What We Do

Retained Executive Search – Driving Superior Client and Career Performance Since 1989

For 35 years, Kensington International has partnered with lower-mid to middle market private equity firms and a select group of mid and large cap corporate clients to identify, recruit, assess and select results-oriented senior leaders for our clients. These are executives who represent the top tier of talent in their respective field. 

We understand the importance of strong leadership and how it is many times the difference maker in the level of success our clients achieve. For our private equity clients, the leadership entrusted to guide a portfolio company with significant dollars at stake, is critical and often, will make or break the investment.  For our corporate clients, this level of talent will impact the strategic direction of the enterprise for many years as these leaders navigate in many instances, through multiple roles and divisions.

Overall, the combined experience of our Consultants and staff means Kensington has established a strong track record of success and a reputation that demonstrates we will deliver the best possible outcome on behalf of every client, on each search.

Our Model

Customer Focused

Our model and culture are built with a focus on serving our clients with exceptional hands-on, “white-glove” executive search services. We strive to be great listeners who truly understand each client’s business model, strengths, challenges and opportunities – all of which can be leveraged through the addition of the leaders we help to identify and recruit. We over communicate during a search process so that clients always have a clear picture of the status of a search. Every customer matters and every search is treated with extreme care.

Disciplined Research and Process Driven Approach

Research is the foundation of what we do. Our business model is built around utilizing a disciplined research approach, experienced staff and technology to help uncover the proven leaders of today and those of tomorrow, who are standing out in their companies today. For our private equity clients, many company targets and their senior leaders are not as easily identifiable as those in the Fortune 500 thus it requires laser focused research to uncover these companies and their leaders. Throughout a search process and for all of our clients, our research is shared, and can provide valuable market data and in some cases, competitive intelligence to our clients.

Flawless Execution

In today’s world, technology has made it easy to be lazy. To recruit the top quartile of leaders in a given industry requires flawless execution on any search assignment. Our experienced team doesn’t simply send out a few emails to prospective candidates and wait to hear back; we are diligent in our outreach, spending the vast majority of our time on the phones, talking to potential candidates and networking sources in an effort to leave no stone unturned.

Leadership Assessment Capabilities

We believe that it’s critical to go beyond a standard interview to get to know a candidate. As part of our standard search process, we embed a formal leadership assessment process that allows us to gain a clear understanding of the leadership behaviors that a candidate possesses and mapping those behaviors against the current organization – all in an effort to better understand the potential fit. While all search firms employ the traditional “gut feel” assessment and selection process, the use of this validated tool is a true differentiator in our search process.  In the end, clients have a clear understanding of each candidate’s overall experience, skills, abilities, motivating factors and leadership behaviors.

Boutique Firm Approach

As a boutique firm, we are nimble and able to work in ways large, global search firms are unable to. Our Consultants are actively engaged in every element of the search engagement. Clients get a highly experienced and capable team executing every search assignment. Our size and relationship commitments mean we can assure each and every client that we are free from the “off-limit” issues that our large search competitors face in many instances – which is why we are a preferred partner of choice in the markets we serve. On the other side of that coin and when working especially with larger-cap clients – if we work for one division, we are working for the entire enterprise. 

Global Reach

Agilium Worldwide

Since 2000, Kensington has provided executive search services outside the United States through its partnership in Agilium Worldwide Search Partners.  Agilium Worldwide is a worldwide strategic alliance of independently owned and operated executive search firms. Bound together by style, energy level, approach and adherence to the code of ethics and professional guidelines as defined by the Association of Executive Search Consultants (AESC), member firms have created a seamless network of search firms operating across six continents and 30+ different countries.

Testimonials

"I found Kensington’s ability to truly hit the mark on our culture to be exceptional. I expect all firms we work with to deliver candidates with the appropriate skills and abilities. What Kensington did was deliver a candidates who can not only manage the change we need but do so without completely destroying the culture we have worked so hard to create."
Global Construction ClientChief Executive Officer
“What I like most about working with Kensington is their sense of partnership and responsiveness to our needs and requirements. The services they deliver are always of exceptional quality, customized to our needs and help protect our employer brand.”
Fortune 500 ClientChief Human Resources Officer
“For over 25 years, I’ve worked with Kensington and find them to be very knowledgeable about the marketplace overall and take a proactive approach to bringing the right candidates and companies together. It’s clear they ‘get’ executive search in general and in our case – middle market, private equity and how critical the candidate’s cultural fit is to the company’s overall success.”
Leading Middle Market Private Equity FirmFounding Partner
“The strategic discussion we had with Kensington was robust, focused, and very effectively facilitated. I continue to be impressed with the quality of Kensington’s staff and outputs. They are professional, organized, intelligent and are results focused.”
Global Capital Equipment ManufacturerDirector of Human Resources
“My experience with Kensington’s firm was a very pleasant one. Not only did I land a job (which is the whole reason I worked with Kensington), but I also had the opportunity to get to know Mary Jane and Todd, two people who truly care about your future and career goals and who go above and beyond to help. I didn’t feel like their “client;” I felt like an individual who could openly communicate and share feedback in a judgement free zone. Mary Jane and Todd are not only supportive, but they connected with me and provided support even though we met virtually, as I am located in a different state. In general, search firms are “business-like.” Working in Manhattan I’ve gotten used to such an environment. However, Kensington’s firm demonstrated to me that you can run a company with professionalism and still treat every person with personal attention. I can’t say enough wonderful things about Kensington, and it’s not just because of the “happy ending” of finding a job, but because they truly match their talent to the best of their ability. I will never forget the experience, nor the impact Kensington made on my professional growth!”
Private Equity-backed Healthcare Company Director of Clinical Services
“A core tenant of successful private equity investing is getting the right managers in the right positions within your investments. In this regard we have partnered with Kensington International on numerous occasions to find, recruit and assess management talent. Their approach is disciplined and thorough and therefore gives me confidence in the quality of executives we hire through them.”
Middle Market Private Equity FirmManaging Partner
“I hired Kensington International to help us with an unusual search. Their word was honorable. Their work product is exemplary. Thank you for the pleasure of this recruiting experience. I will call Kensington for any future needs.”
Insurance CompanyDirector Human Resources & Administration
“Kensington International recently led a successful search for us. It was successful due to Kensington International’s team being thorough, their attention to detail, their high level of customer service and ultimately their ability to be a strategic partner in the search.”
Global Water/Wastewater Design, Build, Operating CompanyDirector, Talent Acquisition
“In my 35 years of Human Resources, Kensington is the best search firm I have ever worked with. They took the time to understand our business, the markets within which we compete, and the types/caliber of candidates required to excel here. They were and collegial, over-communicative, and results focused.”
Transportation & Distribution CompanyVice President, Human Resources
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