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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
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.
Start here
Executive salary guide →What C-suite and director roles pay across the UK. What is a fractional executive? →How part-time C-suite leadership works and what it costs. CEO succession planning →A practical guide for UK boards. SMF roles guide →Every Senior Manager Function, and who needs approval.Boards and NEDs
Showing 25–36 of 40
From Boardroom to Beach: The Digital Nomad Life for NEDsFrom Boardroom to Beach: The Digital Nomad Life for NEDs The Rise of the Digital Nomad NED The Evolution of Work and…Read more →
The Evolving Role of Company Secretaries in Corporate GovernanceThe Evolving Role of Company Secretaries in Corporate Governance Introduction In the rapidly evolving landscape of corporate governance, the role of company…Read more →
Strategies for Recruiting UK Non-Executive Directors in Global EnterprisesStrategies for Recruiting UK Non-Executive Directors in Global Enterprises Introduction In today's interconnected business landscape, the role of non-executive directors (NEDs) has…Read more →
How CFOs Can Use Improv Comedy Techniques to Handle Boardroom CurveballsHow CFOs Can Use Improv Comedy Techniques to Handle Boardroom Curveballs The Unpredictable Nature of the Boardroom The Dynamic Environment of Board…Read more →
Unusual CFO Career Paths: From Art Studios to Boardrooms – Finance Leaders Who Defied NormsUnusual CFO Career Paths: From Art Studios to Boardrooms – Finance Leaders Who Defied Norms The Evolving Role of the CFO Historical…Read more →
A Comprehensive Guide to Board Member Positions: Titles, Roles, and ResponsibilitiesA Comprehensive Guide to Board Member Positions: Titles, Roles, and Responsibilities In the intricate world of corporate governance, the board of directors…Read more →
The Essential Guide to Steering Committees: Functions, Duties, and Best PracticesMost organisations of any size run steering committees, and most of them are disappointing. Meetings are long, decisions get deferred, the same…Read more →
The Executive Committee Explained: Key Functions and DutiesIn the management of any sizeable business, the executive committee stands as a pivotal body — steering strategic direction and operational delivery…Read more →
What is an Advisory Board? Key Functions and Strategic Importance ExplainedWhat is an Advisory Board? Key Functions and Strategic Importance Explained Introduction In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, organizations are constantly seeking…Read more →
A Comprehensive Guide to Board Member Positions: Titles, Roles, and ResponsibilitiesA Comprehensive Guide to Board Member Positions: Titles, Roles and ResponsibilitiesIn corporate governance, the board of directors plays a pivotal role in…Read more →
Who Appoints a Chairman of the Board? A Comprehensive Guide to Corporate GovernanceThe board of directors appoints the Chairman. In practice the nomination committee runs the process and recommends a candidate, the board votes…Read more →
The Role of the Chairperson: Key Duties and Responsibilities in Corporate GovernanceThe Role of the Chairperson: Key Duties and Responsibilities in Corporate Governance Introduction In the intricate world of corporate governance, the role…Read more →Knowledge Centre
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Structured guides that bring the best material together by topic. See the full Exec Capital Knowledge Centre and our Insights.
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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