The Integration Gap: AI is Reshaping Executive Search

Artificial intelligence is no longer a future consideration in executive search. It is already reshaping how firms operate, how quickly they execute, and how they compete for mandates. Yet while nearly every firm has begun experimenting with AI, very few have successfully integrated it into their core operating model. This report examines that divide.

Drawing on proprietary data from 97 executive search firms and 140 firms in Hunt Scanlon’s annual rankings survey, this research maps where the market stands today and what separates firms that are pulling ahead from those that are not.

Inside the report:

• Where AI adoption actually stands across the industry today
• The 20 / 58 / 20 split between integrated, moderate, and early-stage firms
• Why AI adoption is correlating with more consistent revenue performance
• The infrastructure and leadership decisions driving real advantage
• The biggest barriers holding firms back and why they are not what most expect
• A practical pathway for firms looking to move from experimentation to integration