Our fee model reflects the way we work: a deliberately small portfolio, partner-led throughout, and paid for the judgement rather than the volume. This page sets out how we charge, and what is — and is not — included.
The principles
- Fixed, not contingent. Retained search only. We do not work on contingency. A contingent model creates pressure to place rather than to advise, and a business built on the few decisions that matter most cannot afford that pressure.
- Priced for the mandate, not the salary. Our fees are set against the complexity, confidentiality and time required — not as a percentage of compensation. Two searches with the same base salary can require very different work.
- Diagnostic first. Every engagement opens with the Appointment Diagnostic. Where a search follows, the diagnostic fee is credited in full against the search fee.
- Transparent from the outset. The full fee, the payment schedule, the expenses policy, the guarantee and the exclusions are set out in the engagement letter before we start.
What is included
- The Appointment Diagnostic and written scorecard.
- All research, mapping, sourcing and confidential approaches.
- Structured, referenced assessment of every longlisted candidate.
- Shortlist presentation with a written point of view on each candidate against the scorecard.
- Reference-taking to depth, including off-list references where appropriate.
- Offer construction, negotiation support and onboarding through the first 365 days.
- Board and committee briefings as required throughout.
Payment schedule
Fees are paid in three tranches, tied to work delivered rather than milestones the client cannot verify:
- On engagement (diagnostic and search initiation).
- On presentation of the shortlist.
- On the executive’s start date.
The guarantee
If the appointed executive leaves, or is asked to leave, within the first twelve months for any reason other than a change in role or strategy initiated by the client, we conduct a replacement search at no additional professional fee. Expenses only.
Advisory and capital-markets work
For Board & CEO Advisory and Capital Markets Leadership Advisory engagements — assessments, succession planning, team builds, and pre-IPO or transaction-readiness work — we scope and price each engagement individually. Fixed fee or retainer, depending on the shape of the work.
A note on the diagnostic-only outcome
Sometimes the diagnostic concludes that a search is not the right answer. In that case, the diagnostic fee is the only fee — and, in our experience, the most valuable one the client will pay that year.