When you first see the words Shrek, the first thing that may come to mind is the green, goofy-looking ogre in the series of DreamWorks movies that have earned more than $2 billion in revenue. That is not what we are talking about here. In executive recruiting, SHREK is an acronym for five of the largest and most well-known executive recruiting firms.
In this article, we will provide an objective overview of the SHREK firms and discuss the key characteristics that set them apart. Understanding how these SHREK firms approach executive search is important to choosing the right firm for you.
SHREK recruitment firms are:
These SHREK recruitment agencies are all well-established large firms that have a global presence. Because of their size, they typically work with enterprise-level corporations across multiple industry sectors.
Founded in 1956, Spencer Stuart is a privately held firm with 70 offices in some 33 counties with its corporate headquarters in Chicago, Illinois. In Canada, Spencer Stuart has offices in Calgary, Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver.
The first of the SHREK search firms, Spencer Stuart offers a range of services, including:
Spencer Stuart is noted for its deep expertise in succession planning and comprehensive board services.
Heidrick & Struggles International Incorporated has its headquarters in Chicago, Illinois, and has an extensive network of offices in North and South America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East. In Canada, Heidrick and Struggles staffs locations in Calgary, Montreal, and Toronto.
Founded in 1953, it has become one of the so-called SHREK executive search firms working with large companies on:
Heidrick & Struggles has a significant focus on technology. Beyond being known for SHREK recruiting, Heidrick and Struggles helps companies develop digital transformation strategies.
Russell Reynolds Associates is another SHREK executive search firm. Founded in 1969, Russell Reynolds Associates is based in New York with leadership advisors in 47 offices. They have Canadian offices in Calgary, Montreal, and Toronto.
They provide in-depth cross-border executive search along with additional services, including:
Russell Reynolds takes a data-driven approach when providing SHREK recruiting services, including a focus on sustainability and ESG leadership requirements.
Our fourth SHREK recruitment firm is Egon Zehnder. Founded in 1964 in Zurich, Switzerland, this SHREK firm takes a collaborative approach to executive search. Egon Zehnder has a global network of 66 offices in 36 countries, including Canadian offices in Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver.
Egon Zehnder focuses on a holistic approach to helping large companies grow high-performing leadership teams, including:
As SHREK headhunters, Egon Zehnder has a strong international talent network and is known for cultural sensitivity when it comes to cross-border placements.
Founded in 1969, Korn Ferry has its headquarters in Los Angeles, California. One of the largest SHREK firms, Korn Ferry has 11,000 employees in 50 countries, including Canadian offices in Calgary, Montreal, Ottawa, and Toronto.
While offering executive search, Korn Ferry positions itself as a global organizational consulting firm, focusing on developing a robust organizational structure. Services include:
Korn Ferry also offers technology solutions for organizations, such as Intelligence Cloud for the management of human resources.
Choosing the right executives to lead your organization is a strategic decision with long-term implications. Leadership quality directly impacts performance, culture, and growth. Selecting the right executive search firm is therefore just as critical.
SHREK recruitment firms offer global reach, deep talent networks, and significant resources, each with distinct strengths and areas of specialization. To make an informed decision, organizations should compare SHREK executive search firms based on their industry focus, search methodology, and alignment with specific leadership needs.
For large enterprises and multinational corporations, SHREK headhunters can be a strong fit, offering scale, experience, and international coverage, often at a premium cost. For other organizations, a boutique executive search firm like PIXCELL may provide a more tailored, hands-on approach better suited to targeted leadership mandates.
PIXCELL: Montreal's Trusted Executive Search Partner
In Canadian markets, PIXCELL is a leading executive search firm with offices in Montreal, Toronto, and Quebec City.
PIXCELL offers a more personalized experience and a unique approach to executive search. An intimate knowledge of industry sectors and regional differences provides deeper insights into operations that help ensure a better fit. This provides more personalized service. For example, when you work with PIXCELL, you get access to top leadership and senior executive search consultants. Unless you are one of the world’s largest companies, you likely will not have that level of access to SHREK search firms.
PIXCELL also has a global reach similar to SHREK recruitment agencies. As a member of CFR Global Executive Search, PIXCELL leverages a network of independent recruiters in more than 30 countries who have deep ties to local markets in the areas they cover.
If you are searching for executive talent, PIXCELL offers the perfect balance of global executive search expertise and local market insight. Contact PIXCELL today to discuss your executive search needs and discover how their tailored approach can help you find the perfect leadership fit for your organization.
Executive recruiting is undergoing a shift.
As organizations face tighter labour markets, heightened regulatory scrutiny, and rapid shifts in technology and consumer behaviour, executive hiring can no longer be treated as a one-size-fits-all process.
In a constrained leadership market, managing the executive candidate journey from first contact to final offer has become a core governance and risk issue, not simply a talent acquisition concern.