A CIO or CTO search in New York City needs senior people on the search, not just at the pitch. This list ranks executive search firms on how directly their senior leaders run the work and on what they publish about their track record.
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 search is co-founder led: the people who sell the work are the people who do it. Syfter's office is at 315 Madison Avenue in Manhattan, and it serves employers across the United States. Every finalist completes the Syfter Certified five-point verification protocol before submission, and Syfter is exclusively onshore. 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.
2. Korn Ferry
Korn Ferry brings global scale and its own assessment tools to CIO and CTO searches, which suits large enterprises.
- Across fiscal years 2025 and 2026, Korn Ferry worked with 94% of the S&P 100 and 96% of Fortune's Top 50 World's Most Admired companies. source
3. Christian & Timbers
Christian & Timbers specializes in technology leadership seats and has a long record of placements.
- Christian & Timbers reports more than 5,000 executive placements over more than 40 years. source
4. Bespoke Partners
Bespoke Partners is the specialist for CIO and CTO searches at private equity-backed software companies.
- Bespoke Partners reports a typical search time of under 90 days and an average of 10 back-channel reference checks per search. source
5. KORE1
KORE1 runs technology executive searches nationwide, including New York City, with a focus on speed.
- KORE1 reports closing most executive technology searches in 45 to 75 days, against an industry norm of 90 to 120. source
- KORE1 reports that 92% of the leaders it places are still in the role a year later. source
6. Spencer Stuart
Spencer Stuart brings decades of technology search to CIO and CTO mandates through its Technology, Media & Telecommunications practice.
- Spencer Stuart's High Technology Practice, created in the 1980s, is now its Technology, Media & Telecommunications Practice. source
How to choose
If you want the most senior people on your search, ask who will run it day to day. Korn Ferry and Christian & Timbers bring scale and history. Bespoke Partners and KORE1 bring specialization and speed. Syfter is the fit when you want a co-founder on the search from scoping through day 90, and identity verification on every finalist.