Top Executive Search Firms In Portland, Oregon In 2027

Hiring a CEO, CFO or board member is one of the costliest decisions an organization makes, and Portland boards often want a search partner who knows the regional market. That includes manufacturers in the Columbia Corridor, athletic and outdoor brands, Silicon Forest technology companies, healthcare systems and a large nonprofit sector. Executive search firms Portland leaders work with tend to combine national candidate networks with local relationships.

This list of the Top Executive Search Firms In Portland, Oregon In 2027 covers ten firms with a Portland or Portland metro office. It includes independent retained search boutiques, local recruiting firms with dedicated executive practices, and global firms with a downtown office.

Each firm was checked against its own website for its Portland presence, the roles and industries it covers, and its track record. For roles below the leadership level, see our guide to staffing agencies in Portland, Oregon.

Executive Search Firms In Portland At A Glance

Company	Portland Base	Best For	Notable Detail
Cowen Partners	Meadows Road, Lake Oswego	C-suite and board searches for midsize and large companies	500+ executive placements reported
180one	A Avenue, Lake Oswego	Retained search for manufacturers and PE portfolio companies	Consultants run no more than three searches at once
Noto Group	Portland office	Consumer, outdoor and food and beverage brands	Certified B Corp, 750+ executive roles filled
Acumen Executive Search	SW Atlanta Street, Tigard	Healthcare, public sector and bioscience leadership	100% woman-owned, operating since 2007
Boly:Welch	SW 6th Avenue, Downtown Portland	C-suite searches for regional companies and nonprofits	Founded in 1986, WBENC certified
Korn Ferry	SW Morrison Street, Downtown Portland	Board, CEO and enterprise leadership searches	Global firm with a Portland consulting team
VanderHouwen	S Macadam Avenue, Portland	Technology, finance and engineering leaders	Family-owned, founded in 1987
MS&S Search	Portland office	Nonprofit, foundation and association leadership	Describes itself as a 54-year-old search firm
Scion Executive Search	SW 2nd Avenue, Downtown Portland	Nonprofit, healthcare and education executives	Portland office since 2006
Mulberry Talent Partners	SW Canyon Lane, Portland	HR, finance and operations leaders	Locally owned, founded in 2017

Best Executive Search Firms In Portland, Oregon

1. Cowen Partners — National C-Suite Search Firm That Started In Portland

Cowen Partners began in Portland and now runs its West Coast office at 4800 Meadows Road, Suite 300, in Lake Oswego, with additional offices in New York and Chicago. President and co-founder Shawn Cole leads the firm, and Jacob Gamble heads its family office search practice.

The firm reports more than 500 executive placements nationwide and a 99% candidate retention rate, and says it has been ranked among the top 50 executive search firms by Forbes, Business Insider and Hunt Scanlon. Searches cover board directors, CEOs, CFOs, COOs, CHROs, general counsel, CMOs, CROs and CIOs or CTOs. Clients include public companies, private equity portfolio companies, family businesses, family offices and nonprofits in manufacturing, consumer goods, financial services, healthcare, technology and real estate.

Cowen Partners suits Portland companies with roughly $50 million to $5 billion in revenue that want a firm with national reach and local roots.

2. 180one — Research-Led Retained Search For Manufacturers And Private Equity

180one is a retained executive search and advisory firm with its office at 600 A Avenue, Suite 181, in Lake Oswego. It works with businesses, nonprofits and venture capital firms, with case studies covering private equity portfolio growth and a West Coast capital equipment company.

The firm’s “Research First” approach uses a dedicated research team that it says uncovers an average of 250 qualified candidates per search. 180one reports that 95% of its searches are filled with passive candidates and that vetted candidates reach clients within 35 days on average. Its consultants carry no more than three active searches at a time. Oregon manufacturers Oregon Tool, A-dec and Papé appear in client testimonials, two of them describing relationships of more than ten years.

180one is a strong fit for Oregon manufacturers and investor-backed companies that want close partner attention on a CEO, CFO or board search.

3. Noto Group — B Corp Search Firm For Outdoor, Lifestyle And Food Brands

Noto Group has run an executive search and leadership consulting practice since 2009. Founder and CEO Roy Notowitz leads the firm, which lists offices in Portland, Seattle, New York, Nashville and London.

The firm focuses on athletic and outdoor, fashion and lifestyle, food and beverage, health and wellness, travel and hospitality, and nonprofit organizations. Its services include executive search, board recruiting, talent sourcing and leadership consulting. Noto Group reports more than 300 clients and more than 750 executive roles filled. It is a Certified B Corporation and a member of 1% for the Planet, and its process runs in four stages from defining leadership competencies through offer and follow-up.

Noto Group fits Portland’s many consumer and outdoor brands that want a search partner with deep category networks and a values-led approach.

4. Acumen Executive Search — Woman-Owned Retained Search Serving Healthcare And Public Sector

Acumen Executive Search is a 100% woman-owned retained executive search firm led by President Suzanne Hanifin. It has operated since 2007 from 6860 SW Atlanta Street in Tigard, just southwest of Portland.

Acumen covers bioscience and technology, government and nonprofit, healthcare, manufacturing and distribution, and professional services. Beyond executive and leadership search, it offers succession planning, onboarding and career support services. The firm reports a 99% success rate on retained searches, a 93% three-year retention rate for placed leaders, and that 92% of its business comes from referrals and repeat clients. It also reports that 68% of its leadership placements have been women or people from underrepresented communities.

Acumen suits counties, health plans and mission-driven organizations that want a local retained search partner with a strong record in diverse slates.

5. Boly:Welch — Downtown Firm With A Dedicated C-Suite Search Practice

Boly:Welch was founded in 1986 by Diane Boly and Pat Welch and is based at 1050 SW 6th Avenue in downtown Portland. Alongside its recruiting and staffing work, it runs an executive search practice that places candidates across the C-suite.

The practice is led by Debbie Zurow, Director of Executive Search, who holds a CPC certification and has more than 25 years of experience. Industries include healthcare, lifestyle brands, manufacturing, nonprofit, professional services and technology. Its process covers search strategy, sourcing and vetting, interviewing and shortlisting. On its site, AllCare Health’s board chair credits the firm with helping hire the organization’s new CEO. Boly:Welch holds WBENC and B Corp certifications.

Boly:Welch suits regional companies and nonprofits that want executive search from a firm with four decades of local relationships.

6. Korn Ferry — Global Firm With A Downtown Portland Consulting Team

Korn Ferry is a global organizational consulting firm with a Portland office at 1155 SW Morrison Street, Suite 200. The Portland team includes several senior client partners, a principal, consultants and an interim legal practice lead.

The firm’s services include board and CEO services, executive search, assessment and succession, leadership development and total rewards. Its executive search practice pairs recruiting with Korn Ferry’s assessment tools, and the firm says its consultants have recruitment experience in 130 countries.

Korn Ferry fits large Portland employers and public companies that need a global candidate pool, structured assessment and succession planning alongside a search.

7. VanderHouwen — Executive Search For Technology, Finance And Engineering Leaders

VanderHouwen is a family-owned firm established in 1987 by Kirby and Kathy VanderHouwen and based at 6342 S Macadam Avenue in Portland. It holds WBENC certification as a women-owned business and runs an executive search practice alongside its staffing work.

Its executive searches cover technology roles such as CTO, CIO, CISO and IT director; finance roles such as CFO, controller and tax director; engineering leadership; operations roles up to CEO and COO; HR leaders including chief people officers; and marketing and product directors. Senior recruiters lead each search with a collaborative process.

VanderHouwen suits technology and engineering organizations hiring functional leaders. Companies building out tech teams can also compare software development companies in Portland for outsourced delivery.

8. MS&S Search — Long-Running Search Firm For Nonprofits And Foundations

Murphy, Symonds & Stowell (MS&S Search) describes itself as a 54-year-old executive search firm, with offices in Portland, Oregon and San Francisco. Managing Partner Melissa Ulum has been with the firm for 25 years.

The firm identifies leaders for national and Northwest philanthropic and nonprofit organizations, associations, foundations, higher education and growth companies. Recent searches listed on its site include an executive director for The Library Foundation, a director of board programs for the Oregon School Boards Association, a CFO or COO for Sierra Health Foundation and a president for the National Organization on Disability.

MS&S Search is a good match for Oregon foundations, associations and nonprofits hiring an executive director or finance leader.

9. Scion Executive Search — Downtown Office Focused On Nonprofit And Mission-Driven Leaders

Scion Executive Search has served Portland since 2006 from a downtown office at 415 SW 2nd Avenue and was founded by a Portland native. It is a retained search firm that places C-suite, VP and senior leaders for Portland and national clients.

The Portland practice places leaders for nonprofits, foundations, healthcare organizations, educational institutions, government agencies and associations. Roles include CEO and executive director, CFO, COO, chief development officer and CMO, along with department heads in development, finance, HR, programs and technology. Scion reports being named a top executive search firm for 19 consecutive years in the Business Times Book of Lists.

Scion suits nonprofits and public agencies that want a firm with a large candidate network and a dedicated downtown team.

10. Mulberry Talent Partners — Locally Owned Search For HR, Finance And Operations Leaders

Mulberry Talent Partners was established in 2017 by Lauren Francis, who previously founded and sold Town & Country Resources. The locally owned firm is at 8835 SW Canyon Lane, Suite 400, in Portland, and Jennifer Wright serves as Director of Business Development and Executive Search.

Mulberry’s executive practice covers C-suite, VP, senior director and director roles, with common searches for chief people officers, VPs of HR, COOs, CFOs, executive directors and program management leaders. Industries include education, fashion and footwear, healthcare, manufacturing and semiconductors, nonprofit, private equity and professional services. The firm also offers fractional and interim leadership.

Mulberry fits midsize employers hiring their first senior HR or finance leader, or covering a gap with an interim executive.

How To Choose An Executive Search Firm In Portland

Do They Have Searches In Your Industry?

Portland executive recruiters tend to cluster around sectors: outdoor and lifestyle brands, manufacturing, technology, healthcare or nonprofits. Ask for recent completed searches at your level and in your industry, and for references from those clients.

Is The Search Retained Or Contingent?

Most C-suite searches are retained, meaning the fee is paid in stages whether or not you hire. Many executive recruiting firms Portland companies use for director-level roles also work on contingency or hybrid terms. Confirm the fee, the payment schedule and any replacement guarantee before you sign.

Who Will Actually Run The Search?

Ask which partner leads your search day to day, how many active searches that person carries, and who does the research. A senior partner who pitches the work and then hands it to a junior team is a common complaint in this industry.

How Do They Assess Candidates?

Look for a defined success profile, structured interviews and some form of assessment. Ask how the firm checks references and how it handles candidates who are relocating to Portland, since cost of living and the regional market can affect offers. Our guide to Portland’s tech scene and the Silicon Forest gives useful context for out-of-state candidates.

What Happens After The Hire?

Several firms on this list offer onboarding support, succession planning or leadership coaching. Ask whether these are included, and how the firm handles an executive who leaves within the first year.

Conclusion

Portland has a deep bench of executive search firms. Cowen Partners, 180one and Korn Ferry handle large corporate and investor-backed searches, Noto Group specializes in consumer and outdoor brands, and Acumen, MS&S Search and Scion bring strong nonprofit and public sector experience. Boly:Welch, VanderHouwen and Mulberry pair local relationships with dedicated executive practices.

Interview two or three executive search firms Portland peers recommend, compare their recent searches and terms, and choose the partner whose network matches the leader you need.