Two Men, One Vision

Gardner Heidrick and John Struggles meet and launch the firm in Chicago. It is among the first in the executive search industry.

Our First Client

In less than six weeks after the firm opens its doors, the first client appears, Theron G. Gerow of West Virginia Coal & Coke Company.  

Incorporated

Heidrick & Struggles becomes incorporated and signs its first clients outside of the Midwest.  

United States and United Kingdom Expansion

The 1960s sees many important firsts at Heidrick & Struggles. The firm expands its office locations from Los Angeles and San Francisco on the west coast to New York City on the east coast. In 1968 Heidrick & Struggles establishes its first international office in the United Kingdom and becomes the first search firm ever retained by the British government.

Continued Expansion

The firm adds nine offices on three continents in nine years: Boston, Brussels, Dallas, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Houston, Mexico City, Paris, and Zurich.

A Focus on Europe

Heidrick & Struggles experiences a decade of continued growth, particularly in Europe.

Latin American Expansion

The firm continues its expansion into the principal cities of Latin America, adding offices in Buenos Aires, Caracas, Lima, Santiago, and São Paulo.

Going Public

Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc. (HSII) becomes a publicly traded company on the NASDAQ stock market.

Growth in Asia

The firm’s investment in Asia Pacific, which began in the 1990s, continues with acquisitions and offices opening in Tokyo and Hong Kong. Today there are offices in Australia, China, India, Japan, Korea, and Singapore.

Diamond Anniversary

Heidrick & Struggles celebrates its 60th Anniversary.

Acquisitions

In 2012 the firm acquires Senn Delaney, the undisputed global leader of corporate culture shaping. The acquisition diversifies the firm’s array of leadership services.

In subsequent years, Heidrick & Struggles acquires Co Company, Philosophy IB, JCA Group, and Amrop Denmark, strengthening and diversifying its leadership consulting business. These acquisitions bring experienced professionals and tools that help clients accelerate and drive strategic change.

Heidrick Consulting

Heidrick Consulting integrates its Leadership Consulting and Culture Shaping operations into a single business, providing a cohesive suite of service offerings that enable clients to accelerate their performance at the leader, team, and organizational levels.

Infinity Framework (now The Heidrick Leadership Framework)

Heidrick & Struggles publishes Accelerating Performance in 2017, introducing a new framework for understanding organizations’ and leaders’ performance. Together with the framework for assessment, it allows the firm to deliver data-driven and insightful leadership insights.

Global Board Diversity Pledge

Heidrick & Struggles is the first global leadership advisory firm to announce a commitment to diversity in its board of director searches through the launch of its Global Diversity Pledge. Developed in collaboration with Stanford's Rock Center for Corporate Governance, the pledge is designed to increase the number of women and members of underrepresented groups considered by boards. To accelerate this effort, the firm proactively identifies and interviews diverse director candidates, with an emphasis on prospective directors who have not previously served on a corporate board.

Acquisition of 2GET

Heidrick & Struggles significantly expands its footprint in Brazil through the acquisition of 2Get, strengthening its position as a global leader delivering premium, data-driven executive search services and human capital solutions.

Dedicated Diversity & Inclusion Practice

This global practice brings together highly experienced Heidrick & Struggles consultants from executive search and consulting to help clients build diverse and inclusive leadership teams and organizations, with a comprehensive, integrated suite of services across talent recruitment, leadership assessment and development, and organizational transformation.

Business Talent Group (BTG) Acquisition

The acquisition of BTG, a leading marketplace for high-end independent talent on demand, complements the firm's suite of executive talent solutions, making Heidrick & Struggles the first global leadership advisory firm to offer the full spectrum of executive and high-end talent solutions – from on-demand, independent professionals to interim executives to permanent placements – together with its consulting services.

Digital Transformation Journey

Heidrick & Struggles partners with Eightfold AI to drive the digital transformation of leadership and deliver new tech-enabled leadership planning and development solutions. This partnership marks another step in the firm’s journey to expand its suite of leadership solutions with innovative, tech-driven offerings and drive future growth.

Acquisitions

Heidrick & Struggles acquires Atreus, a leading presence for executive interim management in Germany, as a wholly owned subsidiary. This acquisition, along with BTG which was acquired in 2021, constitutes the firm’s On-Demand Talent segment and builds on its market-leading position in this space.

Heidrick & Struggles acquires leading purpose, culture, and change consultancy, business4zero, deepening the firm's suite of culture and organization solutions and bringing specialized capabilities in developing and implementing purpose-driven strategies to companies undergoing major business transformations.

Latin America expansion

The firm continues its expansion into the region of Latin America, adding an office in Colombia, making it the third country in Latin America, where Heidrick & Struggles has a presence.