Global search firms tap India as leadership hub amid AI, IPO and growth boom

Synopsis From Heidrick & Struggles and Korn Ferry to DHR Global and Sheffield Haworth, search players report surging demand for leadership advisory and senior talent across industries. Bengaluru: In a worldwide job market dogged by concerns around artificial intelligence disruption and geopolitical uncertainty, global executive search firms tasked with hiring senior leaders for organisations remain bullish on the India story. From Heidrick & Struggles and Korn Ferry to DHR Global and Sheffield Haworth, search players report surging demand for leadership advisory and senior talent across industries. That, compounded with a growing trend of global roles based in India as well as the country being perceived as a leadership pool for multinationals, makes it a strong market to bet on, they said. Heidrick & Struggles has logged its highest historical growth in India, contributed by broad-based expansion across all industries, rather than demand concentrated in any single sector. "India has been and will continue to be a priority market for Heidrick & Struggles in 2026, driven by the country's sustained economic growth and structural transformation across industries. We see India not only as a high-growth economy, but as a source of leadership for global organisations," said Puneet Pratap Singh, partner-in-charge, Heidrick & Struggles India. Sustained economic growth and a dynamic capital markets environment, including the recent IPO boom, are driving increased demand for leadership advisory and senior talent across industries, said Singh, even as Indian organisations are undergoing significant digital and operational transformation. India is also emerging as a critical hub for globally mobile leadership, with executives increasingly able to operate across regional and international contexts, he added. Korn Ferry calls India a strategically important growth market. "Market research indicates India employers expect double-digit year-on-year growth in white-collar hiring heading into 2026, with non-IT sectors like insurance, real estate and BPO/ITES leading the momentum. This presents a strong opportunity for Korn Ferry India," said Michael Distefano, CEO-global professional search, Korn Ferry. Live Events India is one of the most dynamic economies globally, with a resilient business outlook and a deep, sophisticated talent pool, added Korn Ferry. Companies around the world look to India for skilled leaders and specialised talent, and as organisations in India continue to scale, transform and compete globally, the demand for leadership and organisational capability is only accelerating. Given the importance of India in their scheme of things, search firms say they are actively stepping up their India play, bringing in talent and scaling up teams. Earlier this month, UK-headquartered global consultancy Sheffield Haworth appointed Monica Agrawal, formerly managing director- financial services, Asia Pacific at Korn Ferry, as chairperson and country head-India, as it looks to expand its footprint and further accelerate cross-border client delivery. "India is one of our most important strategic markets in 2026 and well beyond," said Timothy Sheffield, chairman of Sheffield Haworth. "It has evolved from a high-growth regional opportunity into a central pillar of our global strategy. It is now one of the most exciting strategic growth markets in the world, and we see a significant opportunity to support international investors and multinational corporations as they build and scale their capabilities in the country, while also partnering with the leaders of domestic organisations to strengthen and future-proof their leadership teams." Firms say demand is across sectors and roles, driven by AI, digital and data-led transformation, risk management, organisational resilience and regulatory readiness alongside growth. "We are seeing strong growth across both regions and sectors, which speaks to the breadth of opportunity in the Indian market," said Priya Taneja, CEO, DHR Global. "What is notable is that growth is not concentrated in a single city or sector. It is broad-based, which reinforces our confidence in the depth and sustainability of the market."