Hunt Scanlon Ventures 2025 Mid-Year Executive Search M&A Report Shows Rising Sector Consolidation

GREENWICH, Conn., July 29, 2025 — Hunt Scanlon Ventures, the leading M&A advisory firm focused on the human capital markets, has released its 2025 Mid-Year Executive Search M&A Report, offering new insight into the transactions, buyer activity, and market shifts driving consolidation across the global talent landscape.

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According to Hunt Scanlon, M&A momentum remains high, with 58 percent of executive search firms actively considering a transaction, an all-time high. 

“Buyers are hard-pressed to find specialized, scalable, niche platforms that bring sector-specific depth, embedded client relationships, and strong brand recognition,” said Drew Seaman, managing director at Hunt Scanlon Ventures. “They want growth.”

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Mr. Seaman said that rising M&A discussions among Hunt Scanlon’s buy-side and sell-side network validates the trend. He said it also signals “rising optimism around human capital M&A and the investment value of professional services firms.”

“Executive search firms are increasingly seen as foundational partners in leveraging leadership as a primary value driver for organizations,” said Mr. Seaman. “As their credibility rises, so too does their investment value,” he said.

The Hunt Scanlon report points to mixed performance among search firms in the first half of 2025. Forty-two percent of firms polled by Hunt Scanlon reported year-over-year revenue growth in Q1. But signs of softening emerged in Q2 as hiring decision-making timelines lengthened and macro caution set in. 

Still, 67 percent of respondents said they expect continued or improving performance in the second half of the year.

“Clients are initiating searches, but decision-making has slowed and employment contracts are taking longer to close,” said Mr. Seaman. “Optimism is being tempered by a pragmatic focus on near-term visibility,” he noted.

About Hunt Scanlon Ventures

Hunt Scanlon Ventures is the leading M&A advisory firm focused on the human capital markets. The firm assists in global merger and acquisition advisory, sourcing and facilitating transactions, buyouts, and growth capital investments as it guides founders to successful exits. Hunt Scanlon is an investor in data-driven and AI-powered human capital platforms where the firm works in partnership with management teams to scale and grow their businesses through a combination of capital investment, acquisitions, and other strategic initiatives.

Contact:
Drew Seaman
Managing Director
(602) 622-1392
[email protected]

SOURCE Hunt Scanlon Media