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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 49–60 of 66
Fractional CSO: Strategic Growth Without Full-Time CostFractional CSO: Strategic Growth Without Full-Time Cost Understanding the Role of a Fractional CSO Defining a Fractional CSO A Fractional Chief Strategy…Read more →
The Value a Fractional COO Brings to Operational EfficiencyThe Value a Fractional COO Brings to Operational Efficiency Introduction to Fractional COOs Definition and role of a Fractional COO A Fractional…Read more →
Why Your Startup Needs a Fractional CMO FirstWhy Your Startup Needs a Fractional CMO First The Role of a Fractional CMO Understanding the Concept of a Fractional CMO A…Read more →
The Rise of Fractional C‑Suite Trends & InsightsThe traditional model of executive leadership — full-time, permanent C-suite roles — is no longer the only option, or even the default…Read more →The Psychology of Hiring a Fractional Executive: Ownership & FitThe Psychology of Hiring a Fractional Executive: Ownership & Fit Understanding Fractional Executives Defining Fractional Executives Fractional executives are seasoned professionals who…Read more →When Multiple Part-Time C‑Suite Roles Make SenseWhen Multiple Part-Time C‑Suite Roles Make Sense Understanding the Shift in Executive Roles The Evolving Business Landscape The business environment has undergone…Read more →
Fractional Executive Definition: Understanding the RoleFractional Executive Definition: Understanding the Role Introduction to Fractional Executives Definition and Overview Fractional executives are experienced professionals who offer their expertise…Read more →How Fractional Executives Fit into Private Equity & PE-Backed FirmsHow Fractional Executives Fit into Private Equity & PE-Backed Firms Introduction to Fractional Executives in Private Equity Understanding Fractional Executives Fractional executives…Read more →
Fractional vs Interim vs Full-Time C‑Suite: Choosing the Right ModelWhen a business needs senior leadership, it faces a choice that did not really exist a decade ago: not just who to…Read more →
What Is a Fractional C‑Suite Executive & Why Hire One?What Is a Fractional C‑Suite Executive & Why Hire One? Introduction to Fractional C-Suite Executives Definition and Concept Fractional C-Suite Executives are…Read more →
The Rise of Interim Executives: Transforming Leadership Strategies for London BusinessesThe Rise of Interim Executives: Transforming Leadership Strategies for London Businesses Understanding the Interim Executive Phenomenon The Emergence of Interim Executives The…Read more →
Fractional vs Full-Time Commercial Director: Which Is Right for You?A fractional Commercial Director gives a business senior revenue leadership for one or two days a week, on a retained basis, at…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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