Consultation
Kessler is a retained executive search firm placing senior leaders across technology, financial services, and life sciences.
Why choose us
We help boards and investors appoint the leaders who define their next stage.
Measured across executive and board placements still in post two years after appointment, tracked through structured post-placement reviews with every client.
Cumulative search industry awards received since 2003 across the Recruiter, TIARA, Global Recruiter, and Hunt Scanlon executive search awards programmes.
Founded in 2003, Kessler has built a specialist executive search firm over 23 years of focused work in technology, financial services, and consumer leadership.
Completed executive and board searches across the firm's London, New York, and San Francisco offices since the practice was founded in 2003.
.avif)
Have questions?
Read the answer.
What services does Kessler provide?
Kessler provides executive search and leadership advisory across six specialist offerings: retained executive search, leadership assessment, succession planning, board and non-executive director search, interim leadership, and talent mapping. The firm is based in London, New York, and San Francisco and works with private, venture-backed, and institutional clients across diverse markets.
How long does a typical search take?
Search timelines vary by scope and seniority. A retained executive search typically runs 8 to 16 weeks from brief to offer acceptance. A board or non-executive search runs 8 to 18 weeks depending on process. A leadership assessment runs 3 to 8 weeks. Succession planning runs 12 to 36 weeks. Interim placements move fastest, often within 1 to 3 weeks. We provide a detailed timeline estimate after the initial briefing.
How does the engagement process work?
Every engagement begins with an initial briefing, in person or online, to understand the role, the team, and the leadership gap. From there, we prepare a tailored proposal covering recommended scope, fees, timeline, and assessment approach for approval. We can begin the search once the appointment is signed and the initial retainer is settled.
Do you work on international searches?
Yes. Kessler is based in London, New York, and San Francisco and works with private, venture-backed, and institutional clients on searches across diverse international markets. We coordinate with research and assessment partners as required, and international mandates are run from the office closest to the role location.
What is your search process?
Our search process moves through six clearly defined stages: initial brief and market mapping, research and approach, assessment and shortlist, interviews and referencing, offer and negotiation, and onboarding review. Each stage concludes with a formal update meeting and a deliverable that the client approves before the next stage begins. The full process is described in our engagement handbook, shared with every client at appointment.
Do you handle confidential searches?
Yes. Confidential and replacement searches form a core part of our work. We run discreet mandates where an incumbent is still in post, where market sensitivity is high, or where the brief itself is commercially sensitive. Candidate approaches, references, and shortlists are handled with complete discretion, and we agree a confidentiality protocol with every client at the outset.
What seniority of roles do you search for?
Kessler focuses on senior leadership, executive, and board appointments, typically from Director and VP level through to C-suite and board roles. Our typical mandate is a functional or divisional leader, a C-suite hire, or a non-executive appointment. We are selective about more junior roles and take them on only where they form part of a broader leadership build-out for an existing client.
