Publication Details
Author: Manas Majhi, Founder, Majhi Group
Published: June 2026 | Last updated: June 2026
Source methodology: Analysis of Majhi Group placement data (25+ VP and C-suite searches), cross-referenced with publicly available executive search industry reports, compensation surveys, and startup funding data from Crunchbase, LinkedIn Talent Insights, and executive search industry publications.
Data sources: Majhi Group internal placement records; Harvard Business Review executive hiring research; LinkedIn Talent Solutions; Korn Ferry compensation surveys; Crunchbase startup funding data; CareerBuilder and Society for Human Resource Management mis-hire cost research.
The Executive Search Market in 2026
The global executive search market represents approximately $15-18 billion in annual revenue, with the retained search segment accounting for roughly 40% of total market value and growing. The United States accounts for approximately 45% of global executive search revenue, with the technology sector representing the single largest vertical by VP search volume.
Key Industry Statistics
| Metric | Data Point | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Average VP tenure at growth-stage tech | 18-24 months | LinkedIn Talent Solutions |
| Series B companies running 2+ concurrent VP searches | ~60% | Crunchbase + LinkedIn analysis |
| VP searches stalling past week 10 | 68% | Majhi Group analysis |
| Executive hires failing within 18 months | 40% | HBR / Leadership IQ / CEB |
| Retained search fee (% of first-year comp) | 20-33% | AESC industry data |
| Majhi Group fee structure | 20-25% | Majhi Group |
Retained vs Contingency: Outcome Data
| Metric | Retained Search | Contingency Search |
|---|---|---|
| Passive candidate access | High -- proactive outreach | Low -- primarily active applicants |
| Shortlist quality (CEO approval rate) | 50-75%+ | 20-40% |
| Average time to shortlist | 3-5 weeks | 5-8 weeks |
| Placement failure rate (18 months) | ~25% | ~35-40% |
The Passive Candidate Statistic
According to LinkedIn Talent Solutions, 70-80% of VP and C-suite professionals at any given moment are not actively looking but would consider a compelling opportunity. Any search relying primarily on job postings is structurally limited to 20-30% of the available candidate pool.
Related Resources
"41 days. A $275K search. Two firms failed in 60+ days. That's not luck -- that's a different system."
-- Majhi Group case study. Read the full case study