Direct Recruiters, Inc., a Starfish Company

Firm Overview

Since 1983 Direct Recruiters, Inc. has been recognized as the relationship-focused search firm specializing in building customized employment solutions. Our team offers contingency search, contract staffing and retained ‘Direct Retention’ search to source, identify, acquire, and retain top-performing professionals to elevate the success of our client organizations.

Off-Limits Policy

Any client that we have an existing service agreement with, we will not recruit from.

Average Time to Completion on Assignment

30 days

Recently Completed Assignments

News Briefings

Risk Mitigation and Business Complexity is Driving Demand in Legal Recruiting

Demand for senior legal leaders is rising as companies, and law firms face mounting regulatory complexity, global uncertainty, and shifting risks. Boards and CEOs now expect legal executives to be not only technical experts but also strategic business partners who can influence decisions, manage crises, and deliver commercial impact. The bar has never been higher...

What a Strategic Executive Search Partner Actually Delivers

In an environment where leadership decisions carry outsized consequences, the way organizations approach executive hiring has fundamentally shifted. What was once seen as a process-driven function is now a high-stakes exercise in judgment, timing, and alignment—one that directly shapes enterprise value and long-term performance. Executive search is not transactional—it’s strategic, according to a recent report...

DRI Appoints Leader of Machining & Fabrication Practice

Direct Recruiters Inc. (DRI), a Starfish Partners Company, has named Tim Sullen as practice leader for the machining & fabrication practice area. He will lead efforts to expand and strengthen DRI’s partnerships within the machining and fabrication industries. “Tim has been an integral part of our team and consistently goes above and beyond for our clients,” said Josh...

Hunt Scanlon’s Top 10 Recruiting Stories of 2025

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...

Executive Hiring Tightens Across Healthcare IT and Life Sciences

In the evolving landscape of healthcare IT and life sciences, executive hiring is undergoing a transformation marked by elevated expectations and tighter scrutiny from private equity investors and growth-focused organizations. With an increased demand for leaders who not only bring a track record of successful exits but also embody a "player-coach mentality," companies are seeking...

A Closer Look at Private Equity’s Evolving Playbook for Executive Talent

Private equity firms are raising the bar for executive talent, driven by a post-pandemic return to in-office expectations and an intensified focus on leadership performance. As firms prioritize in-person leadership to rebuild culture and drive alignment, a disconnect is emerging between employer demands and candidate preferences for flexibility. At the same time, a slowdown in...