Leadership Communication: The Leadership Skill That Matters Most When Change Is Constant
06 / Aug / 2026
In many organisations today, uncertainty has become the norm. Some businesses are restructuring. Others are investing for growth. Some are bringing new leadership talent into the organisation, while others are asking existing teams to deliver more with less. For leadership teams, this creates a significant challenge. The strategy may be clear. The objectives may be […]
Why Most Executive Interviews Fail – And the Cost Is Far Greater Than You Think
04 / Aug / 2026
Hiring a senior leader should be one of the most strategic decisions an organisation makes. Yet too often, executive interviews are surprisingly unstructured, inconsistent, and focused on the wrong things. On paper, the candidate looks exceptional. The CV is impressive. The interview feels positive. The references are strong. Six months later, performance is disappointing, culture […]
28 / Jul / 2026
The quality of an executive hire is rarely determined by a CV alone. It is shaped by the conversations that happen during the hiring process, and more specifically, by the executive interview questions that are asked. Yet many executive interviews still rely on questions that have been used for decades. While familiar, these questions […]
28 / Jul / 2026
You’ve built a successful career. You’ve led teams, delivered growth, navigated change, managed stakeholders and made decisions that have shaped businesses. Yet when you submit your executive CV, nothing happens. No phone call. No interview. No meaningful feedback. Just a polite rejection email, or worse, complete silence. For many senior leaders, this is a frustrating […]
14 / Jul / 2026
For most business leaders, appointing a leadership hire isn’t just another recruitment exercise, it’s a strategic decision that can shape the trajectory of the organisation for years to come. Whether you’re scaling, preparing for investment, or simply trying to maintain momentum in a demanding market, the challenge is the same: finding the right leadership capability […]
30 / Jun / 2026
We recently welcomed a select group of business leaders to our offices for a roundtable discussion led by Craig Elvin and co-hosted by Damien Koziol of The Alternative Board. The session brought together leaders from a range of sectors, but what quickly became clear is that, regardless of industry, the challenges of growth, leadership and […]
Armed Forces Day – Recognising Service, Strengthening Leadership
23 / Jun / 2026
On Saturday, 27th June, Armed Forces Day offers a moment to pause and recognise those who are currently serving, and those who have served. It is, first and foremost, about people, their commitment, their resilience, and their willingness to operate in environments most of us will never experience. For us at Heads Resourcing Group, this […]
Where Do You See Yourself in Five Years? Reframing a Tired Leadership Career Question
16 / Jun / 2026
The problem isn’t the candidate, it’s the question. Asking someone to predict their leadership career in a fluid world is outdated. The real value lies in uncovering purpose, direction, and motivation, not a five‑year forecast. We’ve all heard it, and probably asked it: “Where do you see yourself in five years?” Once a staple of […]
Turning Strategy into Action – Why Execution Breaks Down in Leadership Teams
09 / Jun / 2026
The Real Reason Strategy Fails Most leadership teams don’t fail because they lack strategy. They fail because, over time, execution becomes diluted. Priorities blur. Accountability softens. Decisions that felt clear in the boardroom lose momentum once the pressure of the day‑to‑day takes over. For owners, founders and senior leaders, this can be one of the […]
02 / Jun / 2026
For many founders, growth and founder delegation present an uncomfortable paradox. On the one hand, they recognise the need to hire experienced, senior people to help the business scale. On the other, the idea of giving up control, or even status, can feel deeply unsettling. This tension is not a failure in leadership. It […]
26 / May / 2026
Why context matters more than competency in senior hiring In a recent conversation with a CEO, we found ourselves agreeing on something that sounds obvious, yet is routinely overlooked in senior hiring: Not all behavioural profiles are equal. The problem isn’t that organisations use behavioural or psychometric profiles. In fact, when used well, they can […]
19 / May / 2026
Over the past year, I’ve noticed a subtle but important shift in conversations with clients surrounding candidate experience. More organisations are asking not just who we place, but how candidates experience the process along the way. Some are even requesting testimonials from candidates who didn’t get the role. That tells us something significant. In a […]
Mental Health Week at the Top: Leadership, Not Lip Service
07 / May / 2026
Mental Health Week often triggers mixed reactions in leadership teams. For some senior leaders, particularly those who have spent decades building businesses under relentless pressure, the conversation can feel overblown or overly “woke”. That scepticism is understandable. Leadership has never been easy, and resilience has always been part of the job description. But dismissing […]
How Business Value Is Engineered, Not Assumed: Reflections on Building More Valuable Businesses
20 / Apr / 2026
When exploring business value in today’s market, business leaders are increasingly asking a deeper question than “How do we grow?”. The real question has become: “How do we build a business that is genuinely valuable?”. This was the central theme of a recent Executive Heads webinar, “How to Build a More Valuable Business: The […]
Executive Heads: Job Search Guidance for Senior Leaders in Transition
14 / Apr / 2026
Senior leaders rarely lose out on roles because they lack capability. They lose out because they misread how the executive market actually works. When we analyse how senior leaders secure their roles, the data is remarkably consistent: 44% secure their role via recruiters or executive search firms 35% through their professional network 10% are […]
25 / Mar / 2026
This year’s poll asking, “As an Executive or Senior Leader, how did you find your last job?”, with 181 senior level respondents, reinforces a consistent reality in the executive job market– Executive Search is vital in finding your next role. The proportional shift from last year is subtle but significant. Executive Search remains the dominant route, with networking following closely. Direct company approaches […]
03 / Mar / 2026
More FTSE 350 CEOs Are Named Andrew or John. Than Are Women. On International Women’s Day 2026, we’re still contending with a stat that would be funny if it wasn’t so revealing. Across the FTSE 350, more CEOs are named Andrew or John than are women. It’s a grim reality. Women aren’t short […]
17 / Feb / 2026
Craig Elvin recently had the honour of attending the Forces Transition Group Ltd Awards ceremony, an evening filled with pride, humility, and a deep sense of purpose. Following the event, Craig dicusses how sharing the room with fellow service leavers, hearing their perspectives, and taking part in the Q&A reminded him exactly why being an […]
How SME Leaders Can Unlock Hidden Company Value
17 / Feb / 2026
Ahead of our upcoming webinar, How to Build a More Valuable Business, Craig Elvin spent time with Damien Koziol, a specialist in company value creation and business exit readiness, to explore why so many UK SMEs and mid‑cap companies remain undervalued, and what founders, owners and senior leaders can do to unlock their hidden company value. Q: […]
Scaling Smarter in 2026: Fractional Executives Explained
10 / Feb / 2026
As we settle into 2026, many of the leaders we work with are looking for ways to move faster. To build leadership capacity that supports momentum rather than slows it down. February is often when strategy turns into action, and that’s usually the moment when gaps in capability or bandwidth become clearer. This month, we’re […]
Why the Best Companies Win on Leadership – Not Products, Services or Marketing
19 / Jan / 2026
“It’s the companies with the strongest leadership teams that win. Every time.” There’s a common belief that the companies with the best products, the most innovative services, or the loudest marketing engines are the ones destined to lead their markets. But look closely at any consistently high‑performing organisation, and you’ll find one core truth: […]
14 / Jan / 2026
Happy New Year and welcome to the January edition of Executive Insights: Leadership Hiring- A Critical Guide. As we head into 2026, many of the leaders we work with are focused on the same challenge: building leadership teams that support growth, not slow it down. Whether you’re making your first senior hire, strengthening an existing […]
15 / Dec / 2025
In challenging growth phases, whether preparing for a private equity investment, navigating a management buyout (MBO), or executing a pivotal event, businesses need seasoned leaders who can see the bigger picture and drive focus. Yet a full‑time C‑suite hire may be premature or prohibitively expensive. This is where Fractional Executives come into their own. What […]
30 / Sep / 2025
In today’s competitive talent landscape, selecting the right executive search partner can make or break your leadership pipeline. Whether you’re hiring a CEO, a divisional leader, or a specialist with niche expertise, the stakes are high—and so is the potential for long-term impact. But how do you evaluate which executive search firm is truly equipped […]
13 / Aug / 2025
Over a quarter of the workforce in countries such as the UK, Germany, and Japan is nearing retirement age. Fertility rates across OECD nations are now 28% below replacement levels, meaning fewer younger workers are entering the labour market to replace those exiting. This demographic shift is not merely a statistical trend. It represents a […]
Appointing a New CFO | The Institute of Customer Service
10 / Jul / 2025
Executive Heads’ Success Story: Appointing a New CFO Client: The Institute of Customer Service Challenge: Finding a dynamic CFO to drive growth and double membership. Approach: Collaborated with the CEO, used behavioral profiling, and conducted a thorough search. Outcome: Successfully appointed a CFO who aligns with the Institute’s goals and culture. The Company The […]
Should You Transfer to an Employee Ownership Trust?
22 / May / 2025
Executive Heads: A Future Secured Through Employee Ownership Executive Heads, part of Heads Resourcing Group, is delighted to announce our transition to an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT). As specialists in executive recruitment, we understand the significance of leadership in shaping business success. This milestone ensures that the expertise, dedication, and contributions of our team are […]
21 / May / 2025
In today’s volatile economic landscape, the relationship between Chief Financial Officers and procurement departments has never been more critical. As stewards of an organisation’s financial health, CFOs are increasingly looking to procurement not just as a cost centre, but as a strategic partner capable of delivering measurable value. According to Deloitte’s 2023 Global CPO Survey, […]
07 / Apr / 2025
In the ever-evolving landscape of executive recruitment, understanding how senior leaders secure their roles is crucial for both job seekers and hiring organisations. Recently, Executive Heads conducted a poll to shed light on this very topic, gathering insights from 229 executives who found their roles within the last 12 months. The results are both enlightening […]
12 / Mar / 2025
The cultural fit agenda, friend or foe? In today’s highly competitive job market, organisations are increasingly obsessed with hiring candidates who fit perfectly into their established company cultures. While this may seem like a sensible approach, the overemphasis on “cultural fit” could be inadvertently stifling innovation, diversity, and creativity within organisations. Talent acquisition teams often […]
Human Centric Leadership The Blueprint
11 / Mar / 2025
The way you lead directly impacts the way your team performs—but are you truly harnessing your leadership potential? Businesses in today’s market are required to work at pace, leaders are under pressure to drive results, navigate change, and keep their teams engaged. The key to unlocking high performance in your team starts with understanding yourself […]
Behaviour Drives Performance: Why Hiring for Attitude Matters
19 / Feb / 2025
Behaviour Drives Performance: Why Hiring for Attitude Matters Most hiring managers obsess over trailing indicators—qualifications, experience, and past results—while overlooking the key driver of success: behaviour. To hire top performers, you need to identify the right behaviours for success in your organisation and, crucially, understand how to measure them effectively. The Limits of Qualifications […]
Skills In Demand | How to Stay Ahead
06 / Jan / 2025
Skills in Demand for 2025 and How Executives Can Stay Ahead of the Trend In today’s digital age, technical skills are no longer confined to IT departments. C-suite executives are expected to possess a robust understanding of emerging technologies. According to Gartner, there is a significant rise in demand for skills related to artificial intelligence […]
02 / Dec / 2024
You are only as strong as your team As a business leader, you know that the strength of your organisation lies in the talent and perspectives of your team. Visualise a workplace where every individual brings a unique viewpoint, where differences in thought, background, and experience are not just tolerated, but valued. This is the […]
28 / Nov / 2024
As we near the end of 2024, the UK economy has been shaped by significant political and economic events. The recent US elections, which saw a Republican-controlled House and Presidency, have added some uncertainty to global markets. This could affect the UK regarding trade and investment flows, especially if Trump imposes the rumoured trade […]
05 / Nov / 2024
Nadia explores the question of failure. Is it true? What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger… read on to decide for yourself. Career paths rarely follow a straight line. To be a successful leader, you will likely have made a few mistakes, faced your share of hard knocks, and perhaps even veered off the […]
Navigating the October Budget: What Business Leaders and Executives Need to Know
28 / Oct / 2024
As the UK Labour government prepares to unveil its October budget, business leaders and executives are keenly anticipating the potential impacts on their operations and strategic planning. Chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to deliver the budget on October 30th, and several key changes are expected to shape the business landscape. Here’s a comprehensive look at […]
10 Point Guide | Writing an Executive CV
24 / Oct / 2024
What to consider when writing an Executive-level CV We help senior candidates craft compelling CVs that stand out. As a senior candidate, you need a CV that demonstrates your capability as a leader. When writing your CV, it’s crucial to remember that your audience consists of senior executives such as CEOs, COOs, Founders and other […]
How to Hire Into Your Leadership Team
29 / Jul / 2024
Do you know how to hire executive level talent? Craig Elvin explores the intricacies of the hiring process, sharing valuable insights to help your business grow. People are widely recognised as the lynchpin to a successful business but its not always easy to bring in top talent. You may not have a lot of […]
16 / Jul / 2024
When it comes to recruitment, a lot of attention is given to the early stages, be that the initial screening, applying or interview process.
24 / Apr / 2024
68% of people believe references are useless. Craig Elvin explores the impact of references in the hiring process In a recent poll, 68% of respondents thought references were not of any use as part of the recruitment process. Only 24% thought they had a place in the process and the remainder had mixed views depending […]
18 / Apr / 2024
Yet most hiring managers obsess about trailing indicators such as qualifications, experience and results.
To successfully hire performers, you need to know what behaviours you need and more importantly how to measure them.
Diversity on company boards is sacrificed when firms underperform
04 / Oct / 2023
Businesses are more likely to sacrifice gender and racial diversity on their boards when they are underperforming compared to their competitors or during times of greater productivity.
Why Is Talent In Such Short Supply?
16 / Jun / 2022
Are you wondering why it is hard to find talent for your business?
Hiring levels across the South of England continue to grow
15 / Jun / 2022
Hiring levels across the South of England continue to grow with Q2 recruitment levels set to rise by 15.7% year-on-year.
31 / Mar / 2022
I run Suppeco but have been in the procurement, supply and management arena for about 25 years. Before that, I was running businesses, I was 17 when I founded my first business and we could spend hours talking about it! So, 25 years of working in the supply chain enterprise space with companies going through […]
14 / Mar / 2022
As Tom Brady announces a u-turn on his retirement, Craig Elvin looks at the pros and cons of going back.
02 / Mar / 2022
Executive Recruiter Craig Elvin takes a look at what he’s currently seeing in the C-Suite recruitment market.
Vacancies up 28% as skills crisis continues
14 / Feb / 2022
Permanent white-collar jobs have spiked once again, up 28% in January when compared to the same time last year, while the UK continues to battle a skills crisis.
CFOs key to the successful digital transformation of companies
09 / Feb / 2022
Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) play a vital role in successful digital transformation, enabling small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to employ new technologies, new research has shown.
24 / Jan / 2022
Don’t rely on sales or share price as drivers for incentives.
26 / Nov / 2021
New whitepaper research reveals recruiters and in-house hiring teams must harness the power of innovative technologies
11 / Nov / 2021
The majority (67%) of UK and Irish office workers are reluctant to return to the office post-Covid. That’s according to a new European study by Unispace.
29 / Oct / 2021
The purpose and strategic direction of an organisation lie at the heart of impactful leadership, says Saara Bange, Associate Director at Aalto University Executive Education.
14 / Oct / 2021
Whether it’s part of the “great resignation” or you’ve been tempted by a new and exciting opportunity you owe it to yourself, your boss, company, and colleagues to resign in the most professional way possible.
19 / Aug / 2021
Hiring senior leadership doesn’t need to be a complex, drawn-out and costly process.
In fact, the longer and more repetitive your interview process is, the higher the chance you’ll turn off the best candidates.
Here are my five essential steps for hiring everyone from your CEO to your departmental managers.
How Can Behavioural Profiling Help With Your Hiring Process?
13 / Aug / 2021
Have you ever doubted one of your hiring decisions?
03 / Aug / 2021
Craig Elvin from Executive Heads looks at what is happening with recruitment and why recruitment is broken.
30 / Jul / 2021
If you want to land top talent for your organisation, you must consider the dynamics of your interview process.
23 / Jul / 2021
If you are hiring a role that is critically important to the success of your organisation then you are highly likely to want to engage with a professional recruiter with a track record of success, capability and value add services that are going to help you hire the best talent for your business.
So what do you need to consider?
26 / Apr / 2021
People are key to sustainability success. We pick out some big issues for your business on both retention and recruitment.
Customers. Employees. Investors. Job candidates. Everyone cares.
How do we know? Our clients tell us.
This is what we hear from them…
6 Steps To Help Leaders Address The Inclusion Barriers In The Workplace
30 / Mar / 2021
Two Barriers Leaders Currently Face – Prioritisation And Recognising Privilege…
Head 2 Head: Nicolle Clement, Coach and Mentor at Metisblue
03 / Mar / 2021
For our latest Head2Head, Craig Elvin spoke with Executive Coach and Mentor Nicolle Clement to hear about the importance of onboarding and the 90-Day Accelerator Programme. You can read, listen to or watch their conversation below.
17 / Feb / 2021
Paul McPartlan is the Chief Executive Officer at Places Leisure, which is part of the Places For People Group, he spoke to Executive Heads’ Craig Elvin about his career and how he sees the sector moving forward.
Listen to, watch or read their conversation here.
21 / Dec / 2020
The recruitment landscape has changed dramatically this year. In this article Executive Heads Director, Craig Elvin, recalls the challenges and gives some insights that will get you Recruitment Fit for 2021.
22 / Oct / 2020
Because we know that our investment will help you to increase your retention, provide you with a better return on your investment and help to ease your burden.
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion with Laura Todd
15 / Oct / 2020
Laura Todd is the former Global I&D Director for Capita, where she oversaw the inclusion and diversity of 60,000 people across nine countries. She was recently appointed the Inclusion and Wellbeing Director for Randstad UK, Ireland and EMEA and spoke to Craig Elvin about the benefits of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.
CEOs are demanding greater agility from their leaders
17 / Aug / 2020
In 2018 I wrote an article about the demand that was being placed on businesses to become more agile in order to become more successful. Since then there has been a steady increase in the demand from CEOs requiring agile leaders in their organisations and that requirement has increased since Covid-19 hit UK shores.
13 / Aug / 2020
Why hiring in a candidate rich environment may not be as easy as you thought.
11 / Aug / 2020
Digital Transformation is on-trend in many UK and international boardrooms
07 / Jul / 2020
Is your leadership team providing the resilience that will give your business a competitive advantage?
07 / Apr / 2020
We spoke to Jim Culverwell about the dynamics of the property market, how businesses might be able to negotiate their rent and what the future might look like in the property and workspace markets post-Corona Virus.
Head 2 Head: Jo Causon, CEO of the Institute of Customer Service
07 / Apr / 2020
In this episode of the Head 2 Head podcast, Jo Causon explains why Customer Service is at the beating heart of the UK economy, why Customer Service employees should receive greater recognition and how businesses can deliver excellent customer service during these challenging times.
Head 2 Head: James Wright, Fruitful Marketing
01 / Apr / 2020
In this episode, our guest, James Wright, gives hints and tips to boost your marketing, including his recommendation for five free tools that you can implement right now.
Non-Executive Director Event, Southampton 11 June.
13 / Mar / 2020
Executive Heads announce Non-Executive Director event in Southampton.
11 / Mar / 2020
The top performers in your business will have the right behaviors that make them highly successful at what they do.
03 / Mar / 2020
The war on talent is as fierce as it has ever been.
The world of work is changing at a rapid rate of knots, most industries have changed dramatically. We are on the precipice of a global labour shortage and in a recent poll 8 out of 10 business stated that hiring quality staff is one of the biggest bottlenecks to growth and success.
25 / Feb / 2020
You’d be forgiven for not knowing.
There is a myriad of information and a huge variation in the data provided on this topic.
20 / Feb / 2020
Peter Larkum’s passion is driven by seeing first hand the positive changes made in people. Sharing the knowledge and skills that he has, allowing others to try it out, and watching them become less stressed and more productive.
Peter spoke to Craig Elvin about mental health and why we’re now talking about it more.
Four ways coaching can help your new hires
11 / Feb / 2020
When an Executive starts a new role, be it an internal promotion or external hire, they are expected to deliver from day one.
But the reality is that even the most capable, driven and commanding executives will experience a dip in their motivation and or performance in the first 90 days.
The three levels of assessment
03 / Feb / 2020
Anyone looking to assess candidates for their suitability for a role needs to consider the capability and behaviours that determine success in the role.
28 / Jan / 2020
If your entire talent strategy relies on hiring available candidates, then it’s highly likely that you are hiring someone else’s problem.
15 / Jan / 2020
In the second of our Head 2 Head series, Craig Elvin caught up with Non-Executive Director Russell Ward.
Russell spoke about his career, life as a Non-Executive Director and his passion for sailing.
07 / Jan / 2020
“Interim Consultants are great assets to the team because of the broad experience they have in the field.”
Why hire an Interim Consultant? How can your business benefit and what are the benefits for an Interim Consultant?
What is Employee Value Proposition?
18 / Dec / 2019
In layman’s terms, an Employee Value Proposition (EVP) is the value that employees get for working at an organisation.
This can include salary, benefits and perks such as work-life balance and career development.
18 / Dec / 2019
In our first Head 2 Head, Craig Elvin caught up with Rebecca Hatch, Managing Director of INDO Lighting.
Rebecca spoke about her career, MBA and what inspires her as a leader.
The benefits of using psychometric tests
18 / Dec / 2019
The inability to retain staff has a real measurable cost to businesses in the UK and around the world. It is widely accepted that it costs at least £8,000 to recruit a new person (CIPD).
In the event they don’t succeed in the role the ‘lost opportunity’ really hits the bottom line.
15 / Dec / 2019
In this blog, Laurent Bouvier explains more about the 90-Day Accelerator Programme, and how it benefits candidates and companies.
14 / Dec / 2019
Your most important hires need more than a standard recruitment process. Our Executive Search team contributes to the success of our clients’ organisations by helping them Access, Assess and Retain the best possible talent, not just the available talent.
Executive to NED: Making the Move
18 / Sep / 2025
A Live Webinar for Senior Leaders Exploring Non-Executive and Advisory Roles with Guest Speaker Jeremy Canning from Actuate Global 🗓️ Date: 18th September 2025 🕔 Time: 17:00–18:00 BST 📍 Location: Online (MS Teams link provided upon registration) 🎙️ Hosted by: Executive Heads Reserve your spot – Event Registration About the Webinar Are you a senior executive ready to extend your influence […]
How to Build a More Valuable Business: The 8 Drivers That Increase Your Multiple
26 / Mar / 2026
How to Build a More Valuable Business: The 8 Drivers That Increase Your Multiple If you’re a founder, business owner, or C‑suite leader of an SME or mid‑cap organisation, this webinar is designed specifically for you. Whether you’re preparing for growth, planning for a future MBO, considering a trade sale, or want to attract private equity investment, understanding […]
Business Leaders Event: Turning Strategy into Action
25 / Jun / 2026
Strategy is rarely the problem. Most senior leadership teams know what needs to change. What holds businesses back is alignment, ownership and execution. Plans get discussed, agreed… and quietly parked. Accountability drifts. Momentum is lost. This free business leaders’ breakfast is designed for owners, founders, managing directors, CEOs and senior leaders who want to turn […]
Creating a High-Impact Executive CV
14 / Aug / 2026
Over the last ten years working in executive search, Craig Elvin has partnered with business owners, Managing Directors, CEOs, COOs and functional leaders across the UK. During that time, he has also coached hundreds of executives on how to present themselves effectively in a competitive market. He’s seen first-hand the difference a strong executive CV […]
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