ESG data and stewardship technology search
Sales, product and customer leaders for ESG data, ratings and stewardship technology companies. London, New York and Europe.
Request a callWho we place
We place the commercial and product people who sell, build and look after the data that sustainable investors rely on.
- Heads of sales and new business leaders who open accounts
- Account directors and client relationship leads
- Product managers and heads of product for ESG and climate data
- Customer success and client service leaders
- ESG data, research and methodology leads
- Commercial leaders for a first US or European office
Who we work for
Our clients range from founder-led start-ups to the data teams inside large managers.
- ESG data, ratings and analytics providers
- Stewardship, voting and engagement technology platforms
- Climate and carbon data businesses
- Index and portfolio construction providers
- Data teams inside asset managers and private equity firms
Why these hires are hard
Every salesperson interviews well. The difference that matters is between people who open new accounts and people who grow existing ones, and most CVs do not show which is which. We test for it directly, by asking candidates to walk through the deals they won and how each one started.
Buyers in asset management are expert and sceptical, so the best sellers in this market know the investment process as well as the product. That is a small pool, and much of it sits at a few large data houses.
Consolidation across the industry has released experienced people, but it has also made candidates cautious. They want to understand a company’s funding, product roadmap and route to market before they move.
How we run the search
We start with forty-five minutes with the hiring manager on what the person will have to sell, to whom, and what good looks like in their first two quarters. We then approach people directly, most of whom are not on the market, interview for motivation as much as experience, and send a shortlist within one to two weeks.
The full process is on our executive search page. Permanent search is what we do. Interim on request.
Roles we have filled
- Global Head of Sales, ESG technology platform, London
- VP, Customer Success, ESG technology platform, London
- Head of ESG Data, global asset manager, New York
- ESG Data Scientist, global asset manager, London
- ESG data and integration lead, private equity firm
Questions we are asked
Can you tell a new-business seller from an account manager?
That is the first thing we test for. We ask candidates to take us through the accounts they opened themselves, how long each took and what they did to win it.
Do you hire for a first US or European office?
Yes. We have helped UK and European companies make their first commercial hires in New York, and the reverse. Those hires need someone who can work without a team around them, and we look for that specifically.
Will you approach people at the large data providers?
Yes, where it suits the role. We agree before the search starts which organisations are off limits, including your own clients and partners.
Do you place product and data roles as well as sales?
Yes. We place product managers, data and methodology leads and customer success leaders as well as sales.
How long does it take?
You will have a shortlist within one to two weeks of the kickoff. After that the timing depends on your interview process and notice periods.
How do your fees work?
We agree fees and terms with you before a search starts and will talk you through them on a first call.