Michigan’s Trusted Executive Search Firm - 25 Years of Proven Results

We Help You Hire the Right Executives - Faster, Smarter, and Without Placement Fees

The Most Experienced Executive Search Firm in Michigan, Operating Since 1999

Connect with Exceptional Executive Talent

We specialize in identifying and engaging top-tier C-suite leaders and functional experts — both seasoned professionals and high-potential rising stars — from across and beyond your industry. With a vast network and a disciplined evaluation process, we ensure you meet candidates who offer a track record of success and the leadership agility to drive future growth.

Evaluate Leadership Potential with Confidence

Our proprietary Leadership Portrait assessment goes beyond conventional metrics to uncover the dynamic capabilities executives need to thrive in today’s rapidly evolving environment.

Support Seamless Executive Transitions

From pre-start planning to in-role support, we provide personalized onboarding, leadership development, and mentoring to ensure your new executive hits the ground running and delivers impact from day one.

What Our Clients Say

Gied Hermsen

Lead, Talent Acquisition

“Not sure if I’d recommend Qualigence to a colleague – as I like to have you guys all to myself!”

John Gavigan

Chief Operating Officer

“At the end of the day, within approximately 90 days, we had completed a nationwide search, we had an exceptionally strong candidate pool that we talked to, and we landed our top candidate.”

Danielle Sands

Sr. Manager of Talent Sourcing

“My name is Danielle Sands. I am the senior manager of talent sourcing with Starlims, and I'm based out of Atlanta. When I think of Qualigence, I think of strong partnership, commitment to success, and high execution. While there are a lot of recruiting agencies and search companies, quality really stands out because of their strong partnership, their sense of collaboration, and their yielding of great results.”

Lisa R. Marcus

Regional Recruiting Manager, SVP

“It has been a pleasure working with Qualigence over the years.  Our intake meetings are thorough, and they understand our needs. We have some complex, niche skill sets in our footprint. We look for needles in haystacks and they are always up for the challenges.  Not only has their research help get us on track in some cases, but they also help us paint a broader picture of market availability.  These are essential for recruiters and hiring manager success.  Brittany, Kevin, and Grant have been awesome partners to work with along the way. I would absolutely recommend Qualigence.”

Case Studies: Executive Search in Action

Discover how our executive search expertise delivers successful placements for key leadership roles. These case studies showcase strategies tailored to finding top executives who drive business impact.

Specialized Executive Positions We Recruit For

Executive roles we recruit for:

  • CEO – Chief Executive Officer
  • President
  • CFO – Chief Financial Officer
  • COO – Chief Operating Officer
  • CSO – Chief Sales Officers
  • CHRO – Chief HR Officer
  • CPO – Chief Product Officer
  • CIO – Chief Information Officer
  • CIO – Chief Investment Officer
  • CTO – Chief Technology Officer
  • CMO – Chief Marketing Officer
  • SVP/VP/Director           

    • Marketing
    • Sales
    • Operations
    • Finance
    • FP&A
    • Technology
    • HR/Admin
    • Global Retail
    • Supply Chain

Pricing Built Around Your Executive Search Needs

Hourly Model

With our hourly model, you only pay for the time we spend actively working on your search. This flexible, pay-as-you-go structure lets you pause or stop at any time. Most searches are capped at 18–25%*, so you'll either pay the hourly total or the pre-set cap — whichever is lower.

Our hourly recruiting model offers:

Flexibility – Easily scale your budget and project scope based on your needs.

Ownership – You retain all research and market insights we gather, not just the final candidate submissions.

Peace of Mind – Every placement comes with a 6-month replacement guarantee.

Fractional Model

Our Fractional Recruiting model gives you access to experienced executive search recruiting support exactly when you need it, without the cost of full-time salaries or traditional agency fees. This flexible, cost-effective solution allows you to scale your hiring efforts up or down, ensuring expert guidance without unnecessary overhead.

Our Fractional Recruiting model offers:

Scalability – Scale recruiting support to match your hiring needs, whether for a few key roles or a sustained hiring push.

Cost Efficiency – Avoid high placement fees and full-time recruiter expense — pay only for the time and support you require.

Seamless Integration – Our recruiters embed directly into your team, aligning with your culture, processes, and hiring objectives.

Project-Based Model

With Project-Based Recruiting, you benefit from a dedicated recruiting team focused entirely on your specific initiative—whether it’s a product launch, company expansion, or a large-scale hiring campaign. Our milestone-driven model delivers cost certainty, timely execution, and strategic focus, enabling you to meet hiring deadlines without incurring high per-hire fees.

Our Project-Based Recruiting model offers:

Clear Scope & Budget – A fixed-cost framework that eliminates unexpected expenses.

Dedicated Recruiting Team – End-to-end recruiting support tailored to your project needs.

Timely & Efficient – Milestone-based progress ensures your hires are made on schedule.

Retainer Model

With a retainer search, you invest in future talent through three strategic payments, typically totaling 30%* of the candidate’s base salary. The first payment initiates the search, the second is due 30 days later, and the final payment is made once the candidate is successfully hired.

Our Retainer Recruiting model offers:

Accelerated Searches – Secure the right talent quickly and efficiently, minimizing downtime for your team.

12-Month Replacement Guarantee – Gain peace of mind with a full year of coverage on any candidates placed by Qualigence, ensuring the perfect fit for your organization.

The Talent Blueprint: Qualigence’s Strategic Approach to Executive Search

Discovery Phase

Prioritize business impact, not just headcount.
We gain a deep understanding of the company, department objectives, and success metrics.

Identify the top 5 competencies essential for high performance in the role.

Role Identification

Craft job descriptions aligned with measurable outcomes.
We develop a clear and concise job profile that outlines expectations, key competencies, and desired results.

 Ideal Candidate Identification

Leverage data-driven research from our Michigan-based team.

We collaborate to define a candidate persona that aligns with the role’s skill set and cultural fit.

Candidate-Focused Recruiting

Establish genuine connections and align motivations.

We focus on understanding each candidate’s goals, challenges, and drivers to ensure alignment with your company’s values.

Results-Based Interviewing

A well-rounded, results-oriented interview approach.

We evaluate candidates based on behaviors, performance history, and their ability to support your company’s goals.

Candidate Presentation

Competency-based, transparent candidate showcases.

We present candidates live, highlighting both strengths and development areas to provide a holistic view.

Client Interview and Selection

Guided selection with a focus on outcomes.

Support your interview process by emphasizing how each candidate can contribute to your strategic goals.

Continued Support

A lasting partnership for long-term success.

Our involvement doesn’t stop at placement. We offer ongoing support to ensure smooth integration and sustained results.

 Executive Search in Michigan FAQs

What sets your executive search services apart from other firms in Michigan?

Unlike traditional executive recruiters in Michigan who charge a large placement fee (often 25–35% of salary), Qualigence offers a flexible pricing model — including hourly recruiting, project-based, and fractional options.

We focus on long-term leadership success, not just fast placements. Our team combines 35+ years of industry experience with proprietary candidate assessments, talent mapping, and executive onboarding strategies to ensure you’re hiring not just the most qualified, but the most effective leaders.

How long does a typical executive search take?

For most executive search projects in Michigan, timelines range between 30 to 90 days, depending on the complexity of the role, seniority, and market conditions.

We begin every search with a custom-built strategy, including target company lists, market talent analysis, and behavioral benchmarks, which helps us source and engage qualified candidates more efficiently. If you need to hire urgently, we also offer accelerated search models based on your hiring goals.

Can you conduct confidential executive searches?

Absolutely. Confidentiality is a cornerstone of our executive search process.

Whether you're replacing a current executive, opening a new division, or hiring for a sensitive C-suite role, we operate with full discretion. Candidate outreach is handled privately, and internal visibility is controlled throughout the process to ensure sensitive transitions remain undisclosed until the timing is right.

What industries do you serve with your executive search services?

Our executive search services in Michigan span a wide range of industries. While we’ve successfully placed executives in sectors such as finance, healthcare, manufacturing, technology, professional services, education, and energy, we remain industry-agnostic at our core.

What matters most is understanding your business, culture, and long-term objectives - and building a leadership team that aligns with them. Whether you need a CEO, CFO, VP of Sales, or Director of Operations, our recruiters can develop a customized strategy tailored to your industry and growth stage.

Meet Your Executive Search Dream Team

Behind every successful executive search placement is a dedicated team. Meet ours.

Meet the team

A Transformed Team Is A Call Away

Schedule a no-obligation call today to determine if Qualigence is the right solution for you.