Executive Search & Recruitment

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Identifying leaders who define success

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At Underwood Executive, we believe that the most critical driver of organisational performance is talent. Technology, products and systems are essential, but it's the people, especially those in leadership positions, who truly propel a company forward.

We specialise in high-stakes, high-impact leadership appointments (CEO, C-suite, executive and board) where alignment matters and performance is non-negotiable. We don’t just access the top 1% of the market, we know how to engage them, earn their attention and convert interest into commitment.

Through up-to-date research and progressive sourcing strategies, we access an unparalleled talent community, reaching beyond the active job market.

Our methodology

We combine cutting-edge research, in-depth market mapping and confidential headhunting to maximise the quality, efficiency and conversion of top-tier talent. 

Our unique approach includes:

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    Silent search and direct approach

    Discreetly identifying and engaging high performers who are off the radar.

  • Target with a human icon in the center, surrounded by concentric circles and crosshairs, in red on a black background.

    Market mapping and intelligence

    Analysing trends, attrition rates and talent density to find the best of the best.

  • Red and black icon of a network with a central circle containing a bar chart, connected to six surrounding circles, all enclosed in a larger red circle.

    Segmented targeting

    Zeroing in on candidates with specific skills and competencies such as enterprise leadership, strategic agility, AI and digital fluency, governance and emotional intelligence.

Our local and national reach enables us to strategically identify target organisations and professionals who align with your values, vision and sector. From C-suite placements to specialist roles, we deliver search with precision, purpose and performance.

START YOUR SEARCH

Candidate care that sets the standard

A woman and a man having a conversation in an office setting. The woman is smiling and holding a smartphone, while the man is sitting and looking at her. There is a laptop, open notebooks, and a plant on the table.

We don’t just manage candidates, we champion them. Every interaction is guided by respect, transparency and a commitment to excellence. Whether someone is successful in securing a role or not, we ensure their experience with our brand is professional, responsive and positive.

We help candidates present themselves in the best possible light, clearly communicating how their experience aligns to the brief, outlining timelines and managing expectations with care. Post-process, we provide constructive feedback, highlighting strengths, development areas and pathways for future career growth.

As South Australia’s only AESC-accredited firm, we proudly uphold the AESC Candidate Bill of Rights, ensuring every search is conducted with full transparency, confidentiality, professionalism and integrity.

Proven results, trusted reputation

Our approach is rigorous, relational and reputational…and we have the results to prove it.

  • 100%

    placement success rate

  • 98%

    executive retention at 12+ months

  • 90%

    of placements are achieved by headhunting and marketing to our existing talent community

  • 75%

    of C-suite appointments within the last 5 years remain employed with their same employer

  • 55,000+

    executives engaged with Underwood Executive

ACCESS THE TOP 1% OF THE MARKET TODAY

Deep sector expertise

We bring a sharp commercial lens and real-world insight to every assignment, having delivered results across:

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    Government and Social Services

  • A group of diverse people wearing blue shirts, sitting in a classroom or conference room, smiling and laughing during a seminar or training session.

    Not-for-Profit and Community Organisations

  • A group of healthcare professionals, including a doctor with a stethoscope and medical staff in scrubs, are engaged in a discussion with a man holding a tablet in a hospital or medical facility.

    Health, Education and Aged Care

  • Business meeting with people analyzing financial charts and documents, using laptops, tablets, and a calculator on a wooden table.

    Finance, Banking and Professional Services

  • A smiling man in a suit and hard hat holding a tablet in an industrial facility filled with pipes and machinery.

    Construction, Engineering and Infrastructure

  • A construction site at sunset with a worker in a yellow safety vest and white hard hat, overseeing two yellow excavators working on rocky terrain.

    Oil and Gas, Mining and Agriculture

  • A woman in a blazer giving a presentation on a whiteboard with drawings and sticky notes to five colleagues in a modern office.

    Sales, Marketing and Technology

  • People working on a table with a laptop and wind turbine models, discussing environmental sustainability.

    Consumer Markets, Energy and Property

Don’t see your perfect role listed?

Many of our searches are confidential. If you're looking for a specific opportunity or want to be part of our talent network, get in touch or follow us on LinkedIn for updates and opportunities.

JOIN OUR TALENT NETWORK