Founded in 1985, Slayton Search Partners is a premier retained executive search firm dedicated to recruiting top executive talent to client companies throughout the globe. We know how important it is to find a partner who can understand your needs, recruit best-in-class talent, and counsel you toward a successful conclusion of the search process.
Built on strong principles of knowledge, integrity, communication and quality, we’ve evolved alongside an ever shifting business landscape, gaining insight and expertise while crafting a better search alternative.
Our way of Limit-Less® thinking and acting has made us one of the fastest-growing executive search firms in North America, building a distinguished roster of clients and attracting more of the top candidates sought after by top firms and organizations
Our approach begins with the right people — people who consistently go beyond the acceptable to the exceptional.
Each executive search leader is a real expert in select, carefully chosen areas of practice expertise. We’re a team of ‘the best of the best’ — people who know what it takes to carry out effective searches efficiently, professionally and effectively.
Attracting senior management talent in any industry can be challenging. Slayton’s exceptional consultants invest countless time and energy to build industry domain expertise and relationships with leaders in these verticals.
Slayton Search Partners has expanded with the addition of David Turner as executive vice president in the firm’s consumer practice. “We are thrilled to welcome David to Slayton Search Partners,” said Richard Slayton, managing partner and CEO. “His extensive experience in food and agriculture, combined with his proven track record in executive search and his global perspective,
In 2025, the recruiting and executive search industry entered a pivotal transformation driven by the rapid integration of AI and data intelligence. As firms navigated uneven hiring demand and ongoing consolidation, recruiters increasingly turned to AI-powered platforms, advanced analytics, and leadership science to deliver sharper insight, faster outcomes, and measurable value for clients. Investor activity
Boards and CEOs are quickly realizing that AI isn’t just another tool—it’s becoming a foundational operating layer. That acceleration is forcing companies to rethink who sets priorities, manages risk, and turns experimentation into measurable value. Out of that pressure, a dedicated C-suite leader for enterprise AI strategy is starting to take shape. Not long ago,
Slayton Search Partners has expanded with the addition of Dan Plourde as senior vice president and principal. He will focus on supporting the firm’s industrial and consumer practices, bringing nearly two decades of executive search and recruitment experience to the team. “Dan’s extensive experience in executive search, combined with his proven track record of building
(September 2023) DAVID CECH Senior Vice President & Principal R&D is at the core of many organizations’ growth initiatives, but attracting and retaining R&D talent amidst burnout requires equal attention from leaders. Innovation has always been a key catalyst for exponential business growth. The past few years have only emphasized this relationship. The pandemic presented
(September 2023) MOLLY HULL Executive Vice President Companies must leverage flexibility to attract and retain professional women as labor force participation rises. For the better part of the past three years, professional women have been challenged with significant gender equity setbacks. Our last analysis of women in the workforce revealed a dismal state; in 2022, female workforce participation was
(August 2023) JAY DAPRILE Executive Vice President Insurers must overcome upcoming challenges and leverage opportunities to perform their high-impact role. The volatile global economy—influenced by geopolitical conflicts and rising interest rates—has exposed the financial vulnerability and wariness of companies and consumers in recent years. While the long-anticipated recession remains out of sight, Deloitte predicts a substantial slowdown
(August 2023) STUART SMITH Senior Vice President & Principal Baby Boomers are staying in the workforce for longer than expected, but with a growing challenge to attract younger generations, the banking talent shortage is set to soar. The banking industry is faced with an interesting conundrum. It is increasingly harder to attract talent, especially those
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