Elegant illuminated pedestal in a dark cathedral space with a constellation of executive profiles above
All services
Executive SearchFrom 300 credits

Leaders who move the business forward.

Discreet, senior-led search for C-suite, VP and Board appointments — combining traditional executive-search craft with AI market mapping.

Overview

The rigour of executive search, without the six-month clock.

Executive hires are irreversible in a way volume hiring is not. Our search combines the discipline of retained partners with the coverage of AI-native sourcing — so you meet the right leader in weeks, not quarters.

Every engagement is led by a senior partner with 15+ years of leadership search experience, supported by a market-mapping team that uses AI to systematically identify every credible candidate in your defined universe. You get the reach of a Big Four search and the pace of a modern operator, with full confidentiality throughout.

Key benefits

Outcomes clients can measure.

Dedicated senior partner

One accountable lead from brief to signed offer — never handed to an associate.

Absolute confidentiality

NDA-first, blind outreach and controlled candidate disclosure — right for stealth or replacement searches.

Full market mapping

Every credible candidate in your defined universe identified, ranked and prioritised.

Cultural + commercial fit

Deep reference work and structured cultural interviews — not just capability signals.

Offer & onboarding support

Compensation negotiation, notice-period navigation and 100-day integration coaching.

12-month guarantee

If the executive departs in year one, we re-run the search at cost.

What's included

Purpose-built capabilities.

Feature

Systematic market map

AI identifies every VP+ candidate in your industry and adjacent sectors — ranked on scope, tenure and trajectory — as a shared, refreshable artefact.

Feature

Confidential outreach

Approaches made under our brand, with client identity revealed only after mutual interest is established.

Feature

Structured leadership assessment

Custom-designed rubric covering strategy, execution, team-building and cultural signals — evidenced with references and case-based interviews.

Feature

Board-ready reporting

Weekly progress reports formatted for CEO, CHRO and Board audiences — with candidate universe, funnel status and decision-ready shortlist.

Why it matters

Hiring is a business function — treat it like one.

A wrong executive hire costs 4–7× base salary and eighteen months of lost momentum. Our engagement is structured to make that outcome vanishingly unlikely — through systematic coverage, deep reference work and disciplined stakeholder alignment before any offer is extended.

9–14w
Average search length
96%
Placement rate
92%
Retained at 24 months
3–5
Board-ready finalists
Our process

A repeatable, senior-led workflow.

  1. 1

    Search brief

    Deep alignment with CEO, Chair and key stakeholders on mandate and success criteria.

  2. 2

    Market map

    AI-assisted identification of every credible candidate in the universe.

  3. 3

    Approach

    Confidential outreach by senior partners under NDA.

  4. 4

    Assessment

    Structured interviews, case work and 360° references.

  5. 5

    Shortlist

    3–5 finalists presented with full dossiers.

  6. 6

    Close & onboard

    Offer, negotiation and 100-day integration support.

Old way vs. new way

The difference is measurable.

Traditional
DFN24
Coverage
Partner's rolodex
AI-mapped, verified universe
Timeline
5–9 months
9–14 weeks
Confidentiality
Best-efforts
NDA-first, controlled disclosure
Assessment
Conversation-heavy
Rubric + case + 360° references
Fees
33% of first-year comp
Fixed retainer, credit-priced
Industries we serve

Trusted across sectors.

Whether you're scaling a Series B team or filling critical roles at an established enterprise, this service adapts to the pace and standards of your industry.

Financial servicesEnterprise SaaSFintechHealthcare & life sciencesPrivate equity portfoliosFamily officesGovernment & regulated sectors
"They found our CFO in eight weeks — a candidate we'd never have reached through our network. The confidentiality was watertight and the reference work was the deepest I've seen in twenty years of hiring executives."
Jonathan Reeve
Chair, Public-market fintech
Case in point

Chief Product Officer placed in 9 weeks, stealth.

Universe mapped
612 executives
Approached
44
Finalists
4
Retained at 24m
Yes — promoted
Read full case studies
FAQ

Questions about this service.

Not seeing what you need? Talk to a recruiter.

Is this a retained engagement?

Yes. Executive Search is structured as a milestone-based engagement funded through credits — same transparent pricing, no percentage-of-salary fees.

Can you handle Board and Non-Executive searches?

Yes. Board, Chair, Non-Executive Director and Advisory Board searches are among our most frequent engagements.

What about diversity mandates?

Every market map is built with explicit diversity coverage targets. We report on funnel diversity weekly and structure outreach to widen — never narrow — the qualified pool.

How do you handle competitor references?

Only after written candidate consent and typically at final-stage. Discretion is built into every step of the process.

What if we need to pause the search?

Search can be paused for up to 90 days at no cost. Credits stay in your account and roll into the next engagement.

Explore more

Other services in the suite.

All services
Consultation

Ready to move faster?

A 30-minute call with a senior recruiter to scope your hiring goals — no obligation, no sales pressure.

No long-term contract Senior recruiter, always Response within 24h
FAQ

Common questions.

Answers to the questions we hear most from talent and hiring leaders.

How fast can you deliver a shortlist?

Most roles receive an initial shortlist within five to seven business days.

Do you replace our internal recruiters?

No — we augment your team. Many clients pair us with an in-house recruiter for maximum leverage.

Which roles do you cover?

Engineering, product, data, design, GTM and executive leadership across most industries.

How does pricing work?

One currency: credits. One credit is €0.10. Buy from 50 credits and spend on any service à la carte from your account. No plans, no subscriptions.

How do I pay?

Bank transfer is available today — details are emailed after checkout. Card, PayPal and Stripe are coming soon.

Is the AI interview candidate-friendly?

Yes. Candidates report a modern, low-friction experience with fast, transparent feedback.