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Insights for boards and senior leaders

The Executive Blog

Practical articles on hiring and leading at the top of a business: C-suite and board appointments, executive pay, fractional and interim leadership, and Senior Manager roles in FCA-regulated firms.

All articlesFCA and SMF rolesBoards and NEDsCEOs and MDsCFOs and finance leadersTechnology leadersFractional and interimHiring and successionPE and family offices

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Guidance for boards and the people they appoint

Founders, chairs, investors and executives ask us the same questions again and again. When does a growing business need its first CFO or a full-time CEO? What should a COO earn? Is a fractional executive enough, or is it time for a permanent appointment? We publish our answers here, in plain English and grounded in the searches we run every week.

Articles are written by founder Adrian Lawrence FCA, a Fellow of the ICAEW, and our search team. They cover leadership hiring and succession, executive compensation and equity, board and non-executive appointments, private equity and family offices, technology leadership and Senior Manager Function appointments in regulated firms, and we update them when the rules or the market change.

For boards and investors, we cover how to scope a senior role, what to pay, how to assess candidates and take references, and when interim or fractional leadership makes more sense than a permanent hire. For executives, we cover interviews, offers and equity, notice and restrictive covenants, and the move from an executive career to a board portfolio. We also follow the regulatory changes that shape senior hiring, from the Senior Managers and Certification Regime to the UK Corporate Governance Code.

New to the topic? Start with one of our core guides, or use the search and topic filters above to find what you need.

Technology leaders

Showing 13–24 of 24

Technology leaders15 Aug 2025 · 17 min readFrom CIO to CDO: How Digital Leadership Roles Are EvolvingFrom CIO to CDO: How Digital Leadership Roles Are Evolving The Changing Landscape of Digital Leadership The Rise of Digital Transformation Digital…Read more →Technology leaders15 Aug 2025 · 7 min readThe Strategic Powerhouse: What a Digital Transformation Director Really DoesA Digital Transformation Director is accountable for changing how a business works, using technology as the instrument rather than the objective. That…Read more →Technology leaders26 Jul 2025 · 7 min readHow AI is Shaping the Fractional C‑SuiteTwo of the most significant shifts in business leadership are happening at once — the rise of the fractional C-suite, and the…Read more →Technology leaders26 Jul 2025 · 16 min readFractional CIO Implementing ERP in Record TimeFractional CIO Implementing ERP in Record Time Understanding the Role of a Fractional CIO Defining a Fractional CIO A Fractional Chief Information…Read more →Technology leaders6 Jul 2025 · 15 min readTech Upgrades with a Fractional CIOTech Upgrades with a Fractional CIO Understanding the Role of a Fractional CIO Defining a Fractional CIO A Fractional Chief Information Officer…Read more →Technology leaders6 Jul 2025 · 15 min readFractional CTOs Driving Digital TransformationsFractional CTOs Driving Digital Transformations Introduction to Fractional CTOs Definition and role of a Fractional CTO A Fractional Chief Technology Officer (CTO)…Read more →Technology leaders30 Jun 2025 · 17 min readFractional Executives in SaaS: Growth With ControlFractional Executives in SaaS: Growth With Control Understanding Fractional Executives in SaaS Defining Fractional Executives Fractional executives are experienced professionals who offer…Read more →Technology leaders27 Jun 2025 · 15 min readFractional CTOs in Fintech Startups: Quick WinsFractional CTOs in Fintech Startups: Quick Wins Introduction to Fractional CTOs in Fintech Startups Understanding the Role of a Fractional CTO A…Read more →Technology leaders27 Jun 2025 · 16 min readFractional Chief Data Officer: Data Strategy on TapFractional Chief Data Officer: Data Strategy on Tap The Rise of the Fractional Executive Understanding the Fractional Executive Model The concept of…Read more →Technology leaders27 Jun 2025 · 16 min readFractional CIO Explained: What It Is & When It’s NeededFractional CIO Explained: What It Is & When It’s Needed Introduction to the Fractional CIO Concept Understanding the Fractional CIO Role A…Read more →Technology leaders18 Apr 2025 · 15 min readLeveraging Technology in Company Secretarial FunctionsLeveraging Technology in Company Secretarial Functions Introduction In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, the role of technology in enhancing company secretarial functions…Read more →Technology leaders11 Aug 2024 · 16 min readTop 25 CTO Interview Questions to Identify Visionary LeadersTop 25 CTO Interview Questions to Identify Visionary Leaders Introduction In today's rapidly evolving technological landscape, the role of the Chief Technology…Read more →

Knowledge Centre

Go deeper with our guides

Structured guides that bring the best material together by topic. See the full Exec Capital Knowledge Centre and our Insights.

Executive paySalary, bonus and equity for CEOs, CFOs, COOs and directors.CEO salaries →Executive compensation →Open the guide →
Fractional and interimWhen part-time or interim leadership works, and how to set it up.Fractional, interim or permanent? →Interim executives →Open the hub →
FCA-regulated firmsSenior Manager Functions, approvals and board hiring under SMCR.SMF salary guide →The Form A process →Open the guide →
Hiring at the topScoping, assessing, referencing and onboarding senior hires.Executive assessment →Reference checking →Open the guide →

About the Exec Capital blog

Exec Capital is a specialist executive search firm and one of the five specialist firms of FD Capital Group. We appoint CEOs, CFOs, COOs, CTOs, Managing Directors, commercial and HR leaders, non-executive directors and Senior Manager Function holders on a permanent, interim and fractional basis across the UK, from our offices in London and the West Midlands.

Hiring for your leadership team? See our executive search services and the C-suite roles we recruit. Looking for a role? Register as a candidate or browse live executive jobs.

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