ExactSearch.AI Debuts with AI-Powered Tools and Transparent Pricing Model for Executive Search
August 4, 2025 – ExactSearch.AI has launched a new model for retained executive search finding senior talent with faster results, partner-led service, and fees at half the cost of traditional retained search firms. “Organizations are tired of paying high fees to find great leaders, and waiting months to get them,” said Mike Caggiano, co-founder and CEO. “We built ExactSearch.AI to cut the red tape, not the quality. Our clients work directly with experienced partners, while our AI-powered workflow makes every step of the process faster, smarter, and more precise.”
Established by executive search veterans, ExactSearch.AI looks to fix what hasn’t changed in the industry’s 75-year history: 30-35 percent fees, multi-month timelines, and outdated processes. With a 17 percent total fee, the firm offers a low-risk, high-impact alternative to the legacy model.
ExactSearch.AI automates administrative tasks such as sourcing, scheduling, and reporting-freeing up partners to focus on evaluating and delivering senior executive talent. The firm’s proprietary AI Leadership Quotient (AI-LQ) helps clients identify candidates equipped to lead in an AI-enabled economy.
The ExactSearch.AI leadership team includes Mr. Caggiano, a 25-year executive search veteran who co-led Robert Half’s executive search practice to a #1 national ranking and most recently served as the leader of another national executive search practice with Highspring (Formerly Focus Search Partners). As CEO of ExactSearch.AI, Mr. Caggiano drives the firm’s growth strategy and leads client partnerships across every stage of the search.
Sandrine Ennis, co-founder and president, is a seasoned recruiting leader with two decades of experience guiding C-suite searches across high-growth industries. She previously founded the woman-owned firm Talentstream and brings deep expertise in executive talent strategy.
Related: AI and the Workforce: Navigating the Balance Between Productivity and Uncertainty
Steve Ankney, co-founder and COO, is a systems architect and recruiting operations expert with a background in optimizing large-scale search infrastructure. He previously led technology and process innovation for executive search at Robert Half.
Want to Learn More About AI in Executive Search?
On September 30th, Hunt Scanlon Media is convening the first AI event at The Harvard Club in New York and has top professionals from companies like Microsoft, Accenture, Prudential, Bain & Co., Capgemini and others as well as top search experts from Egon Zehnder, True, Artico Search, Riviera Partners, Caldwell, StevenDouglas and more. Plus tech movers like HelloSky, QLU.ai, Ema, and Findem on board as well.
The Evolution of Executive Recruiting in the Age of AI
Artificial Intelligence is revolutionizing executive search by enhancing the efficiency of research, candidate sourcing, and assessment processes. AI-powered tools analyze vast datasets to identify potential candidates, assess their qualifications, and predict how well someone might fit a role, according to an article from global talent provider True’s Josh Withers. “Talent mapping, once a drawn-out process, is now faster thanks to real-time insights into market trends and candidate availability,” he said. “We’ve reached a point where AI isn’t in the distant future; it’s actively reshaping how we find top-tier talent today.”
Mr. Withers explains that we have seen this before. “We saw a profound shift in the executive search world from the pre-internet to the internet era,” he said. “Tasks like conducting research on management teams and connecting with potential candidates were once time-consuming. We faxed documents, purchased expensive books with company information, and spent hours calling company directories. It was painful, but it was what we knew.”
Hunt Scanlon Media’s second AI event will be held at the IoD in London on December 11th and, here again, top companies like Microsoft, LinkedIn and others will be presenting. “We are in the process of finalizing that agenda so if there are any organizations in executive search or in corporate that would like to participate, they can reach out to me at chris@huntscanlon.com,” said Christopher W. Hunt, co-founder and president of Hunt Scanlon Media. “But for any recruitment or AI professional these are two events not to be missed.”
To view the agenda and reserve your seat for the NYC event, click here: AI Talent Conference in NYC on September 30, 2025 – Hunt Scanlon Media.
Related: Delivering Talent for the AI Revolution
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
