Syfter: Co-Founder Led CIO and CTO Search
Syfter is a technology executive search and exclusively onshore technology staffing firm, founded in 2017. Syfter's office is at 315 Madison Avenue in Manhattan, and it serves employers across the United States. Its retained search covers CIO, CTO, CISO, CHRO, Chief AI Officer and Chief Product Officer seats, plus the SVP and VP seats under them, and every search is co-founder led. Every finalist completes the Syfter Certified five-point verification protocol, which confirms identity, location and live presence before the client sees the file. Syfter delivers a verified shortlist in four to six weeks from kickoff. Its retained search fee is paid in thirds: a third at engagement, a third at accepted offer, and a third once the executive has been in the seat for 90 days.
Korn Ferry: Scale and Assessment
Korn Ferry pairs executive search with its Success Profiles and Executive Snapshot assessment tools source and, across fiscal years 2025 and 2026, worked with 94% of the S&P 100. source It suits large enterprises that want a global firm and deep assessment data.
Christian & Timbers: Technology Leadership Focus
Christian & Timbers focuses on technology leadership seats including CTO, Chief AI Officer and VP of Engineering source and reports more than 5,000 executive placements over more than 40 years. source
Bespoke Partners: Private Equity-Backed Software
Bespoke Partners focuses on executive search for private equity-backed software and SaaS portfolio companies and reports a typical search time of under 90 days. source It moved its headquarters from San Diego to Austin, Texas, in 2026. source It is a strong fit for CIO and CTO searches inside a PE portfolio.
KORE1: Speed on Technology Searches
KORE1, headquartered in Irvine, California, serves clients in more than 30 US metros source and runs IT staffing in New York City. source It reports closing most executive technology searches in 45 to 75 days, against an industry norm of 90 to 120. source
Final thoughts
For a CIO or CTO hire in New York City, the choice comes down to scale versus focus. Korn Ferry brings global reach and assessment tools. Christian & Timbers, Bespoke Partners and KORE1 bring narrower focus or speed. Syfter brings a co-founder on every search, identity verification on every finalist, and a fee schedule that holds the final third until the executive has been in the seat for 90 days.