Robert Walters vs Sheffield:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Robert Walters had more branded searches than Sheffield among executive search firms in New Zealand. Robert Walters had about 1,300 branded searches, while Sheffield had 400. Robert Walters made up 23.1% of all executive search firm searches we track, and Sheffield accounted for 7.1%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about executive search firms, Robert Walters and Sheffield each appeared in two of the three answers. Sheffield was mentioned before Robert Walters in two out of three answers.
Who do people search for more?
Robert Walters, about 3 searches for every 1 for Sheffield
Who does AI mention more?
Both were mentioned in 2 of 3 answers.
Who does AI recommend more?
Sheffield, named ahead of Robert Walters in 2 of 3 answers
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Top executive search firms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions, Robert Walters and Sheffield were each mentioned in two out of three: in two of the three ChatGPT answers. Sheffield was listed before Robert Walters in two out of three answers.
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.
JacksonStone & Partners3 of 3Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers- Robert Walters2 of 3Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- Kerridge & Partners2 of 3Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers
Korn Ferry2 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
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.
Is Robert Walters or Sheffield more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Robert Walters and Sheffield 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 by month for Robert Walters, Sheffield. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Robert Walters | JacksonStone & Partners | Hobson Leavy | Inside Recruitment | Kerridge & Partners | Korn Ferry | Sheffield | Alexander James | Sprout People | Decipher Group | Farrow Jamieson | Johnson Partners | Ichor Leadership Search |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 27% | 8.9% | 10.1% | 8.3% | 8.1% | 8.1% | 5.6% | 7.9% | 3.9% | 4.6% | 4.6% | 2.4% | 0.67% |
| Nov 2025 | 26.6% | 9.4% | 10% | 10% | 9.8% | 8% | 4.5% | 7.8% | 3.3% | 3.1% | 3.7% | 2.9% | 1% |
| Dec 2025 | 28.5% | 8% | 9.4% | 7.4% | 9.1% | 9.1% | 5.1% | 7.7% | 2.8% | 3.1% | 7.7% | 1.4% | 0.57% |
| Jan 2026 | 24.7% | 8.2% | 9.3% | 9.3% | 9.1% | 7.4% | 5.1% | 8.9% | 3.4% | 6.3% | 4.2% | 2.7% | 1.3% |
| Feb 2026 | 29.4% | 7.3% | 11% | 9% | 10.8% | 7.2% | 5% | 8.6% | 2.8% | 3.1% | 3.3% | 2% | 0.55% |
| Mar 2026 | 24.2% | 8.5% | 13.4% | 11% | 8.9% | 8.9% | 4.1% | 7.1% | 4.2% | 2.6% | 4.2% | 2.6% | 0.3% |
| Apr 2026 | 28.2% | 9.9% | 10.7% | 8.6% | 8.5% | 8.5% | 4.8% | 6.9% | 4.8% | 3.2% | 3.9% | 1.9% | 0.35% |
| May 2026 | 27.4% | 9.1% | 8.6% | 10.3% | 8.2% | 8.2% | 5.8% | 6.9% | 3.9% | 3.1% | 5.7% | 2.4% | 0.34% |
| Jun 2026 | 27.2% | 11% | 10.2% | 10.2% | 6.6% | 8.1% | 5.6% | 8% | 3.2% | 3.6% | 3.1% | 2.9% | 0.34% |
| Jul 2026 | 27.4% | 13.7% | 8.4% | 6.7% | 6.7% | 10.1% | 3.8% | 9.6% | 3.2% | 3.1% | 3.8% | 2.9% | 0.85% |
| Aug 2026 | 22.7% | 11.4% | 8.6% | 8.6% | 8.4% | 8.4% | 7% | 8.9% | 4.2% | 3.8% | 4.9% | 2.4% | 0.7% |
| Sep 2026 | 23.1% | 11% | 10.7% | 10.7% | 8.5% | 8.5% | 7.1% | 6.4% | 5% | 3.2% | 3.2% | 2.5% | 0.18% |
How has the Robert Walters and Sheffield comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Robert Walters was ahead of Sheffield in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Robert Walters’ share of searches among executive search firms in New Zealand moved from 27% to 23.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 1.6K to 1.3K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Sheffield’s share of searches among executive search firms in New Zealand moved from 5.6% to 7.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 330 to 400.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand executive search firms in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Sheffield rose from 8th to 7th among executive search firms in New Zealand.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Robert Walters in New Zealand fell 18.8% over 12 measured months, from 1.6K to 1.3K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
3 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Robert Walters’ and Sheffield’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Robert Walters
1 branded search term
- Robert Walters
Sheffield
2 branded search terms
- sheffield executive search
- sheffield recruitment
Other head-to-heads among executive search firms
- Robert Walters vs JacksonStone & Partners: compare popularity
- Robert Walters vs Hobson Leavy: compare popularity
- Robert Walters vs Inside Recruitment: compare popularity
- Robert Walters vs Kerridge & Partners: compare popularity
- JacksonStone & Partners vs Hobson Leavy: compare popularity
- JacksonStone & Partners vs Inside Recruitment: compare popularity
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