Retained search is a strategic, partnership-based model used for senior and executive roles. An organisation engages a single firm to lead the entire process — from role definition and market mapping to candidate assessment and onboarding. This model prioritises depth, discretion and long-term placement success.
Contingency search operates differently: firms are only paid when a candidate is hired, and the process is typically more volume-driven, relying heavily on active candidates and fast turnaround. This model is generally suited for mid-level or lower-tier roles.
PIXCELL operates exclusively on a retained search model, ensuring clients receive the depth, rigour and advisory partnership required to secure leaders who can create lasting enterprise value.
Executive search fees will be generally charged as a percentage of the hired executive’s first-year total compensation, or as a fixed fee. Some contracts may include additional expenses for advanced candidate testing, executive coaching, or for necessary travel. These fees reflect the depth of research, assessment, and advisory work required for senior leadership hiring.
PIXCELL operates on either a fixed-fee or percentage-based structure, generally depending on client preference. Our firm acts as a strategic partner to your organization and helps maximize your ROI by hiring the right leader for the role.
A typical executive search takes 12 to 16 weeks, although roles requiring niche expertise or international reach may take longer. The process usually includes:
While velocity is important, more so is selecting the right candidate for long-term success. As PIXCELL, we follow a structured, evidence-based timeline that never compromises the depth of candidate evaluation.
Executive search firms combine market research, industry mapping, direct sourcing, competitive intelligence, leadership networks, and technology-enabled search tools to identify both active and passive candidates. They create targeted longlists, conduct outreach, screen profiles, and evaluate candidates’ experience, leadership capabilities, and potential.
Executive search is a relationship-based business. PIXCELL’s years of experience in the industry allow us to harness a robust network of trusted executives who play a pivotal role in referring and recommending top talent. We surface high-calibre leaders who may not be visible through traditional recruiting channels.
Read more: The Hidden Executive Job Market
Organizations should evaluate a firm’s track record, industry specialization, search methodology, assessment capabilities, cultural understanding, and commitment to partnership. Transparency, communication style, geographic reach, and post-placement support are also key. A strong search firm should operate as a strategic and trusted advisor to your business, not a transactional vendor.
Companies choose PIXCELL for its combination of hands-on involvement, rigorous methodology, and advisory support that extends well beyond the search, evaluation, and selection of candidates.
Assessment typically includes in-depth interviews, leadership competency frameworks, thorough reference-checking, psychometric tools, stakeholder interviews, and cultural diagnostics. Firms evaluate alignment with the organization’s values, leadership expectations, communication norms, and decision-making style.
We know the cost of a failed hire. That’s why PIXCELL uses structured behavioural evaluation and tailored cultural diagnostics to ensure leaders are aligned not only with the role but with the organization’s long-term vision and culture.
Technology accelerates and enhances search through AI-powered research and interview software, assessment tools, and secure communication systems. These tools help surface candidates faster, reduce unconscious bias, streamline workflows, and improve data-driven decision-making. However, technology should always enhance (and not replace) human judgment and consulting expertise.
PIXCELL integrates advanced search technology with experienced human oversight, ensuring efficiency without sacrificing the nuanced evaluation that executive hiring demands.
Read more: How AI is Utilized in Executive Recruitment
Global placements require cross-border research, local market knowledge, immigration and compliance expertise, and the ability to assess leaders across cultures. Firms generally work with regional partners and manage international logistics such as relocation and compensation benchmarking.
PIXCELL maintains international reach through partnership with CFR Global Executive Search, enabling seamless cross-border searches that respect regulatory realities.
Successful engagements depend on clear role definition, aligned expectations, a collaborative relationship, transparent communication, timely feedback, and a rigorous, methodical search process. Additionally, success is measured not just by hiring but by the leader’s long-term impact on the business.
PIXCELL emphasizes upfront clarity, disciplined project management, clear milestones, and continuous alignment with client stakeholders to ensure searches result in long-term leadership success.
Firms can promote diversity by using inclusive research strategies, broad talent mapping, bias-mitigating assessment tools, and proactive outreach to underrepresented groups. Some firms also embed diversity metrics into the search process to ensure fair evaluation.
PIXCELL integrates diversity as a core search principle, using structured selection criteria and inclusive sourcing methodologies to produce balanced, high-performing candidate slates.
Internal recruiting is the practice of filling open roles with current employees, often through promotions, lateral moves, internal job boards, or succession pipelines. It’s an effective strategy for developing talent, retaining high performers, and maintaining continuity. Internal recruiting works best when strong internal candidates already exist and the organisation’s future needs are well understood.
Executive search focuses on identifying external leadership talent (especially for senior, specialised, or transformative roles where internal options may be limited). Search firms conduct market-wide research, approach passive executives, benchmark internal candidates against the broader talent landscape, and apply rigorous assessment to evaluate leadership potential, cultural fit, and organisational impact.
PIXCELL provides retained executive search while also advising on internal candidate potential — assessing role fit, readiness and development pathways. We ensure our clients can confidently compare strong internal successors with the top external leaders in the market.
Read more: When to Choose an Industry Insider vs. an Outsider for Your Executive Team
Firms protect confidentiality through nondisclosure agreements, discreet outreach, anonymous role descriptions, and secure communication protocols. They maintain strict control over information, ensuring sensitive details are only shared with qualified candidates who have been fully vetted.
PIXCELL regularly manages confidential searches for high-profile organizations, using controlled processes and secure systems to safeguard all parties throughout the engagement.
A bad executive hire can cost up to 30% of a leader’s first-year salary. Executive search firms help safeguard against that outcome by offering specialized industry knowledge, expansive networks, and robust assessment tools. With objective insights and refined methodology, they consistently deliver stronger, more reliable leadership hires.
PIXCELL enhances internal HR capabilities by providing deep advisory support, robust research insights, and access to leadership talent that most organizations cannot reach through in-house recruiting alone.
Yes. Executive recruitment supports succession planning by identifying future leaders, assessing internal pipelines, benchmarking talent against the market, and advising boards on long-term leadership needs. A strong succession strategy is key for stability, business continuity, and proactive leadership development.
For PE and VC-backed organizations, succession planning is especially critical. Leadership transitions are to be expected, and investor expectations demand clarity around who can step into mission-critical roles. PIXCELL combines executive search with leadership advisory services, giving organizations a strategic, market-informed approach to succession planning.
Read more: How Private Equity Firms Hire Top Executives
Yes. A strong executive search partner can play a meaningful advisory role in organizational effectiveness, especially during moments of change such as a private equity or venture capital acquisition or investment. A firm can evaluate the current leadership landscape, vet internal talent, and provide insight into whether the existing structure supports long-term value creation.
PIXCELL helps organizations build leadership teams that are equipped to deliver sustainable performance. Aside from executive candidate sourcing, our team also provides restructuring recommendations — for example, selecting between a geography-based or an expertise-based structure for a professional services firm, clarifying decision rights, or determining the right matrix for cross-functional collaboration.