Your next CEO, found by a partner the board can trust.
When the company needs a new CEO or leader, the board owns the decision. A partner runs the search in confidence, shows you the market first, and keeps the committee informed between meetings.
- Discovery first: the market and the role in 2 weeks
- 25% of base salary, paid in stages
- A 6-month replacement guarantee
Trusted by 754+ employers since 1997.
Who's going to run your leadership search?
Search through your network
Directors make calls and ask for names, between board meetings.
- Your experience
- The pool is who the board already knows, and word can get out.
- Fee on a $200,000 role
- Directors' time
- When you pay
- Nothing but time
Hire a traditional search firm
A retained firm runs the search on its terms and timeline.
- Your experience
- A third of the fee before you've seen the market, and updates when the firm schedules them
- Fee on a $200,000 role
- $56,000 to $70,000often on salary plus bonus
- When you pay
- Often a third upfront
A partner leads a confidential search, from Discovery to your leader's first year.
- Your experience
- You see the market before you commit, and the committee follows the search live in HiringOS, with a weekly call with your partner
- Fee on a $200,000 role
- $50,000on base salary only
- When you pay
- $3,900 for Discovery, then as the search moves forward
Not ready to commit? Stop after Discovery and nothing more is owed. See executive search
Retained search fees: 28–35%, often on base salary plus bonus. JRG Partners, 2026
How we run your leadership search
A partner leads your search from the first call to your leader's first year. You see the market before you commit, and the committee follows every step in HiringOS.
Discovery before you commit
In 2 weeks, we map the executive market and calibrate the role with you: its scope, title, expectations and pay positioning. You get a written report and a call to walk through it, and you decide whether to go ahead.
Discovery in 2 weeks
A partner leads, in confidence
There's no public job post, and access on HiringOS is restricted. Candidates learn the company's name only at the stage you agree, and references follow consent.
No public job post
The committee informed between meetings
From the day the search starts, your partner holds a weekly progress call, and the committee can follow the search live in HiringOS: how many leaders we've approached, how many are engaged, and where the shortlist stands.
Weekly call with your partner
A shortlist, not a stream of résumés
We approach the leaders who fit, qualify each one, and present a shortlist of at least two to three together, each with a summary. We arrange every interview and debrief you after each one.
Shortlist typically in 4–8 weeks
Through your leader's first year
We see the offer, resignation and transition through, then check in with the board and your new leader at 30 days, 90 days, 6 months and 1 year. If they resign or are let go for performance within 6 months, we run one replacement search at no extra fee.
6-month replacement guarantee
Planned, or sudden
A planned succession
Start before the announcement. Discovery shows the board the outside market, so the decision isn't made blind.
A sudden exit
Start with a confidential call. Discovery is presented within 2 weeks, so the board knows its options quickly.
The board makes the decision. We make sure it's an informed one.
Meet your partners
One partner stays with your search from start to finish.
Leaders we've placed
CEOs, CFOs, COOs and VPs, placed in confidence
Since 1997.
- Energy
- Industrial
- Engineering
- Environmental
- Consumer
- Software
- President & CEO, Oil and gas producer, Small company
- CFO, Private-equity-backed offshore oil and gas producer, Large company
- VP of Operations, Permian crude oil pipeline joint venture, Large company
- COO, Oilfield services, Mid-size company
- CFO, Family-owned group in logistics, industrial and midstream energy, Mid-size company
- VP of Supply Chain, Public natural gas producer, Large company
- VP & COO, Public oil and gas producer, Mid-size company
- CFO, Consumer products manufacturer, Small company
- VP of Drilling and Completion Fluids, Private-equity-backed oilfield chemicals maker, Mid-size company
- VP & COO, Holding company in restoration, mitigation banking and real estate, Mid-size company
- CFO, Century-old fuel and lubricants distributor, Small company
- VP of Project Management, Energy services, Mid-size company
- CFO, Louisiana oil and gas producer, Small company
- VP of Business Development, Energy services, Mid-size company
- CFO, Oilfield equipment rental, Small company
- VP of Operations, Environmental restoration contractor, Small company
- VP of Operations, Oilfield leak-repair technology, Small company
Sound familiar?
If the board is saying any of these, we can help.
- “Our CEO plans to retire, and we need to start the search.”
- “Our CEO resigned, and the board has to move quickly.”
- “We need a CFO the board can trust.”
- “We can't let word get out that we're looking.”
- “We don't know what the market looks like for this role.”
Choose another option when
A senior role without P&L authority?
Engaged search
Frequently asked questions
Ask us anythingDo you find board members?
No. We search for the CEO and the executive leaders the board hires. We don't run searches for directors.
How do you keep the search confidential?
There's no public job post, and access on HiringOS is restricted. Candidates learn the company's name only at the stage you agree, and references follow consent.
How does the committee stay informed?
Your partner holds a weekly progress call from the day the search starts, and the committee can follow the search live in HiringOS between board meetings.
What is Discovery, and what does the board get?
Two weeks of work before the search starts. We validate the role against the executive market and calibrate it with you: its scope, title, expectations and pay positioning. You get a written report and a call to walk through it. It's $3,900, credited to the fee, and if you stop there, nothing more is owed.
How long does a CEO search take?
Discovery is presented within two weeks. Once you approve the search, we typically present a shortlist in 4 to 8 weeks. Every market is different, so we share our track record rather than promise a date.
What will it cost, and when do we pay?
25% of first-year base salary, paid as the search moves forward. On a $200,000 role: $3,900 for Discovery, $16,667 when the search starts, $16,667 at the first interview and $12,766 when your leader starts.
See executive searchWhat if the new leader doesn't work out?
If your new leader resigns or is let go for performance within 6 months, we run one replacement search at no extra fee. Layoffs and role changes aren't covered, and you'll need to tell us within 5 business days.
Before the board decides, see the market.
Start with a confidential conversation. Discovery shows the board the market and the role in 2 weeks.
Hiring done right.