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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.Hiring and succession
Showing 25–36 of 63
Hiring a Commercial Director for a Private Equity-Backed Business: What to KnowHiring a Commercial Director for a Private Equity-Backed Business: What to Know Introduction In the dynamic landscape of private equity-backed companies, the…Read more →
When Is the Right Time to Hire a Commercial Director?When Is the Right Time to Hire a Commercial Director? Introduction In the dynamic landscape of business growth, knowing when to expand…Read more →
The Difference Between an HR Director and a CHRO: Who Should You Hire?CHRO stands for Chief Human Resources Officer. In most organisations that use the title, it denotes a C-suite executive who sits on…Read more →
The Strategic Role of HR Director Recruitment in Driving Business ExpansionThe Strategic Role of HR Director Recruitment in Driving Business Expansion Introduction In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, the role of Human…Read more →
What to Look for When Hiring an HR DirectorWhat to Look for When Hiring an HR Director Introduction In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, the role of an HR Director…Read more →
Future Trends in Company Secretary RecruitmentFuture Trends in Company Secretary Recruitment The Evolving Role of Company Secretaries Historical Context The role of company secretaries has traditionally been…Read more →
The Importance of Cultural Fit in Company Secretary RecruitmentThe Importance of Cultural Fit in Company Secretary Recruitment Introduction In today's dynamic business environment, the role of a company secretary has…Read more →
Top Interview Questions for Company Secretary CandidatesA Company Secretary interview is not a test of administrative competence. It is a test of judgement under governance pressure — whether…Read more →
Navigating Executive Recruitment for Foreign-Owned Companies in the UK: Challenges and StrategiesNavigating Executive Recruitment for Foreign-Owned Companies in the UK: Challenges and Strategies Introduction In an increasingly globalized economy, foreign-owned companies are playing…Read more →Recruitment Support for International Companies Entering the UK: Navigating the Talent LandscapeRecruitment Support for International Companies Entering the UK: Navigating the Talent Landscape Understanding the UK Talent Landscape Overview of the UK Job…Read more →
How to Attract Top Global Talent: Insights into International Executive Recruitment in the UKHow to Attract Top Global Talent: Insights into International Executive Recruitment in the UK Introduction to International Executive Recruitment in the UK…Read more →How Private Equity Shapes Executive Recruitment Trends: A Deep Dive into Industry ShiftsHow Private Equity Shapes Executive Recruitment Trends: A Deep Dive into Industry Shifts Introduction to Private Equity and Executive Recruitment Understanding Private…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.
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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