Today, Korn Ferry is a global organizational consulting firm bringing together strategy and talent to drive superior performance for our clients. From humble beginnings in a small office in Century City, Los Angeles, we carved out a name as the preeminent executive search firm. Yet, our vision extended far beyond that.
We set out not only to place top executives but also to partner with like-minded organizations to help them lead through change, transform for growth, and find and keep top talent. This journey of continuous evolution reflects our commitment to empowering businesses worldwide through leadership and strategic talent solutions. Here is our story.
TODAY-2016
2015-2009
2008-1997
1969
Today - 2016
Looking to the future
2023
Korn Ferry acquires Salo, a talent firm specializing in finance, accounting and HR. Salo connects experienced professionals to flexible and fulfilling careers and matches them with organizations in need of their expertise.
Learn more
Korn Ferry acquires ICS (Infinity Consulting Solutions), a leading provider of interim workforce staffing solutions. ICS helps organizations fill professional-level roles in IT, compliance, legal, accounting, finance and human resources.
2022
Learn more
Korn Ferry acquires Patina Solutions Group, a leading interim solutions firm. Patina provides senior level professional and executive interim solutions to the private equity manufacturing, healthcare, food & consumer packaged goods and professional services markets.
Learn more
Learn more
Korn Ferry acquires Lucas Group, a leading professional search and contract staffing firm. Not only enhancing Korn Ferry’s already industry-leading search portfolio but offering areas of additional specialization. Such as accounting & finance, human resources, information technology, legal, military transition, sales & marketing, and supply chain & operations.
2021
Korn Ferry Acquires TwentyEighty Companies. The combination brought a world-class portfolio of learning, development, and performance improvement offerings and expertise to Korn Ferry, bolstering the firm’s substantial leadership development capabilities.
2019
Learn more
PGA TOUR announces Korn Ferry as umbrella sponsor of newly named Korn Ferry Tour.
Launch of Korn Ferry Advance, our business-to-consumer offering.
Learn more
2019
2015-2009
Growing through acquisition
Learn more
Korn Ferry unites with Hay Group, the largest global, independent premier Human Resources consultancy, creating a combined firm with the ability to address the entire talent continuum.
2015
During this time, Korn Ferry acquires Lominger, Newman Group, LeaderSource, Lore, Whitehead Mann, Sensa, Global Novations, PDI Ninth House, and Pivot Leadership.
2010-2006
2008-1997
New initiatives lift off
Our research and analytics arm, Korn Ferry Institute, is first established, to share intelligence and expert points of view on talent and leadership.
Learn more
2008
Korn Ferry launches e-Korn Ferry, the first online executive center for job candidates.
2000
Futurestep, Korn Ferry’s internet-based recruitment service targeted at professionals who were not the typical target of executive recruiting, is launched.
Learn more
1998
1969
Korn Ferry’s beginnings
Korn Ferry was founded in Los Angeles by Lester B. Korn and Richard M. Ferry
Korn Ferry started in a small office in Century City, Los Angeles; one phone, one assistant, and a coveted Rolodex of contacts. But the name on the door said everything: Korn/Ferry International - a vision of being global.
From our earliest days, Korn Ferry had a strong vision of looking to what was possible.
Miller Heiman Group specialized in transforming sales performance and customer experience. AchieveForum offered frontline leadership development. Strategy Execution provided organizational and project management training. The addition of these three companies further expanded Korn Ferry’s vast intellectual property and content, leveraging the firm’s digital delivery platforms and provided clients direct access to data, insights, and analytics from one of the world’s most comprehensive people and organizational databases.
Hay Group worked closely with organizations globally on all aspects of the people agenda. Like Korn Ferry, Hay Group had robust IP—as well as some of the most comprehensive leadership, reward, and assessment databases. With this acquisition, Korn Ferry's Advisory business was doubled in size and took on a much more global scale.
Each acquisition pushed Korn Ferry forward, providing a foothold into new areas of Talent Consulting, not just Executive Search. The firm expanded its offerings in Executive and Leadership Development, Coaching, Diversity & Inclusion, and Talent Management Products, as well as reaching into new regions to become more global than it had been before.
Learn more
Korn Ferry acquires Trilogy International, a leading provider of digital talent, serving clients in technology, financial services, healthcare, and other industries across EMEA.
2024
Korn Ferry acquires Salo, a talent firm specializing in finance, accounting and HR. Salo connects experienced professionals to flexible and fulfilling careers and matches them with organizations in need of their expertise.
Learn more
2023