History

Since 1959, the Association of Executive Search and Leadership Consultants (AESC) has set the quality standard for the executive search and leadership consulting profession. Its members are the leaders in executive talent and leadership advisory solutions.  

Largely starting as a by-product of management consulting, the executive search profession has since grown into a global consulting industry with annual revenues of $14 billion. The profession has paralleled major trends in business and, to this day, few major organizations needing to fill a key position in their management ranks do so without considering the engagement of an executive search firm. 

Executive search consultants realized early on that they would benefit from an association that would enable them to set ethical and professional standards, advocate for the industry and for member firms against restrictive legislation and broaden public understanding of their business. 

AESC was founded in 1959 as the Association of Executive Recruiting Consultants (AERC) for the dual purposes of creating a professional association for the most competent and reputable search firms, and for providing clients and prospective clients a means by which to differentiate qualified and ethical practitioners in the profession. Early leaders of the association included Spence Stuart, Ward Howell, Russ Reynolds, Sid Boyden and Gardner Heidrick, founders of many of today’s leading firms. In 1982 the organization changed its name to the Association of Executive Search Consultants and later to the Association of Executive Search and Leadership Consultants in 2014 to better reflect the consulting elements in members’ work. 

In 2004, AESC adopted a new governance structure whereby three regional councils elect five representatives to sit on its international board. The Board deals with operational matters and strategy in collaboration with staff and AESC Members at large. AESC’s governance provides a framework for an association representing a global industry. Today, AESC Members range in size from large global firms and networks to boutique firms spanning more than 70 countries.