EIR, Interim & Fractional Executive Search Experts
Because you deserve more than rolodex recruiting
Role: Build Studio Entrepreneurs in Residence & Founders (x 12)
“We are consistently amazed at the quality and the quantity of talent you provide for us. This has made a huge impact on our business.”
— Director, Venture Capital Build Studio
What’s Our Edge?
When the situation calls for fresh leadership, speed matters. Whether you need a turnaround architect, an operational specialist, or a steady hand to steer the ship, we know you can’t wait months for results.
That’s why our interim executive placements move at the pace your business demands. From Fortune 500 veterans to entrepreneurial change-makers, these candidates are ready to jump in, roll up their sleeves, and make an immediate impact.
The typical timeline? Weeks, not quarters. Clients are often interviewing their interim executive less than two weeks from when we launch the search. No endless phone screens, no searching in circles—just qualified leadership on deck when you need it most.
What’s the Real Difference Between Interim vs. Fractional C Suite Leaders?
Let’s clear up the confusion—because when your business hits that crossroads, you want the right firepower, not just a job title.
Interim CXOs (CFOs, COOs, CEOs, etc.) are your full-steam-ahead, all-in change agents. When your finance leader suddenly exits or you’re steering through a major event—think acquisition, IPO prep, turnaround, or crisis—an interim CFO steps in, takes the reins, and leads the team day-to-day. They’re on-site (or Zooming in as your de facto CFO), making the calls and keeping the ship steady until a long-term hire’s in place.
Fractional CFOs, on the other hand, are strategic partners on your terms. Maybe you don’t need a full-time CFO, but you do need senior finance leadership to set direction, optimize cash flow, or sharpen your growth strategy. Fractional means you get access to that expertise, whether that’s a few days a week or for pivotal projects, without taking on a full-time executive.
In short: Interim CFOs fill a leadership gap at crunch time, usually full-time and hands-on. Fractional CFOs offer ongoing, high-impact guidance on a part-time, scalable basis. Think of them as your finance “special ops,” stepping in exactly when and where you need them most.
We Approach Role Profiles & Search Criteria Like It’s Our Investment on the Line
Every search starts with context. We roll up our sleeves alongside your team to decode your board structure, committee needs, upcoming business objectives, and the expertise gaps that really move the needle.
Together, we map out what’s working, what’s missing, and what will get you where you want to go next. That means defining the must-have skills and the leadership attributes that drive real impact.
By the time we hit the market, there’s nothing generic about your search criteria. Every role description is sharp, precise, and tied to your strategy, so every introduction is intentional, and every shortlist is built to raise the bar.
No empty seats filled for the sake of filling them. Just the right people, in the right roles, ready to lead.
Is Your Leadership Team Running on Yesterday’s Playbook? It Might Be Time for a Shake-Up.
If you’re duct-taping strategy, babysitting execution, or whispering sweet nothings to KPIs that won’t move, it’s time to bring in a fresh perspective.
Fractional, interim, or EIR—there’s a new kind of firepower ready to kick things into gear.
Crisis Doesn’t Always Wait for a Permanent Hire
In moments that matter, interim and fractional leaders deliver clarity, command, and immediate results.
Let’s call it what it is: sometimes, the urgency isn’t just about shaking off stagnation—it’s about avoiding a full-blown crash. Boards don’t wait for the wheels to come off. They act when profits slip, key customers walk, or the market starts to lose confidence. That’s when the right kind of leadership isn’t optional. It’s survival mode.
This isn’t the time for a months-long executive search or a safe, consensus hire. You need someone who can step in fast, reset the tone, and take the reins with clarity and command. Whether it’s an interim CEO with turnaround muscle, a fractional CRO to triage revenue, or an Executive in Residence helping guide strategic transition, these leaders bring more than experience—they bring impact.
Because a fresh face in the seat isn’t enough. You need someone who can rebuild trust, re-energize teams, and chart a new course—especially when status quo thinking is steering you straight into a storm. If your company’s on autopilot, or worse, drifting off course, don’t wait for the tailspin. Bring in someone who knows how to pull up—and fast.
What Sets the Best Executive Search Partners Apart
Let’s be honest—most companies don’t call a search firm because everything’s going great. They call because something’s stuck. Growth is slowing. Execution is messy. Strategy feels... misaligned. And more often than not, the first instinct is: “We need a new CFO.”
But here’s the twist: the best search partners know the real issue is often bigger than one role. Maybe your COO is in over their head. Your CHRO is playing defense. Or your CEO needs a different kind of support. When one part of the system isn’t working, the whole thing suffers.
That’s where elite executive search firms shine—not just by filling roles, but by helping you reimagine what great leadership should look like at this stage.
Here’s how we stand apart:
We Don’t Just “Do” CFOs. We Re-Architect Leadership.
Yes, we can bring you a CFO who’s led an IPO or restructured global finance. But we also know how to spot a COO who can scale chaos into process, a CMO who brings actual ROI, or a CHRO who knows how to build performance and trust. The best firms think holistically, because they’ve seen how one great hire changes the trajectory of an entire team.
We Ask the Bigger Questions.
Instead of asking, “What does the CFO need to own?” we ask, “What’s in the way of execution? Where’s the org misaligned? Who’s ready for more—and who’s not?” That’s how we surface not just great candidates, but the right ones for your reality.
We Specialize in the Hard Stuff.
Turnarounds, PE-backed transformations, founder transitions, post-acquisition chaos—this isn’t LinkedIn roulette. Our team knows how to drop in a fractional executive, interim leader, or Executive in Residence who can stabilize, build trust, and deliver results yesterday.
We’re More Than Matchmakers.
We bring you market intelligence that goes way beyond salary bands. You’ll get truth, not fluff, and a partner who can help future-proof the whole leadership bench, not just plug a gap.
So yes, maybe it starts with a CFO search.
But the best search partners?
They help you redesign the engine, not just replace the spark plug.
“When a company calls us for a fractional, interim, or EIR role, it’s rarely just about filling a gap. There’s usually something deeper going on: misalignment, stalled growth, a big shift on the horizon. That’s why we don’t just send in whoever’s available. We dig in to understand the business as if it were ours, and then we bring in someone who can not only steady the ship, but set a new course. That’s the kind of leadership that actually moves the needle.”
— Tracy Nickell, CEO, Summit Search Consultants
More Than a Search. A Strategy.
Whether you’re searching for that rare Entrepreneur in Residence, a battle-tested fractional Chief Executive Officer, or a visionary interim Executive Director, we specialize in connecting you with leaders prepared to make an immediate impact. From interim healthcare executives, marketing and sales leaders, to interim SaaS specialists and mission-driven executive directors, we understand the nuances of every critical role.
No matter your sector—tech, nonprofit, healthcare, advanced technology or SaaS—we find interim and fractional executives who don’t just check boxes. They build, innovate, and lead from day one. And yes, that includes the “other” hard-to-define interim executive positions or Executive in Residence roles that most recruiters shy away from.
We bridge the gap between urgency and excellence, matching you with leaders who thrive in ambiguity and drive results when it matters most.