Our 25th Anniversary Celebration!
2026 is a big milestone year: USA’s 250th anniversary, FIFA World Cup, Winter Olympics…and the 25th Anniversary celebration for Herd Freed Hartz! This year marks a defining milestone back in July 4th, 2001, when Jim Herd, Paul Freed & Kevin Hartz founded the Seattle executive search firm. Our mission when founded, and remains today, is to be the trusted partner for Northwest organizations to help them recruit top executives to give them a competitive edge, bring peace of mind and help them succeed.
Herd Freed Hartz has believed something simple but powerful: the right executive leader changes everything. Twenty-five years later, that belief remains at the heart of every search we take on—because great leadership doesn’t just fill roles; it shapes cultures, strengthens momentum, and accelerates performance.
25 YEARS OF RESULTS THAT MATTER
After completing 1000+ retained executive searches, and expanding our team – we have been honored with recognition as the Top Executive Search Firm in the Northwest by Forbes and CEOWORLD. With a proven track record across a mix of industry verticals and executive leadership roles – this has given us added insight with market trends and talent pools.
We’ve found that companies hiring an executive recruiter want results that matter:
- Quality & Speed – Our “Time to Candidate” Metric combines both by showing the number of days from search kickoff to the date the finalist candidate was presented who was hired. Our average is 37 days.
- Culture Fit – 95% of our placements are still in the role two years later. We deliver clients peace of mind by finding a great culture fit the team will enjoy working with. There is no keyword search for culture fit.
- Impact – We strategize measurable first year success outcomes and mutual expectations, we set up our placements for success. We’ve had a front row seat to many company success stories that have shaped our region and led innovation globally.
PACIFIC NORTHWEST ROOTS WITH NATIONWIDE REACH
Living in the Northwest with our families helps us understand our unique Pacific NW culture and also helps in selling candidates nationwide on relocation to the region. We love it here – coffee, hiking, skiing, camping, boating, wineries, fishing, concerts, sports (Seahawks, Mariners, Kraken) and July 4th firework shows on Lake Union.
Our story began at sea level on a South Lake Union houseboat, and today operates from the 71st floor of Seattle’s Columbia Tower—a fitting reflection of how far the firm has risen while staying grounded in its Pacific Northwest roots. Our Northwest mindset has shaped who we are: strategic, grounded, and built on long-term relationships. We are professional, but not stuffy.
The Northwest region is known for a distinctive blend of qualities—innovation and pragmatism, humility and ambition, deep community roots and global reach. It’s a place where companies scale rapidly, mission-driven organizations thrive, and leadership teams are expected to deliver with both purpose and performance.
A LEGACY OF RECRUITING EXCELLENCE & THE NEXT CHAPTER AHEAD
Celebrating a 25th anniversary isn’t only about honoring the past—it’s about reaffirming what’s still true. We are grateful, but know we are only as good as our last search. We strive to continue to innovate and add value for our clients and make the executive search process an inspiring experience.
Because what has always driven Herd Freed Hartz isn’t a spotlight or a headline. It’s the work: bringing the right leaders to the right organizations, at the right moment, to help shape what’s possible. We understand hiring decisions at the executive level carry lasting consequences—and the right leader can define a company’s trajectory for years.
Here’s to 25 years—and to the next chapter.
Let’s grab a coffee and tell us about your company’s story and 2026 goals.