Heidrick & Struggles International Incorporated is a global executive search firm headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, United States. In addition to its executive search practice, the firm also has a consulting practice focused on leadership and culture shaping.

Heidrick & Struggles was founded in 1953 by Gardner Heidrick and John E. Struggles, both former employees of the management consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton. Heidrick recruited Struggles, who previously worked as a personnel manager for Montgomery Ward, as his partner in the new venture establishing their presence in Chicago. The partnership heralded the beginning of one of the first executive search firms in the United States. Their first three clients were West Virginia Coal & Coke Corporation, Northern Trust and Continental Can.

Heidrick & Struggles served as a launching pad for many top companies in the modern executive search industry. In Spring of 1955, Heidrick & Struggles hired Spencer Stuart, who would eventually leave to start his own executive search firm, Spencer Stuart.

In 1957, Heidrick & Struggles began expanding outside of the Midwest across the United States and onto both coasts with offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York City. In 1968, the firm officially became an international provider by establishing an office in London. The firm has gone on to expand globally with more than 50 offices in six continents with an established world-class reputation in leadership.

In 2014, Heidrick & Struggles International named Tracy R. Wolstencroft as President and Chief Executive Officer. Wolstencroft, who was also named to the Heidrick & Struggles Board of Directors, came to the firm after serving a 25-year career at Goldman, Sachs & Co. where he was a partner from 1994 – 2010.

1953 – Gardner Heidrick & John E. Struggles partner to establish Heidrick & Struggles

1954 – Heidrick & Struggles land its first client, the West Virginia Coal and Coke Company

1968 – Opening of the Heidrick & Struggles London office

1974 – European firm expansion with the opening of offices in Frankfurt & Paris

1979 – Firm establishes a presence in Asia with an office in Hong Kong

1982 – Gardner Heidrick retires after 29-years with the firm

1986 – John E. Struggles retires after 33-years with the firm

1999 – Heidrick & Struggles International becomes a publicly traded company on the NASDAQ

2008 – Heidrick & Struggles becomes a strategic partner of The World Economic Forum

2012 – Acquires corporate culture-shaping firm Senn Delaney

2013 – Rings the bell on the NASDAQ in recognition of the firm’s 60th anniversary

2014 – Names Tracy Wolstencroft as President and CEO

2015 – Acquires London-based leadership consulting firm Co Company

Feb 2016 - Acquires Decision Strategies International (DSI), a leadership advisory firm

Aug 2016 - Acquires JCA Group, a London-based executive search advisory firm.

Apr 2017 - Tracy Wolstencroft named Chairman and Krishnan Rajagopalan is the new CEO