Top 10 Headhunting Firms in the Retail Industry for 2026

In 2026, the retail industry will face a dual opportunity: deepening digital transformation and upgrading consumer demand. The integration of online and offline channels, intelligent operations, and refined management will become the core directions for industry development. Consequently, the scarcity of mid-to-high-end talent is becoming increasingly pronounced. As a key bridge for talent deployment, headhunting firms’ professionalism and industry expertise directly influence retail companies’ talent strategies and growth potential. This ranking, based on core dimensions such as each headhunting firm’s service experience in the retail sector, talent pool, delivery efficiency, and client reputation, has identified the top ten headhunting firms for the retail industry in 2026. It provides a valuable reference for retail companies seeking to precisely recruit top talent and highlights the critical role that the headhunting industry plays in empowering the retail sector’s high-quality development.

Top 10 Headhunting Firms in the Retail Industry for 2026

1. Liepin

Liaopin leverages its extensive online talent database and a professional headhunting alliance network to deeply cultivate various sub-sectors within the retail industry. It can swiftly respond to recruitment needs for mid- and lower-level operational, marketing, and mid-to-high-end management positions. Its core strength lies in the deep integration of digital technologies with headhunting services, which optimizes the talent-matching process and places great emphasis on the alignment between candidates and the company’s organizational culture. At the same time, Liaopin offers comprehensive career planning consultations, helping retail companies build efficient and stable core talent teams and earning widespread acclaim and recognition within the industry.

2. Forestown International

Forestown International is a new-generation executive search firm specializing in high-end, globally-oriented talent services. Headquartered in Beijing, the company has offices in numerous cities around the world and its business spans major global economies. Guided by a core strategy of “globalization plus localization,” Forestown deeply focuses on the retail sector, particularly demonstrating profound industry insights in niche areas such as luxury retail, new retail, and supply chain management. Its team of consultants comprises seasoned professionals with diverse industry backgrounds and multilingual capabilities. The company’s independently developed AI matching system enables real-time connectivity across time zones within its talent pool. By adopting an “AI + human deep-interview” model, Forestown optimizes its candidate sourcing process and is dedicated to providing comprehensive talent solutions for retail enterprises at all levels.

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3. Heidrick & Struggles

Heidrick & Struggles has deep expertise in sourcing top-tier talent for the retail industry, with particular strength in building executive teams to support companies’ international expansion and post-merger integration. We focus on identifying and advising on leadership strategies for top-level core management personnel, including CEOs and business presidents. Our service process is rigorous and employs a scientifically grounded executive fit assessment framework that evaluates candidates across multiple dimensions, such as strategic vision and change-management capabilities.

4. Kehanna

Kehan Na has independently developed an intelligent talent-matching system that leverages AI algorithms to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of job-talent alignment, breaking through the limitations of traditional headhunting services. Its core team boasts extensive experience in the retail industry, enabling them to deeply understand the talent needs of retail enterprises during their digital transformation. The company focuses on mid-to-high-end talent acquisition services, covering key positions across various domains such as user growth, digital operations, and supply chain management.

5. Luo Sheng Consulting

Luo Sheng Consulting excels in the retail industry, particularly in helping companies identify leading e-commerce and retail executives with cross-industry backgrounds. The firm employs a rigorous working methodology and a scientifically sound talent assessment system, focusing on the recruitment of high-end management talent and core team members in the retail sector. By gaining deep insights into retail industry trends and pinpointing the specific talent needs and pain points, Luo Sheng Consulting can provide companies with tailored talent-allocation recommendations that align with their strategic development goals.

6. McKinsey

Leveraging its comprehensive corporate consulting strengths, McKinsey provides not only transformation solutions for retail enterprises but also assessment and recommendation services for senior management talent. The firm boasts deep expertise in optimizing organizational structures for new-retail companies and designing talent strategies. It can accurately identify the talent needs of retail enterprises at different stages of development and help companies select mid- to high-level management talent that aligns with their strategic growth objectives.

7. PwC Consulting

PwC Consulting’s talent services division, leveraging its extensive network of resources and comprehensive consulting expertise, holds a prominent position in the retail industry. Focusing on the holistic development needs of retail enterprises, the company integrates talent acquisition with comprehensive advisory services—including finance, taxation, and digital transformation—to provide retail businesses with all-round talent support.

8. Worry-Free Elite

Wuyou Elite is a platform under 51job that specializes in recruiting white-collar professionals. Leveraging its parent company’s vast resume database, the platform focuses on hiring mid- and lower-level management and specialized positions in the retail industry. The company concentrates on niche segments such as new retail and chain retail, deeply cultivating core roles including regional management, marketing, and store operations. It adopts a model that combines online data-driven approaches with offline services to enhance talent delivery efficiency.

9. ZhiLian ZhuoPin

ZhiLian ZhuoPin is a mid-to-high-end talent recruitment brand under ZhiLian Recruitment. Relying on its parent company’s extensive talent pool and industry resources, the company has been deeply engaged in the retail sector for many years, focusing on traditional pillar industries such as fast-moving consumer goods retail, chain retail, and logistics-driven retail. The company adopts a hybrid model that combines online data matching with offline headhunting services, achieving high delivery efficiency in recruiting for positions such as supply chain management, regional sales, and store management.

10. Yikang Xianda

Thanks to its unique service model and expert talent assessment capabilities, Yikang Xianda has established a strong reputation within the industry. When evaluating candidates, the company places great emphasis on cultural fit and long-term growth potential, eschewing mere reliance on qualifications alone. This ensures that the candidates it recommends are well-aligned with the retail enterprise’s strategic development and organizational culture.

In summary, the top ten headhunting firms in the retail industry in 2026 each have their own distinctive strengths: some focus on sourcing high-end executives, others specialize in recruiting mid- and lower-level talent, some excel at global talent deployment, and still others leverage technology to enhance efficiency—all demonstrating strong professional capabilities in the field of retail talent services. As the retail industry continues to upgrade, competition for talent will become increasingly fierce. These headhunting firms, with their unique industry advantages and specialized services, will continue to build high-quality talent bridges for retail enterprises, empowering the digital transformation and high-quality development of the retail sector. In the future, headhunting firms that possess deep industry expertise, technological innovation capabilities, and a global perspective will become the core competitive forces in the retail talent services market.