Executive search firms in New Zealand:Which are most popular?

Name: Executive search firms in New Zealand: Which are searched most?
Creator: Brandwave
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

In October 2026, Robert Walters was the most searched executive search firm in New Zealand, accounting for 25.8% of all searches among the 13 firms tracked by the Brandwave Brand Demand Index. When we checked with ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews, JacksonStone & Partners showed up in every answer. Kerridge & Partners was recommended most often, coming first in two out of three responses.

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Top executive search firms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In Brandwave's three ChatGPT questions, JacksonStone & Partners appeared every time. Kerridge & Partners was recommended most often, coming first in two out of three answers. Johnson Partners was second, and Sheffield was third. Hobson Leavy, which ranked third in searches, was not mentioned at all.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

How many AI answers named each brand
Brand	ChatGPT	Answers that named it
JacksonStone & Partners	Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers	3 of 3
Robert Walters	Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers	2 of 3
Korn Ferry	Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers	2 of 3
Kerridge & Partners	Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers	2 of 3
Sheffield	Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers	2 of 3
Johnson Partners	Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers	2 of 3
Farrow Jamieson	Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answers	1 of 3
Ichor Leadership Search	Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answers	1 of 3
Hobson Leavy	Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answers	0 of 3
Inside Recruitment	Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answers	0 of 3
Alexander James	Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answers	0 of 3
Sprout People	Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answers	0 of 3
Decipher Group	Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answers	0 of 3

JacksonStone & Partners3 of 3Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers
Robert Walters2 of 3Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers
Korn Ferry2 of 3Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers
Kerridge & Partners2 of 3Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers
Sheffield2 of 3Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers
Johnson Partners2 of 3Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers
Farrow Jamieson1 of 3Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answers
Ichor Leadership Search1 of 3Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answers
Hobson Leavy0 of 3Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answers
Inside Recruitment0 of 3Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answers
Alexander James0 of 3Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answers
Sprout People0 of 3Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answers
Decipher Group0 of 3Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answers

See every answer about executive search firms

3 answers

Asked ChatGPT
“Which executive search firm should I hire in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best executive search firms in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best executive search firm in New Zealand for senior leaders?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“director search nz”
Google showed no AI Overview for this search.
Searched Google, AI Overview
“executive search firms nz”
Google showed no AI Overview for this search.

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 20, 2026.

Which executive search firms do people search for most?

This chart shows how often people search Google for each executive search firm by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 13 executive search firms we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.

Share of searches among executive search firms in New Zealand, by month

Month	Robert Walters	Korn Ferry	Hobson Leavy	Kerridge & Partners	Inside Recruitment	JacksonStone & Partners	Alexander James	Sheffield	Sprout People	Decipher Group	Farrow Jamieson	Johnson Partners	Ichor Leadership Search
Nov 2025	26.6%	8%	10%	9.8%	10%	9.4%	7.8%	4.5%	3.3%	3.1%	3.7%	2.9%	1%
Dec 2025	28.5%	9.1%	9.4%	9.1%	7.4%	8%	7.7%	5.1%	2.8%	3.1%	7.7%	1.4%	0.57%
Jan 2026	24.7%	7.4%	9.3%	9.1%	9.3%	8.2%	8.9%	5.1%	3.4%	6.3%	4.2%	2.7%	1.3%
Feb 2026	29.4%	7.2%	11%	10.8%	9%	7.3%	8.6%	5%	2.8%	3.1%	3.3%	2%	0.55%
Mar 2026	24.2%	8.9%	13.4%	8.9%	11%	8.5%	7.1%	4.1%	4.2%	2.6%	4.2%	2.6%	0.3%
Apr 2026	28.2%	8.5%	10.7%	8.5%	8.6%	9.9%	6.9%	4.8%	4.8%	3.2%	3.9%	1.9%	0.35%
May 2026	27.4%	8.2%	8.6%	8.2%	10.3%	9.1%	6.9%	5.8%	3.9%	3.1%	5.7%	2.4%	0.34%
Jun 2026	27.2%	8.1%	10.2%	6.6%	10.2%	11%	8%	5.6%	3.2%	3.6%	3.1%	2.9%	0.34%
Jul 2026	27.4%	10.1%	8.4%	6.7%	6.7%	13.7%	9.6%	3.8%	3.2%	3.1%	3.8%	2.9%	0.85%
Aug 2026	22.7%	8.4%	8.6%	8.4%	8.6%	11.4%	8.9%	7%	4.2%	3.8%	4.9%	2.4%	0.7%
Sep 2026	23.1%	8.5%	10.7%	8.5%	10.7%	11%	6.4%	7.1%	5%	3.2%	3.2%	2.5%	0.18%
Oct 2026	25.8%	11.7%	9.7%	9.5%	7.9%	7.9%	6.7%	5.4%	4.6%	4.4%	3.2%	2.2%	0.99%

Rank	Brand	Share of searches	Estimated monthly branded searches	vs prior month	Share change
1, held 1st	Robert Walters	25.8%	1.3K	0%	+2.7 points
2, moved from 6th to 2nd	Korn Ferry	11.7%	590	+22.9%	+3.2 pointsmoved from 6th to 2nd
3, held 3rd	Hobson Leavy	9.7%	490	-18.3%	-0.9 points
4, moved from 5th to 4th	Kerridge & Partners	9.5%	480	0%	+1 pointsmoved from 5th to 4th
5, moved from 4th to 5th	Inside Recruitment	7.9%	400	-33.3%	-2.7 pointsmoved from 4th to 5th
6, moved from 2nd to 6th	JacksonStone & Partners	7.9%	400	-35.5%	-3.1 pointsmoved from 2nd to 6th
7, moved from 8th to 7th	Alexander James	6.7%	340	-5.6%	+0.4 pointsmoved from 8th to 7th
8, moved from 7th to 8th	Sheffield	5.4%	270	-32.5%	-1.7 pointsmoved from 7th to 8th
9, held 9th	Sprout People	4.6%	230	-17.9%	-0.4 points
10, held 10th	Decipher Group	4.4%	220	+22.2%	+1.2 points
11, held 11th	Farrow Jamieson	3.2%	160	-11.1%	0 points
12, held 12th	Johnson Partners	2.2%	110	-21.4%	-0.3 points
13, held 13th	Ichor Leadership Search	0.99%	50	+400%	+0.8 points

1.Robert Walters
25.8%
Held 1st. 1.3K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +2.7 points.
2.Korn Ferry
11.7%
Moved from 6th to 2nd. 590 estimated branded searches, +22.9% vs prior month. Share +3.2 points.
3.Hobson Leavy
9.7%
Held 3rd. 490 estimated branded searches, -18.3% vs prior month. Share -0.9 points.
4.Kerridge & Partners
9.5%
Moved from 5th to 4th. 480 estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +1 points.
5.Inside Recruitment
7.9%
Moved from 4th to 5th. 400 estimated branded searches, -33.3% vs prior month. Share -2.7 points.
6.JacksonStone & Partners
7.9%
Moved from 2nd to 6th. 400 estimated branded searches, -35.5% vs prior month. Share -3.1 points.
7.Alexander James
6.7%
Moved from 8th to 7th. 340 estimated branded searches, -5.6% vs prior month. Share +0.4 points.
8.Sheffield
5.4%
Moved from 7th to 8th. 270 estimated branded searches, -32.5% vs prior month. Share -1.7 points.
9.Sprout People
4.6%
Held 9th. 230 estimated branded searches, -17.9% vs prior month. Share -0.4 points.
10.Decipher Group
4.4%
Held 10th. 220 estimated branded searches, +22.2% vs prior month. Share +1.2 points.
11.Farrow Jamieson
3.2%
Held 11th. 160 estimated branded searches, -11.1% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
12.Johnson Partners
2.2%
Held 12th. 110 estimated branded searches, -21.4% vs prior month. Share -0.3 points.
13.Ichor Leadership Search
0.99%
Held 13th. 50 estimated branded searches, +400% vs prior month. Share +0.8 points.

Which brand is most popular in search among executive search firms in New Zealand?

13 brands

In October 2026, Robert Walters was the most searched among executive search firms in New Zealand, with an estimated 1.3K branded searches, 25.8% of all searches for the 13 tracked by the Brandwave Brand Demand Index. Korn Ferry is in 2nd place, 14.1 percentage points behind at 11.7%.

New Zealand executive search firms, last 12 months ending October 2026
Brand	Share of searches	Peak	Low	Rank
Robert Walters	26.6% → 25.8%	29.4%Feb 2026	22.7%Aug 2026	1st
Korn Ferry	8% → 11.7%	11.7%Oct 2026	7.2%Feb 2026	6th → 2nd
Hobson Leavy	10% → 9.7%	13.4%Mar 2026	8.4%Jul 2026	2nd → 3rd
Kerridge & Partners	9.8% → 9.5%	10.8%Feb 2026	6.6%Jun 2026	4th
Inside Recruitment	10% → 7.9%	11%Mar 2026	6.7%Jul 2026	3rd → 5th
JacksonStone & Partners	9.4% → 7.9%	13.7%Jul 2026	7.3%Feb 2026	5th → 6th
Alexander James	7.8% → 6.7%	9.6%Jul 2026	6.4%Sep 2026	7th
Sheffield	4.5% → 5.4%	7.1%Sep 2026	3.8%Jul 2026	8th
Sprout People	3.3% → 4.6%	5%Sep 2026	2.8%Feb 2026	10th → 9th
Decipher Group	3.1% → 4.4%	6.3%Jan 2026	2.6%Mar 2026	11th → 10th
Farrow Jamieson	3.7% → 3.2%	7.7%Dec 2025	3.1%Jun 2026	9th → 11th
Johnson Partners	2.9% → 2.2%	2.9%Jul 2026	1.4%Dec 2025	12th
Ichor Leadership Search	1% → 0.99%	1.3%Jan 2026	0.18%Sep 2026	13th

Each finding as a sentence

Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Robert Walters’ share of searches among executive search firms in New Zealand decreased from 26.6% to 25.8%.
Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Korn Ferry’s share of searches among executive search firms in New Zealand increased from 8% to 11.7%.
Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Inside Recruitment’s share of searches among executive search firms in New Zealand decreased from 10% to 7.9%.
Across the 12 months ending October 2026, JacksonStone & Partners’ share of searches among executive search firms in New Zealand decreased from 9.4% to 7.9%.
Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Alexander James’ share of searches among executive search firms in New Zealand decreased from 7.8% to 6.7%.
Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Sheffield’s share of searches among executive search firms in New Zealand increased from 4.5% to 5.4%.
Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Sprout People’s share of searches among executive search firms in New Zealand increased from 3.3% to 4.6%.
Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Decipher Group’s share of searches among executive search firms in New Zealand increased from 3.1% to 4.4%.
Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Farrow Jamieson’s share of searches among executive search firms in New Zealand decreased from 3.7% to 3.2%.
Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Johnson Partners’ share of searches among executive search firms in New Zealand decreased from 2.9% to 2.2%.
Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Robert Walters’ share of searches among executive search firms in New Zealand peaked at 29.4% in February 2026 and was lowest at 22.7% in August 2026.
Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Korn Ferry’s share of searches among executive search firms in New Zealand peaked at 11.7% in October 2026 and was lowest at 7.2% in February 2026.
Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Hobson Leavy’s share of searches among executive search firms in New Zealand peaked at 13.4% in March 2026 and was lowest at 8.4% in July 2026.
Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Kerridge & Partners’ share of searches among executive search firms in New Zealand peaked at 10.8% in February 2026 and was lowest at 6.6% in June 2026.
Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Inside Recruitment’s share of searches among executive search firms in New Zealand peaked at 11% in March 2026 and was lowest at 6.7% in July 2026.
Across the 12 months ending October 2026, JacksonStone & Partners’ share of searches among executive search firms in New Zealand peaked at 13.7% in July 2026 and was lowest at 7.3% in February 2026.
Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Alexander James’ share of searches among executive search firms in New Zealand peaked at 9.6% in July 2026 and was lowest at 6.4% in September 2026.
Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Sheffield’s share of searches among executive search firms in New Zealand peaked at 7.1% in September 2026 and was lowest at 3.8% in July 2026.
Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Sprout People’s share of searches among executive search firms in New Zealand peaked at 5% in September 2026 and was lowest at 2.8% in February 2026.
Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Decipher Group’s share of searches among executive search firms in New Zealand peaked at 6.3% in January 2026 and was lowest at 2.6% in March 2026.
Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Farrow Jamieson’s share of searches among executive search firms in New Zealand peaked at 7.7% in December 2025 and was lowest at 3.1% in June 2026.
Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Johnson Partners’ share of searches among executive search firms in New Zealand peaked at 2.9% in July 2026 and was lowest at 1.4% in December 2025.
Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Ichor Leadership Search’s share of searches among executive search firms in New Zealand peaked at 1.3% in January 2026 and was lowest at 0.18% in September 2026.
Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Korn Ferry rose from 6th to 2nd among executive search firms in New Zealand.
Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Hobson Leavy fell from 2nd to 3rd among executive search firms in New Zealand.
Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Inside Recruitment fell from 3rd to 5th among executive search firms in New Zealand.
Across the 12 months ending October 2026, JacksonStone & Partners fell from 5th to 6th among executive search firms in New Zealand.
Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Sprout People rose from 10th to 9th among executive search firms in New Zealand.
Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Decipher Group rose from 11th to 10th among executive search firms in New Zealand.
Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Farrow Jamieson fell from 9th to 11th among executive search firms in New Zealand.
Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Kerridge & Partners and Ichor Leadership Search held steady: their share of searches among executive search firms in New Zealand each moved less than 0.5 percentage points.

How did search popularity change for New Zealand executive search firms in October 2026?

8 changes

In October 2026, Korn Ferry overtook JacksonStone & Partners and 3 others to rank 2nd among executive search firms in New Zealand, with 11.7% of the searches.
In October 2026, Kerridge & Partners overtook JacksonStone & Partners and Inside Recruitment to rank 4th among executive search firms in New Zealand, with 9.5% of the searches.
In October 2026, Robert Walters gained share of searches among executive search firms in New Zealand, from 23.1% to 25.8%.
In October 2026, Decipher Group gained share of searches among executive search firms in New Zealand, from 3.2% to 4.4%.
In October 2026, Ichor Leadership Search gained share of searches among executive search firms in New Zealand, from 0.18% to 0.99%.
In October 2026, JacksonStone & Partners lost share of searches among executive search firms in New Zealand, from 11% to 7.9%.
In October 2026, Inside Recruitment lost share of searches among executive search firms in New Zealand, from 10.7% to 7.9%.
In October 2026, Sheffield lost share of searches among executive search firms in New Zealand, from 7.1% to 5.4%.

How are branded searches counted for executive search firms?

23 search terms

Each brand's share of searches among executive search firms comes from the terms listed under its name. When people mostly search for a brand because of something else it sells, only the searches that name this product count here.