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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 301–312 of 438
Interim vs. Permanent COO: Evaluating the Best Fit for Your Business StrategyInterim vs. Permanent COO: Evaluating the Best Fit for Your Business Strategy Introduction Overview of the Chief Operating Officer (COO) role The…Read more →
Strategic Leadership: 7 Signs Your Business Is Ready for a COOStrategic Leadership: 7 Signs Your Business Is Ready for a COO Understanding the Role of a COO The Definition and Scope of…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 →Onboarding Financial Controllers: Navigating the First 30 Days with ConfidenceOnboarding Financial Controllers: Navigating the First 30 Days with Confidence The Importance of Effective Onboarding for Financial Controllers Understanding the Role of…Read more →
How CFOs Can Use Improv Comedy Techniques to Handle Boardroom CurveballsHow CFOs Can Use Improv Comedy Techniques to Handle Boardroom Curveballs The Unpredictable Nature of the Boardroom The Dynamic Environment of Board…Read more →
Can a CFO Be a Rockstar? Finance Leadership Lessons from the Music IndustryCan a CFO Be a Rockstar? Finance Leadership Lessons from the Music Industry The Evolving Role of the CFO Historical Context The…Read more →
Would You Trust an AI CFO? The Rise of Algorithmic Financial LeadershipWould You Trust an AI CFO? The Rise of Algorithmic Financial Leadership The Rise of AI in Financial Leadership Historical Context of…Read more →
Business Resilience: How to Prepare for the Next Black Swan EventBusiness Resilience: How to Prepare for the Next Black Swan Event Introduction to Business Resilience and Black Swan Scenarios Understanding Business Resilience…Read more →
The Rise of Financial Leadership: Why More CFOs Are Becoming CEOsFor most of the last century, the finance chief was rarely the obvious heir to the chief executive’s office. The CFO kept…Read more →
The Science of Salary Negotiation for Finance ProfessionalsThe Science of Salary Negotiation for Finance Professionals Introduction to Salary Negotiation in Finance Importance of negotiation skills Negotiation skills are a…Read more →
The Dark Side of Growth: Financial Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them During ExpansionThe Dark Side of Growth: Financial Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them During Expansion Understanding the Dual Nature of Growth The Allure…Read more →
Unusual CFO Career Paths: From Art Studios to Boardrooms – Finance Leaders Who Defied NormsUnusual CFO Career Paths: From Art Studios to Boardrooms – Finance Leaders Who Defied Norms The Evolving Role of the CFO Historical…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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