As a leading executive search firm for London, we are a specialist executive recruitment agency with over 24 years of experience in placing senior commercial leaders within some of the capital’s most dynamic and growing businesses. Our team of expert executive recruiters is dedicated to identifying and securing top-tier talent for organisations across various industries, including marketing, product, digital,eCommerce and UX / UI & product design.
We provide flexible leadership solutions for permanent and interim placements. But there are more reasons why we’re respected by our clients.
Tell us more about your vacancy and what you are looking for in a candidate.
We’ll listen carefully to your needs and using our industry experience and vast network, we’ll connect you to real talent in the market.
Fill in this form or alternatively contact us on 01727 736690.
We understand how critical executive hires are for our clients’ growth. As a specialist London executive search firm, every assignment is led or overseen by a member of our management team, supported by experienced consultants and researchers with deep industry expertise.
As a specialist executive recruitment agency, we place senior-level roles on a retained search basis, with fees split across three stages: on engagement, on shortlist delivery, and on successful placement. This model allows our expert executive recruiters to conduct thorough competitor research and focused headhunting of high-calibre, passive candidates.
While we’re an established executive search firm in London, the rise of hybrid and remote work has expanded our reach. We now support clients in sourcing leadership talent not only across London, but also throughout the UK, Europe and North America.
View the 5 best executive search firms in London.
“The outcome of working with Intelligent People as a recruitment agency was very successful – we ended up securing a great candidate. I’m sure we would not have found this candidate through our own recruitment methods of job ads, so utilising an international executive search firm to headhunt for us, find the candidate and sell them on our business, was definitely the best strategy.”
Seth Weinberger, Chapter One
“We really liked that Intelligent People had a defined recruitment process: preparation, sourcing, approaching and engagement, selection and screening, shortlist, interview, and offer. The process was thorough and gave us a good feeling from the outset that Chris and his team knew what they were doing. “
Read full CMO recruitment case study
Andrew Watson, Goodfellow
“I would absolutely recommend Intelligent People to other businesses. In fact, I’ve already told several people about them when they needed help with recruiting at various levels. If I ever need assistance with finding B2C executives or other important commercial leadership roles, I will happily turn to their recruitment agency again.”
(Milk & More used Intelligent People to source and recruit their CCO)
Cat, Milk & More
Discover more in our helpful blogs about executive recruitment:
Executive assessments to identify leaders
Executive headhunting: 8 tips to shortlisting
A: Executive search is a specialised recruitment service used to identify and attract senior-level talent, often for leadership, C-suite or niche strategic roles.
Unlike traditional recruitment, executive search firms, like Intelligent People, proactively headhunt passive candidates who are not actively seeking a new role.
This involves in-depth market research, direct outreach and careful assessment to ensure a strong match on both experience and cultural fit.
Read more about how our London executive search consultancy identifies and secures top-tier talent for Product Management, Marketing and eCommerce and Digital.
A: To do this accurately, our Principal Consultants would ask you:
By taking all the above into account, we would be able to guide you on what package is going to secure the right candidate for you.
Read our guide to product, product design & UX, marketing and eCommerce salaries within our insights blog.
A: The best recruitment agencies combine deep market knowledge, a strong network of passive candidates and a proven track record of successful placements at a senior level.
For executive roles, the best agencies offer a retained search model, dedicating time to competitor analysis, targeted headhunting and rigorous shortlisting.
A top executive recruitment agency should also act as a strategic partner, advising on hiring strategy, salary benchmarking and long-term talent planning.
Discover how our London executive search firm delivers all of the above in our employer advice blogs.
A: A headhunter usually receives between 25%-35% of the candidate’s salary and bonus package, as commission for the headhunting and recruitment services that they provide.
Payment is usually required at 3 different stages: on engagement, on shortlist, on placement. Doing this, allows the headhunter to dedicate the necessary time to competitor research and sourcing the best candidates.
A: The simple answer is yes.
It’s almost impossible for internal recruitment teams to spend the amount of time that is required for headhunting. So the benefits of engaging an executive search firm or headhunter in London are clear – they already know the market well and have built up a network of talented candidates within the field, meaning it’s the most time and cost effective strategy.
A: The employer or business hiring a candidate pays the fees to the headhunting firm. This is normally done in 3 stages; on engagement of the service, on shortlist of candidates and on placement.
A: An executive search firm is a specialised recruitment agency that focuses on sourcing and placing high-level professionals, often for senior management, director or C-suite roles. These firms proactively identify and approach top talent, many of whom may not be actively seeking new opportunities.
A: A recruiter often works on a high volume of roles, including junior to mid-level positions, and typically sources from active job seekers. An executive search headhunter, on the other hand, takes a more targeted approach, sourcing passive candidates for senior-level positions that require niche expertise, confidentiality, or strategic alignment.
A: Yes, headhunters can be highly valuable, especially when hiring for hard-to-fill roles or senior positions. They offer deep industry networks, discreet candidate outreach and thorough vetting, ensuring that only the most suitable candidates are presented.
A: To find the best headhunter in London for your needs: Look for industry specialisation; Check client testimonials and case studies; Ask about their search methodology; Ensure they understand your company culture and goals; Choose a firm with local knowledge of the London executive market.
A: While both aim to fill job roles, executive search is a more specialised, strategic and proactive form of recruitment. It typically involves sourcing senior leaders, confidential outreach and a bespoke search process, whereas general recruitment often covers broader job levels and uses more reactive candidate sourcing.
A: An executive search in London usually takes between 6 to 12 weeks, depending on the role, industry and availability of qualified candidates. Urgent searches can sometimes be completed faster with an aggressive outreach strategy.
A: Executive search firms in London serve a wide range of industries, including: Financial Services; Technology; Healthcare; Legal & Professional Services; Retail & FMCG; Private Equity & Venture Capital
A: Yes. Many top executive search firms in London prioritise diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) by presenting balanced candidate shortlists and applying unbiased sourcing techniques to ensure access to diverse leadership talent.
