Technology · Head of Product
Head of Product and Chief Product Officer search.
Retained VP Product, Head of Product and CPO search for scaling technology businesses and consumer platforms.
What the role is
A short definition.
A Head of Product or CPO leads the product function — strategy, discovery, delivery coordination with engineering, and (increasingly) product-side monetisation and pricing. In scaling technology businesses the CPO is the peer of the CTO and CMO on the executive team, and increasingly the second most consequential appointment after the CEO in product-led businesses.
Core responsibilities
What we assess candidates against.
- Product strategy and roadmap ownership
- Cross-functional coordination with Engineering, Design, Data and Marketing
- Product organisation design — team structure, product management career pathways
- Discovery and research disciplines
- Monetisation and pricing (where in scope)
- Board and executive team representation for the product function
When to run this search
Typical triggers.
On the transition from founder-led product to a professional CPO; on a Series B/C where the product organisation needs to scale beyond a small team; on a shift from single-product to platform strategy; on the departure of an incumbent CPO.
How we search
The specific approach we take.
Retained. Candidate pools include sitting CPOs at comparable-scale businesses, VP Products ready for the CPO step-up, and senior founder-side product leaders from adjacent businesses. Every mandate is led by a partner with genuine product-management fluency and the ability to assess candidates directly on discovery, delivery and strategy.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between VP Product, Head of Product and CPO?
In smaller businesses they are the same role. In larger businesses VP Product typically leads a specific product area, Head of Product leads the whole product function operationally, and CPO is the executive committee representation of product. We calibrate against client usage.
Can you support CPO searches for B2B SaaS specifically?
Yes. B2B SaaS product leadership is a specialism — pipeline coordination with Sales, product-led-growth mechanics, and pricing-and-packaging fluency all require distinct experience.
How do you assess candidates on product craft?
Our consultants assess candidates directly on discovery frameworks, delivery cadence, strategy artefacts and specific product decisions the candidate has taken. We do not rely on client interviews to filter for product craft.
How long does a Head of Product search take?
Twelve to sixteen weeks brief to accepted offer is typical.
How is compensation structured?
Base, cash bonus, and equity or LTIP. CPO-level equity is typically substantial in venture-backed businesses.
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