Intelligent People

Executive Search Firm

We are a boutique Executive Search firm with 20 years’ experience of placing commercial leadership candidates in London based businesses.

Our executive search recruiters help the employers we work with to search for the best talent in the market. We do this by headhunting ‘passive’ candidates that have the right domain experience, leadership qualities and personal qualities that you require within your business.

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Executive Search recruitment in London

We place executive level positions on a retained basis, where we split the recruitment fee into 3 different stages: on engagement, on shortlist, and on placement. Doing this, allows us to dedicate the necessary time to competitor research and headhunting the best candidates.

Whilst most of the employers we work with are based in London, the rise of remote and hybrid working has opened the candidate pool for headhunting purposes to across the whole of the UK, and into Europe and North America.

I need to hire

Tell us more about your vacancy and what you are looking for in a candidate.

We’ll listen carefully to your needs and using our industry experience and vast network, we’ll connect you to real talent in the market.

Fill in this form or alternatively contact us on 01727 736690.

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Marketing Executive

What do we specialise in?

Product Management

— Chief Product Officer
— Product Director
— VP Product

Commercial Leadership

— Chief Customer Officer
— Chief Commercial Officer
— Chief Operations Officer
— Chief Revenue Officer

Marketing

— Chief Marketing Officer
— Marketing Director
— Digital Marketing Director
— Vice President Marketing
— Vice President Digital Marketing

eCommerce

— eCommerce Director
— Vice President eCommerce

Product design & UX

— Vice President Product Design
— Product Design Director
— UX Director

London headhunters

We follow a detailed and thorough method to ensure we scour the market, utilising a multi-channel approach to target both your competitors and comparable sectors that may have the experience you need.

Focus makes us different. Our specialist domain knowledge across product management, marketing and eCommerce gives us a clear advantage. We already have the candidate networks that other firms must discover with each search. This means that we can deliver the results of headhunting much more quickly, without compromising the quality of candidate.

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What makes us a boutique executive search firm?

Focus

Our dedicated focus within our specialist executive search domains, gives us and our clients a clear competitive advantage. We understand the marketing, product management and commercial leadership market inside-out, and with 20 years of experience in the industry, our consultants are best placed to help headhunt and engage the best talent in the field. 

Strategy

As a specialist headhunting agency, we understand what motivates senior level candidates to join a new opportunity. As part of our engagement strategy, we take all candidates through a briefing process to include the business strategy, the strategy roadmap, what the objectives are the for business and where their skills can help with business growth.

Speed

As we already have a network of candidates which is 35,000 strong, we do not have to spend time at the ‘discovery’ phase of work that other boutique executive search firms need to. This means that we can deliver much more quickly, getting a shortlist to our clients within 5-6 weeks.

When shortlisting takes longer than this, its often because the chosen headhunter is not from a boutique agency which has the functional experience required.

Our executive product recruitment process

#1
Research

Every search begins with a clear definition of requirements – what you need and what impact this senior appointment will have on your business. We’ll identifying key leadership competences, industry experience and personal qualities to benchmark candidates.

#2
Candidate identification & process management

We use multiple channels to identify high-performing executive candidates, complemented by our network of global connections, providing tailored referrals and recommendations. Only individuals who demonstrate genuine leadership capability against the original brief are presented at shortlist stage.

#3
Competitor headhunting

Intelligent People are already known to many senior executives within the UK and beyond, so we are able to attract and engage candidates working within the competitor landscape.

#4
Interview and feedback

As part of our service, we will co-ordinate and prep our clients for interviews. Clients need to showcase to potential executive appointments the excellent employer brand and culture within the business as well as other benefits including salary and incentive packages.

What package do I need to offer executive positions in London? 

To do this accurately, our Principal Consultants would ask you:

  • about the size of the business, its sector and industry
  • the businesses’ growth objectives
  • your budget
  • the overall benefits package
  • any niche domain experience that you require

By taking all the above into account, we would be able to guide you on what package is going to secure the right candidate for you.

Read our guide to product, product design & UX, marketing and eCommerce salaries within our insights blog.

Interviewing A Candidate

FAQs

Q: How much do headhunters charge UK?
A: A headhunter usually receives between 25-28% of the candidates salary and bonus package, as commission for the headhunting and recruitment services that they provide. Payment is usually required at 3 different stages: on engagement, on shortlist, on placement. Doing this, allows the headhunter to dedicate the necessary time to competitor research and sourcing the best candidates.
Q: Is paying for a headhunter worth it?
A: The simple answer is yes. It's almost impossible for internal recruitment teams to spend the amount of time that is required for headhunting. So the benefits of engaging an executive search firm or headhunter in London are clear - they already know the market well and have built up a network of talented candidates within the field, meaning it's the most time and cost effective strategy.
Q: Who pays fee to headhunter?
A: The employer or business hiring a candidate pays the fees to the headhunting firm. This is normally done in 3 stages; on engagement of the service, on shortlist of candidates and on placement.