Announcing Clockwork ESE - the Executive Search Exchange

When we created Clockwork 15+ years ago, we aimed to equip executive recruiters with the very best tools to run their searches quickly, thoroughly, and with seamless client collaboration—so they could succeed in this business by consistently achieving great outcomes for their clients.

As more and more of the best executive search professionals used our platform to power project after project, we accumulated an unmatched volume of insights on:

• How long it takes to complete executive searches within every industry, department, and level of seniority
• The rate of successful placements across searches of every type
• Which firms consistently outperform their competitors within their areas of expertise

And now, 100,000+ executive projects later, we have a totally unique vantage point to help solve a problem I’m extremely passionate about.

The Problem

Hiring the wrong executive is one of the costliest mistakes a company can make. At best, it delays growth. At worst, it can set your company back for years. You simply cannot afford to get it wrong, and finding the right recruiter first, eliminates this risk.

In my years as an executive search professional before founding Clockwork, I learned a valuable lesson that’s only been validated by our data: the best executive recruiters aren’t always the loudest—or the easiest to find - but highly specialized.

Many companies end up choosing an executive recruiter based on word-of-mouth referrals—well-intentioned, but often based on a single experience. Other companies, meanwhile, choose big firms, relying on their brand recognition rather than proven expertise as indicators of success.

At Clockwork, we believe companies like yours deserve transparency in the hiring process, confidence in your decisions, and the right hire—every time. That all starts with finding the right recruiter, and that’s why we built Clockwork ESE.

The Solution: Clockwork Executive Search Exchange (ESE)

Clockwork ESE helps you find the right executive search firm, backed by data. We connect you with the best executive search firms for your exact role—quickly, free of charge, and based on real-world performance data.

That way, you can eliminate the guesswork and ensure you’re working with the right recruiter, with proven success at completing searches for the specific role you’re seeking to fill, within your specific industry.

Why Clockwork ESE?

We analyze data insights from 100,000+ successful search projects to bring you a targeted shortlist of firms that are:

• Successful – With a proven track record of higher-than-average placement rates
• Specialized – With significant, relevant recruiting experience in your industry and open role
• Connected – With deep networks and strong relationships with the candidates you want
• Effective – Able to deliver results quickly, shortening the time it takes to get your new hire in the seat and maximizing your ROI

And to get started, here’s all you need to do:

1. Tell us about your hire – Share your executive search needs in two minutes.
2. Get a data-backed analysis – We use AI-driven insights, machine learning, and data from 100,000+ searches to match your role with executive search firms that have proven success in similar placements.
3. Meet your best-fit firms – Get curated introductions to 2-3 top-performing firms, right when you need them.

The best part is that Clockwork ESE is 100% free for companies. So you can begin the process of making a critical hire with no risk, just results.

Why you can’t risk getting it wrong

Making the right hire starts with finding the right firm. Hiring the wrong executive search firm doesn’t just cost money—it costs time and opportunity.

• Expensive do-overs – An executive search typically costs one-third of the executive's first-year cash compensation. A failed search means paying that cost again to start over.
• Lost time – The average retained search takes 123 days. If your search fails, that’s up to four months of lost productivity and momentum.
• Leadership gaps – Delayed or failed hires disrupt teams and slow company growth, creating long-term setbacks to your business as a whole..

By connecting you with proven executive search firms who have already succeeded in searches exactly like yours, Clockwork ESE eliminates these risks. So you can hire the right leader the first time around.