Industry Market Size
Candidate Profiles Scanned
Placement Success Rate
Avg. Time to Shortlist
What We Do
Executive Search, Reimagined.
We combine aggressive, sales-driven headhunting with cutting-edge AI to deliver candidates that job boards and passive recruiters simply cannot reach.
Retained Executive Search
Exclusive, dedicated searches for C-suite and senior leadership roles. We commit our full resources to finding the one candidate who will transform your organization.
25–35% of first-year compensation
View Details & Case StudyContingency Recruitment
Performance-based placement for Director and VP-level positions. You only pay when we deliver the right candidate — zero risk, maximum results.
20–25% of base salary
View Details & Case StudyAI-Powered Candidate Sourcing
Our proprietary AI technology scans 800M+ professional profiles worldwide, identifying passive candidates that traditional recruiters will never find.
Included in all engagements
View Details & Case StudyConfidential Searches
Discreet replacement searches and succession planning for sensitive leadership transitions. Complete confidentiality guaranteed throughout the process.
Custom retainer structure
View Details & Case StudyDeep Dive
Our Services, In Detail.
Every engagement is different. Explore each of our service offerings below to understand exactly how we work, what it costs, and the results we've delivered for clients like you.
Service 01
Retained Executive Search
Our retained executive search is the gold standard for mission-critical leadership hires. When you engage Breckdona on a retained basis, you are hiring a dedicated search partner — not posting a job listing and hoping for the best. We commit our full team, our AI-powered sourcing technology, and our personal network to finding the one candidate who will transform your organization.
Retained searches are ideal for C-suite positions (CEO, CFO, COO, CTO, CMO), board-level appointments, and any role where the wrong hire would cost your company millions. We operate under an exclusive agreement, meaning we are your sole search partner for the engagement — ensuring total focus and accountability.
How It Works
Exclusive engagement with a dedicated search team assigned to your account from day one through onboarding.
Deep-dive discovery session to map your organizational culture, leadership gaps, and the exact profile that will drive results.
AI-augmented sourcing scans 800M+ professional profiles to build a targeted candidate universe in days, not months.
Direct headhunting via personal phone calls to passive candidates currently thriving at competitor companies.
Curated shortlist of 3–5 exceptional candidates, each personally vetted through behavioral interviews and reference checks.
Full negotiation support and 90-day placement guarantee — if the hire doesn't work out, we restart at no additional cost.
Fee Structure
25–35% of first-year compensation
Payment
Three installments (⅓ upfront, ⅓ at shortlist, ⅓ at placement)
Avg. Timeline
45–90 days to accepted offer
Case Study · Private Equity / SaaS
The Challenge
A PE-backed SaaS company needed a new CEO after the founder stepped down. Three previous search firms had failed over 8 months, presenting candidates who lacked the operational rigor the board required.
Our Approach
We mapped 340 potential candidates across B2B SaaS companies with $20M–$100M ARR. Our AI identified 12 passive leaders with PE operating experience. We personally called each one, pitching the vision and equity upside.
The Result
Placed a former COO from a competitor who had never considered leaving. She accepted within 60 days and grew the company's ARR by 40% in her first year.
"Breckdona found us a CEO that three other search firms couldn't. They called a candidate who wasn't looking, pitched the vision, and closed the deal. That hire changed the trajectory of our company."
— Managing Partner, Growth Equity Fund
Service 02
Contingency Recruitment
Case Study · Construction & Real Estate
The Challenge
A national commercial construction firm was hemorrhaging revenue because they couldn't fill three VP-level positions (VP of Operations, VP of Preconstruction, VP of Business Development) that had been open for 6+ months.
Our Approach
We ran parallel contingency searches for all three roles simultaneously. Our AI sourced 580 candidates across ENR Top 400 contractors. We cold-called 45 passive candidates in the first two weeks, qualifying them against the client's culture and technical requirements.
The Result
All three positions filled within 75 days. The VP of Business Development alone brought in $12M in new contracts in his first quarter.
"We'd been struggling for months with other recruiters who just sent us resumes from job boards. Breckdona actually picked up the phone and recruited people who weren't looking. The quality difference was night and day."
— CEO, National Commercial Construction Firm
Our contingency recruitment model is built for companies that need high-caliber Director and VP-level talent but want a performance-based fee structure. You pay nothing until we deliver a candidate who accepts your offer. Zero risk, maximum accountability.
Unlike traditional contingency firms that blast your job posting across every board and pray for responses, we apply the same proactive headhunting methodology as our retained practice. We identify, call, and recruit passive candidates directly. The only difference is the payment model — you don't pay unless we deliver.
What Sets Our Contingency Practice Apart
Zero upfront cost — our fee is only triggered when a candidate we present accepts your offer and starts the role.
Same proactive headhunting methodology as retained search: direct calls to passive candidates, not job board scraping.
Ideal for Director-level, VP, and senior management positions with base salaries between $150K–$350K.
Parallel search capability — we can run multiple contingency searches simultaneously for rapid team builds.
AI-powered candidate matching ensures cultural fit and technical alignment before any introduction is made.
30-day replacement guarantee on all contingency placements for added peace of mind.
Fee Structure
20–25% of base salary
Payment
Due upon candidate start date
Avg. Timeline
30–60 days to accepted offer
Service 03
AI-Powered Candidate Sourcing
Our AI-powered sourcing engine is the technological backbone behind every Breckdona search. While included in all retained and contingency engagements, we also offer it as a standalone service for companies with internal recruiting teams that need a competitive edge in identifying passive talent.
Traditional recruiters rely on LinkedIn searches and their personal Rolodex. Our technology aggregates data from 800M+ professional profiles across LinkedIn, GitHub, patent databases, conference speaker lists, industry publications, and proprietary databases. The AI doesn't just find resumes — it identifies patterns of career trajectory, leadership readiness, and cultural compatibility that human recruiters would take months to uncover.
Technology Capabilities
Multi-source aggregation: scans LinkedIn, GitHub, patent filings, conference rosters, academic publications, and 50+ proprietary databases simultaneously.
Predictive career modeling: identifies candidates whose career trajectory suggests they are 6–18 months away from being ready for their next move.
Cultural fit scoring: analyzes leadership style indicators, communication patterns, and organizational culture alignment.
Competitive intelligence mapping: identifies exactly who holds the role you need at every competitor in your market.
Diversity sourcing: dedicated algorithms ensure your candidate pipeline reflects the diverse talent pool available in the market.
Real-time market compensation data: provides salary benchmarking so your offers are competitive from day one.
Standalone Fee
$5,000–$15,000 per sourcing project
With Search Engagement
Included at no additional cost
Deliverable
Ranked candidate list with full dossiers
Case Study · Healthcare Technology
The Challenge
A Series C healthtech startup needed a CTO with a rare combination of HIPAA compliance expertise, machine learning experience, and the ability to scale an engineering team from 15 to 80. Their internal recruiting team had been searching for 4 months with zero qualified candidates.
Our Approach
Our AI scanned patent databases, GitHub contributions, and academic publications alongside traditional professional profiles. We identified 28 candidates globally who had both the technical depth and leadership experience required — 22 of whom were not visible through standard LinkedIn searches.
The Result
The client's internal team used our ranked dossiers to directly engage 8 candidates. They hired their CTO within 35 days of receiving our sourcing report — a candidate who had published 3 ML papers and previously scaled an engineering org at a digital health unicorn.
"The sourcing report Breckdona delivered was unlike anything we'd ever seen. They found candidates our internal team didn't even know existed. The depth of the dossiers saved us months of screening time."
— VP of People, Series C Healthtech Startup
800M+
Profiles Indexed
50+
Data Sources
Service 04
Confidential Searches
Case Study · Financial Services
The Challenge
A regional bank's board needed to replace their underperforming CEO without alerting the current executive, the staff, regulators, or the market. Any leak could trigger stock volatility, employee attrition, and regulatory scrutiny.
Our Approach
We operated under a blind search protocol — the client's identity was never revealed to candidates until the final interview stage. All communications used encrypted channels. We identified 18 qualified banking CEOs through our AI, conducted initial conversations under NDA, and presented a shortlist of 4 candidates who had passed background and regulatory pre-screening.
The Result
The board selected a candidate who was a sitting President at a competing institution. The transition was announced publicly only after the new CEO had signed. Zero leaks throughout the entire 90-day process.
"The level of discretion Breckdona maintained was extraordinary. Not a single person outside the board knew we were conducting this search. They handled the most sensitive leadership transition in our bank's history with absolute professionalism."
— Board Chair, Regional Banking Institution
Our Confidentiality Protocols
Blind search protocol — client identity withheld
Encrypted communication channels
NDA-protected candidate conversations
Background & regulatory pre-screening
Board-level reporting only
Some leadership transitions cannot be made public. Whether you're replacing an underperforming executive, planning a succession before a retirement announcement, or recruiting a competitor's key leader, our confidential search practice ensures absolute discretion at every stage.
Confidential searches require a fundamentally different approach than standard executive search. Information must be compartmentalized. Candidate outreach must be carefully scripted to avoid tipping off the market. And the search firm must have the judgment and experience to know exactly when — and how — to reveal sensitive details. At Breckdona, confidential searches are led exclusively by our founder, ensuring the tightest possible circle of knowledge.
When You Need a Confidential Search
CEO or C-suite replacement: The current executive is unaware they are being replaced, and any leak could destabilize the organization.
Succession planning: A senior leader is retiring or transitioning, but the timeline hasn't been announced internally or externally.
Competitive poaching: You've identified a specific leader at a competitor and need to approach them with complete discretion.
Board-mandated searches: The board has decided on a leadership change that requires careful, staged communication to stakeholders.
Regulatory-sensitive transitions: Industries like banking, healthcare, and defense where leadership changes can trigger regulatory review.
Pre-acquisition leadership: Placing executives into a target company before an M&A deal is publicly announced.
Fee Structure
Custom retainer (typically 30–35%)
Confidentiality
Blind protocol with encrypted comms
Led By
Founder only — zero delegation
30
Day Average
to Shortlist
Our Process
Precision at Every Step.
Discovery & Alignment
We start with a deep-dive conversation to understand your organization's culture, the role's strategic importance, and the exact leadership profile that will drive results.
AI-Powered Sourcing
Our technology scans 800M+ profiles across LinkedIn, industry databases, and proprietary networks to build a targeted list of passive candidates currently thriving at competitor companies.
The Headhunt
This is where we differentiate. We personally call every candidate on the shortlist. No mass emails. No generic InMails. A direct, confidential conversation from our founder.
Presentation & Close
We present a curated slate of 3–5 exceptional candidates, manage the interview process, negotiate compensation, and ensure a seamless onboarding transition.
Industries We Serve
Deep Expertise, Across Sectors.
We specialize in industries where leadership quality directly determines competitive advantage and market position.
Hospitality & Entertainment
Technology & SaaS
Financial Services
Healthcare & Life Sciences
Construction & Real Estate
Private Equity Portfolio
Why Breckdona
Most Recruiters Wait. We Hunt.
The best executives aren't scrolling job boards. They're running companies. We find them, call them directly, and present opportunities they can't refuse. That's the Breckdona difference.
Proactive Headhunting
We don't post jobs and wait. We identify, call, and recruit passive candidates directly from competitor companies.
AI-Augmented Intelligence
Our technology scans 800M+ profiles in minutes, surfacing candidates that human-only searches would take months to find.
Founder-Led Engagement
Every search is personally led by our founder. You will never be handed off to a junior associate.
Performance Guarantee
We stand behind every placement. If a candidate doesn't work out within 90 days, we restart the search at no additional cost.
Trusted by Industry Leaders Across Sectors
Meridian Capital
Private Equity
Vanguard Health Systems
Healthcare
Nexus Technologies
Enterprise SaaS
Atlas Construction Group
Construction
Sterling Financial
Financial Services
Pinnacle Hospitality
Hospitality & Events
Ironbridge Partners
Growth Equity
Cortex AI Labs
Artificial Intelligence
Meridian Capital
Private Equity
Vanguard Health Systems
Healthcare
Nexus Technologies
Enterprise SaaS
Atlas Construction Group
Construction
Sterling Financial
Financial Services
Pinnacle Hospitality
Hospitality & Events
Ironbridge Partners
Growth Equity
Cortex AI Labs
Artificial Intelligence
150+
Executive Placements
96%
Client Retention Rate
45
Day Avg. Time-to-Hire
$28M+
Total Placement Value
Client Testimonials
What Our Clients Say.
"Breckdona found us a CFO that three other search firms couldn't. They called a candidate who wasn't looking, pitched the vision, and closed the deal in 45 days. That hire changed the trajectory of our company."
James R.
CEO, Series B SaaS Company
$180K placement fee
CFO placed at $600K total comp
Our Team
The People Behind Every Placement.
Our consultants aren't career recruiters who hide behind email. They're former executives, operators, and dealmakers who pick up the phone and get results.
Founder & Managing Partner
Marcus Thompson
Marcus founded Breckdona Executive Search after 15 years in enterprise sales and talent acquisition. His career began in B2B sales where he consistently ranked in the top 1% nationally, before transitioning into executive recruiting. Marcus personally handles every retained C-suite engagement and is known for his relentless cold-calling methodology — he doesn't wait for candidates to come to him. His philosophy is simple: the best leaders aren't on job boards, they're thriving at your competitors, and it takes a real conversation to move them.
75+
Placements
Victoria brings 12 years of Wall Street experience to Breckdona, having served as a VP at Goldman Sachs before moving into executive search. She specializes in placing CFOs, Chief Risk Officers, and senior finance leaders for companies ranging from Series B startups to Fortune 500 enterprises. Her deep network within the financial services industry and her understanding of regulatory environments make her the go-to partner for any finance leadership search. Victoria holds an MBA from Wharton.
Victoria Ashford
Senior Partner, Financial Services
With over 25 years in executive search, David is one of the most respected headhunters in the industrial and construction sectors. He has placed CEOs, COOs, and division presidents for national general contractors, energy companies, and heavy manufacturing firms. David's approach is old-school in the best way — he picks up the phone, builds genuine relationships, and leverages a Rolodex that spans three decades. Before joining Breckdona, he led the industrial practice at a top-20 global search firm.
David Harrington
Senior Partner, Industrial & Construction
Sophia leads Breckdona's technology practice, specializing in placing CTOs, VPs of Engineering, and AI/ML leadership for venture-backed startups and growth-stage companies. Before joining Breckdona, she spent 8 years at a leading Silicon Valley recruiting firm and holds a computer science degree from Stanford. Sophia's technical fluency allows her to evaluate engineering leaders at a depth that most recruiters simply cannot match. She also oversees Breckdona's proprietary AI-powered sourcing technology.
Sophia Chen
Partner, Technology & AI
James specializes in placing C-suite and senior leadership for healthcare systems, biotech companies, and medical device manufacturers. His background includes 10 years in healthcare consulting at McKinsey, giving him an unparalleled understanding of the operational challenges facing healthcare organizations. James is known for his ability to identify leaders who can navigate both the clinical and business sides of healthcare. He holds an MPH from Johns Hopkins and is a frequent speaker at healthcare leadership conferences.
James Delgado
Partner, Healthcare & Life Sciences
Want to speak directly with a consultant about your search?
Schedule a Confidential ConversationFrequently Asked Questions
Everything You Need to Know.
Hiring a search firm is a significant decision. Here are straightforward answers to the questions we hear most from prospective clients.
The Search Process
Fees & Engagement Structure
Guarantees & Results
Confidentiality & Working With Us
Still have questions?
We\u2019re happy to discuss your specific situation in a confidential, no-obligation consultation.
Schedule a ConsultationStart a Search
Let's Find Your Next Leader.
Whether you need a CEO, a VP of Sales, or a critical Director-level hire, we'd like to understand your challenge. Schedule a confidential consultation to discuss your search.
Call Directly
(555) 000-0000