This book examines the globalization of executive search. After examining the changing geographies of global executive search firms, the book uses the case of executive search to document the institutional work involved in legitimating, globalizing and creating demand for the services of new knowledge intensive professional services.

Jonathan V. Beaverstock is Professor of International Management at the University of Bristol, United Kingdom. His research investigates the strategy of globalizing professional services firms, talent management and highly-skilled mobilities, and the competitiveness of financial centres. He publishes widely in business/management, economic geography, and migration and urban studies.

James R. Faulconbridge is Professor of Transnational at Lancaster University Management School, United Kingdom. His research focuses on knowledge, learning and innovation; globalization and professional services; and, corporate mobility. He has published in leading journals, including: Journal of Economic Geography; Organization Studies, and Work, Employment and Society.

Sarah J.E. Hall is Associate Professor and Reader of Economic Geography at the University of Nottingham, United Kingdom. Her research examines the circuits of knowledge, expertise and elites that shape the contemporary global service economy. Sarah has published widely in economic geography and sociology.

1. Introduction Section I: The Emergence of a New Global Knowledge Intensive Professional Service 2. The Globalization of Knowledge Intensive Professional Services 3. Executive Search: Firms, Clients and Candidates 4. Global Search Firms and Globalization Strategies 5. Location Matters: New York, London, Paris, Singapore... Section II: The Professions and Institutional Spaces of Globalization 6. Globalization and a Professional Institutional Project? 7. Institutional Work and the Legitimization of Executive Search 8. Making Markets: the Normalizing and Qualifying Executive Search 9. Executive Search and the BRICS Economies 10. Conclusions