Korn Ferry (NYSE:KFY) FY Conference Transcript

Korn Ferry (NYSE: KFY) FY Conference Summary Company Overview - Korn Ferry has transformed from a $700 million business in 2012, primarily focused on executive search, to a nearly $3 billion organization today, offering a wide range of services related to employee engagement and talent management [3][4][5] Core Capabilities - The company has developed capabilities in organizational strategy, talent acquisition, leadership development, and total rewards consulting, making it unique in the industry [4][5] - Korn Ferry is the largest assessment house globally, utilizing psychometric assessments developed by a team of 25 I/O psychologists [4][5] Talent Suite Launch - Korn Ferry recently launched its Talent Suite, a single technology platform designed to integrate data, intellectual property, and behavioral science to enhance service delivery [6][30] - The Talent Suite aims to improve efficiency and effectiveness in utilizing the company's extensive data assets, which include assessments of 110 million people and 25 million paid data points [6][30] Go-to-Market Strategy - The primary go-to-market strategy focuses on marquee and diamond accounts, which represent the top 350 clients and account for approximately 40% of total fee revenue [13][14] - The company aims to increase cross-selling opportunities, with 25-26% of fee revenues currently generated from referrals between different service areas [14] Impact of AI - Korn Ferry recognizes the significant impact of AI on the talent marketplace and is actively integrating AI into its services to enhance client offerings [15][16] - The company is helping clients redesign their organizations to leverage AI effectively, focusing on talent readiness and development [17][22] Financial Performance - Korn Ferry has achieved an adjusted EBITDA margin of around 17%, with a revenue run rate between $2.8 billion and $2.9 billion, maintaining the same workforce of 9,000 employees [61][62] - The company has reduced its real estate footprint by 35% and cut business development costs significantly, contributing to improved profitability [62][63] Digital Business Growth - The digital business has grown to approximately $360 million-$370 million, with subscription and license revenue making up about 40% of that total [41][42] - Korn Ferry aims to increase the subscription and license portion of its digital business to 60-65% through the Talent Suite [42] Capital Allocation and M&A Strategy - Korn Ferry adopts a disciplined approach to M&A, focusing on strategic alignment with human capital and ensuring financial viability [66][67] - The company prioritizes reinvesting in its business, including technology and talent development, while also returning capital to shareholders through dividends and buybacks [68][69] Future Outlook - The company is optimistic about the future, particularly with the rollout of the Talent Suite and the potential for further integration of AI into its services [70][72] - Korn Ferry aims to break down internal silos and position itself as a comprehensive talent partner for clients, enhancing its value proposition [72][73]