumbents on cross-sector C-suite mandates.

Broad incumbents

• Korn Ferry: Largest global organizational consulting firm encompassing executive search, leadership assessment, and talent management. Overlaps with Goldstone on executive search, leadership advisory, and AI-driven assessment, but operates as a broad incumbent with much wider service portfolio.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/david-goldstone-executive-search

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Goldstone Associates