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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.Fractional and interim
Showing 37–48 of 66
Reference Checks for Fractional ExecutivesReference Checks for Fractional Executives Understanding Fractional Executives Definition and Concept Fractional executives are seasoned professionals who offer their expertise to organizations…Read more →
Assessing Culture Fit in Part-Time LeadersAssessing Culture Fit in Part-Time Leaders Introduction In today's dynamic business environment, organizations are increasingly relying on part-time leaders to bring specialized…Read more →
Crisis Management via Fractional Exec ExpertiseCrisis Management via Fractional Exec Expertise Understanding the Need for Crisis Management The Increasing Complexity of Modern Business Environments In today's rapidly…Read more →
Operational Pivot? Bring in a Fractional COOOperational Pivot? Bring in a Fractional COO Introduction to Fractional Leadership Definition and Overview of Fractional Leadership Roles Fractional leadership is…Read more →
When & How to Convert Fractional to Full-TimeWhen & How to Convert Fractional to Full-Time Understanding Fractional and Full-Time Roles Defining Fractional Roles Fractional roles refer to positions where…Read more →
Evaluating Fractional Executive ROIEvaluating Fractional Executive ROI Introduction to Fractional Executives Definition and Overview Fractional executives are experienced professionals who offer their expertise to organizations…Read more →
Managing Multiple Fractional Execs: Best PracticesManaging Multiple Fractional Execs: Best Practices Introduction Overview of Fractional Executives In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, organizations are increasingly turning to…Read more →
Enterprises & Nonprofits: When Fractional Makes SenseEnterprises & Nonprofits: When Fractional Makes Sense Introduction to Fractional Leadership Models Definition and Concept Fractional leadership is a model where experienced…Read more →
Scaling Healthcare Startups with Fractional ExecsHealthcare and health-tech startups face a harder scaling problem than most. They need senior leadership across finance, operations and technology earlier than…Read more →Fractional C‑Suite for Family Offices: Flexible LeadershipFamily offices occupy a distinctive position: they require genuinely senior expertise — in investment, finance, operations and governance — but often at…Read more →
How Fractional CMOs Help Professional Services FirmsHow Fractional CMOs Help Professional Services Firms Understanding the Role of a Fractional CMO Defining a Fractional CMO A Fractional Chief Marketing…Read more →
Fractional Chief Revenue Officer: Scaling Sales SmartlyFor a growing business, the point at which sales, marketing and customer success need to work as one revenue engine — but…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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