Testimonials

What Top Executives are Saying

A Company's reputation is determined by their clients. Even more significant is whether or not those clients will hire the company multiple times. We have consistently achieved a 90% client repeat rate, oftentimes being selected over much larger competitors. We are eager for you to know what our clients will tell you!

“They have been an invaluable partner to our organization and have an exceptional track record of helping us find Senior Executive talent. They have a strong understanding of the Financial Services Industry, but more importantly, have taken the time to understand our business and our needs. They are highly talented professionals and are the first firm I call for help when new opportunities arise within our organization.”
John Bunch – President,
Retail Division TD Ameritrade

“I have relied upon Nick Pierce & Associates for the successful placement of two of my most senior C-level executives recently. The word that comes to mind when I think of Nick and his Team is ‘thorough’. Once Nick has collected your requirements for the search, he and his Team leave no stone unturned in compiling a list of suitable candidates. While other recruiters may be content to produce lists of ‘the usual suspects,’ Nick and his Team scour the field and consistently come up with solid potential candidates, many of whom themselves profess to have not been looking for a career change until they heard from Nick. After you review the list with Nick and identify true candidates for the position, Nick and his Team commence to narrowing the field, which is where they really shine. After a comprehensive examination of each candidate’s background and qualifications resulting from a rigorous face-to-face interview, Nick and his team produce an in-depth analysis report on each candidate. Their reports are incisive and objective and I have found them to be invaluable in preparing for my own interviews with the candidates. Finally, once the finalists have been identified, Nick and his Team perform admirably in guiding the hiring decisions and negotiation processes to a successful conclusion. As a result, I would highly recommend Nick Pierce & Associates to any C-level executive or Board that is looking for assistance in making a critical senior executive hire.”
Denis Brosnan – CEO,
Prommis Solutions

“Nick and his team are simply the best recruiting thought partners I have ever worked with. They completed several extremely difficult and narrowly defined searches for us. We went from concept to hire in less than 60 days and I am convinced that they got us the best possible candidates whom have helped propel our organization. Nick was very consultative in helping us scope the jobs and determine the best places to look. He and his team were incredibly effective and efficient securing high quality candidates. They took the time to get to know our business and they delivered stellar candidates who were motivated and excited about the job. Simply put, I would never consider using another executive search firm.”
Ted Bloomberg – Managing Director,
Investools

“I’ve worked with Nick for over 15 years starting from the time when he placed me as president of Europe, Africa and the Near East at ACNielsen Worldwide. Nick and I have continued to work together when I subsequently became Chairman, President & CEO of E*Trade. I’ve continued to work with Nick to help staff critical senior management positions at Pennington Ventures, a company in which I have funded. I’ve utilized Nick’s advice and counsel to help us build our organizational teams over the years. He has always delivered an excellent slate of candidates and provided us with real world options on how to best build an organization. Most importantly, the candidates that were selected exceeded our expectations in all areas of leadership and management capability.”
Christos Cotsakos, PhD – former Chairman, President & CEO,
E*TRADE Holdings

“I’ve worked with Nick Pierce for several years. They have consistently provided us with the most accomplished senior executives within the industry. They recognize talent, bring consultative-added value and have our complete confidence.”
Bruce Rauner – Chairman of the Board,
GTCR Golder Rauner, LLC ($8 billion private equity leader)

"Nick Pierce & Associates has served as a reliable resource and an excellent business partner to our firm. I have been particularly impressed with the thoroughness of their search process and the quality of candidate appraisals they developed to enable us to make two great hiring decisions."
Frederic Villoutreix – Chairman & CEO
SWM

“We engaged Nick Pierce and Associates to do a critical top management search for our company. They were extremely professional and were concerned not only with finding quality candidates but the "right" candidate for our organization who would fit into our culture and have the proper fortitude for our stage of growth. I believe they nailed the search and found the ideal candidate that will serve us well into the future.”
Gary Glandon – SVP, Human Resources,
Energy Conversion Devices

“I’ve worked with Nick Pierce on several searches and he has always provided me superior results. Nick has a long term background in the search industry and it shows in how client focused and responsive he is with clients. His in-depth and thorough analysis of candidates is very complete, saving significant time and effort. He has a significant base of referrals and contacts as well as valuable relationships with many Private Equity firms. Most importantly, Nick becomes a great business partner and sticks with you in ways no one else does. In my situation, he became a trusted advisor and supporter in my search for a new career opportunity. I sincerely give Nick my highest recommendation on a professional and personal basis!”
Ken Goins – CEO,
Prepaid Solutions, Inc.

“When our firm selected Nick Pierce & Associates for one of our most critical senior leadership positions we had very high expectations. They not only exceeded our expectations – they shattered them! Nick Pierce & Associates found the perfect candidate to meet our key strategic need and every candidate they provided us was strong. Their process is truly exceptional because they took the time to fully understand our business and our needs. What is also impressive is the firm’s close alliances with the private equity sector. All in all, we were delighted with our relationship.”
Frank Petrilli – former CEO,
TD Ameritrade

“My experience with Nick and his firm have never failed to please. He fully immerses himself into all the details of a search assignment, quickly and effectively developing keen insight not only into the particular requirements of the position but importantly into the culture of the Company. Nick’s deep understanding of both the appointment and the culture allow him to refer only the best qualified candidates with the highest probability of long term fit at Norgren. Over the years as our relationship has developed, I’ve also found Nick’s personal insights into my own career progression to be always thought provoking and highly useful. It’s rare indeed to find a trusted advisor of Nick’s caliber and integrity!”
Jim Mannebach – former President & CEO,
Norgren, Inc.

“I’ve known Nick Pierce for over ten years. His firm has been a trusted advisor regarding providing select senior management to us and we respect their judgment of talent. We always take his calls.”

Carty Chock – Partner,
Arsenal Capital Partners

“I have been working with executive search firms around the world for the past 20 years. This has taught me that the individual you work with is more important than the firm name. Nick is one of the best I have worked with. He builds partnerships that last years since he focus’ on the long-term relationship with his clients. I never felt that he was just filling an order and looking for the next assignment. His current business model gives him much greater access to the true best candidates in the marketplace. I highly recommend Nick and his firm.”
Kevin Tarrant – Chief Human Resources Officer,
WABCO Holdings

“Nick Pierce & Associates was selected as a preferred source at First Data Corporation over dozens of other search firms from around the world. Their professional, high touch, approach helped us hire world class talent that might have been missed by other firms.”
Mike D’Ambrose – former SVP, Human Resources,
First Data Corporation

“I have had exposure to Nick Pierce & Associates both from a candidate perspective and subsequently as a client. I had never accepted calls from other search firms previously but I was impressed with their approach to me and took their call, eventually being hired as the SVP at Ingenico, the global leader in POS terminals. Subsequently I hired Nick and his Team to do a few searches for our company, including a search for our head of sales overseeing our Canadian business based in Toronto. My experience with them is that they have always been very responsive, consistently developed detailed and intelligent appraisal reports and are of the highest consultative level. Nick Pierce & Associates is at the top of my list when selecting a retainer search firm.”
Lisa Shipley – Sr. V.P., Sales,
Ingenico

“I had the pleasure of meeting Nick several years ago when his firm was engaged in a search to find a COO for Tier Technologies (NASDAQ: Tier). Nick spent time to truly understand my professional background and placed me in the role. After a management change, I opted to resign from the company. I contacted Nick for his professional advice and he encouraged me to pursue a roll-up strategy. He spent countless hours working with me to develop my plan. Based upon his numerous industry contacts and trust that he had established with private equity firms, Nick introduced me to several key industry players including Arsenal Capital Partners based in New York. Due to Nick’s recommendation, they were willing to speak to me. This led to my hire as President, FrontStream Payments, Inc. Nick has become a trusted advisor of mine and based upon his professionalism, I would recommend Nick Pierce & Associates to all my colleagues.”
Nina Vellayan – CEO & President,
FrontStream Payments

“We have worked with Nick Pierce on recruiting several leadership positions for our portfolio companies. We value Nick’s experience finding and evaluating top rated talent. He and his Team do the research to ensure that the client and candidates are positioned for success.”
Matt Vettel – Managing Director,
Great Hill Partners

“Nick is one of the best executive search consultants that I have ever known. He is also the author of a must read book, “The Executive’s Guide to Finding a New Job.”


Bill Foust – former SVP, Human Resources,
SWM

“I’ve worked with Richard Meuris on a particularly difficult placement in rural New York. He is a persistent yet respectful recruiting partner and I would not hesitate to use him again. His follow up and client communication is a ‘best of class.’”
Adam Nightingale – former VP, Human Resources,
Dresser-Rand Corporation

“People often think the primary role of a professional recruiter is to connect the right talent with the right job. Nick Pierce & Associates did that in my case, but that was only half the battle. I wasn’t sure that I wanted to leave my previous employer and I was also unsure that the opportunity that they presented was a good match for me. The real value Nick Pierce offered in this process was to help me get clear about my career goals. He also helped me think through the timing of the career change I was faced with. Ultimately, his wisdom and experience helped me make the right decision for me and my family.”
Jon Mott, PhD – Director, Learning Design,
Investools