Riviera Partners

About Us

Founded in 2001, Riviera Partners is a global driver of innovation solely focused on placing technical executive leadership talent in the crucial areas of product management, software engineering, IT, AI/ML/Data, cybersecurity, and design. As the go-to talent partner for leading private equity investors, venture capitalists, public companies, and innovative organizations globally, Riviera has grown to over 120 team members and placed talent in more than 25 countries. Their proprietary technology, SutroX, combines deep recruiting expertise with AI and machine learning to power every search — limiting false positives, maximizing results, and delivering full transparency throughout the process.

Riviera operates across six offices — San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York City, Bozeman, Providence, and London — with boots on the ground in major tech hubs globally, including a growing EMEA practice. Beyond executive search, Riviera offers Talent Advisory services to help companies assess talent, define clearer roles, and design more effective organizations, while Paragon by Riviera Partners serves as their full-service talent acquisition arm for technology founders, leaders, and investors who need to scale technical teams and get to market faster. Diversity is a foundational priority in every search, with more than 40% of placements going to women or professionals of color.

Achievements

Riviera Partners

Solutions And Expertise

Solutions
  • Advisory Services
  • Board Services
  • Data Analy./Mrkt. Intell.
  • Executive Search
  • On-Demand Recruiting
  • Recruitment Research
Industries
  • Advertising/Marketing
  • Aerospace/Defense
  • Agriculture
  • Automotive
  • Biotechnology
  • Clean Tech./Sustain.
  • Cloud Based
  • Communications
  • Construction
  • Consulting
  • Consumer
  • Consumer Products
  • Consumer Services
  • Cybersecurity
  • Data & Analytics
  • Devices
  • Energy
  • Engineering & Archit.
  • Financial Services
  • FinTech
  • Hedge Funds
  • High Tech
  • Industrial
  • Internet
  • Life Sci./Healthcare
  • Machine Learning
  • Media & Entertainment
  • Medical Devices
  • Mobile
  • Payments/Processes
  • Private Equity
  • Professional Services
  • Quantitative Finance
  • Software
  • Sports
  • Supply Chain
  • Technology
  • Transportation
  • Travel, Hosp. & Leisure
  • Venture Capital
Functions
  • Data/Analytics
  • Information/Digital
  • Research & Develop.

Riviera Partners

News Briefings

Riviera Partners Acquires Lateral Labs

San Francisco-based Riviera Partners, a recruitment provider specializing in C-level engineering, product, and design leader placements, has acquired Lateral Labs, a specialized recruiting firm serving top AI startups. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. “The acquisition comes as companies remain challenged to meet the demand of organizational AI readiness,” the firm said. “Adding Lateral Labs positions Riviera Partners

Executive Search Continues Its Confident Climb As Transformation Takes Center Stage

The executive search industry entered 2026 from a position of strength. According to Hunt Scanlon, fee revenue at the 50 largest executive search firms in the U.S. / Americas – the global talent sector’s largest and most dominant region – jumped 11 percent last year, topping out at $6.69 billion. Seventy-five percent of search firms

Riviera Partners Names Managing Partner and General Manager of Paragon

San Francisco-based Riviera Partners, a recruitment provider specializing in C-level engineering, product, and design leader placements, has appointed Chris Rice as managing partner and general manager of Paragon, the firm’s global high-volume recruiting division supporting technology founders, leaders, and investors. “Talent remains the clearest advantage in the AI era,” said Michael Newcomer, chief executive officer of Riviera Partners. “Companies

AI Hiring in 2026: Talent, Pay & Readiness

Artificial intelligence is no longer a side initiative championed by innovation teams executive search consultants continue to tell Hunt Scanlon Media. It has become a strategic lever that shapes competitive positioning, operating models, and enterprise value. As adoption deepens, the conversation is shifting from experimentation to execution — from what AI can do to how

Riviera Partners

Press Releases

Mike Flood Joins Riviera Partners as Partner to Lead Financial Services Practice Expansion

New York, NY, Oct. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Riviera Partners, the premier executive search firm specializing in technology leadership, is pleased to announce that Mike Flood has joined the firm as a Partner, where he will lead the expansion of Riviera’s Financial Services Practice. With a distinguished career spanning over two decades in executive

Riviera Partners Launches Cybersecurity Practice to Address Growing Demand for Technical and Security Leadership

September 24, 2024, San Francisco, CA – Riviera Partners is excited to announce the launch of its dedicated Cybersecurity Practice, committed to meeting the growing demand for top-tier CISOs and cybersecurity leaders across industries, as well as technical leadership at companies driving innovation in the digital security space. As companies innovate to combat the growing

Tech-Focused Executive Search Firm Riviera Partners Welcomes Back Austin Douglas As Partner In Its Venture-backed Practice

San Francisco, CA, Sept. 03, 2024 — Riviera Partners, the leading executive search firm specializing in technology leadership placements, is excited to announce the return of Austin Douglas as Partner. Austin brings nearly 15 years of experience in recruiting, with a deep focus on engineering and product roles for venture-backed companies. Austin’s recruiting journey, which

Riviera Partners Raises $25 Million in Growth Capital

SAN FRANCISCO — June 4, 2019 – Riviera Partners, a  leading retained search firm specializing in placements of executive leadership in engineering, product and design talent, today announced that it has closed a minority investment of $25 million led by the growth equity teams at Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors and ROCA Partners. The financing will be used to fund

Riviera Partners

Multimedia

Finding the Right Technology Visionary to Lead Your Digital Transformation

In this brand new episode of ‘Talent Talks,’ we are joined alongside Iain Grant, senior partner of Riviera Partners. In this exclusive podcast, Mr. Grant examines how to recruit the most fit executive to lead a digital transformation. Financial services, real estate, and healthcare are all industries ripe for the next wave of digital transformation