Confidential. Critical. Complex. That’s Our Comfort Zone.
Executive-level hires shape the future of your organization. That’s why our Executive Recruiters take a hands-on, high-touch approach—combining strategy, confidentiality, and deep market insight to find the right leader.
With over 30 years of experience, we deliver high-impact hires who align with your culture, values, and long-term goals.
A High-Stakes Search, Handled with Care
Week 1
Discovery & Alignment
In-depth consultation to understand your business, leadership gaps, and goals.
Milestones:
- Leadership discovery and role clarity
- Tailored search strategy and story
Weeks 1-4
Search
We activate our extensive network.
Milestones:
- Team approach begins across multiple channels
- Passive & active candidate outreach
Selection
We identify and vet the strongest-fit candidates.
Milestones:
- Predictive Index assessments for behavioral and cognitive fit
- Executive summaries of top candidates presented
Weeks 5-10
Interview Process
We help you design and run an intentional, insight-driven process.
Milestones:
- Stakeholder alignment with custom evaluation tools
- Weekly debriefs and adjustments
Weeks 10-12+
Offer & Acceptance
Strategic offers and negotiation support to seal the deal.
Milestones:
- Market-researched compensation guidance
- Full offer alignment and delivery
- Acceptance and start date secured
Post Hire
Executive Integration & Guarantee
Seamless leadership integration with our guarantee.
Milestones:
- Onboarding & leadership integration support
- New hire invited to our Leadership Peer Groups for ongoing support
Executive Guarantee:
- 0-12 months: 100% fee waived
- 1-2 years: 50% fee waived
- 3-5 years: 10% fee waived
Ongoing Talent Advising
Strategic guidance as your talent needs evolve.
We Address:
- Leadership growth
- Team alignment
- Employee experience
- Manager support
Positions We Staff
- Marketing Director
- Chief Marketing Officer (CMO)
- Chief Growth Officer (CGO)
- Chief Brand Officer (CBO)
- VP of Brand Strategy
- VP of Product Marketing
- VP of Demand Generation
- VP of Customer Experience
- VP of Content Strategy
- Executive Creative Director (ECD)
- Chief Creative Officer (CCO)
- VP of Creative Services
- VP of Marketing
- Executive Creative Director (ECD)
- VP of Design
- VP of Production
- VP of Customer Operations
- Chief Administrative Officer (CAO)
- Director of Operations
- VP of Treasury
- Chief Digital Officer (CDO)
- VP Digital Strategy
- VP Digital Transformation
- VP Ecommerce
- Chief Experience Officer (CXO)
- VP Digital Innovation
- Chief Creative Officer (CCO)
- VP User Experience (UX)
- VP Digital Product Management
- Art Director
- VP Digital Marketing
- VP Content Creation
- Chief Digital Officer (CDO)
- Head of Creative Operations
- VP Creative Strategy
- Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
- VP Finance
- VP Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A)
- VP Accounting & Controller
- Chief Investment Officer (CIO)
- Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO)
- Chief People Officer (CPO)
- VP of Talent Acquisition
- VP People Operations
- VP Employee Experience
- VP Human Resources
- Chief Diversity Officer
- VP Total Rewards
- VP Organizational Development
- VP HR Business Partners
- Chief Operating Officer (COO)
- VP Business Operations
- VP Operations Excellence
- VP Supply Chain & Logistics
- VP Risk Management
- Chief Compliance Officer (CCO)
- Director of Procurement
- VP of Strategic Operations
- VP Corporate Finance
Leadership Across Industries
From startups to Private Equity or Family Businesses, we’ve helped organizations in healthcare, CPG, agency, manufacturing, SaaS, and more find transformative executive leaders.
Making a key hire?
Executive Search, Trusted Partner
When the stakes are highest, companies trust Celarity’s executive recruiting expertise. We work with boards, CEOs, and senior leaders to confidentially define roles, align strategy, and place transformative executives.
With 30+ years of proven leadership search and NPS scores among the top 5% globally, we bring both discretion and results to your most critical hires.
Best Places to Work
For seven years in a row, Celarity has been named a Best Places to Work
Glassdoor
With 5 stars from over 225 reviews, Celarity is one of the only staffing recruiting & consultancy firms to win the prestigious Best Places to Work award
ClearlyRated Staffing Awards
For the sixth year in a row, Celarity earned top ratings from our clients with 100% satisfaction
Protecting Your Most Critical Hires
Our Executive Search Guarantee protects you with up to five years of fee coverage, so you can move forward with confidence.
Executive Search FAQs
What is Executive Recruiting?
Executive recruiting, also called executive search, is a specialized form of recruitment focused on identifying and placing senior-level leaders including directors, VPs, and C-suite executives. Unlike general recruiting, executive search targets passive candidates — high-performing professionals not actively job hunting but open to the right opportunity. The process is highly consultative, involving deep discovery into leadership gaps, culture, and long-term strategy before a single candidate is approached.
What is your Executive Recruiting pricing model?
Celarity’s executive search fee is 20–30% of estimated first-year compensation. For leadership roles, Celarity recommends a retained search model: one-third of the fee when the search begins, one-third when the shortlist is complete, and one-third on successful placement. In some cases a contingent option is available. All searches are backed by Celarity’s 5-year guarantee..
What makes Celarity different from other executive search firms?
Celarity brings 30+ years of executive search experience, NPS scores in the top 5% globally, and the longest guarantee in the industry — up to five years of fee protection. Low internal recruiter turnover means you work with seasoned professionals who understand your market, culture, and leadership needs at the highest level.
How do we get started with Celarity?
Schedule a confidential discovery call. Celarity will conduct an in-depth consultation to understand your business, leadership gaps, and goals — then build a tailored search strategy before outreach begins.
What is Celarity's executive search guarantee?
Celarity’s executive search guarantee is the longest in the industry: 100% fee waived when replacing talent within the first 0–6 months, 50% fee waived within 7–12 months, and 10% fee waived within 1–5 years.
How long does an executive search take?
Celarity’s executive search process typically runs 10–12+ weeks: Week 1 for discovery and strategy, Weeks 1–4 for search and candidate selection using Predictive Index assessments, Weeks 5–10 for the interview process with stakeholder alignment, and Weeks 10–12+ for offer, acceptance, and onboarding integration.
What is the difference between executive recruiting and general recruiting?
General recruiting typically fills professional-level roles through active candidate sourcing and standard screening. Executive recruiting focuses exclusively on senior leaders — directors, VPs, and C-suite — using a highly consultative, confidential approach that targets passive candidates and involves deeper organizational discovery, behavioral assessments, and post-hire integration support.
Do you offer contract-to-hire or temporary options?
Yes. For situations requiring flexibility, Celarity offers contract and contract-to-hire solutions alongside its retained executive search practice.
What types of executive roles do you fill?
Celarity fills executive and leadership roles across Marketing, Creative, Digital, HR, Finance, and Operations — including CMO, CCO, CFO, CHRO, CPO, CDO, COO, VPs, and Directors across all major functional areas.
What industries do you serve?
Celarity places executive leaders across Healthcare, Finance, Retail& E-commerce, Professional Services, Private Equity, and more.
How does your executive search process work?
Celarity begins with a leadership discovery session, builds a tailored search strategy, activates an extensive network for passive and active outreach, presents executive summaries of top candidates with Predictive Index assessments, coordinates a structured interview process with custom evaluation tools and weekly debriefs, provides market-researched compensation guidance, and supports onboarding and leadership integration post-hire.
What happens if an executive placement doesn't work out?
Celarity’s executive search guarantee provides fee protection for up to five years. If a placement doesn’t work out, Celarity will re-recruit under the guarantee terms at no additional cost.
How do you source and screen executive candidates?
Celarity activates a 30+ year network of executive relationships across multiple channels, with a team approach to passive and active outreach. Every candidate is evaluated through behavioral and cognitive Predictive Index assessments and presented with a detailed executive summary.
How do you ensure executive candidates are a strong match?
Celarity invests significant time in organizational discovery — understanding culture, leadership gaps, stakeholder dynamics, and long-term strategy — before approaching a single candidate. Predictive Index assessments provide additional data to validate fit beyond the resume.