Hanson Search specialises in Marketing Executive Search in New York, for boards, CEOs and private equity sponsors. We deliver Chief Marketing Officers, Chief Communications Officers, Chief Growth Officers, Chief Brand Officers and other C-suite marketing leaders for listed corporates, PE-backed platforms, scale-ups preparing to list and the US headquarters of global groups.

Our model is deliberately senior. A partner owns every search from briefing through to onboarding, and our process reflects what board-level marketing appointments now demand: rigour, discretion and a clear view of how the hire creates enterprise value.

When Boards and CEOs Engage Hanson on a Retained Search

The mandates we lead in New York cluster around moments of genuine consequence. Specifically, boards engage us for first-time CMO appointments, succession planning at the top of the marketing function, post-acquisition leadership integration, IPO-readiness hires and brand reinvention briefs that require an outside perspective.

Private equity sponsors form a substantial part of our New York book. Furthermore, we partner with founders preparing their business for institutional scrutiny and with global groups appointing a US marketing leader empowered to act regionally. Each of these mandates rewards a search firm willing to invest in research, not one optimising for speed alone.

What the Modern CMO Mandate Actually Demands

The New York CMO role has shifted decisively. Today, boards expect their marketing leader to sit at the strategy table alongside the CFO and COO, to defend marketing investment in P&L terms and to demonstrate enterprise value rather than channel activity.

Consequently, our shortlists prioritise leaders who hold conviction on brand and on commercial accountability simultaneously. We assess every candidate on board credibility, capital allocation judgement, AI and martech fluency, transformation track record and the leadership presence to influence beyond the marketing function. Notably, the strongest candidates rarely respond to inbound approaches, which is why our research-led model matters.

Why Boards and Investors Partner with Hanson Search in New York

We operate as a senior boutique alongside the global majors. As a result, clients work with the partner who runs the search, not a layered team that hands the work down. Equally, our independence allows us to recruit from a wider pool than firms constrained by extensive off-limits lists.

Three principles anchor every search we deliver. First, we map the market exhaustively across listed corporates, PE portfolios, scale-ups and global headquarters, because the right candidate often sits in an adjacent industry. Second, we assess every shortlisted leader against the four dimensions boards now prioritise: commercial impact, brand judgement, governance fluency and stakeholder presence. Third, we advise honestly on fit, compensation and integration, because the cost of a failed senior hire vastly exceeds the cost of getting it right. Our B Corp certification reflects a settled commitment to responsible search at the top of the market.

Speak Confidentially with Our Marketing Executive Search Team in New York

For a confidential conversation about Marketing Executive Search in New York, our team welcomes a direct introduction. We advise on retained CMO and senior marketing appointments, board-level succession, post-deal integration and confidential leadership transitions across consumer, luxury, financial services, technology and media.

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