Executive Search
Chief executive, C-suite, and senior leadership mandates conducted with rigour and discretion.
Vellaris is a retained executive search firm. We are engaged by boards, investors and chief executives to find and assess leaders for CEO, C-suite and senior leadership roles across the United States and Europe. Each mandate begins with the strategy the appointment has to serve, and is delivered against a documented research map rather than a database.
How this practice works
We conduct confidential, research-led searches for the appointments that define an organization's trajectory. Every mandate begins with a structured understanding of strategy, culture, and the leadership capability required next — not with a list of available candidates.
Capabilities
- Confidential CEO and C-suite search
- Succession-aligned appointment strategy
- Structured leadership assessment
- Market and competitor mapping
- Offer, alignment, and onboarding advisory
Typical assignments
- Chief Executive Officer
- Chief Financial Officer
- Chief Operating Officer
- Chief Technology / Digital Officer
- Divisional President or Managing Director
What clients ask before they engage us
- What does a retained executive search firm do?
- A retained firm is engaged exclusively for a defined mandate. It researches the whole relevant leadership market, approaches people who are not looking, assesses them against agreed criteria, and reports coverage in writing throughout. The fee is paid in stages for the work, not on placement.
- How long does an executive search take?
- Most senior mandates reach a signed offer in ten to sixteen weeks. Longlist presentation usually falls in weeks four to six, with shortlist interviews from week seven. Confidential CEO and board searches can run longer where scheduling is dictated by board calendars.
- How much does executive search cost?
- Retained fees typically run 30 to 35 percent of first-year cash compensation, invoiced in three stages. Our article on executive search cost explains what sits inside that figure and what should never be charged on top of it.
- Which levels of role do you search for?
- Chair and non-executive appointments, chief executive and full C-suite roles, divisional presidents and managing directors, and the senior functional leadership immediately beneath them.
Have a critical appointment ahead?
When the appointment matters, the search should begin with a conversation.