Technology · CTO
Chief Technology Officer executive search.
Retained CTO and VP Engineering search for scaling technology businesses and enterprise transformations.
What the role is
A short definition.
A Chief Technology Officer leads the technology function end-to-end: architecture, engineering delivery, platform strategy, and, increasingly, AI and data strategy. In scaling tech businesses the CTO is the technical co-founder or the first-hire technical leader who takes the platform from Series A to exit. In enterprises and PE-backed platforms the CTO is the executive who translates business strategy into technology capability, and who is board-facing on technology risk and investment.
Core responsibilities
What we assess candidates against.
- Technology strategy aligned to the business plan, board-approved and periodically reviewed
- Engineering leadership across the platform team, including hiring, retention and organisation design
- Architecture and technical decisions at the level that shape the product and the platform for years
- AI, data and cybersecurity strategy in coordination with the CISO and CDO where those roles exist
- Vendor and partner strategy — hyperscaler relationships, key SaaS platforms, strategic technology partners
- Board and audit committee reporting on technology risk, capacity and investment
When to run this search
Typical triggers.
On the transition from a founder-CTO to a scale-CTO (typically Series B or Series C); on a PE acquisition where the incumbent CTO is not the right profile for the value-creation plan; on a change of CEO or a strategic reset that requires the technology function to be rebuilt; when an existing CTO moves on.
How we search
The specific approach we take.
CTO searches require distinguishing what the client actually needs — a hands-on engineering-heavy CTO, a strategy-heavy platform CTO, or a board-facing CTO with strong operational deputies underneath. We calibrate that at the brief stage. Candidate pools include sitting CTOs at comparable-scale businesses, VP Engineering leaders ready for the CTO seat, and technical co-founders of adjacent businesses who have exited. Every mandate is retained and led personally by a partner with technology-fluency deep enough to assess architectural decisions directly.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a CTO and a VP Engineering?
CTO is typically the board-facing technology executive, accountable for technology strategy and the technology function. VP Engineering is typically an internal engineering-leadership role reporting to the CTO, accountable for engineering delivery. In smaller businesses the two are the same role; in larger businesses they are distinct. We calibrate against client usage.
Do you handle CTO searches for PE-backed businesses?
Yes. PE-backed CTO searches are a distinct specialism — the profile calls for prior in-seat experience through a value-creation cycle, comfort with sponsor governance, and readiness to lead through an exit. We run these under our Sponsor Coverage practice where the mandate comes from the sponsor.
Are you technology-fluent enough to assess candidates?
Yes. Our consultants assess technical stacks, architectural decisions, and engineering leadership signals directly. We do not rely on client interviews to filter for technical capability.
How long does a CTO search take?
Twelve to sixteen weeks brief to accepted offer is typical. Board-facing CTO searches involving Board or Audit Committee interviews run longer.
How is CTO compensation structured?
Base, cash bonus, and in listed environments LTIP or restricted stock. In PE-backed businesses the LTIP is typically replaced with a management equity stake tied to exit. Compensation has risen sharply in the last three years, particularly for AI-fluent CTOs in regulated financial services.
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