De Forest Search

Powered By TalentoHC

For over 30 years, De Forest Search has partnered with the world’s most recognized global brands to deliver transformational leadership. Now, as part of TalentoHC’s global network, we bring an expanded reach and deeper strategic insight to help companies secure executives who drive innovation, growth, and long-term success.

 

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Building Brands. Placing Leaders.

From Fortune 500 companies to venture-backed startups, De Forest Search has shaped leadership teams across industries, including consumer products, lifestyle brands, entertainment, technology, and more. Founded by Jill De Forest, the firm built its reputation by providing customized, high-touch recruitment solutions that deliver exceptional talent quickly and effectively.

Our legacy includes placing executives in marketing, creative, sales, operations, product design and development, HR, finance, digital, eCommerce, and technology roles for organizations scaling for the future.

De Forest Search has a longstanding history of placing senior-level executives across the consumer products space and is known for its deep relationships within the toy, entertainment, and licensing sectors - Hunt Scanlon Media
The Vision Behind De Forest Search

I started De Forest Search over 30 years ago with a simple mission —to connect employers with the best possible candidates without the burden of expensive retainers and long hiring cycles. On this premise, we’ve successfully placed thousands of leaders across every conceivable industry. While the hiring landscape is ever-changing, we remain a constant in our clients’ search strategy. We’re excited to become part of yours.

Jill De Forest the Vision behind de forest search

Meet Jill De Forest

President

De Forest Search, powered by TalentoHC

Jill De Forest is a nationally recognized executive search leader with over three decades of experience building high-performing teams for global brands. Her career spans agency, corporate, and entrepreneurial success, making her a trusted partner for organizations seeking transformative talent solutions across industries.

Jill began her recruitment career at AppleOne, where she quickly rose to the top, earning back-to-back “Top Performer of the Year” awards. Fueled by an entrepreneurial spirit, she launched Sawyer & Associates Personnel Service in Redondo Beach, growing it from a single office with six employees to four offices and 65 employees in just two years. After nine successful years—and with the arrival of her third child—Jill transitioned to an internal corporate role at Mattel, where she served as Talent Acquisition Manager and led recruitment across Marketing, Creative, Licensing, Design & Development.

This experience gave Jill an invaluable insight into the dynamics of a global and complex matrixed organization and the critical cross-functional relationships. Within two years, she proposed to Mattel’s CHRO that she open a dedicated recruitment firm to support the company’s expanding hiring needs. With Mattel’s full endorsement, De Forest Search was born just steps from their headquarters. The transition was seamless: Jill continued to partner with Mattel on Marketing, Creative, Licensing, Design & Development roles, while expanding her reach into a broader range of roles, which included Sales, Operations, Human Resources, Finance, Operations & Supply Chain, and placed over 100 professionals at Mattel alone.

Under Jill’s leadership, De Forest Search grew into a trusted search partner for global brands across diverse industries such as CPG, technology, entertainment, lifestyle, and wellness. For more than 30 years Jill and her team have placed thousands of professionals worldwide, earning a reputation for delivering transformative talent solutions that drive innovation and growth.

In 2023, De Forest Search joined forces with TalentoHC—a like-minded, female- and minority-owned executive search partner with global capabilities and a strong presence in the consumer space. This partnership combines boutique-level service and deep niche expertise with expansive global reach. Today, Jill continues to lead De Forest Search, powered by TalentoHC, delivering customized, multi-service solutions for clients worldwide.

 

Visit Jill's Page

Where Legacy Meets Leadership

Backed by decades of industry expertise and powered by TalentoHC’s global network, De Forest Search delivers the executive leadership teams that shape the future of global brands.

5,000+ PLACEMENTS | 30+ YEARS | GLOBAL REACH | UNMATCHED INSIGHT

A Sampling of Hires by De Forest Search

De Forest Search + TalentoHC

In 2023, De Forest Search joined forces with TalentoHC, a nationally recognized executive search firm with a global footprint. Together, we’ve created a more agile, scalable, and insight-driven partner for brands across consumer products, lifestyle, entertainment, and beyond.

As De Forest Search marks 30 years of building transformative leadership teams, this new chapter combines our legacy of industry expertise with TalentoHC’s expansive global reach, delivering even greater value to our clients.

Transforming What  
 Looks Like

Global Reach, Local Insight

Offices in Miami, New York, Los Angeles, and the UK give us regional expertise with worldwide connectivity.

EXPLORE OUR GLOBAL NETWORK →

Executive Search Across Industries

From consumer products to technology, we deliver talent solutions that align with each client’s goals and culture.

SEE OUR INDUSTRY EXPERTISE →

Scalable, High-Touch Solutions

Every business is unique. Whether you need a single executive hire or an entire team buildout, we tailor our strategies to your needs.

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR PROCESS   →

Trusted By Industry Leaders

De Forest Search has partnered with global leaders in entertainment, consumer products, and lifestyle industries, placing the executives who drive innovation, growth, and success.

I have worked with Jill and the De Forest Search Team for over 20 years in hiring some of our most challenging and critical roles from Manager through EVP. We engaged De Forest Search at Fox, Disney, Sony, and Viacom, and their knowledgeable team consistently delivered top-tier candidates. They have a pulse on the market and work seamlessly together, which is evident in the quality of candidates they produce in a relatively short period of time. De Forest Search makes the process effortless with their diligence in scheduling, feedback, activity updates, and negotiations. They are an absolute pleasure to work with.

Maureen Frontino

Sr. Talent Acquisition Manager

Jill had represented and placed me as EVP at Disney Consumer Products and I have worked with her for hiring needs at Mattel, Disney, and Play Monster. Jill is highly knowledgeable in the toy and entertainment industry and is a great resource for critical hires.

Tim Kilpin

President, Toys, Games, Licensing & Entertainment

I have had the pleasure of working with Jill De Forest at De Forest Search over the past several years and I consider her a trusted advisor in my executive career. She was extremely helpful, transparent and patient in helping to place me at an entertainment studio in a senior executive position. The whole team at De Forest has been great!

Kirk Bloomgarden

SVP, Global Consumer Products

The De Forest Search team was a pleasure to work with through the process. From the very beginning, they were incredibly professional, responsive, helpful and persistent. Their team took a methodical approach to learning about my goals, and acted as a trusted source throughout the entire process. De Forest’s extensive industry knowledge was evident, and I highly recommend working with them.

Jeff Wear

Brand Licensing Director, J.D. Power

Over the past two and a half years, the team at De Forest Search has successfully assisted us on quite a few challenging projects. Their flexibility, dedication, and expertise resulted in great new members for our team. We truly appreciate, enjoy, and value partnering with the team at De Forest Search.

Ivo Gerscovich

Chief Brand Officer

TalentoHC and De Forest Search identified an opportunity that changed my career trajectory, proving they truly understand the market and their clients’ needs

Placed Executive

SEPT 10 2025

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UPCOMING EVENT

Toy Association Happy Hour
Hosted by De Forest Search

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Get in Touch with the De Forest Team

Whether you’re scaling an established brand or launching your next big innovation, De Forest Search, powered by TalentoHC, can help you secure game-changing executives.

Let’s start the conversation.

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Visit Us or Reach Out

Our Office

360 N Pacific Coast Hwy, 2nd Floor,

El Segundo, CA 90245

Contact Us

Jill@deforestsearch.com

(310) 683-3066

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