Executive search
Executive search for the first leaders around the founder
Foundational executive hires for venture-backed and early-stage companies: the leaders who take operating weight off the founder without lowering the technical bar.
You speak with Emily Landon directly. Guarantee terms are confirmed on the call.
- 3–5 days to first intro
- 14–21 days to offer
- 100% refund guarantee
TTR-reported benchmarks
TTR-reported proof
- 14–21 days to offer vs industry 60–90 days
- Every candidate passes the Distributed Systems Filter
TTR-reported figures. Timelines are firm benchmarks, not a promise for every mandate. Guarantee terms are confirmed in the intro call.
What you get
What you get when you hire executive leaders with TTR
- 01
A scoped mandate first
Start with a working session with Emily Landon on why the role exists now, what it owns and who decides.
- 02
First intros in 3–5 days
TTR-reported benchmark from a scoped mandate to the first candidate introductions.
- 03
Vetting on two layers
Candidates are judged on evidence of judgement in the function and on operating ownership. Every candidate passes the Distributed Systems Filter.
- 04
An offer in 14–21 days
TTR benchmark, against 60–90 days industry-wide. Scope, seniority and decision speed on your side move it.
- 05
Hires that hold
TTR reports 98% long-term retention. The search is built for a durable hire, not only a closed one.
- 06
100% refund guarantee
TTR reports a 100% refund guarantee. The specific terms are confirmed on the intro call with Emily Landon.
Roles
Roles TTR searches for
- COO
- CFO
- VP Engineering
- Head of Growth
- Compliance and risk leaders
- Head of Protocol, AI Infrastructure or Platform
- Heads of Security
03
What each role is really for
COO
Converts founder intent into operating cadence. The search turns on what the founder will stop doing, and how the person handles legal, finance and hiring in a young company.
CFO
In token, payments or AI-compute-heavy businesses finance is not back office. We probe for treasury exposure, unit economics of infrastructure and investor reporting experience.
VP Engineering
Owns delivery, hiring and the technical bar. The Distributed Systems Filter is especially relevant here, because the leader sets the standard for everyone they hire.
Head of Growth
Builds a go-to-market motion that technical buyers believe. We look for operators who understand the product they are selling, not only the funnel.
Compliance leadership
Designs controls that let the team keep shipping. In regulated products this hire often determines the speed of the next twelve months.
Distributed Systems Filter
Every candidate passes the Distributed Systems Filter
Every candidate TTR introduces passes the Distributed Systems Filter, across engineering and operational roles. Ask Emily Landon how the filter applies to your mandate and what evidence will be used to assess candidates.
- Applies to every candidate TTR introduces
- Used across operational roles as well as engineering
- Ask Emily Landon what evidence will be used for your mandate
Speed
How fast can you hire executive leaders?
Firm benchmarkTTR reports 14–21 days to offer, against 60–90 days industry-wide. Executive mandates often involve more stakeholders, so treat these as firm benchmarks and not a promise for every mandate.
- 3–5 days to first intro (TTR benchmark)
- 14–21 days to offer (TTR benchmark)
- 60–90 days industry range, shown for comparison
TTR: 14–21 days to offer
Industry: 60–90 days
TTR-reported benchmark, not a promise for every mandate.
Guarantee
Backed by a 100% refund guarantee
TTR reports a 100% refund guarantee. The specific terms are confirmed on the intro call with Emily Landon, so you know them before the search starts.
- 100% refund guarantee (TTR-reported)
- 98% long-term retention (TTR-reported)
- 400+ placements (TTR-reported)
Process
How the search works
- 01
Scope the mandate
A conversation about why the role exists now, what it replaces in the founder's week and who else is affected.
- 02
Calibrate the bar
We agree the evidence of fit, including how the person has led through failure.
- 03
Introduce candidates
Candidate introductions with reasoning, with TTR reporting 3–5 days to first introductions as a benchmark.
First intros: 3–5 days (TTR benchmark) - 04
Close and settle in
Offer support and follow-through so the leader lands well.
Offer: 14–21 days (TTR benchmark)
Compared
TTR against the industry range
| Measure | Industry range | TTR |
|---|---|---|
| Time to offer | 60–90 days | 14–21 days |
| Time to first intro | Not compared | 3–5 days |
| Vetting | Not compared | Distributed Systems Filter |
| Long-term retention | Not compared | 98% |
TTR-reported figures. The 60–90 day industry range is the only external reference shown. Every TTR candidate passes the Distributed Systems Filter.
Who it's for
Who this search is for
Founders making a first or second layer of executive hires in blockchain, AI, fintech or SaaS. The company is credible enough to attract leaders, and early enough that each one reshapes it.
Board-level leadership mandates at established companies may suit a retained firm better; the comparison pages set out where that line falls.
Recently funded
Venture-backed or early-stage companies hiring after a raise.
Under 50 employees preferred
The best-fit company profile.
Under 200 employees maximum
Past that size, a different search model may fit better.
Built for founders
TTR runs specialist search for founders of venture-backed and early-stage companies.
Board-level mandates at established companies may suit a retained firm better. The retained search comparison sets out where that line falls.
Related searches
Related roles TTR hires for
Hire blockchain engineers who have lived with consensus failure
See the search Blockchain · Infrastructure · Consensus · NodesHire blockchain infrastructure engineers
See the search AI systems · ML inference · GPU orchestration · MLOpsHire the engineers who keep AI systems running in production
See the search Fintech · Payments · Ledgers · Treasury · ComplianceHire fintech engineers for systems that move money
See the search SaaS platform · Product systems · GTMHire SaaS platform engineers and operators who carry the system forward
See the search AI systems · Inference · GPU orchestration · MLOpsHire AI infrastructure engineers
See the searchFAQ
Questions about hiring executive leaders
Which executive roles does TTR cover?
COO, CFO, VP Engineering, Head of Growth and compliance leaders, plus heads of protocol, AI infrastructure, platform and security.
Is TTR a retained search firm?
TTR is a specialist search and talent advisory firm. How a mandate is structured, and commercial terms, are discussed in the intro call.
When is a retained executive firm a better fit?
Broad board-level leadership mandates across many industries can suit a retained firm. TTR is built for founders hiring in blockchain, AI, fintech and SaaS.
How quickly does an executive search move?
TTR reports 3–5 days to initial introductions and 14–21 days to offer as benchmarks, not a promise for every mandate.
Next step
Put the mandate in front of Emily
Bring the role, even if the scope is unsettled. The intro call is where we pressure-test it and confirm guarantee terms.