First-Class Executive Search Consultants

How Keller Identifies Exceptional Leaders

Keller follows a tried-and-tested executive search process tailored to every client’s needs. In other words, our approach ensures we only introduce candidates whose personality and skill sets are in line with our client’s organizational culture, vision, and goals. This helps us supply leaders who have what it takes to propel their organizations forward. Our methodology is also designed to ensure transparency, thoroughness, and speed.

Here’s an overview of how our consultants will lead your search.

Step 1: Discovery and Role Definition

We commence the search by collaborating closely with our client to gain an understanding of their firm, role requirements, and objectives. The consultant in charge of the assignment facilitates meetings with key stakeholders and board members to learn about the company’s mission, values, strategy, and challenges. We also explore the nuances of the role so we know the type of vacancy we are recruiting for (e.g., CEO or Vice President).

This allows us to develop a clear profile of the ideal candidate that includes the required skills and experience, leadership style, and responsibilities of the position. This initial step is important as it ensures we focus our search on candidates who fit our client’s requirements and culture from the start.

Step 2: Search Strategy Development

Next, we design a custom search strategy. We survey the market using our industry expertise to map out where the talent our client needs is likely to be found, thinking outside the box and looking at adjacent industries for transferable skills. We then tap into our vast candidate database and global alliances with NPAworldwide to compile a list of potential candidates, including those who may not be actively looking for a new job.

Step 3: Candidate Outreach and Evaluation

Once we have a list of potential candidates to target, we approach each one discreetly to gauge their interest in the position. Prospective executives who say they are open to exploring the opportunity proceed to the evaluation phase, where we begin checking their alignment.

This involves conducting detailed assessments (e.g., competency-based interviews and psychometric tests) to evaluate each person according to the search parameters we outlined in the first step. This includes their leadership competencies, track record, ability to lead, and alignment with our client’s company values. We also examine candidates’ motivation to ascertain that their interest in the role is genuine and aligned with our client’s vision for the future.

As we identify strong prospects, we gather references and perform rigorous background checks to verify their professional achievements and leadership style. This results in a shortlist of thoroughly vetted, high-caliber professionals.

Step 4: Presentation of Top Candidates

Following the evaluation phase, we present our carefully curated shortlist of candidates to the client. With it, we include a detailed report summarizing the skills, experience, and accomplishments of each finalist, along with an assessment of why they could be a good fit for the organization.

Our consultants then meet with the client, their hiring team, or board members to discuss each candidate, share insights from our evaluations, and help weigh the options. We can also help schedule interviews to make the process as streamlined and stress-free as possible.

Step 5: Selection and Integration

Once our client has chosen a candidate, we assist with the final steps in securing the hire. This includes presenting the job offer to the individual and negotiating acceptance, compensation, and benefits.

Our consultants also offer support during onboarding to ensure the newly recruited leader integrates into the company successfully. However, our services do not end there. Our team stays in touch with the client and the new hire during the first few months of their employment to ensure any initial problems are swiftly ironed out.

Consult Keller’s Insights for tips and resources on growing your organization’s potential, improving employee experience, and planning for the future.

Why Keller Utilizes a Tailored Executive Search Strategy

Keller is home to expert executive search consultants who are capable of recruiting outstanding talent for vacant leadership positions. With around two decades of shared experience in executive recruitment, they have a wealth of expertise that we have drawn on to inform our search approach.

Keller was not always prepared for high-caliber executive searches. On the contrary, when our firm was established, our search method was nothing more than a generic approach that could not be adapted to suit individual client needs. This changed once we realized that a different approach was necessary for sourcing talent at the senior executive and C-suite level.

As some of our team members may remember, a client contacted us asking for help recruiting for a high-profile role at their organization. We accepted the assignment, thinking our one-size-fits-all method would suffice. However, we quickly found out that our strategy was severely limited for making placements at this level.

Essentially, the person we suggested for the role was a poor match for our client’s organizational culture, despite having the required skills and qualifications. This was a costly mistake on our part that led to the candidate’s untimely resignation. While it was a setback for our executive search firm, we used the opportunity to reform our process.

We now offer a more customer-oriented approach that carefully considers the needs of each client who engages our firm. It is this personalized strategy that has earned Keller a long-standing reputation for quality and reliability, and a place among the world’s most lauded executive search firms.

The Importance of Executive Search for Leadership Success

Hiring the wrong executive can be a costly mistake, resulting in lost time, money, and opportunities. Partnering with a specialized executive search firm like Keller mitigates this risk by leveraging a meticulous, research-driven approach that allows us to discover and evaluate talent that aligns with your company’s needs.

Here is an overview of what our executive search firm can offer your business:

1. Strategic Guidance

Keller is your trusted ally in executive search, offering guidance and counsel before, during, and after the entire process. As an objective third party, we also help resolve internal differences in opinion regarding candidate selection. Overall, we support you through critical hiring decisions that have an impact on your company’s future.

2. Deep Industry and Functional Expertise

Our executive search consultants have a wealth of expertise in various industries and functions, including finance, healthcare, life sciences, and technology, to name a few. Furthermore, they have a deep knowledge of market dynamics and the skill sets necessary for success in roles such as CEO, Vice President, and Director.

3. Confidentiality and Discretion

Searches for senior roles can demand a high level of confidentiality in certain situations (e.g., hiring ahead of a public announcement or replacing an incumbent executive). At Keller, it is our job to ensure executive-level searches remain discreet, protecting both your organization and the individuals involved.

4. Access to a Global Network of Talent

As a global executive search firm, Keller’s consultants have access to a wide pool of candidates, including passive candidates not actively job hunting, through our extensive relationships and global talent network. This means a wider selection of viable candidates and a higher chance of finding the right person for your executive team.

5. Thorough Candidate Evaluation

Recruitment at the C-suite or executive level requires rigorous vetting to ensure a candidate’s absolute alignment with the position and your organization. Keller provides this service as part of the executive search process, ensuring only truly qualified leaders make the cut.

6. Time Savings and Efficiency

By allowing Keller to handle the executive search, your team is free to focus on business operations. We take care of all the time-consuming aspects of the process, making it more streamlined and efficient while also leveraging proven best practices to attract superior talent.

Keller's Guarantee

Keller boasts a passionate team of executive search consultants who are committed to finding the next great leader for your organization. We maintain close communication and full transparency with you throughout the entire process, so you are never left guessing about the progress of your executive search.

To us, trust is paramount. We adhere to stringent non-disclosure agreements that protect sensitive information and conduct ourselves as professional consultants with your best interests at heart. We also have a strict “off-limits” policy regarding your leadership team and employees, so you never have to worry about poaching.

At Keller, our mission is to combine your organization’s vision with our recruiting expertise to find the right person together. We want to ensure a successful integration that guarantees the executive’s positive long-term impact on your business. Our consultants, therefore, take the time to learn about your company’s culture, leadership team, and strategic goals before commencing the search.

Being firm believers that there is great value in hiring diverse perspectives for a business, Keller champions diversity and inclusion. This means we aim to eliminate unconscious bias from our candidate selection process, only assessing candidates based on their professional merits and qualifications.

Finally, Keller understands that our success as executive search consultants hinges on your recruited leaders thriving in their new positions. As such, we stand by our placements. If a placed executive were to resign or fall short of expectations within the first 90 days of joining your company, we offer a replacement guarantee (a promise not all firms make). In other words, we will conduct another search for a more suitable candidate at no additional charge, provided we are notified of the placement problem within the aforementioned time frame.

Partner with us today and allow us to help your organization secure its next leader.