Executive Search for C-Suite
& Board-Level Appointments
Exec Capital is a UK executive search firm specialising in CEO, CFO, COO and board-level appointments for organisations at critical stages of growth, investment or transition.
We work with founders, boards and investors who need experienced senior leaders — not volume recruitment — and who value discretion, judgement and long-term impact.
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Senior-only executive search
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C-suite and board appointments
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UK & international mandates
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Founder-led, discreet delivery
We are not a high-volume recruiter. We work on a limited number of senior mandates at any one time.
Call us Now
0203 834 9616
“Adrian worked with us as our Fractional CFO for six months and we are genuinely grateful for the contribution he made. His financial expertise and calm, professional approach gave us confidence in our numbers and supported better decision-making across the business. I would recommend Adrian and Exec Capital without hesitation.” — Josh Haugh, MAS Technicae Group (International) Ltd, West Sussex”
Our Executive Search Specialisms
Exec Capital supports private equity-backed, growth and international businesses with
executive search and flexible leadership solutions, including
fractional executives.
Explore our core specialisms below.
Executive Search
Confidential C-suite hiring for growth, turnaround and transformation.
Fractional Executives
Flexible senior leadership: rapid impact without full-time headcount.
CEO Recruitment
CEOs who drive strategy, culture and performance through change.
CFO Recruitment
Finance leaders for fundraising, value creation and scalable reporting.
COO Recruitment
Operational leadership for delivery, systems and execution excellence.
Private Equity Leadership
Partnering with PE-backed teams on value creation and exit readiness.
Senior Executive Recruitment for UK FCA-Regulated Firms
Exec Capital places senior executive and board leadership into UK FCA-regulated firms — covering the SMF1, SMF3, SMF4, SMF5, SMF9, SMF14 and SMF24 designated functions under the Senior Managers and Certification Regime. Every senior regulated firm appointment is led personally by Adrian Lawrence FCA, an ICAEW Verified Fellow.
About us
EXEC CAPITAL is a boutique recruitment agency that specialises in connecting start-ups and businesses with senior management professionals. We take a tailored approach to our recruiting with a 1-on-1 experience where we help clients identify their management needs before starting the recruitment process.
We’ll help identify and hire the perfect candidate to scale your business to the next level. Whatever your recruitment needs are, Exec Capital is here to help. The world of work is evolving faster than ever before. Your senior management professionals play a crucial role in future-proofing your business and navigating the changes to come.
What makes EXEC CAPITAL different is that we’re a team of management professionals with experience working with businesses across virtually every industry. We’re the industry’s leading recruitment specialists for management professionals across London and the Southeast.
Our goal
Our goal is to create a streamlined recruitment process that helps you find the right candidate the first time around. Unlike other recruitment agencies, we don’t just send you a list of candidates. We take an active role in every step of the process, drawing up a shortlist of the most suitable candidates in our portfolio.
EXEC Capital works with companies across the UK and beyond to hire remote and in-house senior management professionals. Whatever your needs, we’ll offer you a tailored recruitment process that is streamlined from start to finish.
Exec Capital is one of the UK’s leading C-suite and agencies, hiring for a full portfolio of roles across multiple industries. Our talent pool of available to work on a part-time, full-time, and interim basis with candidate shortlisting for immediate starts. We understand first-hand the crucial nature of building the right leadership team, from your CFO to CMO and Sales Director. Exec Capital tailors each step of the recruitment process to identify the candidate who will suit your company’s culture and unlock its potential. Our goal is to build leadership teams and partnerships that transform businesses and accelerate growth across all sectors. are your personalised executive recruiters with access to industry-leading talent Explore your options by calling us on 020 3287 2365 for a no-obligation consultation.
If you are recruiting your next Chief Executive or Chief Operating Officer make sure to reach out to our team today.
“Exec Capital has supported SBS Insurance Services over the past three years through the provision of a Fractional FD/CFO. Their expertise has made a significant difference in professionalising our finance function and delivering accurate, timely management information—exactly what our business needed to grow with confidence.” Tracey Rees COO SBS Insurance Services Ltd
How EXEC CAPITAL Works
EXEC CAPITAL is a recruitment agency that takes a hands-on approach to every step of the recruitment process. We specialise in recruiting senior management positions, including HR Directors and Managing Directors. You’ll get access to our portfolio of talented management professionals who have experience across multiple industries.
Our recruitment process starts by identifying the needs of your businesses to enable us to draw up a short list of the candidates most suitable for your company. We want to help you find the right candidate who will fit in with your company culture and help the business realize its potential. If you are a candidate looking for your next C-Suite role, make sure to check our popular C-Suite Jobs board regularly.
After identifying your needs, we’ll start searching for the most suitable candidate. Every business is different, which is why we take a 1-on-1 approach to every recruitment process. We have a proven track record of connecting businesses with part-time, full-time, and interim senior management professionals.
We work with companies of all sizes, from start-ups to small businesses looking to scale to the next level. Many of our senior management professionals are experts in their fields, ranging from marketing to technology and financial services. We strive to help you find the candidate who will hit the ground running and become an instant part of your leadership team.
Our team are leaders when it comes to CEO Recruitment.
Directors
We offer the full range of Directors
Tell us about your hire
Executive Recruitment / Executive Search
Start your search for the perfect candidate for the role by getting in touch with our team today. Fill in the information below about the role you’re looking for and one of our team will be in touch.
Our team of senior management professionals are experts in their field, including Managing Directors, Sales Directors, and Operation Directors. Many of them have experience helping companies transition to e-commerce and have worked with major companies and PLCs. Our portfolio of senior management professionals are available to work on a part-time, full-time, and interim basis.
Start your journey with EXEC Capital today to help your business reach its potential. Whether you’re implementing a fundraising strategy or want to scale your revenue, we’ll help you build a team of talented leadership professionals.
Our portfolio of candidates comes with invaluable skills and contacts that can positively affect every aspect of your business.
Building your business for the future means choosing the right leadership team that has the skills and experience to scale your company. A senior management professional is an invaluable asset to the company CEO, acting as an advisor on everything from day-to-day operations and long-term strategies.
We’ll help you find the perfect candidate to take your business to the next level. Whatever your recruitment needs are, we’re here to streamline the hiring process by giving you access to some of the best management professionals in the UK. Keep up to date with industry news by reading our popular C-Suite blog.
Hire an MD or CEO today.
CEO Recruitment
Navigating CEO recruitment poses a challenge for even the most established companies. It calls for the involvement of more stakeholders than other executive recruitment, including other C-suite leaders and board members. CEO candidates come from a more diverse range of backgrounds than ever before, offering fresh perspectives for companies at every stage of their development. Determining the qualities your company needs and clearly defining the role can streamline the CEO recruitment process.
CMO Recruitment
CMOs are at the forefront of transitioning companies to the digital space. They’re the corporate executive responsible for overseeing the company’s marketing strategy and implementation. Fractional CMOs interact with every aspect of the business, making it crucial to find a candidate who will fit into the company culture. The CMO will oversee product marketing, brand management, customer engagement, market research, and communications throughout the company.
Financial Services Recruitment for FCA-Regulated Firms
The Senior Managers and Certification Regime places personal accountability on every designated senior leader at an FCA-regulated firm. Before any SMF appointment can take effect, the individual must receive FCA pre-approval — a process that includes a fitness-and-propriety assessment, a regulatory reference check, and a Statement of Responsibilities that defines the senior manager’s precise accountability. Getting the appointment right the first time matters more at regulated firms than almost anywhere else in UK business: a failed FCA approval creates a governance gap the firm cannot easily manage around.
Exec Capital has specific experience placing the full range of SMF-designated senior executives and board members at UK FCA-authorised businesses — from banks and asset managers to insurers, wealth managers, consumer credit firms and payment institutions. Every regulated firm mandate is led personally by Adrian Lawrence FCA, an ICAEW Verified Fellow whose finance and governance background gives Exec Capital an understanding of regulated firm senior appointments that generalist executive search firms cannot replicate.
CEO — FCA-Regulated Firms
SMF1 Chief Executive appointments at banks, asset managers, insurers and payment firms. Form A individual approval, Statement of Responsibilities, and direct FCA engagement experience.
COO — FCA-Regulated Firms
SMF24 Chief Operations appointments covering operational resilience, third-party risk oversight, and the DORA compliance leadership that regulators increasingly scrutinise.
Chief Risk Officer
SMF4 CRO placements at banks, insurers and investment managers. Second-line independence from the business, FCA individual approval, and direct regulator relationship experience.
Executive Director
SMF3 Executive Director appointments to the boards of FCA-regulated firms, including the common stacking patterns with SMF24 and SMF4 that smaller regulated firms use.
Chair — FCA-Regulated Firms
SMF9 Chair appointments at regulated firms — where the personal accountability attached to the role goes significantly beyond the non-SMF chair at an unregulated business.
Senior Independent Director
SMF14 SID appointments across banking, insurance and investment management. The four core responsibilities under SMCR, and the specific scenarios in which the FCA expects the SID to act.
Head of Internal Audit
SMF5 third-line appointments at FCA-regulated firms. Qualification standards across ICAEW, ACCA, CIA and CMIIA, and the audit committee chair relationship that defines the role’s effectiveness.
Financial Services NEDs
Non-executive director appointments across financial services — spanning the SMF committee chair designations (risk, audit, remuneration, nominations) and broader independent oversight roles.
All FCA Recruitment Services
Our complete regulated firm practice, covering every SMF designation, the committee chair functions, the SMCR firm classification framework, and the regulatory approval timeline.
Note on SMF2 (Chief Finance): Senior CFO and Head of Finance appointments at FCA-authorised firms — including the SMF2 designation at dual-regulated firms — are placed by our sister practice FD Capital, the UK’s leading specialist in senior finance leadership. All other SMF roles are placed directly by Exec Capital.
Executive Search
Our executive search service is industry-leading with curated recruitment connecting companies throughout the UK with candidates for executive and C-suite level roles. We start the recruitment process by identifying specifically what your company needs, including your skills gap, company culture, and how to attract the right talent.
You’ll get access to top candidates by outsourcing your recruitment to our executive search team. Outsourcing recruitment allows your company to focus on its operations while being involved throughout the process. Our executive search brings more diversity to your potential candidate pool to improve representation across your organisation’s leadership and C-suite roles.
We strive to create a 1-on-1 experience throughout the recruitment process with a team that prioritises objectivity. Our team will offer feedback on the job description and candidate profiles to help you determine a competitive package with industry-specific recruitment knowledge.
Headhunting
At Exec Capital, we offer a full 360-degree approach to recruitment with both executive search and headhunting services. Both recruiting methods are available for companies at different stages of their development and growth cycle.
If you need support with your CFO / Chief Financial Officer, then reach out to our team, we work closely with our sister company FD Capital London’s leading senior finance recruiter.
Our headhunting process is tailored to suit your company’s recruitment time frame and management needs. You’ll get access to both passive candidates and high-quality candidates who aren’t exposed to traditional recruitment methods. Our executive headhunter services guarantee your company will fill your position with a suitable candidate.
Part-Time, Interim, and Fractional Executives
At Exec Capital, we specialise in part-time, interim, and fractional recruitment for executive and C-suite roles. Recruiting a part-time executive can fill your company’s skills gaps, either on a project-by-project basis or as a long-term hire. This flexibility is ideal for companies still in the development stage who are building their executive team.
Working with a specialist recruitment agency like Exec Capital will help you identify the skills gap in your organisation and maximise the potential of your executive and C-suite appointments. Recruiting on a part-time basis is more cost-effective as it removes additional costs, such as equipment and training. Part-time executives often work with multiple companies at once and can deliver on a tight schedule.
Recruiting a C-suite leader or executive on a part-time basis is a win-win for SMEs and start-ups. It’s a more financially viable option and provides the opportunity for scalability of the role as the company develops.
Companies can choose to recruit a fractional CMO on either a retainer or project-by-project basis, giving executive and C-suite roles scalability and flexibility without a long-term commitment.
Private Equity Recruitment
Exec Capital – Private Equity recruitment that builds leadership, drives growth and delivers strategic advantage.
Family Office Recruitment for UK Single and Multi-Family Offices
The UK is home to one of the world’s largest family office communities, spanning long-established multi-generational private offices, modern single family offices set up after liquidity events, and the leading multi-family office firms serving the senior wealth management market. Senior recruitment for a family office differs materially from corporate executive search — the role profile blends investment expertise, governance, fiduciary judgement and the discretion required to operate inside a principal-led environment.
Every family office mandate is led personally by Adrian Lawrence FCA, an ICAEW Fellow whose finance and governance background gives Exec Capital an understanding of family office senior appointments that generalist executive search firms cannot replicate.
CIO — Family Office
Senior Chief Investment Officer appointments. Multi-asset portfolio leadership, direct investment programme oversight and principal engagement.
CEO — Family Office
Family office Chief Executive appointments combining investment leadership, governance, family relationship management and operational running of the office.
COO — Family Office
Chief Operating Officer appointments managing investment operations, reporting, custodian relationships, technology and supporting professional services.
Head of Family Office
Senior generalist leader running the family office day to day — common at smaller single family offices where one principal-trusted executive covers strategy, investment and governance.
Investment Director
Senior investment leadership beneath CIO level — portfolio managers and direct investment leads across public markets, private markets and real assets.
Family Office Compliance
Compliance and regulatory leadership at FCA-authorised family offices, including SMF designation, and cross-jurisdictional compliance in multi-family settings.
Single Family Office
Recruitment for single family offices — discretion protocols, principal engagement, governance structures and senior appointment dynamics specific to single-family settings.
Multi-Family Office
Senior appointments at multi-family office firms serving high net worth and ultra-high net worth client bases — client-facing relationship leadership and investment platform roles.
All Family Office Recruitment
Our complete family office practice — executive search across investment, operational, governance and advisory roles for UK and international clients.
Note on family office CFO appointments: Senior CFO and Head of Finance roles within family offices are placed by our sister practice FD Capital, the UK’s leading specialist in senior finance leadership. All other family office senior roles are placed directly by Exec Capital.
Private Equity Recruitment for Sponsors and Portfolio Companies
UK private equity is one of the most active deal markets in Europe, with mid-market and large-cap sponsors deploying capital across consumer, technology, healthcare, business services and industrial sectors. Senior recruitment in PE-backed businesses runs at a pace and intensity that few other corporate environments require — portfolio company executives need to deliver value creation plans within compressed hold periods.
Every PE mandate is led personally by Adrian Lawrence FCA, an ICAEW Fellow whose finance and governance background gives Exec Capital an understanding of PE-backed senior appointments that generalist executive search firms cannot replicate.
Portfolio Company CEO
CEO appointments at PE-backed portfolio companies. Value creation plan delivery, sponsor board engagement, exit preparation and operational rigour PE ownership demands.
Portfolio Company COO
Chief Operating Officer appointments at PE-backed businesses. Operational improvement, footprint optimisation, working capital improvement and the operational levers PE relies on.
CIO — PE Sponsor
Chief Investment Officer appointments at PE firms — senior investment leadership at sponsor level, deal team management and portfolio construction across the fund.
Operating Partner
Operating Partner appointments at PE sponsors — senior commercial leaders working across the portfolio on value creation, M&A integration and senior management strengthening.
Portfolio Company Chair
Chair appointments at PE-backed boards. The deal-experienced Chair role that PE sponsors increasingly recognise as critical to portfolio performance and exit outcomes.
PE Non-Executive Director
Non-executive director appointments for PE-backed boards — deal-fluent NEDs who challenge management and support delivery of the value creation plan.
Portfolio Company CCO
Chief Commercial Officer appointments at PE-backed businesses. Pricing strategy, customer segmentation, salesforce productivity and commercial transformation that drives enterprise value.
Portfolio Transformation
Senior transformation leadership for PE-backed businesses executing significant change programmes — carve-out, integration, operational restructuring and digital transformation.
All Private Equity Recruitment
Our complete private equity practice — executive search across PE sponsors, portfolio companies and the senior leadership institutional capital expects.
Note on PE portfolio CFO appointments: Senior CFO and Head of Finance roles within PE-backed portfolio companies are placed by our sister practice FD Capital, the UK’s leading specialist in senior finance leadership. All other PE senior roles are placed directly by Exec Capital.
Technology Recruitment for C-Suite and Senior Tech Leadership
UK senior technology recruitment has changed materially over the last decade. Technology leadership is no longer a back-office function — the CTO, CIO, CDO, CISO and Chief Data Officer are board-engaging executives whose decisions shape enterprise value, regulatory exposure and competitive position.
Every technology mandate is led personally by Adrian Lawrence FCA, an ICAEW Fellow whose governance and commercial background ensures Exec Capital can engage credibly with both the candidate community and the boards that hire them.
CTO — Chief Technology Officer
Chief Technology Officer appointments at PE-backed, listed and growth-stage UK businesses. Technology strategy, engineering organisation leadership and product technology direction.
CIO — Chief Information Officer
CIO appointments responsible for enterprise IT, business systems, digital workplace and the technology operating model supporting business operations.
CDO — Chief Digital Officer
Chief Digital Officer appointments leading digital transformation, customer experience platforms, digital commerce and the technology-enabled commercial agenda.
CISO — Information Security
Chief Information Security Officer appointments, including SMF designation at FCA-regulated firms. Cyber strategy, regulatory engagement and board-level information security leadership.
Chief Data Officer
Chief Data Officer appointments owning the firm’s data strategy, data governance, analytics function and the responsible AI and machine learning programme.
Chief Product Officer
Senior product leadership appointments — Chief Product Officer and VP Product roles at technology-enabled businesses, SaaS firms and platform companies.
VP & Head of Engineering
Senior engineering leadership appointments at scale-up, PE-backed and listed technology businesses. Engineering team scaling and technical organisation design.
Chief Transformation Officer
CTO Transformation (not Technology) appointments leading enterprise transformation programmes — post-M&A integration, operational restructuring and digital strategy execution.
All Technology Recruitment
Our complete technology practice — executive search across the full senior technology leadership market at C-suite, director and senior individual contributor level.
Note on the CTO acronym: The CTO acronym is shared between two distinct C-suite roles — Chief Technology Officer (technology and engineering leadership) and Chief Transformation Officer (enterprise change leadership). Exec Capital recruits across both, with the appropriate skill profile and search approach for each.
The Exec Capital Team
Exec Capital has its finger on the rapidly changing pulse of the executive industry. We strive to offer recruitment solutions for companies at every stage of their development, from SMEs needing HR Directors to start-ups recruiting for a part-time Chief Marketing Officer.
The Exec Capital team includes entrepreneurs, business leaders, and senior executives who understand both sides of the recruitment process. We take a curated approach, looking from the point of view of both candidates and companies looking to fill leadership positions.
Who We Recruit For
Exec Capital specialises in recruiting C-suite and executive roles for SMEs and start-ups throughout the UK and beyond. Our team have experience recruiting across every industry sector with headhunting and executive search services to suit companies of all sizes.
Join The Exec Capital Talent Pool
Our talent pool of C-suite executives are industry leaders with financial, marketing, and business insights and are available to work on a part-time, full-time, interim, and remote basis. You can join the Exec Capital talent pool today by submitting your CV to our team through our contact form.
Our Founder
Adrian Lawrence FCA founded Exec Capital after more than 25 years operating at C-suite level as a Chartered Accountant and finance leader. His experience spans private equity-backed businesses, founder-led companies, and listed environments — giving Exec Capital a practitioner’s perspective on what boards and shareholders genuinely require from senior executive appointments.
He holds an ICAEW practising certificate in his own name.
Our Commitment to Professional Standards
Exec Capital adheres to recognised executive search standards and best practices. We support the principles outlined in the UK government’s executive search code of conduct, which promotes transparency, fairness, diversity, and professionalism in senior executive appointments.
Testimonials
We’ve worked with hundreds of companies across dozens of industries, from fintech to construction and SaaS. Hear directly from some of our clients below to see about their experience recruiting through EXEC Capital.
Sally Leighton
“The team at Exec Capital found an excellent MD for my business, and she has added value from day one”
Ian Simmonds
I can really recommend Exec Capital to our business. They Identified our business needs and found the ideal candidate from their pool of executives”
Nancy Bradley
“The team at Exec Capital found me the perfect CEO which has transformed our business into the success story it is today”
Blogs
How long does FCA SMF approval actually take? A realistic timeline for regulated firm boards
How the FCA Form A approval process works: a practical guide for regulated firm boards
When does a firm need a CFO? When does a firm need a Finance Director?
What’s the realistic timeline for a senior executive search?
The fractional-versus-permanent decision is harder than it looks
What boards keep getting wrong about NED diversity
How SMCR is changing the senior appointment timetable for FCA-regulated firms
The compensation trend that’s quietly reshaping UK senior hiring in 2026
Why senior team strength now drives PE exit valuations more than ever
Maximizing Value: Strategies for Improving EBITDA Before Business Exit
Explore Exceptional Executive Opportunities
Welcome to the EXEC Capital Job Board—your gateway to high-impact Executive Director roles across a wide range of sectors. We partner with ambitious organisations seeking strategic guidance, governance expertise, and independent thinking at board level.
Your next boardroom opportunity starts here.
Managing Director
Managing Director
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