Sales & Marketing
Sales & Marketing executive search & recruitment specialists
Sales executive search is the work of finding and appointing the senior commercial leaders who own the number - the chief revenue officers, group sales directors, and commercial directors who deliver the targets a business has committed to its board. Stone Executive’s sales practice handles those appointments across every major UK sector, alongside the regional and middle-management commercial roles that account for much of our day-to-day work.
A senior sales appointment carries unusual pressure. The number has to land on a date already committed to a board, the wrong choice surfaces quickly, and the cost of a mis-hire shows up in revenue terms within weeks. That is why our consultants are sector specialists rather than generalists - the right chief revenue officer for a Series C SaaS business is not the right CRO for a regulated insurer, and the brief reflects that. The most capable commercial leaders are rarely on the open market, and reaching them is the work of an experienced executive search consultant who can make a discreet first call land.
We bring the same rigour to marketing director recruitment and CMO search. Our executive headhunting practice in marketing operates from heads of marketing through to chief marketing officer and chief commercial officer level, with the depth of network to engage the leaders shaping brand, demand generation, and customer experience at the senior end of the UK market.
Senior Sales roles we recruit
Stone Executive recruits across the full spectrum of senior commercial leadership. Our consultants work closely with boards and chief executives to understand the leadership profile each organisation requires, drawing on sector-specific insight and a professional network built over nearly two decades. Roles we regularly appoint include:
- Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) and Chief Commercial Officer (CCO)
- Group Sales Director and National Sales Director
- Regional Sales Director and Head of Sales
- Commercial Director and Business Development Director
- VP of Sales and VP of Business Development
- Channel Sales Director and Head of Partnerships
- Account Director and Key Account Director
Our sales headhunter expertise extends beyond pure sales leadership. Many senior commercial appointments now require leaders who can bridge sales, marketing, and customer success - and our consultants bring the breadth to identify candidates who fit those broader briefs without forcing a generalist solution onto a specific role.
Marketing leadership recruitment
The competition for high-calibre marketing leaders has intensified year on year. Fragmented audiences, changing buyer behaviour, and the rapid evolution of digital platforms have made marketing a more commercial discipline than ever - and the senior leaders who deliver in that environment are fewer than the briefs require.
Marketing director recruitment and CMO recruitment demand a distinct approach. The most effective marketing leaders are rarely seeking new opportunities through job boards or applications. They are embedded in their current organisations, delivering against commercial targets, and the only way to reach them is through trusted relationships and a credible, consultative first conversation.
Stone Executive’s marketing consultants operate within senior marketing communities throughout the UK, appointing experienced senior professionals in:
- CMO and Chief Marketing Officer
- Marketing Director and Head of Marketing
- VP of Marketing and Brand Director
- Digital Marketing Director and Head of Digital
- Communications Director and Head of Corporate Communications
Our approach to Sales executive search
Every Stone Executive sales search begins with understanding the commercial reality the leader will step into. Every organisation faces distinct market dynamics, competitive pressures, and growth ambitions, and the leadership profile must reflect those realities, not a generic CRO template.
Understanding the brief. We invest the time up front with the hiring board to understand the role, the commercial strategy, the team dynamics, and the cultural requirements that will determine whether an appointment succeeds. A sales director who thrives in a high-growth technology business may struggle in a regulated financial services environment - and the brief has to surface that.
Targeted market research. Our consultants map the relevant talent market, identifying organisations and individuals against the leadership brief. This goes beyond a database search. We draw on sector knowledge built over nearly two decades, on relationships across technology, healthcare, financial services, industrial, and business and professional services, and on direct engagement with passive candidates who would not otherwise consider a move.
Candidate assessment. Each candidate is evaluated against the brief and presented with a detailed written profile covering career history, motivations, cultural fit, and an independent assessment of fit for this specific role. We present a carefully curated shortlist, not a volume of CVs.
Appointment and beyond. Our involvement extends beyond the offer. We support both client and candidate through the transition, supporting the often-difficult conversation with the candidate’s current employer and helping the new leader land well in their first months.
Sectors we cover
Commercial director recruitment spans every industry sector in which Stone Executive operates. Senior sales and marketing leadership is critical across all markets, and our sector-specialist consultants bring the contextual depth required to assess candidates within their industry. We appoint sales and marketing leaders across:
- Technology and software - SaaS, enterprise technology, cybersecurity, telecommunications
- Healthcare and life sciences - pharmaceutical, medtech, NHS and private healthcare
- Financial services - banking, insurance, asset management, fintech
- Industrial and manufacturing - engineering, supply chain, energy, utilities
- Business and professional services - consulting, legal, accountancy
- Media, entertainment and publishing
- Education - higher education, EdTech, academy trusts
- Public sector and not-for-profit
Why use executive search for Sales appointments
The volume of sales professionals in the active market is high - which is exactly why generic recruitment usually disappoints at the senior end. The most effective commercial leaders, those with a track record of building high-performing sales organisations and opening new markets, are rarely available through advertised channels. They are performing well, compensated generously, and not responding to job board listings. Reaching them requires a targeted, discreet approach that only a specialist sales executive recruiter can deliver.
Executive search also reduces the cost of a failed appointment. A mis-hire at sales director level can cost an organisation significantly - not only in recruitment fees and salary, but in lost revenue, disrupted client relationships, and damaged team morale. The rigour of the search process, from a detailed brief through structured assessment to a curated shortlist, materially reduces that risk.
FAQs
What does a sales executive search firm do?›
A sales executive search firm identifies and engages senior commercial leaders on behalf of organisations. Unlike contingent recruiters who advertise roles and review applications, executive search firms proactively research the market, approach passive candidates directly, and manage a confidential, structured selection process. The focus is on quality and fit, not volume.
How long does a sales executive search take?›
A typical sales executive search runs for four to eight weeks from briefing to offer acceptance. Complex appointments - particularly those requiring relocation, sector-specific experience, or chief revenue officer-level seniority - often take longer. Stone Executive provides regular progress updates throughout.
What is the difference between a sales headhunter and a recruitment agency?›
A sales headhunter uses a research-led methodology to identify and engage candidates directly, focusing on passive talent who are not actively seeking a move. A recruitment agency typically advertises roles and screens applicants who respond. Headhunting is particularly effective for senior commercial appointments, where the strongest candidates are already in post and performing well.
What roles does a sales executive search cover?›
Sales executive search covers all senior commercial leadership positions, including Chief Revenue Officer, Chief Commercial Officer, Sales Director, VP of Sales, Head of Sales, Business Development Director, and Account Director. Many searches also encompass hybrid commercial and marketing leadership roles where the boundary between functions has narrowed.
How much does sales executive search cost?›
Executive search fees are typically calculated as a percentage of the appointed candidate’s first-year remuneration package, paid in three tranches: an initial instalment at engagement, a second when a shortlist is presented, and a final tranche on appointment. The percentage varies by seniority and complexity, and the fee is confirmed in writing at the engagement stage.
To discuss a senior sales or marketing appointment, please contact our team on 0333 800 1560.
If you would like to discuss a vacancy, or you're looking for a new opportunity, please send us an email or give us a call - we'd be delighted to hear from you.
