When a global firm is the right call
Public-company CEO and board searches, searches across many countries at once, or when your board wants a global brand on the search.
Firm comparison
Looking for a Korn Ferry alternative? Here's an honest comparison.
Korn Ferry is one of the world's largest executive search firms. For many leadership hires, a founder-led boutique can be the better fit, at a lower fee. Here's how the two compare, using the fee terms Korn Ferry describes in its own SEC filings.
Last reviewed
Korn Ferry
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plus an expense charge
| Korn Ferry (published terms) | Talent Authority Partners | |
|---|---|---|
| Fee | Generally one-third of the estimated first-year cash compensation | 25% of first-year compensation |
| Added on top | A percentage of the fee to cover indirect engagement-related expenses | Engagement fee credited toward the placement fee on Executive, Specialized and Professional Search |
| Placement fee invoiced | Billed as a search retainer | On your new leader's start date |
When TAP is the better fit
Manager to C-suite hires where you want the founder on your search personally, a private website on every candidate before you meet them, and a 25% fee instead of one-third plus expenses.
Search fee calculator
Global-firm depth. Without the global-firm fee.
Move the slider to the role's first-year compensation and see what you save.
Starting points only. Adjust to your role.
$
Up to $2,000,000
Leadership hires this year
$100,000$750,000+
Typical executive search firm $83,333, all billed before your hire starts. Talent Authority Partners $62,500, with $6,000 to start and $56,500 after your hire starts. $20,833 less in fees, $77,333 less paid before your hire starts.
Assumes a package paid in cash. Fee bases differ (cash compensation versus total compensation), so compare exact totals using written proposals. Estimates only; the signed agreement governs all fees.
What you get with TAP
A private website on every candidate we present
Every finalist is presented in the same format, so your hiring team compares like with like.
Founder-led, on every search
TAP is founder-led: Jonathan leads every search.
A replacement guarantee on every package
Replacement Candidate Guarantees are conditional and governed by the signed agreement.
Tell us who you need to hire next.
A straight conversation about the role and whether TAP is the right fit to run it.
Korn Ferry is a trademark of its owner. Talent Authority Partners is not affiliated with Korn Ferry. Fee information comes from Korn Ferry's SEC filings; actual terms vary by engagement. Source: Korn Ferry, Form 10-Q for the period ended October 31, 2025.