to find a manager with the right skills and experience to do a particular job, often by persuading a suitable person to leave their present job:
• Mr Birt was headhunted to be director of the BBC.
— headhunter noun [countable] :
• They hired a headhunter to search out a replacement.
— headhunting noun [uncountable] :
• Most headhunting firms offer a professional and high-quality service.
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headhunter UK US /ˈhedˌhʌntər/ US /-ṱɚ/ noun [C]
► HR a person who is hired by a company to find someone who has the qualifications for an important job and is willing to leave their present job: »
He was approached by a headhunter who was looking for a chief executive for a start-up company.
»a corporate/top/leading headhunter
Financial and business terms. 2012.