Executive search for the leaders who define the next chapter.
Retained search for CTOs, Chief AI Officers, VPs of Engineering, and Heads of Research. Conviction-led, off-market, and confidential by default. We map the 80–120 humans on earth who could do the role, narrow to the eight you should meet, and stay engaged through reference, offer, and month three on the role.
The model
Retained, exclusive, accountable.
Retained executive search is what you use when the wrong hire costs eighteen months and the right one defines the next chapter of the company. CTO, Chief AI Officer, VP Engineering, VP Research, CRO — the leaders the market hasn't named yet, in roles too important to leave to inbound or contingent agency rotation.
We run every mandate as a single, exclusive engagement: full market map first, outreach second, written assessments on every finalist, and partnership through offer architecture and onboarding. Confidentiality is the default — most of our executive mandates run quietly, sometimes without the incumbent's knowledge.
Every retained mandate carries a 12-month replacement guarantee. If the placed executive leaves or is terminated for cause within twelve months, we re-run the search at no additional fee.
What's included
End-to-end, on the record.
- Full market map and written rationale before any outreach
- Calibrated 8-person shortlist within six weeks of kickoff
- Board-ready written assessments on every finalist
- Confidential, off-market approach by default
- Compensation design, offer architecture, and 12-month replacement guarantee
- Onboarding partnership through month three on the role
The engagement
From mandate to month three on the role.
- Week 1–2
Mandate & market map
Stakeholder calibration with the board, CEO, and key peers. Written role narrative, success criteria, and a market map of the 80–120 humans on earth who could do the role.
- Week 3–6
Confidential outreach & assessment
Approach calibrated to each candidate's situation. Structured interviews, technical and leadership assessment, and board-ready written notes on every finalist.
- Week 7–12
Reference, offer, onboarding
Multi-source references (named and backchannel), compensation design, offer architecture, counter-offer planning, and partnership through start date and month three on the role.
Mandates we take
When retained search is the right call.
Fortune 500 AI build-outs
First Chief AI Officer, first Head of Applied Research, first VP of AI Engineering — the leadership hires that define an enterprise AI strategy.
Scale-up leadership transitions
Series C–D companies graduating from founder-led functions to scale leadership — first CTO, first CRO, first CPO.
Frontier AI labs & deep tech
Hires that require deep technical credibility, market knowledge, and the network to attract talent that won't talk to anyone else.
Board-mandated successions
Board-led C-suite changes where confidentiality, structured assessment, and a clean process matter more than speed.
FAQ
Executive search, answered.
- What is retained executive search?
- Retained executive search is a confidential, dedicated mandate for a single C-suite, VP, or board-level hire. The firm is paid in installments tied to milestones — kickoff, shortlist, and placement — which buys end-to-end commitment, a full market map, and accountability through onboarding. It is the standard for hires that can't be wrong.
- What roles do you place through executive search?
- CTO, Chief AI Officer (CAIO), Chief Product Officer, VP Engineering, VP Research, Head of AI, Head of Applied Research, VP Product, VP Sales, and CRO. Anywhere the wrong hire costs eighteen months and the right one defines the next chapter of the company.
- How long does an executive search take?
- Most retained mandates produce a calibrated 8-person shortlist within six weeks of kickoff and place a finalist within 10–14 weeks. Speed depends on confidentiality requirements, geographic scope, and the difficulty of the market — frontier AI talent moves on different timelines than enterprise SaaS.
- How is executive search different from professional search?
- Executive search is retained, exclusive, and built around a single mandate with a full market map, written assessments, and a partnership through onboarding. Professional search runs faster, supports senior IC and manager roles, and uses a flexible commercial model. Different problems, different tools.
- How do you handle confidentiality?
- By default. Most of our retained mandates run confidentially — sometimes the role isn't public, sometimes the incumbent isn't aware. We work under NDA, control candidate-side disclosure, and never confirm the client's name without explicit permission.
- Do you guarantee placements?
- Every retained mandate carries a 12-month replacement guarantee. If the placed executive leaves or is terminated for cause within twelve months, we re-run the search at no additional fee.
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