2026 May- ESIX Member Meeting

How different companies structure in‑house executive research and talent intelligence functions was the topic of last week's ESIX: Executive Search Information Exchange Member Meeting. Though it was mostly an open discussion rather than a traditional panel format, a few members kindly shared what their model looks like, and we were lucky to hear from this fantastic four: Carol Piggot of US Bank, Erin Reilly Peneschi of Hilton, Leslie Lazarus of Genesys, & Sam Fletcher of Coca-Cola HBC.

The conversation explored a wide range of operating models - from solo researchers to multi‑person teams acting as centers of excellence - and how talent intelligence differs from (and complements) executive sourcing. Participants also shared how most teams maintain separate systems for executive search, rather than relying on general TA CRMs, driven by confidentiality, data governance, and risk considerations.

A significant portion of the discussion focused on tools and AI experimentation (of course!), including how teams are using generative AI to accelerate market insights, surface historical knowledge, and support search strategy. Another recurring theme was the ongoing challenge of org chart creation and visualization; despite using multiple tools and data sources, most teams are still relying on manual approaches and accepting imperfect accuracy.

Key takeaways included the lack of a single “right” model, the importance of clearly differentiating talent intelligence from sourcing, and the value of experimenting thoughtfully with new tools rather than waiting for a perfect solution. Always encouraging to see how much overlap exists in the challenges our members are trying to solve!