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Chief Technology Officers
CTOs leading AI product, research and platform strategy, from venture-backed startups to AI companies scaling into new markets.
Executive Search
AI executive searchfor the technical leaders who build AI companies.
Lio leads executive searches for CTOs, VPs of Engineering, Heads of AI and other senior technical leaders. These hires define a company’s technology strategy and the teams that follow, so every search is led personally from brief to placement.
Who we recruit
The leaders we recruit
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VPs of Engineering
Leaders who scale engineering organisations, hiring plans and delivery processes through periods of rapid growth.
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Heads of AI
Senior leaders accountable for the AI roadmap, applied AI and model development across the business.
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Directors of Machine Learning
Leaders responsible for modelling standards, ML platforms and the teams that deliver them into production.
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Chief Scientists
Senior research leaders setting technical direction for AI labs and applied research groups.
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Heads of Robotics and AI Infrastructure
Leaders responsible for hardware and autonomy programmes, or for the compute and data platforms that AI depends on.
Our perspective
Why executive AI searches need a specialist
A general executive search firm can identify a senior engineering leader. Judging whether a CTO can lead AI product strategy, or whether a Head of AI can build a credible research and deployment roadmap, requires working knowledge of the technology itself. We spend our time with the people in these roles, so we know how they think, what they have built and what they will expect from the next company.
Leaders at this level are rarely looking actively. Their decision depends on the scope of the mandate, the quality of the founders and the technical credibility of the business. We start with a detailed conversation about the company’s direction, then approach a small number of exceptional leaders personally rather than running a broad campaign.
We work with founders, boards and investors across the US, and adapt each search to the stage and location of the business.
Challenges
Common executive hiring challenges
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Defining the role before the search
Many AI companies hire a CTO or Head of AI before they have agreed what the role must achieve. We help define the mandate, the scope and the profile that will matter in twelve months, not just today.
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Persuading senior leaders to move
Leaders at the top of the field already have options. The mandate and the conversation need to be compelling enough to justify a move.
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Assessing technical depth at leadership level
Senior interviews test strategy and judgement as well as technical knowledge. We help hiring teams structure the assessment so candidates are compared on the same criteria.
Related specialisms
Explore more of our search areas.
Get in touch
Exceptional teams start with the right people.
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