Proof

Placements that stuck.

Pre-sales searches we've run, what changed, and the numbers that came out of them — plus straight answers on fees, guarantees and timelines.

Case studies

Anonymised at client request. Each one is a search we ran on our own desk.

Cybersecurity · Series C

Enterprise SE for a 7-figure PoC motion

Challenge: Two failed hires in nine months. The band was set 15% under market and the panel kept screening for product knowledge instead of PoC leadership.
What we did: Recalibrated the band against live placement data, rewrote the scorecard around technical discovery, and ran a targeted approach to 34 SEs already running enterprise PoCs.
Outcome: Hire is 19 months in and now leads the enterprise PoC pod.

18 days

Brief to signed offer

AI/ML · Growth stage

First three solutions engineers in a new US region

Challenge: A UK-headquartered platform opening in the US with no local comp reference point and an aggressive Q3 revenue plan.
What we did: Delivered a regional benchmark first, then ran three parallel searches from one calibrated shortlist pipeline rather than three separate briefs.
Outcome: All three passed probation; region hit plan two quarters running.

3 of 3

Hires placed in one quarter

Cloud/DevOps · Public company

SE manager replacement without disrupting the team

Challenge: An unplanned leadership exit mid-renewal cycle, with a confidential search requirement while the incumbent was still in seat.
What we did: Ran a fully confidential process with no advertised role, briefing candidates only after a two-stage screen against the leadership scorecard.
Outcome: No attrition in the eight-person SE team through the transition.

100%

Team retention post-hire (12 months)

Client names are withheld under our standard confidentiality terms. Sector, stage and timelines are as recorded on the search.

Recruitment FAQ

Fees, guarantees, timelines and scope — the questions employers ask before a first call.

How much do you charge?

A percentage of first-year base salary, depending on level and search type. Fees are agreed in writing before we start and are payable only on a successful start.

Do you offer a guarantee?

Yes — a 90-day replacement guarantee on every permanent placement. If the hire leaves or is exited within 90 days of their start date, we run the search again at no additional fee.

How long does a search take?

Around four weeks from brief to signed offer on a typical pre-sales search. Shortlists usually land in 6–8 days; the rest is your interview and PoC schedule.

Which roles do you cover?

Sales Engineer, Solutions Engineer, Solutions Architect (pre-sales), Solutions Consultant and Technical Account Manager — from associate through leadership, across cybersecurity, AI/ML, cloud and SaaS.

Contract or permanent?

Both. Permanent placements run on the percentage fee above; contract and fixed-term-engagement SEs are placed on a day-rate margin, useful for PoC surges and parental cover.

Do you work exclusively / retained or contingent?

Both models are available. Contingent works well for a single well-defined hire. Retained or exclusive is the better fit for confidential searches, leadership hires and multi-hire builds — it buys dedicated sourcing time and a fixed delivery schedule.

What happens if the hire doesn't work out?

Within the first 90 days, we replace the hire at no additional fee — we re-open the search, re-run sourcing and deliver a fresh shortlist. We'll also debrief honestly on what the original scorecard or band missed, so the second search doesn't repeat it.

How is your salary data sourced?

From our own placement records, signed offers and employer briefs, reported as medians with ranges spanning our published levels, and refreshed quarterly. Full detail is on our methodology page.

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