Experts finding experts.
No compromises.
Secure executive and technology leadership through rigorous vetting by practitioners who've done the job. We know what great looks like—because we've been great at it.
Find Your Leadership
The Talent Challenge
Most recruiters can't distinguish between a CV that looks good and a candidate who can actually deliver. The cost? Bad hires, wasted time, and strategic initiatives that stall while you search again.
CV Theater
Recruiters send impressive CVs. But can that CTO actually architect scalable systems? Can that COO truly optimize operations? They can't tell—because they've never done it.
Expensive Mistakes
A bad executive hire costs 6-12 months of salary, plus the opportunity cost of strategic initiatives that don't get executed. You can't afford trial and error at this level.
Technical Blind Spots
Technology roles especially suffer. Generic recruiters can't assess whether a "full-stack developer" actually understands distributed systems, or if an "AI specialist" is just good at buzzwords.
Why Experts Vetting Experts Changes Everything
We don't just match keywords on CVs. Our search team comprises former executives and technology leaders who've held the roles we're recruiting for. We know what questions to ask—because we've answered them ourselves.
Technical Depth in Vetting
When hiring a CTO, our technical partner (former startup CTO, 15+ years) conducts architecture reviews and system design discussions. When hiring a Manufacturing Director, our operations partner (20+ years lean manufacturing leadership) assesses process improvement methodology and shopfloor credibility.
Pattern Recognition from Experience
We've seen hundreds of executives succeed and fail. We recognize the patterns: the CFO who's only worked in stable environments won't thrive in high-growth chaos. The VP Engineering who's never built teams beyond 20 people will struggle at 50+. We filter for these nuances before you waste time interviewing.
Cultural & Strategic Fit Assessment
Technical skills alone don't predict success. We assess: Does this CFO thrive in data-scarce environments or need perfect information? Does this COO lead through process or through people? Does their working style match your leadership culture? These questions require judgment that only comes from having done the job.
Network Access to Passive Candidates
The best executives aren't on job boards—they're happily employed but open to the right opportunity. Our practitioner network provides warm introductions to candidates who'd never respond to a LinkedIn InMail from a generic recruiter.
Talent Services
Comprehensive talent solutions from executive search to interim leadership—all backed by practitioners who've held these roles.
Executive Search (C-Suite & VP Level)
Rigorous search for CEO, CFO, CTO, COO, Chief Commercial Officer, and VP-level roles—vetted by executives who've held these positions.
Technology Specialist Recruitment
Finding and vetting technical talent—architects, engineers, data specialists, security experts—assessed by practitioners who code and build systems.
Interim & Fractional Leadership
Experienced executives deployed immediately—full-time interim or part-time fractional—to deliver results while you search for permanent hires or test before committing.
HR Strategy & Organizational Design
Strategic HR advisory for businesses outgrowing informal people management—building structures, processes, and cultures that scale.
Recent Talent Engagements
How expert vetting has helped growing businesses secure leadership that delivers.
CTO Search - Technical Depth Required
Client's previous recruiter sent 30 candidates—none could architect distributed systems. Our technical partner (former SaaS CTO) identified and vetted 4 candidates with proven track records scaling from 10 to 100+ engineers. Hired candidate had built exactly what client needed: event-driven microservices on AWS, managing 50-person engineering org.
Interim CFO - Regulatory Expertise Essential
CFO resigned unexpectedly with FCA audit in 8 weeks. Placed interim CFO (20 years financial services, former Big 4 partner) within 10 days. Led audit preparation, passed with zero findings, stayed on 4 months while we conducted permanent search. Permanent CFO hire mentored by interim for seamless handover.
VP Operations - Lean Manufacturing Expertise
Client needed VP Operations with lean manufacturing credentials and change leadership capability. Our operations partner (former COO with lean Six Sigma black belt) vetted candidates on shopfloor credibility, not just certifications. Placed candidate had led 3 successful lean transformations, immediately earned respect of production teams.
Our Commitment
No Volume Game
We don't send you 40 CVs hoping something sticks. We present 3-5 deeply vetted candidates who can actually do the job. Quality over quantity, always.
Transparent Fees, No Surprises
Executive search: 20-25% of first-year compensation (vs. 30-33% industry standard). Technology specialists: 18-22%. Interim/fractional: 10-15% facilitation fee plus day rates paid to executive. No hidden costs.
Speed Without Compromise
Most executive searches: 8-12 weeks. Technology roles: 4-8 weeks. Interim placements: 1-2 weeks. We move fast because we know where to look and what to assess—but never sacrifice vetting quality for speed.
Performance Guarantee
If a hire doesn't work out in the first 6 months, we redo the search at no additional fee (expenses only). We stand behind our vetting because we're confident in it.
Ready to elevate your
mid-market strategy?
Book a complimentary 30-minute consultation to explore how PatternKind. can accelerate your growth with big-firm methodologies and boutique agility.