Apex K.K.
Bilingual executive search firm founded in Tokyo in 2010 by five executive recruiters; healthcare-roots that have expanded to 11 specialist teams; member of the Kestria global alliance (80+ offices across 6 continents); ~110+ employees in Ebisu.
Verticals & desks
CONFIRMEDApex operates 11 specialist team desks: Pharmaceutical; Medical Device; Life Science & Diagnostics; HealthTech; Banking & Financial Services; Consumer; Legal & Compliance; Human Resources; Finance & Accounting; Technology; Supply Chain & Procurement. The firm originated in healthcare (Pharma, Life Sci, Medical Device) and expanded outward over the 2010s.
Business model
CONFIRMEDThree service lines: executive search, contingency recruitment, and recruitment process outsourcing (RPO). The mix toward retained vs. contingency varies by team and seniority of the search.
Compensation & bonus
ANONYMOUSGlassdoor reviews characterize compensation as broadly competitive for Tokyo bilingual recruiting, with a transparent KPI/PIP system and a notable 20-day intensive new-hire training program. Compensation includes overtime allowance baked into salary; commission incentives are described as fair though not exceptional.
| Level | Base range (JPY) |
|---|---|
| Associate Consultant | ¥4–5.5m |
| Consultant | ¥5.5–7.5m |
| Senior Consultant | ¥7–9m |
| Manager | ¥9–12m |
| Director / AD | ¥11–14m |
Leadership
REPORTEDRecent news
CONFIRMED- 2025
Apex ranked 9th in the medium-sized category of Great Place to Work® Best Workplaces in Japan (2nd consecutive year as Best Company Award winner).
CONFIRMED Apex K.K. corporate page / GPTW Japan - 2024
Ranked 5th in Best Workplaces for Women in Japan (Great Place to Work Institute Japan).
CONFIRMED Apex K.K. corporate page - 2024
Ebisu office expanded and renovated to accommodate growth, with capacity for 110+ employees.
CONFIRMED Apex K.K. corporate page
Public reception
ANONYMOUSApex draws a 3.4 / 5 average from 33 Glassdoor reviews, with 66% recommend rate. Recurring positive themes: structured 20-day training program, friendly Ebisu-based culture, transparent incentive structure, quarterly events, comprehensive benefits (stocked lounge, company trips, flex time). Recurring concerns: KPI/PIP pressure, work-life balance variance by team and manager, and an industry-typical sales-floor intensity. The firm has publicly responded to multiple critical reviews.
Recurring positive themes
- · Structured new-hire training program (20 days)
- · Diverse workforce (~22 nationalities, ~60% female)
- · Flat structure; directors accessible
- · Strong benefits package (lounge, events, flex time, remote)
Recurring concerns
- · KPI- and PIP-driven sales floor
- · Work-life balance varies by team and manager
- · Lifetime candidate-ownership system can frustrate later joiners
- · Some reviewers cite power harassment in older reviews
Themes are paraphrased from anonymous reviewer submissions. Quotes are not reproduced. The platform does not verify reviewer identity. Treat as sentiment, not fact.
Employee tenure pattern
REPORTEDMixed tenure profile typical of mid-sized Tokyo recruiting firms: long-tenured directors (some 10+ years) anchor each specialist desk, with higher turnover in the early 1–3 years (per anonymous reviewers) among new joiners as is industry-standard.
Brand & training
REPORTEDApex's most-cited differentiator in employer-brand materials is its 20-day intensive onboarding program, applied uniformly to all new hires regardless of role. The firm publishes annual GPTW recognitions (2024 Best Workplaces for Women: 5th; 2025 Best Workplaces medium-sized category: 9th) and is a Kestria global alliance member.