Senior talent to scale faster
We specialise in executive search for ambitious, high-growth businesses across the UK, leveraging our deep expertise in investment markets and extensive M&A networks.
Executive search partner to
“Returns in private equity come from the right teams. Blair West helps us find them.”
Our Track Record
33 The number of unique investment houses we’ve supported.
83% of our executive search consultants come from industry backgrounds within the markets they now serve.
“What sets Blair West apart is their ability to start with a blank sheet every time. They don’t just recycle the same names. They build a fresh, relevant shortlist for every mandate. For us as investors, that level of rigour and nuance is essential.”
Amit Hindocha Coniston Capital
8.52 out of 10. That’s how our clients rate us, when asked if they’d refer us by an independent source.
Executive Search, done smarter.
Built for private equity & investment-backed businesses
Our team specialises in working with the unique demands of PE and VC environments. We deeply understand the pressures, pace, and expectations of high-growth businesses, consistently delivering senior talent capable of driving tangible, immediate impact and lasting value.
Data-driven search
Our in-house research team leverage market-leading tools to pinpoint precisely the right candidates and map out markets to deepen insight, ensuring a structured, and intel-driven recruitment process tailored specifically to your business objectives.
Extensive, engaged talent network
We maintain active, ongoing relationships with an extensive network of proven executive talent. This ensures quick access to highly relevant candidates who trust us to introduce meaningful opportunities, enhancing the effectiveness of our searches and significantly reducing time-to-hire.
Transparent, structured process
We manage executive searches with a clear, structured process that ensures transparency and accountability at every stage. Through regular reporting, open communication, and rigorous candidate assessment, we align experience to your expectations, maintaining full visibility and confidence from initiation through to successful placement.
Genuine industry expertise
Our team’s backgrounds include recruitment, corporate finance, accounting, product leadership, sales and operations leadership, investment and deal advisory giving us authentic insight into the pressures faced by executive leaders. We understand your challenges first hand and know exactly what’s needed from senior talent.
Long-term, guaranteed
Our retained searches come with a 12-month free replacement guarantee, reflecting our commitment to long-term outcomes. We prioritise lasting partnerships and successful placements, ensuring your leadership investments deliver lasting value, commitment and drive business objectives.
Meet our Executive Search team
Exceptional executive search starts with exceptional people. Meet the experts who deliver senior talent solutions.
Live Roles
FAQs
Quick, clear answers to your most common questions about working with Blair West’s Executive Search team
Our Executive Search team specialises in senior leadership and strategic appointments, typically including CEOs, CFOs, Executive and Non-Executive Chairs, and board-level roles. We also recruit leadership positions within commercial functions such as Sales, Marketing, Operations, Technology, and Product at C-suite and C-suite minus-one level.
Yes, we regularly recruit both Non-Executive and Executive Directors. Our ability to identify the right candidates comes from our team’s deep professional experience, including backgrounds in corporate finance at KPMG and investment advisory roles, combined with our dedicated research team, who meticulously map each market and deliver a bespoke search for every assignment. This structured, insight-driven approach ensures placements that genuinely align with your strategic goals and organisational culture.
Because we regularly partner with private equity and investment firms, who themselves are typically sector-agnostic, we also operate effectively across various industries. Our strength lies in our proven ability to identify senior talent who thrive within investment-driven environments, even in highly specialised sector-specific searches. We understand that spotting genuine talent requires looking beyond a CV, recognising shared traits such as adaptability, bias towards action, and the ability to handle the pressures and unique dynamics inherent to investment-backed businesses.
Our executive search process is thorough, structured, and transparent. It involves detailed briefings to deeply understand your strategic objectives, comprehensive market research by our in-house team, candidate identification and mapping, rigorous evaluation, and discreet candidate engagement. Throughout the search, we provide regular updates, ensuring full transparency and alignment until a successful placement is made.
Once we have a clear brief, we’ll always act efficiently and align our process to the timelines set by your business or investment objectives. However, our first priority is always ensuring we identify and attract the right candidates, rather than simply the quickest available. We’ll keep you closely updated at every stage, so you’ll always have clarity around timescales and progress.