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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
Showing 289–300 of 438
Beyond Technical Expertise: How Emphasizing Soft Skills and Cultural Fit Transforms LeadershipBeyond Technical Expertise: How Emphasizing Soft Skills and Cultural Fit Transforms Leadership Definition of Leadership Leadership is often defined as the ability…Read more →
The First 90 Days of a New COO: Strategies for Building a Strong Leadership FoundationThe first ninety days of a Chief Operating Officer's tenure decide more than most boards expect. Not because the important work happens…Read more →
How to Create a COO Job Description Template That Drives Strategic SuccessHow to Create a COO Job Description Template That Drives Strategic Success Introduction Importance of a Well-Defined COO Role In today's fast-paced…Read more →
COO Recruitment for Private Equity-Backed Firms: Key Qualities Investors DemandCOO Recruitment for Private Equity-Backed Firms: Key Qualities Investors Demand Introduction In the dynamic landscape of private equity-backed firms, the role of…Read more →
Understanding the Role of a Fractional COO: Key Benefits for Growing BusinessesUnderstanding the Role of a Fractional COO: Key Benefits for Growing Businesses Introduction to the Fractional COO Concept Understanding the Fractional COO…Read more →
The Cost of a Bad COO Hire: How Specialist Executive Search Firms Mitigate RisksThe Cost of a Bad COO Hire: How Specialist Executive Search Firms Mitigate Risks Understanding the Role of a COO Defining the…Read more →
Unlocking Growth: Why Hiring a COO Is Essential for Efficient Operational ScalingUnlocking Growth: Why Hiring a COO Is Essential for Efficient Operational Scaling The Importance of Operational Scaling Understanding Operational Scaling Operational scaling…Read more →
Executive Recruitment Trends 2025: Navigating the Evolving COO Talent LandscapeExecutive Recruitment Trends 2025: Navigating the Evolving COO Talent Landscape The Changing Face of Executive Recruitment Evolving Business Needs In recent years…Read more →
Hiring a COO for a Startup vs. an Established Business: Key Differences and ConsiderationsHiring a COO for a Startup vs. an Established Business: Key Differences and Considerations Introduction In the dynamic world of business, the…Read more →
Understanding the Difference Between a CEO and COO: Key Roles in Structuring a Successful C-SuiteThe CEO decides where the business is going. The COO makes sure it can actually get there. That is the distinction in…Read more →
How a Great COO Can Transform Your Business Operations: Lessons from Industry LeadersMost Chief Operating Officers are competent. The business runs, the numbers get reported, the problems get solved. What separates the genuinely great…Read more →
Top Qualities to Look for When Hiring a COO: Executive Recruiters Share Their InsightsTop Qualities to Look for When Hiring a COO: Executive Recruiters Share Their Insights The Role of a COO in Modern Organisations…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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