As the second in command, a Chief Operating Officer has a lot of weight on their shoulders. While every link in the corporate chain is important, the COO takes on a significant burden, coordinating between the CEO and the employees, overseeing Human Resources, and both determining and governing the day to day operations. It’s an important position, and you shouldn’t take the process lightly. An executive search firm is one of the best resources available to you when you’r looking to hire a new COO. Here are the top 5 COO executive search firms for a Chief Operating Officer.

1. Y Scouts

Y Scouts tops the list of top executive search firms due to their versatility and their commitment to their clients. Their clients range from mom and pop operations to Fortune 500 companies, but their goal is always the same: to make sure that their clients are matched to the best candidate for the job.

“Our leader Y Scouts placed has already been delivering impact in ways we hadn’t expected. Hes been the absolue example of how adding the right person can be a multiple on the investment.”
– Ward Huseth, CFO at Great Hearts Academies

2. N2Growth

N2Growth’s client portfolio is truly impressive. The firm services 70% of the current Fortune 500 companies, and the reason they’ve garnered so much trust is due to the quality of their work. CEO Mike Myatt is dedicated not just to putting people in jobs but to making businesses run smarter. This engineered approach to recruiting earns them a position at second place on the list.

“I enjoyed working with N2Growth and Mike Myatt during our succession process at Humana. It is always stressful for management and the board to go through a change in the CEO position, and Mike’s seasoned guidance was of great value.”
– Mike McCallister, Former Chairman and CEO of Humana

3. Egon Zehnder

Chicago-based Egon Zehnder boasts over 450 consultants spread over 40 countries, and that gives them the breadth and reach to meet the needs of a wide selection of clients. While their consultants may be spread across the world, they operate in a collaborative process, creating more opportunities for their clients and improving the fidelity of their matchmaking process.

“Clients first. Only after dealing full with our clients’ interests can we weigh what is the best interests of the Firm.”
– Dr. Egon Zehnder, Firm Founder

4. Korn Ferry

Korn Ferry understands that the role of a chief executive officer is a demanding one, and that’s why they put as much care into selecting their consultants as they do vetting their prospective hires, but that doesn’t mean they’re neglectful of the needs of their clients. Their talent acquisition office draws from both scientific research and direct field experience to achieve the objectives of their clients.

“We have provided trusted counsel to CEOs, boards, and senior teams of the world’s most admired companies for 50 years.”
– Korn Ferry

5. Spencer Stuart

Spencer Stuart knows that the cultural rapport between a candidate and the company are just as important as more traditional qualifications. Their holistic approach to the executive search process is further complemented by the presence of over 57 offices dispersed across 30 countries.

“Based on our deep relationships with the most-sought after executives and insights into their leadership capabilities and career goals, we are able to attract the best candidates — those who have the ability to turn around a business, build high-performing teams or create a culture that fosters innovation.”
– Spencer Stuart

A COO has a vast amount of control over a company’s ultimate success, and that’s why executive search firms are such a valuable resource. Their consultants are trained in matching companies to capable and well-suited prospective hires.