How long does it take to hire a CMO, CFO or CHRO?

With Boardroom CXO, a CMO, CFO or CHRO search is built to reach a confidential shortlist in about 8 weeks: weeks 1 and 2 map what the role pays in your category and city, and weeks 3 to 8 approach and shortlist people already doing the job. The start date then depends on the leader's notice period.

The timeline, stage by stage

• Weeks 1 and 2: we map what the role pays across your category and city.
• Role brief: we agree the outcomes, authority and KPIs for the next 12 to 24 months.
• Weeks 3 to 8: we approach people already doing the job at competitor companies and build a confidential shortlist.
• Offer stage: interviews, the offer and acceptance, with a realistic uplift of usually 25 to 30%.

What our case studies show

For a pre-IPO jewellery brand whose earlier CFO searches had stalled for months, we shortlisted four CFOs from listed retail companies, and the time to placement was 8 weeks. For a Singapore company entering India, a Finance Head was placed in 6 weeks. Every search is different, and both are on our case studies page.

What changes between a CMO, CFO and CHRO search

The stages are the same. What changes is the profile we screen for. A CMO search for a retail or D2C brand needs the right mix of brand building and ROAS-literate performance marketing. A CFO search often needs pre-IPO, SEBI or cross-border experience. A CHRO search for a brand adding stores needs someone who can scale hiring and culture across a growing network. The narrower the profile, the smaller the pool of people to approach.

What adds time after the offer

The biggest variable after acceptance is the notice period. A sitting CXO has to serve the notice period in their current contract before they can join. Ask about the notice period at the first conversation with each shortlisted candidate, so the start date is planned, not a surprise.

How to keep a search moving

Searches slow down when the budget is still open, when the interview panel is not agreed, or when feedback on candidates takes weeks. Agree the budget after the pay map, name the panel at the start, and give feedback within a few days of each interview.