By Mhicole A. Moral
KSearch Asia, a top name in executive search in the Philippines, has officially joined the global firm Andersen Consulting. The announcement was made during the New Leaders Meeting held in Las Vegas, where the firm was welcomed as a member in the newly formed global organization.
The development marks a new phase for the Philippine-based firm, which has built its reputation over 25 years through boutique, founder-led operations. Now integrated into Andersen’s organization of consulting professionals, KSearch is preparing to work on larger and cross-border projects while retaining the personalized approach that has earned trust in the local market.
“Joining Andersen preserves our boutique DNA—small, founder-led teams—but it opens up the door to far more strategic possibilities,” KSearch Chief Operating Officer (COO) Karmeli Love U. Kintanar told BusinessWorld in an email.
The deal is designed to give new capabilities while maintaining the identities of members of Andersen Consulting. KSearch may now work alongside other members of Andersen Consulting that are helping large corporations restructure, expand globally, or overhaul their tax operations. If these projects call for leadership and staffing solutions, KSearch steps in as part of their expertise.
KSearch’s inclusion in Andersen Consulting means existing clients, who once relied solely on local support, now have access to expanded capabilities without switching partners.
For example, a company expanding into multiple markets no longer needs to engage separate firms for recruitment, tax advice, and organizational planning. Clients no longer need to coordinate with different service providers for a single project, as the Andersen group can now do it all under one roof.
Accelerating global backing
KSearch said leadership search today is no longer limited by borders, as clients are increasingly asking for candidates and strategies that match a global scale, and they are expanding to meet those expectations.
Ms. Kintanar explained that the collaboration places KSearch alongside six Philippine-based Andersen members and collaborating firms. Together, they form a team that aims to help clients execute their business goals with fewer roadblocks and fewer vendors to manage.
The Manila-based Andersen Consulting member firms can now assist clients with board structuring, shareholder agreements, and urgent regulatory issues involving government agencies like the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE).
They also advise on navigating complex tax environments with changes from the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises to Maximize Opportunities for Reinvigorating the Economy (CREATE-MORE) law and policy updates from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).
Aside from regulatory and tax services, the Andersen team provides support in deal modeling, benchmarking costs for potential sites, and conducting due diligence on potential partners in the Philippines. The group also maps out strategies for business growth by digitizing shared services, improving customer experiences, and making better use of data.
KSearch Asia Consulting, Inc.’s esteemed senior consultants, joined by the executive board
Multinational companies in the Philippines can expect a more hands-on, focused, and results-driven partnership. The team says it combines personalized service with deep local knowledge and international standards.
“[We provide] a personalized, innovative, and results-oriented way of working that turns the traditional consultant relationship into a true business partnership for succeeding in the Philippines,” Ms. Kintanar added.
KSearch said they still remain committed to the same style of working that built trust among clients. They describe the partnership as an opportunity to scale their services while keeping the firm’s identity intact.
“Andersen’s independent and client-focused model is exactly how we were built. Our DNA aligns perfectly with Andersen’s philosophy, so the integration felt natural,” she explained. “We’re still the KSearch, you know, but with a larger engine behind us.”
Humble beginnings, thriving practice
KSearch’s inception dates back to the late 1990s when KPMG Philippines and Andersen Consulting spun off their executive search practice. Three insiders from the Big Four firms stepped forward to build what would become KSearch Asia.
Mario Mananghaya, the then-managing director of KPMG Philippines and a former global partner of Arthur Andersen, brought boardroom credibility and a well-established network of chief financial officers. Manny Guillermo, a former global partner in Andersen Consulting, offered strong international consulting contacts and a methodical approach to operations.
Completing the founding team was Ms. Kintanar, the group’s first professional hire. She joined as a 21-year-old research associate and now serves as the firm’s chief operating officer.
KSearch Asia has long operated from what used to be the KPMG office in Makati. It was there that the founders registered the firm and launched their first successful executive search assignment — a finance director for a Japanese electronics manufacturer in Laguna. They closed the mandate in six weeks, setting the pace for the firm’s steady rise in the headhunting and executive search industry.
25 years later, with KSearch now aligning itself under the Andersen Consulting umbrella, those early connections come full circle. Under Andersen Consulting, the firm continues to operate with its existing leadership and team but aligns more closely with the integrated consulting platform.
Andersen Consulting is part of Andersen’s broader multidimensional service model, which provides end-to-end consulting services to both large multinational firms and upper-middle market businesses. The firm serves companies with complex cross-border needs, including owner-operated enterprises seeking a more hands-on and tailored approach on a global platform spanning more than 170 countries as of date.
Unlike traditional consulting models, Andersen Consulting operates through legally separate but aligned member and collaborating firms. This structure allows local offices like KSearch to maintain autonomy while accessing shared resources and standards across markets.
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