Sector · Marketing & Communications
Marketing and communications executive search.
Retained CMO, VP Brand, Head of Growth and Chief Communications Officer search across consumer, B2B, technology and professional services.
Industry insight
Understanding the landscape.
The CMO role has bifurcated
The market for CMOs has split into two distinct profiles: growth-and-performance CMOs (data-driven, martech-fluent, revenue-accountable) and brand-and-reputation CMOs (positioning, brand equity, senior stakeholder-facing). The strongest boards understand which they need before starting the search.
B2B marketing leadership is now board-facing
B2B CMO roles that were once operational marketing leadership are now genuinely board-facing, particularly in enterprise software and professional services. The commercial and strategic acumen required has risen sharply.
Chief Communications Officer as a distinct role
The CCO / Chief Communications Officer role — internal, external, crisis, ESG communications — has emerged in the last five years as a board-adjacent seat. In regulated industries and businesses with material reputational exposure, it is now non-negotiable.
AI in marketing leadership briefs
Every senior marketing brief we now run includes AI fluency as an explicit criterion. Candidates who cannot articulate a coherent view on AI-in-marketing beyond marketing-copy generators are being screened out.
Roles we recruit
Senior appointments across the sector.
We recruit across seniority levels, from senior specialists to board-level appointments.
- Chief Marketing Officer
- Chief Communications Officer
- Chief Brand Officer
- VP / Head of Growth
- VP / Head of Brand
- VP / Head of Product Marketing
- Head of Digital / Performance Marketing
- Head of Content
- Head of Corporate Affairs
Why work with us
Retained, senior-partner-led, sector-fluent.
- CMO profile calibration: We distinguish growth-and-performance CMOs from brand-and-reputation CMOs and match against the specific brief.
- B2B and consumer fluency: Our practice covers both, and we understand the distinct candidate pools for each.
- Communications specialism: Chief Communications Officer search is a distinct capability, particularly for regulated industries and businesses with material reputational exposure.
- Retained and senior-partner-led: Every mandate is led personally by a named partner from brief to onboarding.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Do you handle CMO search for both consumer and B2B businesses?
Yes. The candidate pools for consumer CMO and B2B CMO are distinct, and we calibrate briefs and market maps accordingly. Occasional cross-over exists — particularly in premium and lifestyle B2B — but the primary profile requirements are different.
Do you recruit Chief Communications Officers as a separate practice?
CCO search sits within our Marketing & Communications practice but is handled with additional specialism, particularly for regulated industries, listed companies and businesses with active investor or media exposure.
How do you assess candidates on AI fluency?
Every senior marketing search now includes explicit AI-in-marketing screening. We probe candidates on how they use AI, what they think about the risks, and what they have actually shipped — not just marketing-copy generators, but data pipelines, personalisation, and creative workflows.
How long does a CMO search take?
Twelve to sixteen weeks brief to accepted offer is typical. Board-facing CMO or CCO searches involving Chair or CEO interviews can run longer.
How is CMO compensation typically structured?
Base, cash bonus, and (in listed environments or growth-stage private companies) LTIP or management equity. Growth-and-performance CMOs increasingly negotiate on equity component; brand-and-reputation CMOs on base and long-term cash.
Discuss a mandate