Our firm
A retained search firm built for consequential appointments.
Westbridge Search advises boards, investors and chief executives on the leadership appointments that determine what an organisation becomes. We work on a retained, exclusive basis and take on a deliberately limited number of mandates.
Our firm
Why the firm exists.
Westbridge Search was founded on a straightforward view: senior appointments fail far more often because of poor assessment than poor sourcing. Most firms are good at finding names. Fewer are willing to tell a chair that the strongest available candidate on paper is the wrong appointment for the situation the business is actually in.
We work exclusively on retained mandates. That means the market is covered systematically rather than opportunistically, the approach to each executive is considered, and the client receives written evidence rather than a stack of CVs.
We keep a limited mandate load per partner. It constrains our growth, and it is the reason clients get the person they briefed rather than a delivery team they have never met.
Evidence, not opinion
Every longlist and shortlist is supported by written assessment against agreed criteria, so the board decides on documented evidence rather than impressions.
Original research
We map the market for each mandate rather than searching a database. Most appointed executives were not actively looking when we approached them.
Confidential by default
Mandates can be run without naming the client until a candidate is qualified and under NDA. Incumbent-in-post searches are routine work for us.
Partner-led throughout
The partner who takes the brief runs the research, conducts the assessment interviews and presents the shortlist. No handover to a junior team.
C-suite
Appointment level
Chief executives, functional leaders and board directors — not volume recruitment.
Retained
Engagement model
Exclusive mandates, original research, and a partner accountable for the outcome.
35+
Markets covered
Search and research capability across Europe, the Americas, EMEA and Asia-Pacific.
12
Stage methodology
Mandate definition through to a formal review six months after appointment.
Our approach
How a mandate runs.
Mandate Definition
We agree scope, terms, decision-makers, timetable and the business context driving the appointment.
Leadership Profile
A written profile covering the future role, success measures, capabilities, and the non-negotiables.
Market Mapping
Original research across target organisations to define the accessible leadership population.
Target Identification
A longlist agreed with the client, with rationale and coverage evidence for each name.
Executive Approach
Discreet, partner-led approaches to executives who are not in the market.
Assessment & Calibration
Structured interviews against the agreed profile, calibrated with the client before shortlist.
Global reach
Local research, international coverage.
Our consultants operate across Europe, North America, the Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific. Cross-border mandates are run by a partner in the client's market working with researchers in the target market, so language, regulation and compensation norms are handled by people who work in them.
- Operating model
- Partner-led
- Markets covered
- 35+
- Client services
- 9
- Stage methodology
- 12
Registered in England & Wales. Company No. 14882031.