If you'd like to first understand how the process works, including its stages and timelines, check out our guide to headhunting in Chile. Here, we focus on comparing specific consulting firms.
To be included on the list, each firm had to offer an executive or professional search service on its website and have an office in Santiago that we could confirm through our own sources. We excluded firms whose local presence we could not verify. We then compared five criteria:
We do not publish fees: in executive search, fees are typically negotiated on a case-by-case basis, and none of the firms we reviewed publish them on their websites.
Before making a comparison, it is important to distinguish between three types of services that are often grouped together in Santiago under the term “headhunting”:
Many firms handle more than one. If you're wondering whether a headhunter or a traditional recruitment process is right for you, we explain it in " Headhunting vs. Traditional Recruitment."
Amrop Chile was founded in 1994 and is one of the country’s pioneering executive search and board advisory firms. It is part of the international Amrop network, and its office is located on Isidora Goyenechea Street in Las Condes. According to its website, the firm offers executive search, board services (board member search, board compensation, and ownership structure), leadership assessment, and customized compensation studies.
Suitable for: companies seeking senior executives or directors and looking to source corporate governance and compensation services from a single provider.
BDO is an international auditing and consulting network with an office in Las Condes. As part of its consulting division, it offers a Hunting & Talent Management service designed to identify leaders and key professionals who can make a strategic difference in the business, as well as job planning and outplacement services.
Suitable for: companies that already work with BDO for auditing or consulting services and want to add the search for key positions through the same provider.
Egon Zehnder is a global executive search and leadership advisory firm. According to its Santiago website, it has been serving the Chilean market since 1990 and opened its office in the city in 1997, which is now located in El Golf, Las Condes. Its services include executive search, CEO search, board search and evaluation, leadership programs, and individual coaching. In Chile, the firm states that it works in the industrial, mining, consumer goods, and financial services sectors.
Suitable for: large companies and family-owned businesses seeking a CEO, senior executives, or directors, and that also want to evaluate or develop their board of directors.
Michael Page operates in Chile from its office at Magdalena 181, Las Condes. Its website features two distinct service lines: Executive Search, for C-level positions, board roles, and senior management, and specialized recruitment for supervisory, managerial, and critical roles. It focuses on specific industries, such as finance, engineering, legal, marketing, mining and energy, human resources, supply chain, technology, and sales.
Suitable for: companies that need to fill several leadership or management positions by functional area and, in specific cases, front-line positions.
Robert Half has a website and an office in Santiago. It offers permanent and project-based talent solutions, interim management, and consulting services, specializing in finance and accounting, technology, sales and marketing, and engineering. Its website describes solutions at all levels, from support roles to executive positions.
Ideal for: companies looking to hire finance or technology professionals and executives, or those that need an interim executive while they finalize a permanent hire.
Seminarium is a Chilean talent search and recruitment firm that has been a pioneer in the country since 1990. Its office is located on Av. El Golf in Las Condes. It has two divisions: one focused on recruiting directors and senior executives, and Promap, its unit specializing in recruiting executives and professionals.
Ideal for: companies looking for a local firm with a proven track record in board membership, senior management, and middle management.
Spencer Stuart is a global executive search and leadership consulting firm with an office on Isidora Goyenechea in Las Condes. Its Santiago page describes the local team’s work in helping organizations find and develop leaders, improve the effectiveness of senior leadership teams, and support strategic or cultural transformations.
Suitable for: large companies seeking top-level executives or directors and wishing to combine the search with consulting on the executive team.
Stanton Chase is an international executive search firm with an office on Av. Kennedy in Las Condes. Its Santiago page lists executive search, executive assessment, board services, succession planning, organizational culture assessment, and executive onboarding, with a focus on the following industries: energy, natural resources, and mining; retail and consumer goods; and financial services.
Suitable for: companies that, in addition to hiring, want to plan for succession or support the onboarding of a new executive.
Wiseplan is a human resources consulting firm with more than 12 years of experience, offices in Las Condes, and operations in Peru as well. Its talent search service covers senior executives, managers, and professionals, utilizing a comprehensive process: profile definition, recruitment and pre-screening, psychological and technical assessments, background and reference checks, and detailed reports on the finalists. It combines various recruitment sources: its WiseSearch database, an executive network of contacts, job portals, agreements with trade associations and institutions, and online professional networks. All of its processes include a satisfaction guarantee.
What sets it apart is that it evaluates a candidate’s cultural fit and potential, in addition to their technical skills, and that the same consulting firm provides payroll outsourcing, labor advisory services, and HR consulting—which is useful when hiring involves determining compensation or contractual terms.
Suitable for: medium and large companies seeking managerial and professional positions that include a psychological assessment and personalized service.
Before signing a proposal, talk to at least two or three firms and compare their responses:
| Consultant | Spotlight | Services | Who It's For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amrop Chile | Senior Management and Boards of Directors | Executive search, boards of directors, leadership assessment, compensation | Companies That Prioritize Corporate Governance |
| BDO Chile | Key Positions | Recruiting, job planning, outplacement | BDO's audit or consulting clients |
| Egon Zehnder | CEO, Front Line, and Boards of Directors | Executive and CEO Search, Boards of Directors, Leadership, Coaching | Large Companies and Family-Owned Businesses |
| Michael Page Chile | C-Level, Management, and Department Heads by Specialty | Executive Search and Specialized Recruitment | Several Hires by Functional Area |
| Robert Half Chile | Professionals and Department Heads by Area | Permanent and project-based solutions, interim management, consulting | Finance, technology, or interim positions |
| Seminar | Directors, senior executives, and professionals | Search for Directors and Senior Executives; Promap | Local signature for multiple levels |
| Spencer Stuart | Senior Management | Leadership Search, Management Team Effectiveness | Large Companies Undergoing Transformation |
| Stanton Chase | Senior Management and Boards of Directors | Recruiting, Assessment, Succession Planning, Culture, Onboarding | Companies That Plan for Succession |
| Wiseplan | Senior leadership, management, and professionals | Comprehensive process including a psychological and occupational assessment, references, and a satisfaction guarantee | Medium and large companies seeking proximity |
There is a wide range of headhunters in Santiago. Global firms specialize in CEOs, senior executives, and board members; specialized recruitment firms focus on department heads and professionals in specific fields; and HR consulting firms offering comprehensive recruitment services excel in processes where psychological and workplace assessments and personal connections carry as much weight as professional networks. First, define the position level and the type of service you need, and then compare proposals with the same scope.
Do you have an ongoing executive search?
Tell us what the job entails, and we'll explain how we'd handle the process at Wiseplan, including a written timeline and scope of work.
It identifies, contacts, and evaluates executives and professionals who are not typically looking for a job. Unlike a job posting, the search is direct: the consultant maps out the market, approaches candidates, evaluates them, and presents a shortlist to the company.
There is no standard public rate, and none of the firms reviewed publish their fees. Fees are typically determined based on the position’s level and salary and are paid in installments based on milestones in the process. Ask that the proposal specify the amount, the milestones, and the guarantee.
Executive search targets managers, directors, and board members, with direct outreach to candidates who are not actively seeking new positions. Specialized recruitment covers leadership roles, professionals, and critical positions by functional area. Several consulting firms offer both services.
Executive search is generally not advisable. If multiple firms contact the same candidates, it compromises confidentiality and damages the company's reputation. It is preferable to choose a consulting firm, agree on timelines and deliverables, and monitor progress.
We work with the company to define the candidate profile, recruit from our WiseSearch database, our executive network, and other sources, and conduct psychological, behavioral, and technical assessments, as well as background and reference checks—all with a satisfaction guarantee. Learn more under “Talent Search” or write to us via “Contact.”
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