Frontage Search Partners
Frontage Search Partners is a Chicago-based boutique retained executive search firm placing senior leaders (CEO, CFO, VP) for middle-market PE-backed, family-owned, and publicly traded companies across industrial, manufacturing, consumer, packaging, and business services sectors.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Frontage Search Partners does
Frontage Search Partners is a Chicago-based boutique retained executive search firm founded by Jamie Baisley (Managing Director) and Pat Conway (Search Consultant Partner). The firm specializes in retained executive management assignments for middle-market companies, with primary client segments including private equity-backed portfolio companies, family-owned businesses, and publicly traded organizations across the industrial, manufacturing, consumer, packaging, distribution, and business services sectors. Functional coverage spans finance, general management, sales and marketing, supply chain/operations, human resources, and technology, with placements ranging from CEO and CFO to VP-level roles.
The firm operates on a retained executive search professional services model, executing senior-level placements through direct, principal-led engagement rather than junior handoff. Its go-to-market is relationship-driven and consultative, built on long-term partnership with PE sponsors and operating-company leaders; differentiated selling points include a no off-limits target list policy, deep sector target lists, and a cost-effective boutique structure compared to larger search firms. The firm is founder-owned and privately held with no disclosed institutional investment, parent company, or external ownership changes, and maintains a single office at 676 North Michigan Ave, Chicago, serving clients in the United States and Canada.
There is no proprietary technology platform, software product, or distinct service module disclosed; Frontage Search Partners delivers a single unified service (retained executive search) through the personal networks and execution of its two named principals. Marketing relies on a professional website, an active LinkedIn company page, and referral networks within the middle-market PE and private-company ecosystem. Approximately 30 client logos are publicly referenced, including PE firms (Trivest, Shore Capital, Mill Point, Windhover Capital, Vestar, Union Capital) and middle-market operators (Waupaca Foundry, Liberty Safe, Crown Bakeries, West Madison Foods, Valtir, Japs-Olson, among others).
Frontage Search Partners firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Frontage Search Partners
- Legal name
- Frontage Search Partners
- Website
- https://frontagesearch.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Frontage Search Partners is a Chicago-based boutique retained executive search firm placing senior leaders (CEO, CFO, VP) for middle-market PE-backed, family-owned, and publicly traded companies across industrial, manufacturing, consumer, packaging, and business services sectors.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Frontage Search Partners industry classification
Industry- 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 primary industry
- C-Suite & Board Search (BPACAAAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Confidential/Replacement & Succession Search (BPACAAAK), Functional Leadership Search (HR/Finance/Legal/Marketing/Sales/Ops) (BPACAAAB)
Keywords
Where Frontage Search Partners is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Frontage Search Partners business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Retained Executive Search: Retained executive management search assignments for middle-market companies. The firm operates on a retained search model, placing executives in permanent positions across various functions including finance, general management, sales and marketing, supply chain, operations, human resources, and technology.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Frontage Search Partners product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Frontage Search Partners is a boutique retained executive search firm that identifies, recruits, and places senior-level executives and key non-executive talent for middle-market companies. The firm specializes in private equity-backed, family-owned, and publicly traded organizations across industrial, manufacturing, consumer, packaging, distribution, and business services sectors, covering functions including finance, general management, sales and marketing, supply chain and operations, human resources, and technology.
Product overview
Frontage Search Partners is a boutique executive recruiting firm offering a single unified service: retained executive search and placement for middle-market companies. The firm specializes in identifying and placing high-caliber executives for private equity-backed, family-owned, and publicly traded organizations across industrial, manufacturing, consumer, packaging, distribution, and business services sectors. No distinct product modules, software offerings, or named service packages are identified in the available source material — the company operates as a traditional professional services firm focused on retained executive management assignments.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Retained Executive Search Services Retained executive management search assignments placing senior leaders (CEO, CFO, SVP of Sales/Marketing, VP of HR, and other C-suite and executive roles) for middle-market private equity-backed, family-owned, and publicly traded organizations across industrial, manufacturing, consumer, packaging, distribution, and business services sectors. Functional coverage includes finance, general management, sales and marketing, supply chain and operations, human resources, and technology.
Companies that use Frontage Search Partners
Customer profileNamed customers31 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Frontage Search Partners technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Frontage Search Partners partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators1 record
Recent moves3 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Frontage Search Partners competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Egon Zehnder: Global executive search and leadership advisory firm with strong PE and industrial sector presence. Comparable on retained C-suite search with similar relationship-driven partner model, though at much larger scale.
- Spencer Stuart: Premier global executive search firm with strong PE relationships and C-suite practice. Competes for the same C-suite and board mandates but at significantly larger scale and broader geographic footprint.
- Korn Ferry: Largest executive search firm globally with deep PE practice and proprietary assessment tools. Overlaps with Frontage on retained C-suite mandates but offers much broader talent management and consulting services.
- Russell Reynolds Associates: Global executive search firm focused on senior leadership across multiple industries. Competes for C-suite and PE-backed mandates similar to Frontage, with comparable functional coverage in finance, operations, and sales.
- Heidrick & Struggles: One of the largest global executive search firms with extensive PE and middle-market coverage. Comparable in service offering (retained C-suite search) but operates at much larger scale with broader portfolio including consulting and advisory.
Emerging players
- WittKieffer: Executive search firm with strong healthcare, education, and industrial practices. Comparable on retained search model and middle-market focus, with particular overlap given Frontage's healthcare clients (Merical, MMG).
Direct peers
- Stanton Chase: Global retained executive search firm with boutique-style regional partners. Closely comparable to Frontage in partner-led model and middle-market PE focus, though with broader international footprint.
- Lucas Group: North American executive search firm with strong middle-market and industrial/manufacturing presence. Comparable to Frontage on sector focus and middle-market PE clientele, though broader in functional and geographic coverage.
- DHR International: Global executive search firm with deep middle-market and PE-backed practice. Directly comparable as Frontage's founder Jamie Baisley previously led a team of 50+ associates at DHR/JobPlex, indicating similar operating model and client overlap.
- Salveson Stetson Group: Boutique retained executive search firm specializing in PE-backed and middle-market companies. Highly comparable operating model to Frontage with similar sector focus and principal-led execution.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Frontage Search Partners social profiles
Digital presenceFrontage Search Partners financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Frontage Search Partners leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Frontage Search Partners funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frontage Search Partners 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 Frontage Search Partners
What does Frontage Search Partners do?
Frontage Search Partners is a boutique retained executive search firm that identifies, recruits, and places senior-level executives and key non-executive talent for middle-market companies. The firm specializes in private equity-backed, family-owned, and publicly traded organizations across industrial, manufacturing, consumer, packaging, distribution, and business services sectors, covering functions including finance, general management, sales and marketing, supply chain and operations, human resources, and technology.
Is Frontage Search Partners a public or private company?
Frontage Search Partners is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Frontage Search Partners founded?
Frontage Search Partners was founded in 2014. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Frontage Search Partners based?
Frontage Search Partners is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Frontage Search Partners make money?
One revenue line is on record: retained Executive Search.
Who are Frontage Search Partners's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Egon Zehnder, Spencer Stuart, Korn Ferry, Russell Reynolds Associates and Heidrick & Struggles. WittKieffer is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Stanton Chase, Lucas Group, DHR International and Salveson Stetson Group.
Does Frontage Search Partners have an API?
No public API is recorded for Frontage Search Partners.
What industry is Frontage Search Partners in?
Frontage Search Partners's product category is Executive Search Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPACAAAA, C-Suite & Board Search, with a secondary code of BPACAAAK, Confidential/Replacement & Succession Search. Its NAICS code is 561312 and its SIC code is 7361.