Top AI And Machine Learning Executive Search Firms For 2027

Hiring a Chief AI Officer, a head of machine learning or a chief data officer is not like filling a standard technology role. The talent pool is small, the best candidates are rarely on the market, and most hiring committees struggle to tell the difference between a leader who has shipped AI products at scale and one who has only talked about it. AI and machine learning executive search firms exist to close that gap. They map the market, approach passive candidates, test technical depth and help boards and CEOs land leaders who can turn AI strategy into working systems.

This list of the top AI and machine learning executive search firms for 2027 brings together large global firms with dedicated AI practices and specialist boutiques that focus on data, analytics and frontier technology leadership. If you are hiring across the wider technology function, our guide to the top IT and technology executive search firms covers CIO, CTO and CISO search in more depth.

How we chose: every firm below markets AI, machine learning or data leadership search on its own website, and we checked each one against at least one independent source such as trade press or published news coverage. We only included facts we could confirm. This list is part of our executive search and recruiting hub, which also covers fees, process and assessment.

AI And Machine Learning Executive Search Firms At A Glance

Firm	Base	Best For	Focus
Heidrick & Struggles	Chicago, global	Enterprises appointing a first Chief AI Officer	Dedicated AI specialty practice
Egon Zehnder	Global, 71 offices	Boards and global groups	Technology and AI practice group
Russell Reynolds Associates	New York, global	AI-led transformation at board and C-suite level	Technology, data and digital leadership
Riviera Partners	San Francisco	Technical AI, ML and data leaders	AI, ML and data practice
SPMB	United States	Chief AI and data officers at large companies	Technology, AI and product search
Daversa	Westport, CT and San Francisco	Founders building AI company leadership teams	AI economy executive teams
True	Philadelphia	Venture-backed AI infrastructure companies	AI and venture capital practices
Harnham	London and US offices	Specialist data and AI leadership hires	Data and AI executive search
Christian & Timbers	United States	Technology companies hiring AI-era executives	AI and technology executive search
Burtch Works	Cincinnati	Data science and analytics leaders	Quantitative and analytics talent

Best AI And Machine Learning Executive Search Firms For 2027

1. Heidrick & Struggles — Dedicated AI Specialty Practice Since 2018

Heidrick & Struggles was founded in Chicago in 1953 and has grown into one of the best known names in executive search, with offices in more than 50 cities across the Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia. It was also one of the first large firms to formalize AI hiring. In June 2018 it launched a dedicated Artificial Intelligence specialty practice, set up to serve clients across every industry sector.

At launch, the firm said its team had been placing senior AI executives since 2012, including Chief Artificial Intelligence Officers, heads of machine learning and chief data scientists. Those clients ranged from startups and private equity firms to Fortune 500 companies, across financial services, technology, industrial, pharmaceutical and consumer retail businesses.

Heidrick suits large organizations that want a global firm with a long AI track record, particularly when the role sits at the top table and needs to drive enterprise-wide transformation rather than run a single product team.

2. Egon Zehnder — Global Technology And AI Practice Group

Egon Zehnder is a global leadership advisory and executive search firm founded in 1964. It reports 71 offices across 37 countries and more than 600 consultants, most of whom were hired from industry rather than from other search firms. That industry background matters in AI search, where consultants need to judge technical credibility as well as leadership.

The firm runs a Global Technology and AI Practice Group. In September 2025 it named Lindsay Trout, based in Palo Alto, and Hana Habayeb, based in the Middle East, as co-leaders of the group. Previous co-leader Eric Anderson moved to focus on fintech and private equity work alongside the firm’s AI initiatives.

Egon Zehnder is a strong choice for boards and multinational groups that need AI leaders who can work across regions, and for clients who value succession planning and leadership development alongside the search itself.

3. Russell Reynolds Associates — AI And Digital Transformation Leadership At Board Level

Russell Reynolds Associates was founded in New York in 1969 by Russell S. Reynolds Jr. Today it has more than 500 consultants in 47 offices, working with public, private and nonprofit organizations across all industries and regions.

The firm offers an AI and technology capability within its transformation services, alongside a Technology, Data and Digital function for executive search. Its private capital work explicitly includes AI and digital transformation leadership for portfolio companies. The firm has also invested in AI internally, appointing a Chief Technology and Data Officer to bring its information systems, digital, data and AI efforts under one organization.

Russell Reynolds works well for companies where AI is part of a wider transformation agenda and the board wants a firm that can also advise on succession, assessment and top-team effectiveness.

4. Riviera Partners — AI, ML And Data Practice For Technical Leaders

Riviera Partners has focused on technology leadership search since 2001 and is headquartered in San Francisco. It recruits engineering, product, design, AI, ML, data and cybersecurity leaders, and reports more than 1,800 clients and more than 850 placements at unicorn companies.

In July 2023 the firm launched a dedicated AI, ML and Data practice headed by Kyle Langworthy, whose own focus covers AI, robotics, autonomy, ML infrastructure and data engineering. The announcement listed AI clients including Databricks, Snowflake, Google, Scale, Grammarly and Socure. In June 2026 Riviera acquired Lateral Labs, a recruiting firm that serves AI startups, further deepening its reach into the AI talent market.

Riviera is a natural fit when the AI leader you need is hands-on and technical, such as a VP of machine learning, a head of AI infrastructure or a chief technology officer at an AI-first company.

5. SPMB — Chief AI And Data Officer Search For Large Companies

SPMB has been building executive teams for innovative companies for more than 40 years. Its functional practices include Technology, Artificial Intelligence and Product, and it works with venture capital and private equity backed companies as well as large public companies looking to keep innovating.

One of its most visible recent assignments was the September 2026 appointment of Mano Mannoochahr as Chief AI and Data Officer at Ford Motor Company. That search was led by managing partner Mike Doonan, who heads the firm’s digital transformation and data practices and has completed more than 400 C-level and VP searches.

SPMB suits established companies that want a firm with real experience recruiting AI and data executives into complex, traditional businesses, where the new leader has to change how a large organization works.

6. Daversa — Executive Teams For AI Founders

Daversa Partners was founded in 1993 and has its main office in Westport, Connecticut, with further offices including New York, San Francisco, Washington, D.C. and London. The firm has long focused on growth-stage and venture-backed companies, and it now positions itself around building leadership teams for companies in the AI economy.

In a 2026 announcement, the firm listed clients including OpenAI, Cursor, Baseten, Replit, CoreWeave, Snowflake and Figma. Founder and CEO Paul Daversa was named Individual of the Year in the 2026 Artificial Intelligence Excellence Awards from the Business Intelligence Group, recognizing the firm’s work embedding AI into its own search process.

Daversa is best suited to founders of fast-growing AI companies who need to build out a full executive team quickly, from go-to-market and finance leaders to technical executives.

7. True — AI Infrastructure And Frontier Technology Search

True is a Philadelphia-based executive talent firm that describes itself as the sixth largest executive search firm globally. It has worked in the venture capital market since 2013 and runs dedicated artificial intelligence and venture capital practices, both led at managing director level.

In 2026 the firm launched True Venture Studios, a specialist practice for venture-backed companies. Its focus sectors include AI infrastructure, HardTech, SpaceTech and DefenseTech, alongside fintech, healthcare and life sciences. True reports that Venture Studios identifies an executive candidate in an average of 21 days and that more than half of its clients come back for later searches.

True is a good match for AI infrastructure and deep technology companies that need speed, plus investors who want one firm across several portfolio companies.

8. Harnham — Specialist Data And AI Leadership Search

Harnham was founded in 2006 by Simon Clarke and David Farmer as a data and analytics recruitment specialist. It operates in the UK, Europe and the US, with US offices in New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Dallas, Phoenix, Washington and Boston, plus London and Amsterdam.

Its executive search practice covers roles such as Chief Data Officer, Chief AI Officer, Chief Analytics Officer and head of analytics, and the firm lists Chief AI Officers and Chief Data Officers among its 2025 placements. Harnham says its search consultants have at least ten years of experience in their field, and it publishes data and AI salary guides built from more than 3,500 participants across the UK, US and Europe.

Harnham suits companies that want a recruiter whose entire business is data and AI, and that value salary benchmarking alongside the search.

9. Christian & Timbers — Long-Running Technology Search Firm Focused On AI

Christian & Timbers has recruited technology leaders since 1980 and is led by founder and CEO Jeff Christian. The firm has a long history at the top of the technology market: its vice chair was the recruiter who brought Carly Fiorina to Hewlett-Packard in 1999.

Today the firm positions itself as an AI-focused search firm, working on C-suite, technology leadership and board roles across sectors including semiconductors, aerospace and defense, cybersecurity, healthcare, robotics and data infrastructure. Its published case studies include a CTO search for Atropos Health and a CISO search for Acronis.

Christian & Timbers is worth a look for technology companies that want a boutique with deep roots in technology search and a focus on AI-era leadership.

10. Burtch Works — Data Science And Analytics Leadership Specialists

Burtch Works is based in Cincinnati, Ohio and was founded by Linda Burtch, who has more than 30 years of experience placing quantitative professionals. The firm offers retained search and direct hire for senior leaders in data science and analytics, plus fractional CDO, CAO, CIO, CTO and CISO leadership.

Its placements have included a chief data scientist for Upside Travel and a chief analytics officer for Horizon Media. Burtch Works also publishes AI and data science compensation reports, which give hiring teams useful market data before they set a salary range.

Burtch Works suits organizations hiring their first senior analytics or data science leader, and companies that want a fractional data executive while they decide on a permanent hire.

How To Choose An AI And Machine Learning Executive Search Firm

Do You Need An AI Builder Or An AI Strategist?

Be clear about the job before you brief a firm. A Chief AI Officer at a bank or manufacturer is mostly a change leader who sets strategy, governance and priorities. A head of machine learning at an AI startup is a builder who ships models and leads engineers. Global firms such as Heidrick & Struggles and Egon Zehnder are strong on the first profile, while technical specialists such as Riviera Partners and Harnham are often closer to the second.

Does The Firm Have A Dedicated AI Or Data Practice?

Ask who will run your search and how many AI or data leadership roles they have filled recently. A named practice with a named leader is a good sign. Generalist teams can still deliver, but they will usually need longer to build a credible candidate map in a market this specialized.

How Will They Test Technical Depth?

AI titles are inflated across the market. Ask the firm how it separates leaders who have deployed AI in production from those who have managed pilots. Structured interviews, referencing and formal executive assessment all help reduce the risk of a costly mis-hire.

What Will It Cost And How Long Will It Take?

Most senior AI searches are run on a retained basis, with the fee tied to first-year compensation. Our guide to executive search fees explains typical structures, and retained vs contingency search covers when each model makes sense. For timelines, walk through the executive search process, step by step with your chosen firm so everyone agrees on milestones.

Can They Reach Candidates Who Are Not Looking?

The strongest AI leaders are almost always employed, well paid and holding equity. Ask each firm how it reaches passive candidates and what makes your opportunity compelling to them. A firm that can explain the market clearly before the search starts is usually the one that can close the right person at the end.

Conclusion

The best AI and machine learning executive search firms combine a real network in a small talent market with the judgment to test what candidates have actually built. Global firms such as Heidrick & Struggles, Egon Zehnder and Russell Reynolds Associates bring board-level reach and dedicated AI practices, while specialists such as Riviera Partners, Harnham and Burtch Works go deeper into technical and data leadership.

Start by defining whether you need a strategist or a builder, then shortlist two or three firms whose recent placements match that profile. The guides linked above on fees, process and assessment will help you prepare a clear brief before the first meeting.