Executive Search
The leaders who make strategy happen.
Senior appointments below chief executive level shape how an organisation performs day to day. Kerridge & Partners identifies and assesses the general managers, functional heads and operational leaders who can deliver what the role and organisation require next.
What we do
Executive Search is the identification and appointment of senior leaders below chief executive level.
The people appointed to these roles are responsible for translating strategy into action, leading critical functions and setting the standard for performance across the organisation.
These appointments can have a significant effect on how an organisation operates. The right leader can strengthen an executive team, lift capability and create momentum. The wrong appointment can slow progress, unsettle teams and leave an important part of the organisation exposed.
We run a structured, thorough search across the full available market, not only those who are actively looking. This allows us to identify people whose experience, judgement and leadership style are genuinely relevant to the role.
The outcome is more than a shortlist of available candidates. It is a clear view of the market and a considered recommendation on the people best placed to succeed in the role.
Who we work with
We work with boards, CEOs and executive teams who need to appoint a critical senior leader and want confidence that they have seen the full market before making a decision.
Typical engagements include first-time appointments into a newly created function, replacements where the bar needs to be raised, and roles where leadership style and cultural alignment matter as much as technical credentials.
These roles may sit below chief executive level, but they often carry substantial organisational weight. The right appointment can influence decision-making, team performance, culture and the organisation’s ability to deliver on its strategy.
We work across the private sector, listed companies, Crown entities and not-for-profits. The common thread is the need for a rigorous process, clear judgement and confidence in the final appointment.
Our track-record in the New Zealand & Australian market is unrivalled.
Kerridge & Partners has appointed scores of CEO and executive positions in NZX50 companies, including some of the nation’s most iconic and cherished brands.
Our approach to Executive Search
An executive search begins with the challenge the role must solve, not just the job description.
Every appointment starts with context. We take the time to understand what the organisation needs from the role, then combine targeted market mapping with disciplined assessment and candid advice at the points that matter.
Understand and define
We work closely with the CEO, board or relevant leaders to understand the organisation’s strategy, operating environment, team and leadership challenge. This allows us to define the capability, experience and leadership qualities genuinely required for success in the role.
Map the relevant market
From there, we build a targeted view of the relevant market. We identify and engage candidates discreetly, including individuals who are not actively seeking new opportunities. Each search is designed around the role and the market, not a database of available candidates.
Evaluate and assess
Candidates are assessed through a consistent framework covering capability, judgement, leadership style and alignment. We share market feedback as it develops and are direct when it suggests the brief, expectations or search strategy need to evolve.
Advise through appointment
You receive a carefully considered shortlist, supported by our independent view on each candidate and the choices involved. We stay closely involved through interviews, appointment, offer negotiation and transition into the role.
Common questions about Executive Search
How is Executive Search different from traditional recruitment?
Executive Search is used where an appointment is senior, strategically important or difficult to get right. Rather than relying on applicants or a database, it involves mapping the relevant market, engaging people who are not actively looking and assessing them against a clear, role-specific framework.
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Most of the best candidates for a senior role are not actively looking. Our value lies in knowing the market well enough to identify the right people, then having the relationships and credibility to engage them meaningfully. Every search is a targeted talent-identification exercise, not a database search.
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Closely, and at the points that matter. We keep you informed throughout the process, share market feedback as it emerges and are direct when the brief needs to evolve. You will always know who is doing the work and what to expect at each stage.
Appoint a senior leader with confidence.
Every senior leadership appointment deserves a clear brief, a complete view of the market and candid advice at the decision points that matter.
We welcome a confidential conversation about your search requirements.
⬥ Discuss your Search requirements