Kestria Adds New Member Firm in Portugal
December 22, 2025 – Kestria, formerly known as IRC Global Executive Search Partners, has added Thrive Partners in Portugal as its newest member firm. “In Thrive Partners, we’ve found a partner that allows us to strengthen our portfolio by adding the important Portuguese market,” said Stepan Motejzik, Kestria’s global alliance director. “From our very first interaction, we’ve felt a mutual synergy and business alignment that sets the foundation for a long-term partnership – one that will benefit Thrive, Kestria, and most importantly, our clients and candidates both locally and internationally. We’re truly looking forward to working together.”
Thrive Partners is a boutique consulting firm focused on executive search. Its senior consultants combine extensive corporate and advisory. In addition to executive search, the firm provides Leadership development and people strategy & advisory services, supporting organizations in aligning culture, leadership and talent across the employee lifecycle.
“We are truly delighted to join the Kestria alliance,” said João Miguel Antunes, founder of Thrive Partners and now managing partner, Kestria Portugal. “This is a natural step in our journey to connect cultures, leadership and talent across borders. It reflects our ambition to deliver outstanding service to our clients – combining global reach with deep local insight. Through Kestria’s international network, we can now connect with leaders and organizations anywhere in the world, while leveraging sector-specific expertise to design tailor-made high-impact solutions.”
Mr. Antunes has more than 30 years of experience leading HR and people & culture functions, with a strong track record of partnering with businesses to achieve strategic goals through people. His career began in the financial and insurance sectors, later expanding into technology and consulting, and further into agribusiness, industrial and FMCG industries. In his last executive role, Mr. Antunes served as CHRO of a global technology group internationally recognized in fintech, mobile payments, digital platforms and engagement solutions.
Related: Kestria Adds New Member Firm in New Orleans
Kestria has partners in over 40 countries and 90 cities across Europe, the Middle East, the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Australia. The consortium has completed more than 40,000 assignments for more than 4,000 clients, from game-changing start-ups to major global players.
New Member Firm
Kestria recently added a new member firm in Mexico with the addition of Performance Talent Consulting International, a boutique consultancy specializing in executive search, talent management and organizational development. “Kestria is delighted to welcome a new member firm in Mexico, marking a key milestone in our alliance’s growth across Latin America,” the consortium said. “This step underscores our commitment to combining local expertise with a global perspective in all major regions. Expanding our presence in Mexico strengthens our ability to deliver seamless collaboration and innovative talent solutions across borders.”
The Select Guide to America’s Top 250 Executive Search Firms
Hunt Scanlon Media proudly presents the Select Guide to America’s Top 250 Executive Search Firms.
This comprehensive online directory is your definitive resource for finding the best executive search firms to serve your talent needs.
Our guide is meticulously curated to connect you with leading firms that specialize in various industries and functions, ensuring you find the perfect match for your executive recruitment needs.
“Welcoming our new partner in Mexico marks more than an expansion, it’s a bold step in strengthening Kestria’s global reach,” said Katerina Meimaroglou, president of the Kestria executive board. “Together, we connect insights across borders, empower leaders and shape success across the Americas.”
“In today’s talent-driven marketplace, the ability to identify, engage, attract, hire and retain top-performing passive and semi-passive candidates with a global perspective is essential for the sustained success of any organization,” said Jens Hagedorn, managing partner, Kestria Mexico: Performance Talent Consulting International.
Related: Kestria Adds New Member Firm in New Orleans
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
