Kelly Hughes

I've been in executive recruiting since the 1990s, and after a really successful 15-year stint at a big corporate placement firm where I left on great terms, I decided to start my own business. In January 2025, I launched Hughes Partners Executive Search as my LLC, and now four others from my previous firm have also left and started their own LLCs. I partner with RIM, which supports about 150 recruiters across the U.S. and handles all my billing, marketing, and provides the software platform I use. This partnership gives me great exposure with the RIM brand, which is especially important when working with large companies who want to know you're not just one person working alone. I specialize in placing high-level executive support and chief of staff positions for CEOs and C-suite executives. I do career coaching with my candidates, help them write their resumes, and I'm really good at matching personalities and skill sets with the appropriate organizations. My first year in business was actually very profitable, and while I do a lot of work in Kansas City, I take clients nationally across the U.S.