Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

We find the CEO who not only fits your culture but shapes your future – the leaders you need who can scale, transform and drive value.

What we look for in a CEO

At LEAD, we believe the best CEOs are those who unite purpose and performance. The CEOs we represent lead with purpose and deliver with impact. While every organisation’s needs are unique, we consistently look for leaders who demonstrate:

Vision and strategic clarity

The ability to see around corners, articulate a compelling future, and rally others toward it.

Emotional intelligence

A deep understanding of people, culture, and influence. Great CEOs know leadership starts with empathy.

Decisiveness and resilience

The courage to make tough calls and navigate uncertainty with composure and conviction.

Commercial acumen

Strong financial and operational insight to drive sustainable growth.

Integrity and authenticity

Leadership built on trust, transparency, and ethical decision-making.

Impact orientation

A focus on outcomes that create value for people, business, and society.

Our search approach

1. Immersive understanding
We begin by getting to know your organisation in depth. We listen, ask the right questions, and uncover your purpose, challenges, and strategic goals. This ensures we are not just finding a CEO, but your CEO – someone who fits your culture and future.
We work closely with your board and executive stakeholders to define the leadership competencies and success profile required for your next stage of growth. Every search is anchored in your vision, not just a job description.
Our research team maps the market extensively across industries, networks, and borders. We use our executive expertise and extensive relationships to identify both proven and emerging leaders who align with your brief.
Each candidate is assessed through structured interviews, psychometric evaluation, and reference validation. We explore not only what they have achieved, but how they lead, decide, and inspire.
Our relationship does not end when the appointment is made. We support onboarding, stakeholder alignment, and leadership integration to set your new CEO up for long-term success.

CEO role overview

Reports to:

Board of Directors

Direct reports:

Senior Leadership / Executive Team (e.g. CFO, COO, CPO, CMO, etc)

Average salary:​

$190,000 to $350,000 + STI/LTI/benefits, depending on organisation size, sector, and scope​

Key responsibilities:​

  • Provide strategic leadership and direction aligned with organisational purpose and goals
  • Partner with the Board to shape and execute the business strategy
  • Lead, inspire, and develop the executive team and wider organisation
  • Drive financial performance, growth, and operational excellence
  • Build and maintain strong stakeholder, investor, and community relationships
  • Champion organisational culture, diversity, and sustainability
  • Ensure robust governance, compliance, and risk management
  • Represent the organisation as its public and strategic voice

Ideal background:​

  • Proven CEO or senior executive experience (e.g. COO, GM, MD level)
  • Track record of leading growth, transformation, or turnaround
  • Strong commercial, strategic, and people leadership capability
  • High EQ, sound judgment, and values-led decision making

Ready to find your next CEO?

We understand how crucial the right CEO is to the success of your organisation.
Talk to us about your needs and how we can help.