How to find a CEO for your company.
Five channels, ranked by speed, cost and fit. Written for founders, boards and controlling shareholders who need a decision, not a longlist.
Direct answer
To find a CEO, work five channels in order of speed and cost. Board and investor network first (days). Retained executive search for permanent hires (months). Specialist interim providers for urgent gaps (weeks). Direct LinkedIn for early-stage only. And one senior operator engaged directly, when you need authority in the seat within two weeks.
Five ways
Five ways to find a CEO. Fastest last.
- 01
Your board and investor network
Fastest and cheapest. Chair, non-executive directors, PE operating partners and existing investors know operators who ran comparable companies. One warm intro beats ten cold search calls. Works best when the board is active and industry-adjacent.
- 02
Retained executive search
Spencer Stuart, Egon Zehnder, Korn Ferry for large cap; Heidrick, Russell Reynolds, boutique firms for mid-market. Fee: 25-35 percent of first-year comp. Timeline: three to six months. Best when you need a permanent CEO for a stable, well-funded company and can wait.
- 03
Specialist interim providers
Firms that place a CEO ad interim within days for a defined mandate. Faster than retained search, no permanent-hire risk. Provider takes a margin on the day rate. Best for turnaround, post-acquisition, sudden departure.
- 04
Direct LinkedIn outreach
Free, slow, high-noise. Works for early-stage startups where equity is the pull. Rarely works for mid-market: senior operators do not respond to cold inbound.
- 05
One senior operator, direct
Engage a known interim or fractional CEO directly, without an agency in the middle. No search fee. Written mandate and price in 48 hours. On the ground in two weeks. This is what this site offers.
Compared
Head hunter vs one operator, direct.
| Dimension | Head hunter | One operator, direct |
|---|---|---|
| Fee model | 25-35% of first-year total comp, retainer plus success | Day rate or monthly retainer. No search fee. |
| Timeline to start | 3-6 months to signed contract | 2 weeks from intro call |
| Who does the work | Associates screen, partner sells and closes | The operator you hire is the person in the seat |
| Guarantee | Replacement search if the hire fails inside 6-12 months | Termination for cause with 30 days notice, no fee tail |
| Best for | Permanent CEO for stable, well-funded companies | Urgent, transitional or bridge situations |
FAQ
Finding a CEO. Common questions.
How do I find a CEO for my company?
Five channels work: your board and investor network, executive search firms, specialist interim providers, direct outreach on LinkedIn, and a senior operator you already know. For SMB and mid-market, the fastest path is engaging one credible operator directly, without a retained search process. Define the mandate in one page before you contact anyone.
How long does it take to find a CEO?
Retained executive search runs three to six months from kick-off to signed contract. A direct engagement with an interim or fractional CEO starts in two weeks. If the seat is empty and cash is tight, the second path is the only realistic one.
Who handles the search for a CEO?
The Chair of the Board or the controlling shareholder owns the decision. HR does not hire the CEO. In PE-backed companies the operating partner drives the process; in family businesses the founder drives it, often with one trusted advisor. A search firm is a channel, not the decision maker.
How much does CEO search cost?
Executive search firms charge a fee of 25 to 35 percent of first-year total compensation, typically split into a retainer and success fee. Direct engagement with an interim CEO carries no search fee; you pay a day rate or monthly retainer against a defined mandate. Same seat, different pricing model.
Quanto tempo serve per trovare un amministratore delegato?
Con una società di executive search tradizionale, tre-sei mesi. Con un operatore diretto come CEO ad interim, due settimane dalla prima call. Se la sedia è vuota e la cassa scende, la seconda strada è l'unica praticabile.
Related: what a head hunter actually costs and alternatives to executive search firms. For the interim path see CEO ad interim Milano. Back to Hire Interim CEO.
Next step
One operator. No search fee.
Instead of a three-month search process and a fee tied to first-year comp, book a 30-minute call with one senior operator with C-level track record. Written mandate in 48 hours.