USExecutive Search
We challenged executive leaders and clients to think about their hiring approach, what success looks like for them and what they wanted from a search partner. Xpertise Search are the market specialist in technology, data, analytics and transformation, our deep market penetration and extensive network provides access to world-class talent across the entire landscape.
Technology, Data & Transformation Executive Search
Our focus is domain-deep and industry-agnostic, securing exceptional leaders who align seamlessly with our clients culture and strategic goals, driving innovation, transformation and value.
Our expertise is based upon a profound understanding of the technology and data landscape and emerging trends, enabling us to identify and engage executives who are highly impactful and possess the leadership, vision and expertise to achieve your growth ambitions.
The Problem we are looking to solve
Imagine partnering with a search partner who had met in person more than 3500 leaders in the last decade alone.
Breaking the mould from traditional executive search firms, our search partners personally meet and engage with our extensive network across our verticals. We don’t rely on junior researchers with limited candidate understanding and access, instead our deep, firsthand, insider knowledge allows us to de-risk hires, more accurately align culture fit, ensuring top-quality appointments and providing a competitive advantage for our clients in securing the best talent available.
When you engage with Xpertise Search you are working with an embedded partner, a single point of contact who is responsible for engaging and managing the process every step of the way.
No matter where you are in your digital maturity, whether transforming and scaling digital capabilities, creating competitive advantage through embedded use of AI, or redefining data & technology strategies to align with business goals, we deliver the right executives, with the right expertise.
The hires we typically make:
Our clients need critical leaders that have the expertise and experience to navigate the evolving digital challenges faced by today’s executives. We focus on the following roles within the C-Suite:
- Chief Technology Officer (CTO): Ensuring a competitive edge by spearheading technology strategy, digital transformation and innovation
- Chief Information Officer (CIO): Driving digital initiatives across IT infrastructure, architectures, and cybersecurity to enable operational excellence.
- Chief Transformation Officer (CTrO): Driving enterprise-wide innovation, digital transformation, and strategy implementation to deliver business value & growth.
- Chief Operating Officer (COO): Optimisation of business operations, ensuring seamless execution of strategic objectives in the digital world.
- Chief Data Officer (CDO): Transforming enterprise-wide data strategies, governance, and analytics to drive value-added decision-making.
- Chief Analytics Officer (CAO): Leading on advanced analytics initiatives, AI-driven insights, and data-driven strategies to unlock business value.
- Chief AI Officer (CAIO): Enhancing business performance by pioneering artificial intelligence strategy, implementation, and ethical AI governance.
- Chief Information Security Officer (CISO): Establishing and managing enterprise-wide security strategies to protect data, assets, and infrastructure from cyber threats.
- Chief Product Officer: Leading product strategy, innovation, and market differentiation to drive customer value and business growth.
Key Features
Innovative Fee Model
Our unique costing model aligns with the success and longevity of placements, sharing risk while delivering tangible value beyond the hire.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I)
We embed DE&I principles throughout our process, which has resulted in 26% of leadership hires being women.
Dedicated Partner
Our seasoned partner is embedded in and personally handles every step of the search, tapping their vast experience and networks to land you top talent with pinpoint accuracy.
Data & Technology Leadership Network
90 years of combined know-how, tapping into our pre-vetted, nationwide leadership networks - built through exclusive events, to connect you with over 3,500 top-tier data and technology leaders.
Leadership Development & Coaching
We provide continuous leadership development, succession planning, and strategic coaching to prepare for future challenges.
Strategic Insights
Our executive talent mapping and package benchmarking delivers competitive intelligence, supporting strategic hiring decisions.
DE&I in Executive Search
Diverse and inclusive leadership is an essential element of our search process, we understand the value it brings, strengthening business, fostering creativity and enhancing decision making, driving innovation and long-term success.
We leverage AI-driven technology and our extensive candidate network to ensure a broader and more inclusive scope, identifying and engaging with underrepresented talent. This enables us to create diverse shortlists for our clients, not only meeting the cultural and technical requirements but delivering a transparent, equitable hiring process.
Last year, 26% of our leadership hires were women, a testament to our commitment to DE&I and to improving gender diversity in senior roles. Embedding DE&I into every stage of the search, we help our clients build teams that reflect the world we live and work in.
Key Stats:
97% Success Rate
Our 97% success rate in securing leaders for our clients is a testament to our deeply embedded partnerships
100% Impact Effect
100% of leadership-level candidates placed in the last 7 years are still in post 12 months later
Frequently Asked Questions About Executive Search
How much does executive search cost?
Xpertise Search fees are structured at 30% of the appointed candidate's base salary, split across three stages: at mandate commencement, on the candidate's start date, and on successful completion of their probationary period. The final third is genuinely at-risk - it is only payable when the hire has demonstrably settled and is delivering.
How do executive search fees work?
Our 10/10/10 fee structure means the investment is spread across the search lifecycle. The first payment confirms commitment and activates the search. The second is payable when the candidate starts. The third - the success fee - is only due once probation is completed, aligning our commercial interest directly with the outcome you care about.
How quickly can you deliver an executive shortlist?
We deliver a fully assessed shortlist of qualified candidates within 12–18 days of mandate commencement. This is possible because our search is network-led - we are engaging with leaders we have met personally, not starting from a cold database search.
What roles does Xpertise Search place?
We focus exclusively on technology, data, and transformation leadership at C-suite level: CIO, CTO, CDO, CAIO, CISO, COO, CTrO, CAO, and CPO. We do not place below this level through our Executive Search proposition - that is handled through our Next-Gen Leaders service.
What makes Xpertise Search different from other executive search firms?
Three things. First, every search is led personally by Barry Collyer - there are no handoffs to junior researchers. Second, our network of 3,500+ technology and data leaders has been built through a decade of direct engagement, exclusive roundtables, and industry events - not scraped from LinkedIn. Third, our fee structure puts a third of our revenue genuinely at risk until your hire delivers, which is not standard practice in the market.
What is your success rate in executive search?
100% of the leaders we have placed at C-suite level in the last seven years are still in post at 12 months. Our overall search completion rate is 97%. Both figures are a direct result of the quality of the candidate assessment process and the depth of our market knowledge.