Syfter: Co-Founder Led Search for Technology Leaders
Syfter is a technology executive search and exclusively onshore technology staffing firm in the United States, founded in 2017. Its retained search covers CTO, CIO, CISO, CHRO, Chief AI Officer and Chief Product Officer seats, plus the SVP and VP seats under them. Every search is co-founder led: the people who sell the work are the people who do it. Every finalist completes the Syfter Certified five-point verification protocol, which confirms identity, location and live presence before the client sees the file. Syfter's 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.
Spencer Stuart: A Long Track Record
Spencer Stuart, founded in 1956, runs a Technology, Media & Telecommunications practice source and reports more than 1,000 executive search and leadership consulting assignments for professional and IT services clients in the past three years. source It is a fit for large organizations that want a global firm with a long technology record.
Heidrick & Struggles: Global Reach
Heidrick & Struggles, founded in 1953, lists AI and technology officers as an executive search focus area source and has worked with more than 70% of Fortune 1000 companies. source Its scale suits enterprises hiring technology leaders across several regions at once.
Korn Ferry: Assessment Tools at Scale
Korn Ferry, founded in 1969, pairs executive search with its Success Profiles and Executive Snapshot assessment tools and reports on-the-ground recruitment experience in 130 countries. source Its fiscal 2020 annual report states that its fee is typically approximately one-third of the first-year annual cash compensation for the position. source
Christian & Timbers: Technology Specialists
Christian & Timbers focuses on technology leadership seats such as CTO, Chief AI Officer and VP of Engineering, source and reports more than 5,000 executive placements over more than 40 years. source
Final thoughts
The right firm depends on the seat and the company. Global firms such as Spencer Stuart, Heidrick & Struggles and Korn Ferry bring scale and assessment data. Christian & Timbers brings a long technology focus. 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.