About

Our Standards

AESC sets the bar for ethical standards and professional conduct in the executive search and leadership consulting profession. AESC Members are committed to the highest professional practices, acting in the best interests of their clients, candidates, the community-at-large, and our profession.

Code of Professional Practice

Our Code of Professional Practice applies equally to executive search and leadership consulting. These standards govern all consulting work conducted by AESC Members as they strive, every day, to be trusted advisors for their clients. 
Download our Code of Professional Practice.

 

Integrity

AESC Members conduct themselves and their business activities with absolute integrity and are at all times open, honest, and worthy of trust.

Excellence

AESC Members focus on their clients’ unique business needs, providing high quality service and using rigorous results-focused methodologies.

Objectivity

AESC Members serve as trusted advisors, exercising independent, objective judgment.

Diversity & Inclusion

AESC members share a commitment to diversity and inclusion – for themselves, their clients, candidates and the community. Our members demonstrate their commitment through the AESC Diversity Pledge.

Confidentiality

AESC Members always respect any confidential information entrusted to them by clients and candidates.

Avoiding Conflicts of Interest

AESC Members avoid conflicts of interest with clients and candidates. Where a potential conflict may exist, members disclose and resolve those conflicts.

 

 


Our Promise to Clients

Choosing the right executive search and leadership consulting firm is a critical business decision with long-term impact. What should you expect when working with an AESC Member?

View Client Bill of Rights


Our Promise to Candidates

It’s critical that an executive search firm respects a candidate’s confidentiality. How can a candidate tell if the search firm that approaches them is ethical? Find out what to expect from an AESC Member.

View Candidate Bill of Rights


Work with an AESC Member

AESC Members are recognized leaders in global executive search and leadership advisory, delivering a full suite of talent and organizational solutions for top performing organizations. 

Clients must be diligent in choosing a consultant. AESC Members choose to exceed both industry norms and client expectations, because the imprimatur of AESC demands that members are the most ethical, rigorous, and transparent firms in the profession.

Work with an AESC Member