The cost of a failed CTO or CIO hire lands on the company that made it. This list ranks executive search firms on the protections they publish: how fees are structured, what guarantee they offer, and how they verify candidates.
Ranked for the buyer described above. Each entry explains what earned its placement. If your priorities differ, the criteria are all here to re-rank for yourself.
1. Syfter
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. Syfter only collects its full fee once the client has what it asked for: the executive in the seat, and still there after 90 days. Every candidate completes Syfter Certified before submission, a five-point verification protocol that confirms identity, location and live presence. The search is co-founder led, and Syfter is exclusively onshore.
2. Bespoke Partners
Bespoke Partners publishes a long placement guarantee for private equity-backed software companies.
- In 2023, Bespoke Partners announced a two-year placement guarantee for searches that include its FIT profile assessment. source
3. KORE1
KORE1 publishes a retention figure for the leaders it places.
- KORE1 reports that 92% of the leaders it places are still in the role a year later. source
4. Korn Ferry
Korn Ferry publishes its fee basis in its annual report.
- Korn Ferry's fiscal 2020 annual report states that its fee is typically approximately one-third of the first-year annual cash compensation for the position. source
5. Heidrick & Struggles
Heidrick & Struggles also publishes its fee basis in its annual report.
- Heidrick & Struggles' 2024 annual report states that its retainer is approximately one-third of the estimated first-year compensation, plus indirect expenses calculated as a percentage of the retainer. source
6. Christian & Timbers
Christian & Timbers brings a long record of technology leadership placements.
- Christian & Timbers reports more than 5,000 executive placements over more than 40 years. source
How to choose
Ask each firm three questions: when is each part of the fee due, what happens if the hire does not work out, and how is each candidate verified? Bespoke Partners and KORE1 publish strong retention protections. Korn Ferry and Heidrick & Struggles publish their fee basis. Syfter publishes all three: the fee schedule, the 90-day hold on the final third, and five-point verification on every candidate.