Korn Ferry (NYSE: KFY) is a global human capital consulting firm that provides executive search, professional recruiting, organizational consulting, and talent management services. The company earns fees through three delivery models: custom engagements (tailored consulting and search), embedded solutions (subscription and licensed products integrated into client workflows), and standalone digital subscriptions from its Korn Ferry Talent Suite. In FY2025 (year ended April 30, 2025), Korn Ferry generated $2,730.1 million in fee revenue across five solution areas: Consulting, Digital, Executive Search, Professional Search and Interim, and RPO (recruitment process outsourcing). More than 83% of FY2025 assignments were with clients served in the prior three years, and approximately 25% of consolidated fee revenue came from cross-solution referrals. The firm's proprietary data assets include over 108 million assessments conducted, 11,000 validated success profiles covering approximately 30,000 job titles, and compensation data from more than 28 million professionals across 31,000 organizations. Compensation and benefits represented 64.4% of fee revenue in FY2025, reflecting the firm's labor-intensive cost structure.

Revenue model

Fee-based revenue across three models: (1) custom engagements billed per project or search, (2) embedded solutions sold as subscriptions or licenses integrated into client workflows, and (3) standalone digital subscriptions via the Korn Ferry Talent Suite. In FY2025, net income attributable to Korn Ferry was 9.0% of fee revenue. The business carries reimbursed out-of-pocket engagement expenses (1.1% of fee revenue in FY2025) on top of its base fee revenue.

Products and services

Services span six capability areas: Organization Strategy, Assessment and Succession, Talent Acquisition (executive search, professional recruiting, interim staffing, RPO), Leadership and Professional Development (coaching and digital learning), Total Rewards (compensation and benefits design), and Board and CEO Services. Digital products include the Korn Ferry Talent Suite, a set of scalable subscription-based talent management tools. Proprietary data assets underpin all offerings, including engagement benchmarks from approximately 38 million employees, culture survey data from 6.8 million individuals across 550 organizations, and pay policy data covering nearly 160 countries.

Customers and end markets

Enterprise organizations across major industries globally. The firm targets long-term strategic client relationships through its Marquee and Diamond Account program. In FY2025, more than 83% of assignments were repeat clients served within the prior three years. End markets include corporations requiring executive hiring, workforce planning, leadership development, organizational design, and sales force effectiveness.

Value-chain role

Korn Ferry sits between corporate clients and the labor market, acting as an advisor and intermediary for talent acquisition, leadership development, and organizational design. It combines proprietary behavioral science data and IP with human advisory services to support clients across the full talent lifecycle.

Geographic exposure

Global operations with pay policy and practice data covering nearly 160 countries, though specific revenue breakdowns by region are not detailed in the provided filing excerpts.

Competitors

Spencer Stuart, Heidrick and Struggles, Russell Reynolds Associates, Manpower Group, Aon Hewitt, Mercer

Source: SEC 10-K, filed 2025-06-27

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