Korn Ferry

What they do

Korn Ferry advises boards, CEOs and senior leaders across the full organization, from strategy and leadership to hiring, development, rewards, and the roles, skills and workforce models needed for the future. Its work is organized around three connected elements — Foundational Assets (proprietary data, IP and behavioral science), Capabilities, and Integrated Solutions. It delivers insight through consulting engagements, digital products and subscriptions including Korn Ferry Talent Suite, and competes with firms such as AON, Deloitte, McKinsey, Mercer and Willis Towers Watson.

Revenue drivers

• Search — Executive and professional recruitment fees; in Q1 FY'27 Search fee revenue grew 10% year-over-year, the strongest growth cited among the reported lines.
• Workforce Solutions — Technology-enabled, long-term contracted talent solutions that AMS now complements and meaningfully expands; Q1 FY'27 fee revenue grew 11% year-over-year.
• Consulting — Advisory work spanning leadership, rewards and organizational strategy, sold both as engagements and through embedded, subscription-based offerings such as Korn Ferry Talent Suite.

Recent performance

In Q1 FY'27 (quarter ended July 31, 2026), Korn Ferry reported fee revenue of $756.5 million, up 7% year-over-year at both actual and constant currency, marking a sixth consecutive quarter of top-line growth. Total revenue was $764.6 million, net income attributable to Korn Ferry was $69.0 million (9.1% margin), and adjusted EBITDA was $128.2 million (17.0% margin). Diluted EPS was $1.32 and adjusted diluted EPS was $1.43, up 5% and 9% year-over-year. Fee revenue grew in all regions, with Search up 10% and Workforce Solutions up 11%. Full-year FY2026 revenue was $2.94 billion with net income of $280.8 million and diluted EPS of $5.22.

Strategy

Management describes a "We Are Korn Ferry" strategy — to be the world's conductor of talent and organizational orchestration — and states that AMS, now part of the company, complements and expands Workforce Solutions with technology-enabled talent solutions at scale supported by long-term contracted client relationships. The company is combining its Foundational Assets (more than 12 billion proprietary data points and more than 115 million assessments conducted) with AI capabilities to surface patterns, generate recommendations and support decision-making, delivered through embedded and subscription-based offerings. In fiscal 2026 it was named a Founding Partner of the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games and Official Talent and Organizational Consulting Partner, tasked with helping build and align the 5,000+ people powering the Games.

Risks

• AMS integration — The company cites its ability to successfully integrate AMS operations and employees and to realize the anticipated benefits of the acquisition, which may be affected by competition and its ability to grow and manage growth profitably.
• Competition — The human resource consulting market is historically fragmented, and competitors such as AON, Deloitte, McKinsey, Mercer and Willis Towers Watson — many significantly larger — could drive lost share, lower demand or lower prices.
• Talent retention and cost — The company flags its dependence on attracting and retaining qualified and experienced consultants, its reliance on key employees, and the impact of inflationary pressures on profitability.
• Macro and geopolitical conditions — Results are exposed to global and local political and economic developments in countries where it operates, including inflation, trade wars, global slowdowns or recessions, geopolitical tensions and currency fluctuations.

Outlook

The company reported estimated remaining fees under existing contracts of $1.9 billion at the end of Q1 FY'27, up 14% year-over-year, and new business of $832.3 million, up from $742.2 million a year earlier. CEO Gary D. Burnison said he is "very pleased" with the quarter and cited the momentum and durability of the business along with the AMS combination. No specific numerical guidance is presented in the materials provided.