CEO Executive Search

A Track Record of CEO Recruiting Success

The right CEO doesn’t just run your company—they revolutionize it. We specialize in finding the 1% of executives who combine visionary thinking with flawless execution. Our proven methodology has placed leaders who’ve built billion-dollar companies, led successful IPOs, and transformed entire industries.

Executive Search for CEO Talent with Impact and Integrity

At Herd Freed Hartz, we specialize in helping Northwest organizations identify and secure exceptional CEO and President level leaders who can chart a clear path forward in a world of complexity. In today’s dynamic market, CEO transitions are more than a milestone—they’re a strategic inflection point. According to the Conference Board’s 2024 CEO Succession Practices report, CEO turnover in the U.S. hit a two-decade high last year, reflecting the growing demand for leaders who can navigate uncertainty, drive innovation, and build resilient cultures. Our team brings deep regional expertise, a curated network of executive talent, and a consultative approach that ensures a CEO placement becomes a long-term success story—not just a headline. We have built strong relationships across mission-driven sectors, enabling us to connect organizations with top talent and industry leaders.

The Unique Challenge of CEO Search

Recruiting a CEO is different from filling any other leadership role. Boards must align around vision and priorities, balance internal and external candidates, and often manage sensitive transitions. The involvement of board members and the entire board is critical to ensuring a successful executive search process. Cultural fit is paramount, yet hard to define. Understanding a company’s culture is essential, as it directly impacts the hiring process and the long-term success of the placement. CEOs today must not only deliver results but inspire confidence—internally with staff and externally with customers, investors, and communities. The Harvard Business Review highlights that 70% of failed CEO placements result not from skills gaps but from misaligned expectations or organizational mismatch. With decades of executive search experience and a track record of excellence in successful placements, we help clients avoid those costly missteps through a tailored, transparent, and human-centered search process.

Recruiting a CEO for Private-equity backed CTL in Portland, OR it was key to find someone who knew the education technology marketplace and could get quick initial traction.

Insights-Driven Search Meets Personal Touch

We combine data with instinct. Our CEO searches are guided by market intelligence on compensation trends, leadership traits in demand, and board governance best practices. We provide clients with access to top talent and leverage our ability to identify and attract top candidates, including passive candidates who may not be actively searching. Yet what sets us apart is our ability to engage high-caliber executives with warmth, clarity, and authenticity. Our executive search consultants and executive search recruiters play a vital role in identifying the right leaders and best leaders for your organization, ensuring a strong leadership team. Many of the candidates we place weren’t actively looking—they were inspired by the opportunity, the mission, and how we told the story. That’s why our placements succeed: because they’re not just qualified, they’re genuinely excited to lead.

This strategy helped in landing the new President at Markey Machine to the Executive Director at a non-profit like United Catcher Boats. Our executive search firm has experience serving companies across various industries, including healthcare executive recruiting, higher education recruiting, and business development roles, allowing us to meet the unique needs of each organization.

A Trusted Search Partner for CEO Succession and Growth

We’ve led CEO placements for fast-growing startups, legacy family businesses, nonprofits, and mid-market enterprises throughout the Northwest. Whether you’re navigating succession for a founder-led company, driving turnaround strategy, or scaling for national growth, we understand how to guide board chairs, search committees, and investors through each step. We serve clients in different markets and industries, with a focus on diversity and inclusive leadership across groups. Clients value our blend of executive-level polish and a down-to-earth style. We keep the process focused, candid, and engaging—because when the stakes are this high, you need a partner who brings clarity and momentum. Our resources and consultants, combined with our search firm approach, provide clients with access to valuable insights and a streamlined executive search process. Recruiting the next CEO for DairyWest utilized this key factor for success.

Leading the Next Generation of Leadership

The role of the CEO continues to evolve. Today’s top executives must be purpose-driven, tech-fluent, and emotionally intelligent. Deloitte’s 2024 Global Human Capital Trends report notes that 86% of organizations now prioritize “human-centered leadership” at the top. At Herd Freed Hartz, we embrace that vision. Succession planning, recruitment, and searching for a new CEO or C-suite leader are essential to shaping the future of your organization and ensuring long-term success. Our commitment to excellence, our role as partners to our clients, and our focus on organizational culture and leadership team development set us apart in the executive search industry. Our CEO search work is about more than filling a role—it’s about finding someone who can elevate your organization’s mission, people, and performance. Let’s find the right leader to help write your next chapter.

As an executive search firm, our approach ultimately helps organizations identify the right person for the job, ensuring a great leader is present to lead your company into the future.

Clients partner with Herd Freed Hartz for a few key reasons:

Proven Track Record 

Since 2001, our firm has successfully worked with 400+ Northwest clients on nationwide, executive-level searches. Forbes also recognized us as the “Top Executive Search Firm in the Northwest” for 3 years in a row.

Results That Matter 

We deliver the candidate quality and speed you are looking for. Our “Time to Candidate” average over the last 3 years is 37 days. 95% of candidates we place are still in the role 18 months later. We deliver a high ROI and peace of mind by ensuring you are surrounded by an “A-player” executive leadership team, giving you a competitive advantage.

Recruiting Partnership 

Clients enjoy our trusted, long-term partnership that goes beyond just filling the role. We provide customized strategic recruiting insights, methodologies, and best practices, which can be used across all your hiring needs. We believe in the “art of recruiting” by crafting your story in a compelling way, helping you stand out from the pack and attract top-talent you would not find on your own. Our goal is to make working with our team a professional and fun experience.