Chief Revenue Officer search
CRO recruitment, by retained search.
The Chief Revenue Officer is the hire that sets a company’s trajectory for years. We find and quietly approach proven revenue leaders who are not on the market, and broker the first conversation in complete confidence.
- ✓Retained search for TCS, Capgemini, Atos, BAE Systems and Zendesk
- ✓More than 500 senior leaders placed since 2005
- ✓Every mandate delivered within its agreed timeline
Published data says a CRO costs £300k. The CROs worth hiring now cost seven figures.
The difference is the hire that hits the number, or the one that’s gone in 18 months.
Book a free confidential CRO benchmark Or try the 2026 CRO salary benchmarkOthers send CVs and flashy bios. We deliver the hire.
500+ senior leaders placed since 2005Every mandate delivered within its agreed timelineOne free replacement since 2005No fee ever refunded
Why Selective Search
Built on judgement, not algorithms.
Leaders who are not looking
The strongest CROs are busy winning. We reach them through a personal network built since 1993, not through job boards.
Evidence, not anecdote
We test quota history, team build, forecast discipline and how each candidate performs when the plan goes wrong.
Board-ready shortlists
Every candidate is assessed for the boardroom as well as the sales floor: investors, CEO and peers.
How a retained search works
Four steps. Complete confidence.
The brief
A confidential call with an Executive Partner: the role, the market and what success looks like in year one.
The map
Every credible leader in your market identified, not just the ones who are looking.
The approach
A discreet, brokered first conversation, on the candidate’s terms.
The shortlist
A small number of assessed, interested leaders, presented with evidence.
For a fuller guide for boards and CEOs, read how to hire a Chief Revenue Officer.
Beyond the appointment
Place your CRO. Then build their team.
When you hire a Chief Revenue Officer, you are making the strategic appointment that shapes everything beneath it. That is why we recommend a retained CRO search: a confidential brief with an Executive Partner, a complete map of your market and a shortlist presented with evidence.
Once your CRO is in place, the real work begins. We help them build the team they need to deliver the number — Sales Directors, Heads of Sales, Enterprise Account Executives, Account Directors and Sales Managers — often through our managed service, so the whole build runs to one plan, one standard and one point of contact.
It is why boards and investors choose a specialist CRO search firm rather than a series of separate suppliers. Whether it is your first CRO hire or a successor to an established leader, our Chief Revenue Officer executive search brings the same discreet, network-led approach to every level, from VP Sales to the front line. One search partner, from the first hire to a full revenue team.
Track record
Leaders we have placed.
US global software vendor
Global Chief Revenue Officer✓ Appointed within the agreed timelineAtos
Global Head of Strategic Deals✓ €2bn+ order entry deliveredTata Consultancy Services
Head of BPO✓ Appointed within the agreed timelineQuestions
Frequently asked.
How long does a CRO search take?
The timetable is agreed with you at the brief and depends on the market and location. Every mandate we have taken on has been delivered within its agreed timeline.
Do you work on a retained basis?
Yes. Senior leadership searches are run on a retained basis, which gives a board-level appointment the priority, depth and confidentiality it needs.
Where do you recruit CROs?
Across the UK, the United States, EMEA, the Middle East and APAC, for SaaS, AI, consulting and enterprise technology businesses.
How do we hire a Chief Revenue Officer?
Start with a confidential call with an Executive Partner to agree the role, the market and what success looks like in year one. We then map every credible leader in your market, not just those who are looking, and broker a discreet first conversation with each. You receive a small shortlist of assessed, interested leaders, presented with evidence.
Can you build the sales team after the CRO is appointed?
Yes. Once your CRO is in place, we help them build the team beneath them: Sales Directors, Heads of Sales, Enterprise Account Executives, Account Directors and Sales Managers, often through our managed service. One search partner, from the first hire to a full revenue team.
When should a SaaS company make its first CRO hire?
The timing depends on your market and your business, and is best agreed in a confidential conversation before any search begins. The Chief Revenue Officer is the hire that sets a company’s trajectory for years, so a first CRO hire deserves a retained search. A call with an Executive Partner covers the role, the market and what success looks like in year one.
Confidential briefing
Have a critical appointment to make?
A 15-minute confidential call with an Executive Partner. No obligation.