Discretion is required for a variety of reasons. First, if the executive learns, he or she may become disinterested and even sabotage the successor. Furthermore, research suggests that when executives are notified, they typically try to sway the selection process in a way that would help them cement their personal legacy rather than focusing on what is best for the firm. Here are some of the tactics used by Top executive Search Firms in Shanghai to keep these types of searches a secret.