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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.Latest articles
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Case Studies: Successful Company Secretary PlacementsCase Studies: Successful Company Secretary Placements Introduction to Corporate Governance and the Role of Company Secretaries Understanding Corporate Governance Corporate governance refers…Read more →
Leveraging Technology in Company Secretarial FunctionsLeveraging Technology in Company Secretarial Functions Introduction In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, the role of technology in enhancing company secretarial functions…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 →
Navigating Regulatory Changes: The Company Secretary’s RoleNavigating Regulatory Changes: The Company Secretary's Role The Evolving Landscape of Corporate Governance Historical Context of Corporate Governance Corporate governance has undergone…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 →
Key Skills and Qualifications for Modern Company SecretariesKey Skills and Qualifications for Modern Company Secretaries Introduction to Corporate Governance and the Role of Company Secretaries Understanding Corporate Governance…Read more →
The Evolving Role of Company Secretaries in Corporate GovernanceThe Evolving Role of Company Secretaries in Corporate Governance Introduction In the rapidly evolving landscape of corporate governance, the role of company…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 →
Strategies for Recruiting UK Non-Executive Directors in Global EnterprisesStrategies for Recruiting UK Non-Executive Directors in Global Enterprises Introduction In today's interconnected business landscape, the role of non-executive directors (NEDs) has…Read more →
Exploring the Benefits of Interim CEO Recruitment for UK Subsidiaries in Times of TransitionExploring the Benefits of Interim CEO Recruitment for UK Subsidiaries in Times of Transition Introduction In today's fast-paced and ever-evolving business landscape…Read more →
Part-time UK-based COO for European operationsPart-time UK-based COO for European operations The Role of a Part-time COO Understanding the COO Position The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is…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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