CEO and C-Suite Executive Search in the UK
Strengthen leadership with the CEO and C-suite executive search firm that UK boards rely on to deliver stability and decisive direction.
Chief Executive Officers shape every part of your organisation, and the right leader moves you confidently into the future. Hanover is trusted by top UK boards and executive committees to deliver CEO executive search outcomes that promote long-term success.
Why Hanover?
Leadership That Carries Strategic Weight
The right leader unites senior teams, carries the vision of your organisation and sets the pace for growth. Hanover approaches every CEO search with a clear process that includes:
Initial clarity
We live and breathe the complex CEO landscape, identifying cutting-edge leaders who can deliver change, vision and results.
Mapping
We create a market map by considering talent pools and competitors.
Screening
We conduct initial screening and interviews.
Longlisting
Hanover presents you with talent and comprehensive candidate reports.
Additional assessment
We use qualitative data assessment to create a shortlist and assessments of each candidate.
New hires
Our support guides you through the hiring and resignation process.
Our process involves the use of market intelligence and a consultative process to secure leadership that can propel you into the future. We boost leadership retention by helping you make the right hire and supporting you with custom workshops, programs and more.
Assessment & Succession
Supporting CEO Succession and Transition
Not all executives come from outside the company. Hanover ensures your CEO executive search includes internal leaders who can be mentored into a C-suite position. These candidates are already proven and familiar with your company culture, and we can provide development programs to help you transition a candidate into positions of greater responsibility. Our process streamlines the evaluation of both internal and external CEO candidates, allowing you to find the right fit.
Hanover can also design succession frameworks to help your entire team adapt to a new CEO. Whether your new hire is an internal or external candidate, we consider the broader C-suite, ensuring complementary leadership and creating a smooth transition to new leadership.
Diversity & Inclusion
Broadening Perspective at the Top: Why Hanover is Trusted Among CEO Executive Search Firms
Leadership teams benefit from diverse thinking and lived experience. Hanover builds CEO shortlists designed with a variety of top talent and diverse backgrounds, so you can choose the executive best poised to support your growth. Hanover’s DE&I framework can also help you introduce more diversity into your culture, which has been shown to contribute to companies’ market success.
Executive Search
Precision CEO Search With Local Insight
Hanover combines direct behavioural evaluation with deep sector knowledge and market mapping. If you’re looking for a CEO executive search firm in London, you can trust that we’re grounded in UK market knowledge and connected to a wide global network. We are not just looking for your next CEO. We are looking for the right CEO for your market, your location, your culture, your future goals and your current realities.
Speak with a specialist and start reviewing CEO leadership in the UK and how it relates to your leadership search.
Insights
Unlock Leading Insights from Our Thought Leaders
Want to Know More?
Frequently Asked Questions
Learn how Hanover’s team can elevate your board.
What makes CEO recruitment different from other executive searches?
CEO recruitment is uniquely complex because it impacts the entire board, the executive team and overall business strategy. Not only does the CEO set the tone for organization’s culture, they also drive performance and steer long-term vision. As one of the top global executive search firms, we apply a highly customised executive search process to identify top talent who can meet these demands.
How does Hanover find top executive talent for CEO roles?
We combine our global reach, sector expertise and robust candidate networks to identify industry-leading CEOs, including passive candidates not actively looking for new executive roles. Our executive recruiters utilise detailed market mapping, deep vetting and personal engagement to secure qualified candidates who are the right cultural and strategic fit.
Do you focus on diverse CEO candidates?
Yes. We are committed to presenting a diverse pool of candidates for every CEO search, helping our clients reap the business benefits of diverse leadership: improved decision-making, higher innovation and increased profits. Our c level recruitment process is designed to uncover diverse candidates across a range of leadership requirements, sectors, and functions.
What does the CEO search process involve?
Our search process begins with discovery sessions to understand your business goals, company’s culture and expectations for the new CEO. We then conduct targeted outreach, candidate assessment, stakeholder interviews and final placement support, ensuring a seamless hiring process from start to finish.
How long does it take to recruit a CEO?
While timelines vary, a typical c-suite recruitment engagement lasts 12–16 weeks. This allows time for thorough research, engaging top c level candidates, conducting interviews and facilitating board member discussions. We ensure every step supports long-term success and regulatory compliance, and we keep you informed every step of the way to ensure your needs stay front-and-centre.
What industries does Hanover serve in CEO search?
We work across a wide range of sectors, including insurance, financial services, wealth management, technology, and more. Unlike other retained search firms, we bring deep functional expertise in each of these industries, so every search anticipates market shifts, speaks to what top candidates actually want, and results in a hire built for long-term impact. No matter your industry, our executive search experience helps identify the best leaders with the strategic acumen and adaptability to thrive in your environment.
Connect With Us
Find Out How a Hanover Specialist Can Help
Whether you’re looking for your next great hire, want to strengthen your team or navigate industry challenges, our consultants are here to help. Reach out today and let’s have a conversation on how we can support your goals.