Oregon Paid Executive Search Firm $851K Over Three Years With Little to Show for It

NewsData.io · United States · Sep 8, 2026

Oregon Health Authority paid Illinois-based Spirit Consulting $851,051 since 2022 to recruit 10 leadership positions at Oregon State Hospital and beyond, but multiple searches failed to produce durable hires — including three superintendent searches, two of which failed outright and one that ended in termination within weeks. The state is now conducting a new superintendent search without Spirit Consulting, while receiving no refund from the firm, which describes its fees as nonrefundable. The case highlights the risks and accountability gaps in outsourced executive search engagements, particularly in specialized public-sector healthcare settings, and raises broader questions about fee structures, success guarantees, and transparency in government contracting with staffing and search firms.