Executive Search Specialists

Exec Capital is a specialist executive search firm placing C-suite executives and senior leaders with UK businesses across every sector. We conduct retained executive search — direct approach to specific named individuals — rather than advertising and filtering. This methodology accesses a fundamentally different candidate pool: the experienced CEOs, COOs, CFOs, CMOs and CTOs who are performing well in their current roles and not looking, but who are open to the right conversation from a credible firm with a relevant opportunity. These are the candidates who move markets. They are not on job boards.

Professional bodies including the Recruitment & Employment Confederation and the Institute of Directors encourage a formal, well-documented process for senior appointments, where the cost of a poor hire is high. Exec Capital’s process is built to meet that standard on every assignment.

What Executive Search Actually Means

“Adrian worked with us as our Fractional CFO for six months and we are genuinely grateful for the contribution he made. His financial expertise and calm, professional approach gave us confidence in our numbers and supported better decision-making across the business. I would recommend Adrian and Exec Capital without hesitation.”- Josh Haugh, CEO, MAS Technicae Group (International) Ltd, West Sussex

Executive search — sometimes called headhunting or direct search — is a specific recruitment methodology, not just a premium label applied to senior hiring. The defining characteristic is proactive direct approach: the recruiter identifies specific target candidates through research and professional network, and approaches them directly rather than waiting for responses to advertising.

This distinction matters commercially. An advertised search for a CEO or CFO reaches only those who are actively looking — a self-selected group that typically excludes the strongest candidates, who are employed, performing well, and not browsing job boards. A direct search reaches the full universe of qualified candidates regardless of whether they are actively looking. We are CEO Recruitment specialists.

Executive search is also typically conducted on a retained basis — the client pays a portion of the fee at instruction to fund the dedicated research effort. This structure ensures the search firm is working exclusively for you, not in a race with other firms to place the first available candidate. Most of our C-suite searches are run on a retained basis, and every search is dedicated and confidential.

Exec Capital’s Executive Search Services

Exec Capital’s executive search practice covers the full range of senior leadership appointments across all functions, engagement types and geographies. Our primary service pages are below.

How Exec Capital’s Executive Search Process Works

Every retained search follows a five-stage process that begins before any candidate is contacted:

Stage 1 — Brief development. We invest time at the start understanding your business, its commercial stage, culture, board structure and the specific challenge this executive will need to solve in their first twelve months. The candidate profile emerges from this conversation, not from a job description template.

Stage 2 — Market mapping. We identify the universe of individuals who could perform this role — across a defined set of businesses, sectors and career backgrounds. This mapping establishes who exists before anyone is approached.

Stage 3 — Direct approach. Shortlisted target candidates are approached directly and discreetly. Our approach explains why this specific opportunity is relevant to their career — not a generic pitch. We represent your business professionally in every interaction.

Stage 4 — Assessment and shortlist. Interested candidates are assessed in depth. You receive a shortlist of three to five candidates with a detailed assessment brief for each — functional competence, sector experience, leadership track record, compensation expectations and cultural fit.

Stage 5 — Interview and appointment. We manage the interview process, provide candidate and client feedback, handle offer negotiation and support onboarding. The process ends at appointment — not at offer acceptance.

Retained Executive Search vs Contingency Recruitment

The distinction between retained search and contingency recruitment matters significantly at C-suite level. Contingency recruitment means the firm only earns a fee if a placement is made — which creates an incentive to send speculative CVs quickly rather than conduct a thorough search. Multiple contingency agencies working the same brief creates a race to the bottom, with agencies competing to present the same available candidates fastest.

Retained search means Exec Capital is engaged exclusively, works on your brief with dedicated resource, and has a financial and reputational stake in the quality of the outcome rather than the speed of the first submission. The Association of Executive Search and Leadership Consultants (AESC), the global professional body for executive search, sets out the standards retained search firms work to. For a fuller comparison of the two models, see our guide to retained vs contingent executive search.

Exec Capital conducts both contingency recruitment and retained search for C-suite or Director-level roles.

“Exec Capital has supported SBS Insurance Services over the past three years through the provision of a Fractional FD/CFO. Their expertise has made a significant difference in professionalising our finance function and delivering accurate, timely management information — exactly what our business needed to grow with confidence.” – Tracey Rees, COO, SBS Insurance Services Ltd

Executive Search by Function and Sector

Exec Capital conducts executive search across all C-suite functions and all major UK business sectors. Our dedicated practice pages cover each function and sector in detail:

By function: CEO · COO · CFO · CMO · CTO · CIO · CAIO · CHRO · CCO · CPO · Chairman

By sector: Financial Services · Technology & Digital · Private Equity · Family Office · Fintech · Construction · FMCG & Retail · Public Sector · Leisure & Hospitality

Related Services

Executive Headhunters ·
C-Suite Recruitment ·
Fractional C-Suite ·
Interim Executive Recruitment ·
International Executive Recruitment ·
Current Opportunities ·
Institute of Directors ·
Recruitment & Employment Confederation ·
Association of Executive Search Consultants ·
Financial Reporting Council