CEO & Board Executive Search

Few leadership decisions carry more weight than the appointment of a CEO or board director. These are the leaders responsible for setting direction, providing effective challenge and making decisions that shape the long-term performance of the organisation.

Why boards choose Redgrave for CEO and board executive search

CEO and board-level appointments operate differently to other executive searches. The relationship between Chair and CEO, the dynamics of the board, the ownership context and the expectations of major shareholders all shape the brief, often in ways that don’t appear in a job specification. Getting these searches right requires deep experience at board level, in conjunction with a strong candidate database.

Here is what sets Redgrave apart:

1. Board-level experience on every search

Our partners have spent careers working at board level. Understanding how boards function, what makes a strong Chair-CEO relationship and what the expectations of different types of shareholders look like in practice. That experience is applied directly to every CEO and board executive search we run.

2. Partner-led throughout

Every CEO and board appointment is run by a senior partner from brief to placement. There is no handoff after the introduction. The person with the relationships and the judgement leads the search, from the first briefing conversation to the final negotiation.

3. Access to the strongest senior leaders

We have spent years building relationships with Chairs, NEDs and senior executives at or approaching board level. Those relationships help us engage leaders who may not be actively considering their next move, while rigorous research and market mapping ensure our searches extend well beyond the people we already know.

4. Discretion as standard

CEO and board searches often require a level of discretion that goes beyond standard confidentiality. Succession processes, departing executives, and board composition changes are all sensitive. We handle these searches accordingly, not just protecting information, but managing the approach, the timing and communications with care.

CEO And Board Executive Search: Roles We Place

Our CEO and board practice recruits across the full spectrum of board-level leadership:

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Managing Director (MD)
Deputy CEO and CEO-designate
Chair (Executive and Non-Executive)
Non-Executive Director (NED) and Independent Director
Senior Independent Director (SID)

CEO And Board Executive Search Across Every Ownership Structure

The commercial context shapes the entire CFO search – the profile, the assessment criteria, the approach and the timeline. We have experience across every major ownership structure:

PE CEO search is among the most high-stakes executive appointments a sponsor can make. The right CEO accelerates value creation and de-risks the exit. The wrong one delays both. We work with PE sponsors and Operating Partners to appoint CEOs who understand the demands of PE ownership, the value creation imperative, the pace of decision-making and the relationship with the board, and who can perform against them from the first 100 days. We also support PE board construction, placing NEDs with sector expertise where the board needs strengthening.

CEO succession in a listed company is a formal, regulated process with significant stakeholder management implications. Boards need to demonstrate independent governance, manage market sensitivity and conduct the search in a way that protects both confidentiality and reputation. We have experience of running CEO and Chair searches in listed environments and understand the governance, communication and timing requirements that distinguish them from other searches.

CEO and board appointments in private and family-owned businesses carry their own complexity, the transition from founder to professional CEO, the integration of non-executive expertise into a board that may not have operated with formal governance before, and succession planning that involves both family and external candidates. We handle these searches with the understanding and sensitivity they require.

Our Clients

We partner with organisations across the UK, Europe and the United States to appoint senior People & Culture leaders. Our clients range from listed and PE-backed businesses to privately owned companies, each with different priorities for their people agenda. Whether appointing a CHRO to shape culture and performance, strengthen leadership and succession, or support significant organisational change, we focus on finding leaders with the experience and judgement to make an impact in that specific business.

A search process shaped around each appointment

We agree the brief, priorities, search parameters and timetable with you at the outset, adapting the process to the requirements of the appointment.

We research and map the relevant market, approach potential candidates and manage conversations throughout the search.

We present a focused shortlist and support you through interviews, referencing and final selection. Where useful, clients can also draw on our leadership assessment expertise to provide additional insight into a candidate’s capabilities, leadership style and fit with the organisation.

We manage offer and negotiation and remain close as the successful candidate prepares to join. Onboarding support is also available, helping the new leader understand expectations, build key relationships and establish priorities as they move into the role.