Expertise Across Sectors
Our Support Spans Multiple Sectors
Financial Services
McGregor Boyall is a trusted global partner in financial services recruitment, delivering high-quality talent across technology, data, transformation, and risk. With international reach and a focus on speed without compromising quality, we support organisations at every stage of growth.
Professional Services
We are a trusted global professional services recruitment partner, delivering mid-level to senior talent across all functions with speed, quality, and international reach to support long-term growth and expansion.
Life Sciences
McGregor Boyall partners with life sciences organisations to secure specialist and leadership talent, combining rapid delivery with an extensive global candidate network.
Consumer & Retail
McGregor Boyall is a leading retail recruitment partner, delivering executive, interim, and contract talent across all functions with speed, quality, and global reach.
Tech, Media & Entertainment
McGregor Boyall supports organisations across IT, media, and entertainment by sourcing high-impact talent across business and technology functions, combining quality hiring with rapid delivery.
Energy, Utilities & Renewables
McGregor Boyall partners with energy organisations worldwide to secure specialist and leadership talent across oil, gas, and renewable energy markets, enabling long-term success.
Retained Search Recruitment for High-Impact Appointments
Hiring for a role that carries real commercial risk?
Board accountability. Regulatory exposure. Transformation delivery.
Need discretion?
A confidential replacement or sensitive market move.
Struggling to reach the right calibre of candidate?
In specialist markets, the strongest profiles are rarely active.
McGregor Boyall delivers retained search recruitment through an exclusive, research-led mandate.
- Dedicated mandate ownership
- Structured market mapping
- Direct engagement with identified talent
- Defined reporting and stakeholder alignment
With consultants embedded in their markets and networks built over decades, we bring cross-sector insight and direct access that extends beyond database reach.
Specialist-Led, Strategically Delivered
When partnering with you for retained search recruitment, we know in-depth sector knowledge is critical. Our retained search capability is built around deep specialism, global reach, and a rigorous approach designed for executive, director, and C-suite appointments.
Our retained executive search approach ensures every engagement is handled with focus, confidentiality, and strategic intent, led by specialists who take the time to understand your business, challenges, and the long-term impact of the hire.
Exclusive Engagement & Briefing
The search begins with an upfront retainer to secure an exclusive partnership. McGregor Boyall then works closely with you to define the role, success criteria, culture fit, and search strategy.
Market Mapping & Intelligence
A comprehensive mapping of the global talent market is conducted, targeting both active and passive candidates to build a robust longlist aligned to the brief.
Proactive Candidate Approach
Selected candidates are discreetly and professionally approached, with McGregor Boyall acting as a brand ambassador to generate interest and assess motivation.
Rigorous Assessment
Candidates undergo in-depth interviews and evaluation against technical capability, leadership style, and cultural alignment, ensuring only high-calibre talent progresses.
Shortlist Delivery
A focused shortlist (typically 3–5 candidates) is delivered, supported by structured evaluation, comparative analysis and insight into market positioning, ensuring each recommendation is commercially aligned.
Interview, Offer & Onboarding Support
McGregor Boyall manages the interview process, leads offer negotiation and supports onboarding to secure a successful, long-term appointment, enabling your leadership team to remain focused on business priorities.
Appointing leadership or specialist talent in regulated markets?
Managing a confidential or succession-led hire?
Building capability in growth, transformation or risk functions?
Requiring cross-sector insight and access beyond active candidates?
Retained search at McGregor Boyall supports organisations across Financial Services, Commerce and Industry, and the Public Sector where precision and accountability are critical.
We work with:
- Boards and executive teams making strategic appointments
- Regulated businesses requiring discretion and compliance alignment
- Growth-stage and transformation-led organisations building new capability
- Global teams seeking specialist talent across multiple markets
Our consultants operate within defined practice areas, combining sector depth with international reach to deliver retained mandates with clarity and control.
Meet Our Executive Leadership Team
Different pressures. Different priorities. Different leaders. Best outcome.
Who We Support Through Retained Search
Retained search is typically used where appointments carry long-term strategic impact. Our mandates span organisations at different stages, but always where depth, discretion and market access are essential.
Startups & Scale-Ups
Retained search supports high-growth organisations building critical leadership and specialist capability. Whether appointing a first CFO, scaling technology leadership or strengthening governance ahead of funding, we bring structured market mapping and access to experienced professionals beyond active applicants.
Enterprises & Global Firms
Large organisations use retained search for complex, multi-stakeholder appointments where alignment, regulatory awareness and international reach are required. Our consultants operate within defined markets, ensuring consistency and insight across global hiring hubs.
Transformation & Project Teams
Retained mandates are often used to secure programme-critical hires in change, technology and risk functions. When delivery timelines and stakeholder visibility are high, a structured and accountable search process provides control and clarity.
Regulated Industries
In regulated environments, leadership appointments demand sector understanding and discretion. We manage retained searches across Financial Services and other compliance-driven sectors where market credibility and technical depth are non-negotiable.
Our Specialisms
We pride ourselves on delivering the best possible advice, market intelligence, recruitment solutions and service across the following specialisms.
Business Support & Secretarial
Strong executive teams rely on strong operational support.
From Executive Assistants and Personal Assistants to Office Managers and Business Support Leads, we identify professionals who bring structure, discretion and pace to senior environments. These roles often sit close to decision-makers, so trust, judgement and adaptability matter just as much as experience.
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Change & Transformation
Transformation requires leaders who can turn strategy into delivery.
We support organisations undergoing restructuring, digital change, post-merger integration or large-scale operational improvement. This includes Transformation Directors, Change Leads and Programme Sponsors who can engage stakeholders, manage risk and drive adoption.
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Compliance, Governance & Legal
When oversight matters, leadership quality matters more.
We recruit senior professionals across compliance, governance and legal functions who understand regulation, internal controls and corporate responsibility. From General Counsel to Heads of Compliance and Company Secretaries, we focus on leaders who can protect the organisation while enabling growth.
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Cloud, DevOps & Infrastructure
Modern businesses depend on resilient, scalable platforms.
We support hiring across cloud architecture, infrastructure leadership and DevOps strategy. That includes CTOs, Heads of Infrastructure, Cloud Directors and Platform Engineering Leads who can balance performance, cost and security.
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Data & Analytics
Data is only valuable if it shapes decisions.
We recruit Chief Data Officers, Heads of Analytics, BI Directors and senior data leaders who can build data capability across the organisation. This includes governance, architecture and insight delivery.
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Development & Testing
Product and engineering leadership defines delivery standards.
From Engineering Directors to Heads of QA and Software Development Managers, we identify leaders who can build high-performing teams, improve release cycles and raise technical quality.
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Digital Marketing, Communications & Sales
Revenue growth depends on aligned commercial leadership.
We support executive hiring across marketing, brand, communications and sales. This includes CMOs, Commercial Directors and Growth Leaders who can translate market insight into revenue performance.
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Finance, Audit & Accounting
Financial leadership shapes stability and strategy.
We recruit CFOs, Finance Directors and Heads of Audit who bring oversight, forecasting capability and commercial insight. Whether preparing for investment, scaling operations or strengthening controls, the right finance executive changes decision-making at every level.
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HR & Talent Management
People strategy drives business performance.
We identify Chief People Officers, HR Directors and Talent Leaders who can shape workforce planning, culture and leadership development. This includes organisations navigating growth, restructuring or cultural change.
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Information & Cyber Security
Security is a board-level issue.
We support hiring for CISOs, Heads of Information Security and Cyber Risk Leaders who can manage threat landscapes, regulatory requirements and internal resilience.
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Project & Programme Management
Delivery discipline protects investment.
We recruit Programme Directors, PMO Leaders and Portfolio Managers who can oversee complex initiatives and ensure accountability across timelines, budgets and stakeholders.
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Risk Management & Quantitative Analytics
In volatile markets, risk leadership becomes strategic.
We support hiring across enterprise risk, market risk, credit risk and quantitative analytics functions. From Chief Risk Officers to Quant Leads, we focus on leaders who combine analytical depth with commercial judgement.
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Procurement & Supply Chain
Supply chain leadership impacts cost, resilience and reputation.
We recruit Heads of Procurement, Supply Chain Directors and Operations Leaders who can manage global suppliers, mitigate disruption and optimise performance.
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What Our Clients Say About Us
We’re proud to hear how our consultants have helped to make a difference in the professional lives of our clients and candidates. We’re always pleased to see the feedback we receive on our staffing and executive search solutions from our long-term partners.
Speak to a Retained Search Specialist
For leadership appointments and business-critical hires, a retained recruitment approach provides commitment, depth and discretion. We work in close partnership with you to define requirements, map the market and deliver a focused, managed search process.
Get in touch to explore how retained search can strengthen your leadership capability and secure high-impact talent.
Retained Search: Your Questions Answered
When should a business use retained search?
Retained search is typically used for senior, business-critical or hard-to-fill roles where precision and confidentiality are essential.
It is often chosen when the talent pool is limited, highly competitive or largely passive, requiring a structured and proactive market approach rather than open advertising.
What is the difference between retained search and contingent recruitment?
Retained search involves an upfront engagement fee and a dedicated search strategy, including market mapping and targeted outreach.
Contingent recruitment operates on a success-fee model and is generally suited to roles with wider candidate availability.
Retained search is commonly used where hiring risk is higher and organisations require a deeper, research-led process.
How does McGregor Boyall structure a retained search assignment?
McGregor Boyall begins each retained search with a detailed briefing and defined success criteria. This is followed by comprehensive market mapping to identify relevant talent across competitors and adjacent sectors.
We engage both active and passive candidates, providing structured reporting, benchmarking insights and shortlist rationale throughout the assignment.
Why partner with McGregor Boyall for retained search?
McGregor Boyall combines sector specialisation with research-driven methodology, enabling access to leadership and specialist talent that is not visible through open advertising.
Our consultants operate within defined markets, ensuring deep understanding of skill requirements, regulatory considerations and competitive hiring conditions.
This allows organisations to secure high-impact hires with reduced risk and greater long-term alignment.
What guarantees come with a retained search engagement?
Many retained search firms provide a replacement guarantee if a placed candidate leaves within an agreed period, typically between three and twelve months. The length and terms of the guarantee vary depending on the assignment and seniority of the role.
A retained engagement also reduces hiring risk by committing dedicated research time, structured market mapping and detailed candidate evaluation. This increases the likelihood of long-term success rather than short-term placement.