JM Search, the leading retained executive search firm for private equity and growth-oriented organizations, today announced it has been ranked No. 19 on the Forbes 2026 America’s Best Executive Recruiting Firms list – a top-20 position among hundreds of firms evaluated nationwide.
The Forbes list is based on independent surveys of more than 18,000 recommendations from over 13,000 participants (recruiters, hiring managers, and candidates) evaluating firms on quality of placements, client service, and industry reputation.
JM Search attributes the recognition to deliberate, sustained investment in its team and model – adding specialized Partners and Principals, expanding into new markets, and maintaining a structure where senior professionals lead every search.
“This is a result of decades of intentional decisions about how we’ve built our firm,” said John Marshall, Chief Executive Officer. “As we grow, we’ve been highly selective in bringing in leaders who combine deep expertise with an ownership mindset and a strong sense of accountability to outcomes.”
Over the past 24 months, JM Search has placed over 1,400 executives across its core markets. In 2025, the firm added 45 Partners and Principals, continuing to scale without compromising its expert-led model.
“Our clients are making critical leadership decisions that define the future of their businesses and investments,” Marshall added. “They need a partner who understands their world, moves with urgency, and remains fully engaged throughout the search process. That’s the standard we hold ourselves to, and what this recognition reinforces.”
The Forbes ranking adds to a series of recent accolades for JM Search and its leadership. The firm ranked No. 11 on Hunt Scanlon Media’s 2026 Top 50 Recruiters list and appeared on both the Inc. 5000 and Financial Times Americas’ Fastest Growing Companies lists in 2025. Marshall was also named a finalist in EY’s Entrepreneur Of The Year 2026 Greater Philadelphia program, with winners to be announced later this year.
For more information on JM Search, please visit our website, www.jmsearch.com.
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