The appointment that changes possibilities.
Retained executive search from Director and AVP-level to C-Suite, across five core sectors, led end to end by a principal or partner.
Our Approach
Most searches fail at the in-take brief, not the shortlist
The most critical phase of executive search is defining exactly what success looks like in the role. We invest heavily in understanding your organization’s strategy, leadership context, and future requirements before a search begins.
Levels We Place
Direcor/AVP through to C-Suite
Director and AVP-level
Director, AVP and Senior Director roles carry genuine leadership accountability, functional ownership, budget accountability and team leadership responsibility. This is where judgment starts to matter more than technical execution.
Vice President and SVP
Vice President and Senior Vice President roles with full functional or business unit ownership, and a seat at the senior leadership table.
Managing Director
Managing Director appointments carrying market-facing accountability and/or P&L responsibility, and significant organizational influence.
Partner
Partner and equity partner appointments in professional services, private capital and advisory organizations.
C-Suite
CEOs, CFOs, COOs, CROs, CIOs, CHROs, CMOs, CTOs and other senior executives with significant leadership experience.
Functional breadth
Finance, operations, commercial, technology, human resources, risk and compliance, and general management across all five core sectors.
Our Process
From Briefing through to Offer
We begin by understanding the business context, leadership requirements, and capability gaps for the role. We then guide you through candidate selection and onboarding, and remain engaged beyond the placement to ensure the candidate delivers lasting value.
Mandate briefing
We invest the time required to understand the role, the organization, the team it sits within, and the specific capability gap being filled.
Capability Mapping
We identify the specific capabilities that will predict success in this role. This becomes the assessment rubric applied to every candidate.
Market research
We build the appropriate candidate universe, identifying leaders who have demonstrated the relevant capabilities of the role.
Approach and engagement
We approach candidates as an extension of your organization, representing your opportunity and your employer brand with care. Confidentiality is maintained throughout.
Assessment
Every candidate is assessed against the capabilities established in stage two, and against the needs of your organization and the key stakeholders consulted.
Shortlist presentation
You receive a shortlist with a written assessment against each capability, not just a stack of resumes.
Client interviews
We prepare both sides. Candidates are briefed properly about the role. You receive an interview guide structured around their capabilities.
References and diligence
We speak to people who have seen the candidate under pressure and conduct structured reference conversations designed to surface judgment and working style.
Offer, close and follow-through
We manage the offer process on both sides and stay engaged well beyond the offer acceptance. We also check in throughout the first year.
How a retained mandate works
Engagement
A portion of the fee is payable at the start of the mandate. This funds the diagnostic phase, capability mapping and the research phase of the search. This upfront work determines the quality of everything downstream.
Shortlist
A further portion is payable on presentation of shortlist.
Offer acceptance
The remainder is payable upon acceptance of offer.
Guarantee
Twelve-month replacement guarantee included in every retained mandate.
Fees
Fees are quoted on a per-mandate basis and depend on scope, seniority and complexity. We will always be transparent about the structure before you commit.
Our twelve month guarantee.
Our replacement guarantee runs a full twelve months from the start date.
We back every retained search with a full twelve-month replacement guarantee. If a placement fails within the first year, we will conduct a replacement search at no additional professional fee. Our confidence comes from our unique approach which is designed to deliver lasting leadership outcomes.