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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 361–372 of 438
Maximising Growth: Why You Should Hire a Part Time CEO for Your BusinessMaximising Growth: Why You Should Hire a Part Time CEO for Your Business In today's fast-paced and ever-evolving business landscape, companies are…Read more →
A Comprehensive Guide to Board Member Positions: Titles, Roles, and ResponsibilitiesA Comprehensive Guide to Board Member Positions: Titles, Roles, and Responsibilities In the intricate world of corporate governance, the board of directors…Read more →
The Essential Guide to Steering Committees: Functions, Duties, and Best PracticesMost organisations of any size run steering committees, and most of them are disappointing. Meetings are long, decisions get deferred, the same…Read more →
Managing Director vs. CEO: Key Differences in Roles and ResponsibilitiesManaging Director and Chief Executive Officer are the two most commonly confused titles in British business, and the confusion is understandable: in…Read more →
The Executive Committee Explained: Key Functions and DutiesIn the management of any sizeable business, the executive committee stands as a pivotal body — steering strategic direction and operational delivery…Read more →
What is an Advisory Board? Key Functions and Strategic Importance ExplainedWhat is an Advisory Board? Key Functions and Strategic Importance Explained Introduction In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, organizations are constantly seeking…Read more →
CEO vs. Owner: Who Holds the Real Power? An In-Depth ExplanationIn the world of business, the roles of CEO and owner often spark debate about who truly holds the reins of power…Read more →
A Comprehensive Guide to Board Member Positions: Titles, Roles, and ResponsibilitiesA Comprehensive Guide to Board Member Positions: Titles, Roles and ResponsibilitiesIn corporate governance, the board of directors plays a pivotal role in…Read more →
Cost-Effective Financial Leadership: Why a Fractional Finance Director is a Smart ChoiceCost-Effective Financial Leadership: Why a Fractional Finance Director is a Smart Choice In today's fast-paced and ever-evolving business landscape, financial leadership is…Read more →
The Rise of Micro-CXOs: How Specialised Expertise is Shaping Modern Business LeadershipThe Rise of Micro-CXOs: How Specialised Expertise is Shaping Modern Business Leadership Introduction In the rapidly evolving landscape of modern business, the…Read more →
Who Appoints a Chairman of the Board? A Comprehensive Guide to Corporate GovernanceThe board of directors appoints the Chairman. In practice the nomination committee runs the process and recommends a candidate, the board votes…Read more →
Understanding the Role of an Interim Director: Key Responsibilities and ChallengesAn interim director is an experienced senior executive engaged for a defined period — typically three to twelve months — to lead…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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