We Recruit Executive-Level Candidates in All Positions

Board Search

Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

Chief Operations Officer (COO)

Chief Marketing Officer (CMO)

Chief Revenue Officer (CRO)

Chief Information Officer (CIO)

Chief Technical Officer (CTO)

Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO)

General Manager

Country Manager

Meet Canada’s Leading Executive Search Firm and Recruitment Agency

The IQ PARTNERS Advantage

6 reasons to hire the recruiters at IQ PARTNERS for your executive search needs

1
Quantity and Quality

Every consultant in our executive search firm interviews or assesses 750 - 1,000 people a year so we know who’s good, who’s not and why.

2
Deeper Insight

Our AARC™ and smartFACTOR™ assessment tools deliver the greatest insight into each candidate.

3
Team Builders

Over the past two decades we’ve recruited presidents, CEOs and even complete management teams for some of Canada’s fastest-growing companies.

4
Scalable Search

Our vast network allows us to work on a local, national or global scale.

5
Trusted by Candidates

Candidates trust us as career counsellors (97.1% of our candidates rate our industry knowledge as ‘above average’) so we can often attract candidates that other firms can’t move.

6
Trusted by Clients

We earn the trust of our clients. 81% of our clients are repeat customers.

How We Help You Recruit Better Executives

IQ PARTNERS is a targeted Executive Search firm and Recruitment agency in Toronto

We are a ‘direct-contact’ executive recruitment firm meaning we don’t just advertise your position - we proactively ’headhunt’ the superstars who will make a real difference to your team. Because the best people rarely look for their next job; they’re actively recruited. We start by using our deep executive search database and wide networks to contact and qualify 100-350 candidates for your specific search whether you’re in Toronto, Canada or worldwide. This leads to 30-50 in-depth interviews from which our headhunters identify your candidate shortlist using our SmartFactor™ assessment tools to ensure they’re the perfect fit for your organization helping you hire better, hire less and retain more.

Testimonials
Read What Our Clients Are Saying

EQ Bank had the pleasure of working with IQ Partners and Adrian Robinson on a critical executive search, and the experience exceeded our expectations in every way. From the outset, Adrian and his team took the time to deeply understand our brand, culture, and the specific needs of the role. This thoughtful approach ensured that our company was represented in the market in a compelling and authentic way, attracting an incredibly impressive slate of candidates.

What truly set Adrian apart was his ability to balance strategic insight with a hands-on, responsive approach. Communication throughout the process was seamless—we always felt informed, supported, and confident in the search strategy. His ability to identify top-tier talent and guide us through the selection process was invaluable.

Thanks to IQ Partners and Adrian Robinson, we successfully secured an outstanding executive who aligns perfectly with our vision and leadership needs. We couldn’t be happier with the results and would highly recommend Adrian and his team to any organization looking for top-level recruitment expertise.

Mahima Poddar, Group Head, Personal Banking, EQ Bank

I often tell people that they can do pretty much any search in the world - any function, any location - because their expertise in recruiting and their willingness to get out there and dive into unknown territory is so impressive. I'm a big fan of IQ PARTNERS... Thanks for everything!

, Global Executive Recruiter, TripAdvisor

IQ PARTNERS is the best executive search firm I’ve ever worked with!

Wendy Porter, Board Member, VersaPay

We are a high performing organization… We are a very values driven culture, and IQ PARTNERS really gets that… they come across as a solutions provider, as a problem solver, as opposed to a trader in talent or people... I believe strongly that they would make a great partner to some of our other partners, and I will continue to refer them and recommend them.

Philip Filippopoulos, Dentsu Aegis Network Canada

Why Employers Choose IQ PARTNERS for Executive Search?

Hiring for senior leadership requires more than posting a job and reviewing resumes. When a role is business-critical, confidential, highly specialized, or difficult to fill, working with an experienced executive search firm in Toronto can help employers access stronger candidates, reduce hiring risk, and make better long-term hiring decisions. We help:

1
Confidential Replacement Searches

When a senior leadership change needs discretion, job postings are often not suitable. IQ PARTNERS helps employers run confidential executive searches while protecting sensitive business information.

2
C-Suite & Senior Leadership Hiring

Our executive recruiters help employers hire CEOs, CFOs, COOs, CTOs, VPs, and senior directors through a structured search and assessment process.

3
Board Recruitment

IQ PARTNERS identifies board candidates with the right governance experience, industry knowledge, and strategic perspective.

4
Passive Executive Talent

Many top leaders are not actively applying. As experienced Toronto headhunters, we proactively approach qualified senior candidates.

5
Succession Planning

Executive search helps employers plan ahead by comparing internal and external leadership options.

6
Market Mapping for Senior Roles

Market mapping helps employers understand where qualified senior leaders are, how competitive the market is, and what candidates may expect before launching a search.

How We Do It

We bring years of experience and a disciplined approach to our process. Our clients will vouch for its success.

1

We complete formal briefing documents to deliver a professional presentation of your company and the opportunity to prospective candidates.

2

We conduct market research to source premier talent in the industry.

3

We interview and qualify candidates using a Topgrading interview style and present detailed candidate assessments for each shortlisted candidate.

4

We complete and present formal references on selected candidates.

5

We debrief all non-selected candidates.

6

We follow up on all placements at 30, 60 and 90 days to ensure a smooth and successful transition for both the client and the candidate.

FAQ

Why should I work with IQ PARTNERS for executive search in Toronto?

We’re a direct-contact executive search firm in Toronto, which means we don’t just advertise your role and wait. We proactively headhunt senior leaders, contact and qualify 100 to 350 candidates for a search, and use in-depth interviews and assessment tools to help you hire better and retain more.

What executive and board roles do you recruit for?

We recruit for board search and a wide range of C-suite and executive leadership positions, including CEO, CFO, COO, CMO, CRO, CIO, CTO, CHRO, General Manager, and Country Manager roles.

Do you offer confidential executive search services?

Yes. Because we use a direct-contact executive recruitment approach, we’re well suited for confidential board and C-suite searches where discretion matters and top candidates are not actively applying to posted roles. Get in touch today!

As an executive search firm in Toronto, or do you recruit nationally too?

While we’re based in Toronto, our executive search network allows us to work on local, national, and global searches. We support clients across North America and can scale search efforts well beyond one market.

How do you assess executive-level candidates?

We combine in-depth interviews with assessment tools like  smartFACTOR™ to give our clients deeper insight into each candidate’s leadership capability and fit.

What makes your executive recruiting process different from other executive recruiting firms?

We focus on both quantity and quality. Every consultant in our executive search team interviews or assesses hundreds of people a year, which helps us identify the leaders who can truly move a business forward.

We work with clients worldwide
IQ PARTNERS works with clients across North America. And we’ve placed candidates as far away as Singapore, Hong Kong, and Oulu, Finland!
We’re also part of the Humanis Advisory Group of Companies. With 10 offices across the country and over 135 experienced recruiters, talent advisory professionals, leadership development coaches, and HR professionals, we offer the scale of a national firm without losing the intimacy of local connections.
Our Total Talent Solutions team can help you hire better, hire less, and retain more.
How can we help you?
Contact Us
Map of where IQ PARTNERS places talent
Blog

Read The Headhunters Blog

Our headhunters share the latest hiring tips & tricks from one of the top recruitment agencies in Toronto.
July 23rd, 2026
When Should Candidates Use a Recruitment Agency?
Many job candidates believe Executive search firms in Toronto only exist to serve employers. While companies are our clients, top talent is our lifeblood. Recruiters need both to operate successfully. A career move requires discretion,...
July 21st, 2026
The Hidden Job Market: How to Find Opportunities That Aren’t Posted Online
If your current job search strategy consists entirely of refreshing online job boards, hitting “Easy Apply,” and hoping for the best, you are only seeing a small fraction of the jobs available. The vast majority...
July 16th, 2026
Why Your Best Employees Are Quietly Looking Elsewhere
Many Canadian organizations have operated in a type of defensive holding pattern with their talent. While employers focus on stability, a quieter crisis is unfolding internally: your top performers are preparing to leave. Today, we...
July 14th, 2026
How Many Jobs Should You Apply For Each Week?
One of the most common questions HR recruiters hear is, “How many jobs should I apply for each week?” Unfortunately, there isn’t a magic number. Some job seekers submit hundreds of applications without receiving a single...
July 9th, 2026
15 Advanced AI Prompts for Writing Better Job Descriptions
ChatGPT and Google Gemini have quickly evolved from novel technologies into everyday workplace tools. Alongside platforms like Claude and Microsoft Copilot, generative AI is helping employers work faster, overcome writer’s block, and produce stronger first...
July 7th, 2026
Should You Apply If You Don’t Meet Every Job Requirement?
Look at almost any job description today, and you will see a massive list of requirements. Many job seekers review these lists and opt out if they miss even a single qualification. All top recruitment...
July 2nd, 2026
Retirements, Reduced Immigration, and a Growing Talent Gap
For the past several quarters, many Canadian organizations have operated in a defensive holding pattern. Economic uncertainty, inflationary pressures, and slower growth caused businesses to scale back hiring plans and focus on maintaining stability. While...
Recruiter-Proof Your Business

Why are some companies easier to recruit from than others? IQ PARTNERS recruiters have headhunted over 100,000 people. We know which companies are easy to recruit from and which companies are not… and we’re sharing what we’ve learned!

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