The Inner Circle acknowledges Jill De Forest, as a Pinnacle Professional of The Year

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 10, 2026 — Prominently featured in The Inner Circle, Jill De Forest is acknowledged as a Pinnacle Professional of The Year for her contributions to Executive Search and Recruitment.

Jill De Forest is the Founder and President of De Forest Search, a boutique executive search firm that merged with TalentoHC in July 2023. With more than four decades of experience in recruitment and talent acquisition, Ms. De Forest has built a distinguished career connecting exceptional executives with leading consumer products, media, entertainment, and lifestyle brands. She continues to lead the West Coast Consumer Products, Media and Entertainment Practice, specializing in senior management and executive leadership placements.

Her expertise encompasses toys and games, entertainment, music, food and beverage, fashion, beauty, wellness, and other consumer industries. Throughout her career, she and her team have recruited professionals for positions ranging from director-level management to the C-suite, including presidents, chief operating officers, chief financial officers, and chief executive officers. Her work has also extended internationally, supporting clients with executive placements in the United Kingdom, France, Spain, and Italy.

Ms. De Forest began her recruitment career at AppleOne in 1983, quickly distinguishing herself as a top producer across its 65 Southern California offices. Two years later, she established Sawyer & Associates Personnel Service, which expanded to four offices and 65 employees. Following the economic challenges of the early 1990s, she joined Mattel as a recruitment partner, gaining extensive experience across marketing, sales, licensing, creative development, and consumer products.

In 1995, she founded De Forest Search, establishing a specialized executive recruitment firm that became a trusted resource for major consumer brands. Among her notable accomplishments was successfully placing a chief financial officer at Mattel after two retained search firms had been unable to fill the position. The executive remained with the company for more than a decade.

Throughout her entrepreneurial journey, Ms. De Forest has demonstrated resilience while navigating economic downturns, organizational changes, and evolving industry demands. Her firm's merger with TalentoHC in 2023 expanded its resources and international reach while preserving the personalized service and relationship-driven approach that have defined her business.

Ms. De Forest further developed her business expertise through Harvard Business School's Owner/President Management Program. Her professional affiliations include the Women Presidents Organization and Highrise Executive Group. Throughout her career, she reports placing more than 4,000 executives and hiring, training, and leading more than 300 employees.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Ms. De Forest is passionate about raising awareness of ADHD and dyslexia, conditions she experienced throughout her childhood and early career before receiving a diagnosis at age 40. Despite academic challenges, she developed a strong entrepreneurial spirit at an early age, establishing a small business selling handmade fashion and home products when she was just 13. Her personal experiences have inspired her to encourage others to recognize their individual strengths and pursue their ambitions without allowing learning differences to define their potential.

Looking ahead, Ms. De Forest remains dedicated to mentoring professionals, strengthening executive relationships, and helping organizations identify leadership talent. She also hopes to encourage greater understanding of neurodiversity by sharing her experiences and demonstrating that professional success can take many different paths.

Guided by the values of mutual respect, kindness, honesty, integrity, transparency, and proactive communication, Ms. De Forest continues to champion meaningful professional relationships while embracing the unique perspectives and abilities individuals bring to the workplace.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jilldeforest/

Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected] 

SOURCE The Inner Circle