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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.PE and family offices
Showing 1–12 of 12
Why senior team strength now drives PE exit valuations more than everPE-backed exit conversations have changed materially over the past two years. Where senior team composition was historically discussed late in the process…Read more →
Maximising Value: Strategies for Improving EBITDA Before Business ExitFor any business heading toward a sale or exit, EBITDA is the number that matters most. As the standard measure of operating…Read more →
How investors evaluate executive team strength — during rapid operational scalingHow investors evaluate executive team strength — during rapid operational scaling The Importance of Executive Team Evaluation in Fast-Paced Growth Understanding the…Read more →
How to Identify the Right Family Office Culture FitHow to Identify the Right Family Office Culture Fit Introduction to Family Office Dynamics Understanding Family Offices Family offices are private wealth…Read more →
What Family Offices Look for in Financial Advisors and Investment ProfessionalsIn wealth management, family offices play a pivotal role in preserving and growing the assets of high-net-worth families. As the financial landscape…Read more →
The Role of Family Office Professionals: What Makes a Great CandidateThe Role of Family Office Professionals: What Makes a Great Candidate Understanding Family Offices Definition and Purpose Family offices are private wealth…Read more →
Ranking: Top 20 Family Offices in LondonLondon is one of the two or three most concentrated family office markets in the world, and it is also one of…Read more →
How to Attract Top Talent to Your Family Office: Strategies That WorkHow to Attract Top Talent to Your Family Office: Strategies That Work Understanding the Importance of Top Talent in Family Offices The…Read more →
How to Craft Investor-Ready Financial Presentations: A Step-by-Step Guide for StartupsHow to Craft Investor-Ready Financial Presentations: A Step-by-Step Guide for Startups The Importance of Investor-Ready Financial Presentations Capturing Investor Interest Crafting a…Read more →The Evolving Role of the COO: Navigating the Complexities of Business Leadership in 2025The Evolving Role of the COO: Navigating the Complexities of Business Leadership in 2025 Overview of the COO Role The Chief Operating…Read more →
Venture Capital Careers: The Complete Guide to Essential Skills and QualificationsVenture Capital Careers: The Complete Guide to Essential Skills and Qualifications Introduction to Venture Capital Careers Understanding Venture Capital Venture capital (VC)…Read more →
Strategic Steps for C-Suite in Business Exit Preparation: A Comprehensive GuideStrategic Steps for C-Suite in Business Exit Preparation: A Comprehensive Guide Introduction: The decision to sell a business is a complex and…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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