The brief
The client was restructuring its security leadership after a period of rapid change. The CISO role was confidential, and four supporting leadership roles needed to be filled without disrupting the existing team.
The board wanted a clear view of the external market, a consistent assessment standard and a discreet process that would not unsettle the current leadership team.
What we did
We ran a retained search with a single calibrated brief. We mapped security leaders across the UK, Europe, the US and Singapore, including people who were not actively looking.
Each candidate went through a structured leadership interview, a scenario discussion based on the client’s operating environment and a written assessment against the role scorecard. We also provided the board with a market map covering structure, scope and reward.
The outcome
Five appointments were made in sixteen weeks. All five were still in post at 24 months. The client used the same assessment format for two subsequent security hires.
The search remained confidential throughout, and the existing team was kept informed through a communication plan agreed with the client.
What the client said
“They kept a sensitive search calm and moving. The shortlist was small, the evidence was clear and the board had confidence in the recommendation.”
— Group Chief Information Security Officer, FTSE 100 financial services group