Confidential Executive Search for
High-Stakes Leadership Across MENA
KSA, UAE, Qatar, Oman mandates delivered - Shortlists delivered in as little as 27 days | GCC + global reach
Is your senior hiring taking too long?
Are leaks putting your credibility at risk?
We operate with:
- Quiet searches, clean close.
- Discreet outreach + NDA available + counteroffer support.
- Fewer interviews. Better finalists.
- Performance-based shortlists built for 90-day delivery.
90-Day Delivery • NDA by Default • Discreet Process
“Strong technical candidates delivered fast — discreet outreach, clean screening, and a shortlist we could act on.”
“Very pleased with the quality for senior hires — discretion, attention to detail, and candidates who fit beyond the CV.”
“High standard of talent — technically strong and culturally aligned. Coordination was proactive throughout.”
“Market insights and benchmarking were excellent — helped refine the hiring strategy before we moved.”
“Operator-first profiles. We stopped wasting time in interviews and got to credible finalists quickly.”
“Elm Hunt handled a sensitive hire with discretion — outreach was clean, and the shortlist quality was strong.”
“Commercial leadership candidates were well-vetted — we saw stronger motivation and fit than typical agency traffic.”
“Clear calibration upfront and a shortlist aligned to performance — not just impressive backgrounds.”
“Strong technical candidates delivered fast — discreet outreach, clean screening, and a shortlist we could act on.”
“Very pleased with the quality for senior hires — discretion, attention to detail, and candidates who fit beyond the CV.”
“High standard of talent — technically strong and culturally aligned. Coordination was proactive throughout.”
“Market insights and benchmarking were excellent — helped refine the hiring strategy before we moved.”
“Operator-first profiles. We stopped wasting time in interviews and got to credible finalists quickly.”
“Elm Hunt handled a sensitive hire with discretion — outreach was clean, and the shortlist quality was strong.”
“Commercial leadership candidates were well-vetted — we saw stronger motivation and fit than typical agency traffic.”
“Clear calibration upfront and a shortlist aligned to performance — not just impressive backgrounds.”
Explore Ways We Can Help
Sample Confidential Mandates Delivered:
C-suite Real Estate leadership for an investment firm |
CFO Search (Asset Management) — completed in 27 days |
Fintech CPO — global shortlist across 3 continents |
Real Estate CDO hired for an IPO |
Head of Fintech | Asset Management KSA
Head of Risk (CMA Client) | 3 week turnaround
MD Sales (Asset Management)
— confidential mandates
Common Hiring Complaints ''Client Challenges''
- “We’ve interviewed 12 people — none are right.”
- “The CVs look good… but the board doesn’t buy them.”
- “We need someone who can perform immediately — no learning curve.”
- The pressure is on for us to find candidates fast but its time consuming and the process is drawn out and slow for most roles
- “This replacement must stay confidential.”
- “The market is dry — counteroffers are killing momentum.”
- “We can’t risk a bad exec hire — it’s a board-level failure.”
- ”We need them on board – like yesterday”.
- We can find the right fit candidate but they reject the offer and have inflated salary expectations or demands
CASE STUDIES - Actual Problems Hiring Heads Face:
And How We Have Helped
Case Outcomes — Confidential, Fast, Board-Ready
Three examples of the problems hiring heads actually face: stalled mandates, rare hybrid profiles, and stakeholder misalignment. Click “Read more” to jump to the full case study page.
Case Study 1: Investor Relations (Power & Energy) — Mandate Unblocked
A top agency ran it for ~12 months with low traction. We rebuilt the success profile and quietly targeted operator-grade IR talent.
- Why hard: true IR operators are rare and rarely apply.
- Risk: counteroffers + market noise can derail late.
- Fix: calibration + controlled outreach + proof-led screening.
Case Study 2: Head of FinTech — “Hybrid Operator” Shortlist
The real shortage isn’t “digital titles”. It’s leaders who can execute inside structured governance, stakeholders, and compliance.
- Why hard: many fintech leaders lack corporate cadence + controls.
- Risk: strong CVs fail late-stage due to governance gaps.
- Fix: evidence-led screening for delivery + stakeholder influence.
Case Study 3: Board-Critical Leadership Hire — Alignment Fixed
The mandate wasn’t moving because stakeholders were scoring different criteria. We calibrated deal-breakers first, then built the shortlist.
- Why hard: “good candidates” fail late when success criteria isn’t aligned.
- Risk: prolonged interview cycles create cost + reputational drag.
- Fix: calibration + mapping proof to each stakeholder concern.
SAMPLE ROLES WE RECRUIT
C-SUITE
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Chief Risk Officer (CRO)
Chief Operations Officer (COO)
Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
Chief Information Officer (CIO)
Chief Marketing Officer (CMO)
Chief Compliance Officer (CCO)
Chief Procurement Officer (CPO)
UPPER LEVEL MANAGEMENT ROLES
Regional Sales Managing Director
Head of Investments
Head of Real Estate Development
Head of Real Estate Investments
Head of Risk
Head of Finance
Head of Compliance
Head of Investor Relations
Head of Treasury
Fund / Investment Director
Director of Investor Relations
Corporate Finance Director
Managing Director
Director of Finance
Investment Sales Director
Director of Sales Placements
Director of Portfolio Management
MIDDLE - SENIOR LEVEL MANAGEMENT
Portfolio Fund Manager
Senior Auditor
Senior Accountant
Senior Analysts
Investor Relations Manager
Corporate Finance Manager
Relationship Managers
Private Bankers
BESPOKE HR & AI INTEGRATED SERVICES
We offer a range of Human Resource, AI, HR Support and Training Services designed and tailored around our client's departmental needs
Frequently Asked Questions
1) How fast can you deliver credible finalists?
For most leadership mandates we deliver a shortlist-quality set of finalists within 14–30 days, depending on role complexity, location, and confidentiality level. We confirm timeline and shortlist standard in the 30-minute discovery consultation-call.
2) What does “Confidential by default” actually mean?
No public advertising. Controlled outreach to passive leaders, identity protection in early stages, and NDA-ready execution when required.
3) Do you work retained, exclusive, or contingent?
All three—based on urgency, scarcity, and confidentiality. For board-critical or sensitive hires, retained/exclusive is usually the cleanest model for priority execution and discreet access.
4) What makes your shortlist different from typical agencies?
Fewer, stronger finalists. Operator-first screening (Performance-proven finalists), tight calibration, and controlled market mapping—so you spend less time interviewing and reach decision-ready candidates faster.
5) Can you run a sensitive replacement without market noise?
Yes. We use quiet search protocols, controlled references, and identity protection to reduce internal disruption and external leakage.
6) Do you support offer-close and counteroffers?
Yes—motivation validation, offer positioning, notice-period navigation, and counteroffer risk management to prevent end-stage collapse.
7) What industries do you cover — are you limited to Asset Management and Real Estate?
We have deep strength in Asset Management, Investment and Finance and Real Estate Development, and we also deliver board-level mandates across adjacent sectors (FinTech, Construction, Power & Energy, and other leadership roles). If the role is high-stakes and GCC-based, we can assess it quickly.
8) What do you need from us to start?
A short brief is usually enough, and a manadate/Job Description is useful if you have on to hand. On the triage-discovery call we align: role outcomes, role objectives, must-haves, reporting line, confidentiality level, compensation reality,personality type and timeline.
9) How do fees work?
Fees depend on the engagement model (retained / exclusive / contingent), seniority, and market scarcity. We recommend the cleanest model after triage based on speed, risk, and confidentiality.
10) What happens after the 30-minute triage/consultation call?
You leave with a clear next step: shortlist standard, delivery timeline, and recommended search approach (and NDA if needed). If we proceed, we move into calibration and market mapping immediately.
For CEOs, Boards, and Senior HR leaders. Strictly Confidential. No obligations
See What Our Partner Client's Are Saying
Testimonials
Executive Talent
Mapping & Assessment
Executive Search
Head Hunting
Leadership & Hiring
Strategy Consulting
C suite /Executive Assessment
Planning/Interviewing
HR Bespoke Projects
including Ai Automation
Interim & Fractional
Solutions
Confidential discussion for CEOs, Boards, and Senior HR leaders
AI-Powered Human in the loop
Talent Intelligence
Ai Engineered Start Up
Client Support
Explore Trending Topics & Case Studies >
A Private Discussion Before You Make the Next Move
Whether you’re hiring at board or C-suite level, reassessing leadership strategy, setting up a company or business division or navigating a sensitive executive decision — we provide discreet, senior-level guidance before any mandate is discussed.
For CEOs, Boards, and Senior HR leaders. Strictly Confidential. No obligations
