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Korn Ferry(KFY) - 2026 Q2 - Earnings Call Transcript
2025-12-09 18:00
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Consolidated fee revenue grew 7% year-over-year to $722 million [11] - Adjusted EBITDA increased by $8 million, or 7% year-over-year, to $125 million, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 17.3% [11] - Adjusted diluted earnings per share rose by $0.12, or 10% year-over-year, to $1.33 [11] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Executive search fee revenue grew 10%, marking the sixth consecutive quarter of year-over-year growth [11] - Professional search and interim fee revenue increased by 17% year-over-year, with professional search up 7% and interim, including the Trilogy acquisition, up 24% [11] - RPO delivered $253 million of new business in the quarter, with 16% from new logos and 84% from renewals [11] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Fee revenue in the Americas was up 3% year-over-year, led by executive search and RPO [12] - EMEA fee revenue grew 20% year-over-year, with growth in executive search, professional search, interim, consulting, and digital [12] - APAC fee revenue remained flat, with moderate growth in executive search and professional search, offset by slight declines in RPO, consulting, and digital [12] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on a unified "We Are Korn Ferry" strategy, integrating multiple solutions to create enduring client partnerships [4][6] - The launch of the new Talent Suite technology platform is expected to enhance the company's ability to serve clients as a holistic talent partner [9] - The company aims to drive long-term, profitable, and sustainable growth by leveraging foundational assets to deliver differentiated solutions [14] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's positioning for a strong 2026, emphasizing the need for talent in the current uncertain business environment [8][14] - The outlook for the third quarter of fiscal 2026 anticipates fee revenue between $680 million and $694 million, with adjusted EBITDA margins ranging from 17.2% to 17.4% [13] - Management noted that the current economic conditions have not significantly changed, and they remain focused on identified growth opportunities [24] Other Important Information - Estimated remaining fees under existing contracts increased to $1.84 billion, up 20% year-over-year [11] - The company returned almost $70 million to shareholders through repurchases and dividends during the quarter [12] - The Talent Suite launch is expected to provide significant opportunities in areas such as pay transparency and analytics [47] Q&A Session Summary Question: Strength in executive search business - Management noted significant growth in executive search worldwide, driven by changing leadership needs and the retirement of baby boomers [16] Question: Historical referral rates and future expectations - Management indicated a historical referral rate of 25%-26%, with a goal to increase it to 35% as the strategy evolves [18] Question: Improvement in placement-type solutions - Management confirmed that the strategy is working, with sequential growth in Professional Search and Interim Solutions, and noted the quality of their IP and AI usage in RPO [24] Question: Consulting bill rates and margin dynamics - Management highlighted that bill rates have increased due to larger, more impactful engagements, and there remains substantial opportunity for further growth [27][33] Question: Impact of AI on search efficiency - Management stated that while technology has improved efficiency, the larger impact comes from changes in work processes post-COVID [38] Question: Financial impact of Talent Suite - Management expects the Talent Suite to significantly enhance client engagement and analytics capabilities, leading to increased monetization of IP [46][47] Question: Changes in behavior since competitor went private - Management reported no noticeable changes in market behavior following the competitor's transition to private [51]
Be Like Manny | William Nozak | TEDxGreenwood
TEDx Talks· 2025-07-14 16:43
Core Idea - The traditional view of work as time spent should be redefined to focus on value created through collaboration and orchestration [3][4][6] - Businesses should shift from individual execution to orchestrating talent and resources to create value [2][4][8] - The "Manny framework" emphasizes managing collaborative talent, embracing orchestration, and identifying who can best perform specific tasks [8][9] Key Strategies - Implement systems to scale impact and improve efficiency, enabling one person to do the work of multiple people [10][11] - Build collaborative networks to find, vet, and nurture talent partnerships globally [17] - Navigate quality through processes, such as templates and checklists, to ensure consistent outcomes across the team [12][13] Benefits of Orchestration - Orchestration provides freedom and income for the orchestrator, projects based on talent for collaborators, and better outcomes for clients [13][14] - It allows for the creation of a world-class team regardless of geographical limitations [5][6][7] - It enables individuals to move beyond trading time for money and scale value infinitely [6][16] Mindset Shift - Transition from being a "doer" to a "director," similar to a film director who hires specialists [9][10] - Focus on the value that can be orchestrated, not just the value that can be executed [16] - Challenge the traditional approach to work and embrace the possibilities of a collaboration economy [17][18]