What Bilingual Executive Search Covers
We recruit CEOs, presidents, vice presidents, directors, and other C-suite and regional leaders for permanent roles where French and English are part of leading the business.
Typical searches include leaders who manage teams in Quebec and the rest of Canada, serve French-speaking and English-speaking clients, or report to a board or head office in the other language.
Why Bilingual Leadership Roles Need a Different Search
A bilingual leader does more than speak two languages. They negotiate, present, coach, and handle difficult conversations in both, often on the same day. A résumé that lists French as a skill does not tell you whether the person can lead in it.
That is why the search starts with your business, not with a job description, and why language is assessed before you meet anyone.
How Our Executive Search Works
- 1The Deep Dive®
- 2Pre-Placement Insights
- 3Search and approach
- 4French and English assessed
- 5Your short list
- 6After the start date
- The Deep Dive®. Your search starts with a Deep Dive® call. We learn the role, the leadership team, and how your company works. For roles at this level, we strongly encourage meeting in person, at your office where possible. See how the Deep Dive® works.
- Pre-Placement Insights. You receive a Pre-Placement Insights report within three business days of the Deep Dive®, usually within one business day.
- Search and approach. We approach bilingual leaders who match the role, including people who are not looking for a new position.
- French and English assessed. Every candidate's French is assessed, written and oral, before you see a résumé.
- Your short list. You meet a short list of leaders who meet every must-have you set.
- After the start date. Every placement includes a replacement period of three months after the start date, extended free of charge on request.
Who Leads Your Search
Greg Benadiba is President and CEO of Bilingual Source. He has more than 20 years in agency recruitment and is the author of Recruitment Principles: Timeless Truths in the Age of AI.
Learn more about Greg, his book, and his weekly newsletter at gregbenadiba.com.
Why Employers Choose Bilingual Source
- Permanent French-English bilingual recruitment since 1984.
- Since 1984, Bilingual Source has made nearly 20,000 placements and brokered more than $650 million in salaries.
- Rated 4.9 on Google from 890+ reviews.
- Our Placement Promise: we do not recruit people we placed while they remain with your company.
Fill ratio and stick rate: Bilingual Source annual figures for the 12 months ending December 2025. Placements and salaries: Bilingual Source placement records since 2006, with earlier years estimated from the 2006 to 2012 pace, November 2026.
Questions Employers Ask About Bilingual Executive Search
- How is executive search different from regular recruitment? Executive search is a targeted search for one leader. It relies on approaching the right people directly, most of whom are not applying for jobs, and on a close understanding of the leadership team they will join.
- Do you run executive searches outside Toronto? Yes. We serve employers across Canada from our Toronto office.
- How do you confirm a leader's French? Every candidate's French is assessed, written and oral, before an employer sees a résumé.
- What happens if a placement does not work out? Every placement includes a replacement period of three months after the start date, extended free of charge on request.
- How do we start? Book a Deep Dive® call, email us, or call 416-515-2594. The call covers the role, your must-haves, and how the search will run.
Not hiring an executive? See our bilingual headhunters.
Start Your Executive Search
Tell us about the leadership role. The first step is a Deep Dive® call.
Employers, call 416-515-2594.