Connectus
Connectus is a privately-held Asia-Pacific HR services firm delivering executive search, RPO, talent development, expert network, and international expansion advisory across 13 cities in China and Singapore, serving 1,000+ enterprise clients annually in automotive, pharmaceutical, healthcare, finance, consumer, and industrial verticals.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersShanghai, China
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Connectus does
Connectus (康耐仕) is a privately-held, Asia-Pacific human resources services firm headquartered in Singapore (APAC HQ, established 2012) with primary operating entity Shanghai Kangnaishi Human Resources Services Co., Ltd. (founded 2013). The company delivers an integrated HR services portfolio across six core lines: (1) Executive Search (高端猎头服务) for mid-to-senior management, confidential, and niche technical roles, billed on transaction-fee basis typically as a percentage of placed candidate compensation; (2) Recruitment Process Outsourcing and Flexible Staffing (灵活用工) for time-sensitive, high-volume, or seasonal hiring needs, billed per project or as managed service; (3) Talent Development via the GATEWAY sub-brand, offering assessment, corporate training, open courses, and experience salons built on the ADDIE model and SHL/OPQ/Hogan/DISC/MBTI psychometric tools; (4) Expert Network (伊诺仕/Initial) connecting clients with industry experts for advisory engagements, supported by a 1M+ candidate database and 2-hour response SLA; (5) Market Insight reports — annual salary surveys and employment research distributed via gated downloads as a lead-generation channel; and (6) international expansion advisory (Gateway Search/出海业务) coordinated through Singapore to support Chinese enterprises going overseas. The company operates across 13 cities in 3 countries (11 Chinese cities plus Singapore), employs 300+ people organized into industry-specialized consultant teams (automotive, pharmaceutical, healthcare, finance, IT, consumer, industrial), and serves 1,000+ enterprise clients annually including Fortune 500 multinationals, Nasdaq-listed Chinese companies, and large domestic enterprises. Distribution combines direct field sales at each city office, an online Gllue-powered job portal (connectusgroup.gllue.me), GATEWAY's training platform, and content-led marketing through WeChat, Weibo, LinkedIn, salary reports, and industry events (including CIIE 2024 and quarterly Star Awards ceremonies). The underlying technology stack is a proprietary talent database and candidate management system built on the Gllue platform, with no disclosed AI/ML or API layer. The company is independently owned with no evidence of external PE/VC backing in the source data.
Connectus firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Connectus
- Legal name
- 上海康耐仕人力资源服务有限公司
- Website
- https://connectus.com.cn
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Connectus is a privately-held Asia-Pacific HR services firm delivering executive search, RPO, talent development, expert network, and international expansion advisory across 13 cities in China and Singapore, serving 1,000+ enterprise clients annually in automotive, pharmaceutical, healthcare, finance, consumer, and industrial verticals.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Connectus industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Executive Search & HR Consulting Services
- NAICS
- Human Resources Consulting Services (541612)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Management Services (8741)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Remote & Global/Multilingual Direct Hire (BPACAFAO)
Keywords
Where Connectus is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Shanghai
- HQ country
- China
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices12 records
Markets served
Connectus business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Executive Search (高端猎头服务): Retained and contingency search fees for placing mid-to-senior management, confidential, and niche technical roles. Revenue recognized upon successful candidate placement.
- Recruitment Process Outsourcing (灵活用工/RPO): Outsourced recruitment services for mid-to-long-term and project-based hiring needs, covering人事服务外包, full-time/contract staff, and intern placements. Billed per project or as a managed service.
- Talent Development & Training (人才发展): GATEWAY training brand generates revenue through corporate in-house training, open public courses, consulting projects, experience salons, and online learning products (谷粒有课). Revenue recognized per course enrollment or project contract.
- Expert Network / HR Consultancy (专家网络): Connects clients with industry experts for advisory and consultation services, charged per engagement or project.
- Market Intelligence Reports (市场洞察/薪酬报告): Salary surveys and employment research reports published annually, distributed via report downloads and gated content for lead generation.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Customized service packages by industry vertical and role seniority |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
Connectus product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Connectus is a one-stop HR solutions provider offering executive search, recruitment process outsourcing (flexible staffing), talent development, expert network consultation, market insight research, and international talent acquisition services. The company serves mid-to-senior management hiring needs, large-volume and project-based recruitment, leadership development programs, and cross-border talent advisory for enterprises across China and the Asia-Pacific region. Its GATEWAY sub-brand delivers talent assessments, corporate training, open courses, and consulting projects.
Product overview
Connectus is a comprehensive human resources solutions provider offering an integrated platform of HR services spanning executive search, recruitment process outsourcing, talent development, expert network consultation, market intelligence, and international talent acquisition. The core offering includes Executive Search for mid-to-senior level positions and RPO/Flexible Staffing for volume hiring needs. The company's training sub-brand GATEWAY provides specialized talent development solutions including management consulting, corporate training, and leadership development. Market Insight services complement the portfolio with industry research and talent mapping capabilities. All services are delivered through a network of offices across major Chinese cities and Singapore.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- GATEWAY: Independent training brand offering talent evaluation, corporate training, consulting projects, open courses, and experience salons for enterprise talent development solutions
- 伊诺仕 (Initial)
- 迅佰汇 (Xunbaihui)
- 谷粒有课 (Guli Youke)
- HEADSTART
- Gateway Search
Quantifiable outcome
- Completed 21 positions across 8 cities for a Chinese oncology biotech in 5 months, becoming top-3 vendor
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Connectus
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Connectus technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Connectus partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators5 records
Recent moves11 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Connectus competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- PageGroup (Michael Page): PageGroup operates Michael Page and Page Personnel brands globally with strong China and APAC operations. Its permanent placement and RPO services for mid-to-senior professionals across industries closely mirror Connectus's core search and flexible staffing offerings.
- ManpowerGroup: ManpowerGroup is one of the world's largest staffing and RPO providers with substantial Greater China operations. It directly competes with Connectus's RPO / flexible staffing service line, especially for high-volume enterprise and project-based hiring.
- Hays plc: Hays is a global professional staffing and recruitment firm with deep APAC presence across China, Singapore, Hong Kong and other Asian markets. It directly competes with Connectus in executive search, RPO, and flexible staffing for mid-to-senior roles across the same enterprise verticals.
- Heidrick & Struggles: Heidrick & Struggles is a global executive search and leadership advisory firm with established Asia-Pacific operations. It competes for senior-level executive search and leadership consulting mandates, paralleling Connectus's higher-end search and GATEWAY executive development work.
- CGL Consulting: CGL is a leading Chinese executive search and HR solutions firm focused on senior management and C-suite placements, with deep sector specialization including consumer, industrial, and digital. It is one of Connectus's closest direct domestic competitors in the China executive search market.
- Korn Ferry: Korn Ferry is a global organizational consulting firm combining executive search, leadership development, and RPO/talent acquisition services. Its integrated one-stop HR model and APAC presence make it a direct comparable to Connectus's search + GATEWAY training + RPO platform.
- Robert Walters plc: Robert Walters is a UK-listed specialist professional recruitment firm with significant Asia-Pacific operations across China, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan and SEA. Its focus on mid-to-senior white-collar placement in finance, tech, and commerce directly overlaps with Connectus's executive search practice.
Regional players
- Zhaopin (recruitment): Zhaopin is one of China's largest online recruitment platforms serving enterprise customers with mid-to-senior white-collar roles. It overlaps with Connectus's online job portal and executive search offerings in the domestic Chinese market.
- 51job (now incorporated into Liepin): 51job was a leading Chinese online recruitment platform that merged with Liepin; Liepin is a China-focused mid-to-senior professional recruitment platform with high-end search capabilities. They compete directly with Connectus for executive and professional roles in mainland China.
Broad incumbents
- Randstad China: Randstad is a global HR services leader with a significant China presence spanning staffing, RPO, and talent solutions. While not a niche executive search firm like Connectus, it competes in the same enterprise RPO, flexible staffing, and talent development segments.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Connectus social profiles
Digital presenceConnectus financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Connectus leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Connectus subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Connectus funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Connectus M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Connectus
What does Connectus do?
Connectus is a one-stop HR solutions provider offering executive search, recruitment process outsourcing (flexible staffing), talent development, expert network consultation, market insight research, and international talent acquisition services. The company serves mid-to-senior management hiring needs, large-volume and project-based recruitment, leadership development programs, and cross-border talent advisory for enterprises across China and the Asia-Pacific region. Its GATEWAY sub-brand delivers talent assessments, corporate training, open courses, and consulting projects.
Is Connectus a public or private company?
Connectus is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Connectus founded?
Connectus was founded in 2012. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Connectus based?
Connectus is headquartered in Shanghai, China, in the Asia region.
How does Connectus make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Executive Search (高端猎头服务) is the primary driver. The others are recruitment Process Outsourcing (灵活用工/RPO), talent Development & Training (人才发展), expert Network / HR Consultancy (专家网络) and market Intelligence Reports (市场洞察/薪酬报告).
Who are Connectus's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are PageGroup (Michael Page), ManpowerGroup, Hays plc, Heidrick & Struggles, CGL Consulting, Korn Ferry and Robert Walters plc. Regional players are Zhaopin (recruitment) and 51job (now incorporated into Liepin). Randstad China is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Connectus have an API?
No public API is recorded for Connectus.
What industry is Connectus in?
Connectus's product category is Executive Search & HR Consulting Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPACAFAO, Remote & Global/Multilingual Direct Hire. Its NAICS code is 541612 and its SIC code is 8742.