Korn Ferry
A global organizational consulting and talent-services firm spanning executive search, leadership development, recruitment, and workforce strategy.
Last updated August 31, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Korn Ferry is a United States-based organizational consulting and talent-services company headquartered in Los Angeles, California. Founded in 1969 by Lester Korn and Richard Ferry, the firm began as an executive-search business and developed into a multinational professional-services organization serving companies, governments, institutions, and other large employers. Its work covers the identification and recruitment of senior leaders, broader professional hiring, organizational strategy, leadership assessment and development, rewards, workforce transformation, and technology-enabled human-resources services. The company expanded internationally at an early stage. It established a Japanese operation in 1973 and opened in Singapore in 1975, followed by offices and acquisitions across Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and North America. By the late 1970s it had built a substantial international network, and in 1981 it described itself as the world's largest executive-search firm. Its expansion continued through acquisitions of local and regional search practices, including businesses in Mexico, the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, Canada, and the United States. The firm also opened offices in India, China, Indonesia, and South Korea during the 1990s. In 2005, it moved its regional headquarters to Shanghai and reported a network of 73 offices in 40 countries. Korn Ferry's corporate structure and service mix changed repeatedly in response to shifts in the executive-search and consulting markets. It went public in 1972, returned to private ownership in 1974, and later became publicly traded again. In the late 1990s it launched Futurestep with The Wall Street Journal as an online service aimed initially at middle-management recruitment. The venture expanded internationally but incurred substantial losses during the technology-sector downturn. During the early 2000s, the firm reduced staff as the executive-search industry contracted after the technology boom. Acquisitions became a major route into leadership consulting and organizational development. The company purchased Lominger in 2006, LeaderSource in 2007, Lore International Institute in 2008, Whitehead Mann in 2009, Sensa Solutions in 2010, PDI Ninth House in 2013, Pivot Leadership in 2015, and Hay Group in 2015. These transactions broadened Korn Ferry beyond traditional retained search into leadership assessment, executive education, succession planning, culture, rewards, and enterprise-wide organizational consulting. In 2018, Korn Ferry consolidated its portfolio under a single brand. It recorded a one-time non-cash impairment related to rebranding the business and retired several acquired or legacy names, including Futurestep, Hay Group, and Lominger. The unified identity was intended to present search, consulting, digital products, and recruitment-process services as parts of one integrated organizational platform. Korn Ferry operates through activities commonly described as Consulting, Digital, Executive Search, Recruitment Process Outsourcing, and Professional Search. Its clients use the firm for senior appointments, leadership pipelines, organization design, compensation and rewards, workforce planning, talent analytics, and recruitment delivery. The company also has a substantial presence in sports branding through its sponsorship of the Korn Ferry Tour, the developmental circuit for the PGA Tour. In 2022, after continuing to operate in Russia during the early period of the invasion of Ukraine, the company suspended its Russian operations. Korn Ferry remains an active global professional-services brand and a publicly listed company traded under the symbol KFY.
History
Korn Ferry was established in 1969 by Lester Korn and Richard Ferry, who had first met while working at the Los Angeles accounting firm Peat, Marwick, Mitchell. The new firm specialized in executive search and quickly pursued an international model. It went public in 1972, reacquired its outstanding shares in 1974, and created a Japanese operation in 1973. Offices in Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Thailand, and other markets followed, while acquisitions added practices in Mexico, the United Kingdom, and Australia. By 1981, Korn Ferry had become the world's largest executive-search firm according to contemporary company descriptions. It served a large corporate client base through a growing international office network, and revenue exceeded $100 million in 1989. After Lester Korn retired in 1991, Richard Ferry became chairman as well as president and chief executive. The organization subsequently closed some offices and introduced videoconferencing for candidate screening in 1992. European growth accelerated through the acquisition of Carre Orban and Partners in 1993 and the creation of a European identity using the Korn/Ferry Carre/Orban name. During the following years the company opened in India, China, Indonesia, and South Korea. In 1998, Korn Ferry partnered with The Wall Street Journal to launch Futurestep.com, an online middle-management recruitment service. Futurestep expanded to 22 countries by 2001 but accumulated significant losses during the technology downturn. The late 1990s and early 2000s brought extensive acquisition activity. Korn Ferry acquired Hofman Herbold in Germany and Amrop International in Australia in 1999, then bought PA Consulting Group's London operation, Westgate Group, and Pratzer & Partners in 2000. It also acquired Levy Kerson, Helstrom Turner & Associates, and Pearson, Caldwell, and Farnworth in 2001. As the executive-search sector contracted, the company made substantial redundancies, reflecting both the post-boom market and pressure associated with its public-company status. The firm continued to build its Asian presence, moving its regional headquarters to Shanghai in 2005. It acquired Lominger in 2006, LeaderSource in 2007, Lore International Institute in 2008, Whitehead Mann in 2009, Sensa Solutions in 2010, PDI Ninth House in 2013, and Pivot Leadership and Hay Group in 2015. These acquisitions supplied capabilities in leadership development, executive education, organizational effectiveness, assessment, and rewards, transforming Korn Ferry from a search specialist into a broader organizational advisory firm. In 2018, the company unified its acquired and legacy activities under the Korn Ferry name. Futurestep, Hay Group, Lominger, and other sub-brands were sunset as part of the consolidation. Korn Ferry subsequently presented its activities through Consulting, Digital, Executive Search, Recruitment Process Outsourcing, and Professional Search. In 2019, the company obtained a 10-year naming and sponsorship agreement for the PGA Tour's developmental circuit, which became the Korn Ferry Tour. In 2022, following criticism of companies that remained in Russia after the invasion of Ukraine, Korn Ferry suspended its Russian operations. The active company continues to provide global talent, leadership, organizational, and workforce services.
- 2022
Russian operations suspended
[1]Korn Ferry suspends operations in Russia in April.
- 2019
Korn Ferry Tour sponsorship begins
[1]A 10-year PGA Tour agreement makes Korn Ferry the title sponsor of the developmental tour.
- 2018
Global brand consolidation
[1]The company retires several sub-brands and adopts Korn Ferry as its unified commercial identity.
- 2015
Pivot Leadership and Hay Group acquired
[1]The transactions broaden the company into leadership advisory and rewards consulting.
- 2013
PDI Ninth House acquired
[1]The acquisition expands Korn Ferry's leadership and organizational-development offering.
- 2006
Lominger acquired
[1]The acquisition adds leadership-development tools and assessment capabilities.
- 1998
Futurestep launches
[1]Korn Ferry and The Wall Street Journal launch Futurestep.com for middle-management recruitment.
- 1981
Becomes the largest executive-search firm
[1]The firm describes itself as the world's largest executive-search company.
- 1973
Japanese operation established
[1]Korn Ferry creates Korn Ferry International Japan, beginning a major phase of international expansion.
- 1972
Initial public offering
[1]The company completes an IPO before returning to private ownership in 1974.
Products and positioning
Premium global organizational consulting and executive-talent advisory firm combining retained search, leadership consulting, workforce strategy, and recruitment delivery.
Executive recruitment · 1969
Executive Search
Korn Ferry's traditional retained-search business identifies and evaluates senior executives, board directors, and other strategically important leaders. Its work typically combines market mapping, candidate assessment, succession considerations, and advisory support for clients making high-impact appointments.
Professional recruitment
Professional Search
Professional Search addresses recruitment below the senior-executive level and supports clients seeking specialized or difficult-to-find professional talent. It complements retained executive search and extends Korn Ferry's recruitment reach across functions, sectors, and geographies.
Organizational consulting
Consulting
The consulting business advises organizations on strategy execution, organization design, leadership, culture, workforce effectiveness, rewards, and transformation. It reflects the expansion of Korn Ferry's capabilities through acquisitions in leadership development, organizational effectiveness, and compensation advisory.
Digital talent solutions
Digital
Korn Ferry Digital applies technology, data, and structured assessment to talent and human-resources challenges. The offering is intended to support scalable workforce decisions, employee and leadership assessment, development, and organizational insight.
Managed recruitment services
Recruitment Process Outsourcing
Recruitment Process Outsourcing provides an outsourced or managed approach to recruiting operations. Korn Ferry can support elements such as sourcing, recruiting delivery, process design, employer-facing execution, and workforce hiring programs for organizations with continuing or large-scale recruitment needs.
Online recruitment · 1998
Futurestep
Futurestep was an online recruitment business created with The Wall Street Journal in 1998 and aimed initially at middle-management hiring. It expanded internationally but suffered large losses during the technology downturn and was later retired as a separate brand during Korn Ferry's 2018 consolidation.
Controversies
2022
Operations in Russia during the Ukraine invasion
Korn Ferry was identified by a Yale School of Management-maintained list as continuing business in Russia during the early period of the invasion of Ukraine. The company suspended Russian operations in April 2022.
2005
Confidential-data dispute involving David Nosal
Korn Ferry accused former recruiter David Nosal of taking confidential client information to establish a competing business. The matter resulted in federal criminal proceedings and later appellate litigation under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.
Marketing campaigns
- 2019Korn Ferry Tour title sponsorship
United States · International golf audience
Korn Ferry entered a 10-year agreement with the PGA Tour to become the umbrella sponsor and naming partner of the developmental circuit formerly known under another sponsor's name.
Outcome. The circuit became the Korn Ferry Tour, with the sponsorship scheduled to continue through the 2028 season.
Brand decisions
2022
Suspension of Russian operationsStrategyBackground
The invasion of Ukraine created political, reputational, and operating pressure for international professional-services firms active in Russia.
Action taken
Korn Ferry suspended its operations in Russia in April 2022.
Aftermath
The decision ended the company's active Russian operations during the period of international corporate boycotts and withdrawals.
2019
PGA Tour developmental-circuit sponsorshipOtherBackground
Korn Ferry sought a prominent global brand platform aligned with leadership, performance, and professional development.
Action taken
It signed a 10-year agreement to become naming sponsor of the PGA Tour's developmental circuit.
Aftermath
The circuit was renamed the Korn Ferry Tour and became a continuing international visibility platform for the brand.
2018
Single-brand consolidationStrategyBackground
Korn Ferry had accumulated multiple acquired and legacy brands, which made its market identity more fragmented.
Action taken
The company rebranded the entire business as Korn Ferry and sunset Futurestep, Hay Group, Lominger, and other sub-brands.
Aftermath
The rebranding created a unified commercial identity and led to a one-time non-cash intangible-asset impairment charge.
Non-cash intangible-asset impairment charge. $106 million (2018)
2015
Acquisition of Hay GroupM&ABackground
Korn Ferry was broadening from executive recruitment into organizational consulting, leadership, and rewards advisory.
Action taken
The company acquired Hay Group, alongside its acquisition of Pivot Leadership.
Aftermath
The transaction strengthened capabilities in rewards, compensation, leadership, and organization-wide consulting.
1998
Launch of FuturestepProduct launchBackground
Korn Ferry sought to extend beyond traditional executive search into technology-enabled recruitment for middle-management roles.
Action taken
It partnered with The Wall Street Journal to launch Futurestep.com.
Aftermath
Futurestep expanded to 22 countries but accumulated substantial losses before eventually being retired as a separate brand.
Recent events
Qualtrics and Korn Ferry announce DEI partnership[3]
Reported:
Qualtrics and Korn Ferry announced a strategic partnership to accelerate and expand the impact of organizations’ diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.
Korn Ferry prices $400 million senior notes offering[4]
Reported:
Korn Ferry announced the pricing of a private offering of $400 million in aggregate principal amount of 4.625% senior notes due 2027. The offering was expected to close on December 16, 2019, subject to customary closing conditions.
Statewide Super receives employee engagement award[5]
Reported:
Statewide Super received the Korn Ferry Engaged Performance Award 2019 for employee engagement.
Sources5 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/korn-ferry · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled