The executive recruitment industry is comprised of two key sectors, executive search (or headhunting) and executive selection. Both these professions have emerged in the last 30 years as important mechanisms for the recruitment of executives in business. In spite of the growth of the executive recruitment industry in the UK and world-wide, there has been limited analysis of nature and structure of search and selection within geography and social sciences more generally. Therefore, this thesis explores the role of executive search and executive selection within global cities, and assesses their influence on three particular areas - individuals, companies and the labour market in aggregate. The findings are based on a series of semi structured interviews from three case studies : firstly, executive recruitment consultants in the City of London; secondly, executive search consultants in New York and; thirdly, human resource directors of financial service companies in the City of London. The thesis makes four key conclusions. Firstly, the executive recruitment industry continues to grow in size, in spite of the corporate restructuring and the recession. In particular, many executive recruitment firms have joined affiliate organisations to strengthen their ability to operate on an international basis. Secondly, the usage of executive recruitment consultancy differs amongst companies. Within the financial services sector, it was found that investment banks were the most frequent users of headhunters. Thirdly, there is a trend of specialisation amongst many recruitment firms which, it is suggested, will lead to a gradual demise in the demarcation of the recruitment hierarchy. Fourthly, global cities are the most important locations for executive recruitment organisations. By locating in such cities, companies benefit from economies of scope and are able to access domestic and international markets

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