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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 1–12 of 40
Board Evaluation: When and HowBoard evaluation has a poor reputation, and largely a deserved one. A questionnaire circulated in December, results presented in January, a paragraph…Read more →
Company Secretary vs Governance ManagerGovernance job titles have proliferated over the past decade. Company Secretary, Governance Manager, Head of Governance, Governance and Compliance Officer, Assistant Company…Read more →What boards keep getting wrong about NED diversityUK board diversity has improved substantially over the past decade — the FTSE 350 looks materially different from how it looked in…Read more →
Board Leadership Best Practices for Scaling Private Equity FirmsBoard Leadership Best Practices for Scaling Private Equity Firms med decisions that drive growth and value creation. Governance and Risk Management Effective…Read more →
What Every NED Should Know About UK Corporate Governance ReformUK corporate governance is in the middle of its most consequential shift in a decade — and the change lands squarely on…Read more →
The Warning Signs That a Board Has Become Over-CompliantThe Warning Signs That a Board Has Become Over-Compliant Understanding Board Compliance and Innovation The Role of Board Compliance Board compliance refers…Read more →
How Non-Exec Directors Help Prevent Group RelianceHow Non-Exec Directors Help Prevent Group Reliance Introduction to Non-Executive Directors and Group Reliance Understanding Non-Executive Directors Non-Executive Directors (NEDs) are members…Read more →Preparing Boards for Ethical Use of Deepfake ToolsPreparing Boards for Ethical Use of Deepfake Tools Introduction to Deepfake Technology Overview of Deepfake Tools and Their Capabilities Deepfake technology refers…Read more →
Mid-Career Professionals Turning to NED Paths: A Transition PlaybookMid-Career Professionals Turning to NED Paths: A Transition Playbook Understanding the Transition from Corporate Roles to NED Positions The Evolving Role of…Read more →
Tips for Candidates Working with NED Recruitment AgenciesTips for Candidates Working with NED Recruitment Agencies Introduction to NED Recruitment Understanding NED Roles Non-Executive Directors (NEDs) play a crucial role…Read more →
Non-Executive Director Recruitment: How Agencies Find the Perfect FitNon-Executive Director Recruitment: How Agencies Find the Perfect Fit Understanding the Role of Non-Executive Directors Definition and Purpose Non-Executive Directors (NEDs) are…Read more →
What Companies Should Know Before Engaging a NED HeadhunterWhat Companies Should Know Before Engaging a NED Headhunter Understanding the Role of a NED Headhunter Defining a NED Headhunter A Non-Executive…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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