C-suite appointments are the highest-stakes decisions an organisation makes. We combine a deeply cultivated leadership network with AI-powered executive profiling to surface the rare individuals who don't just fill a role — they transform the organisation around it. Active across Southeast Asia and globally, with mandates spanning Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and beyond.
Executive roles are not filled through job postings. The leaders who can genuinely transform an organisation at the $50M ARR stage, through a PE-backed turnaround, or into a public company — are not browsing job boards. Per AESC standards for retained executive search, the passive candidate market represents the majority of executive-level talent at any given time.
They are found through deep network access, positioned compellingly through highly confidential outreach, and assessed through leadership-specific analytical frameworks that go well beyond what standard recruitment agencies can provide.
9cv9 combines the relationship depth of a retained search firm with AI-powered leadership profiling — delivering an executive shortlist that boards and founders can place real confidence in.
Functional credentials are table stakes. What actually predicts executive success is a different set of signals — and we measure them systematically.
Maps the arc of each executive's career: scope acceleration, P&L ownership growth, headcount responsibility, and whether their trajectory points toward the level your role demands.
Matches each executive's experience against the specific company stage, ownership structure, and strategic context of your mandate. A PE-backed COO mandate requires a different profile from a venture-funded hypergrowth one.
At the C-level, a mis-hire can cost an organisation 12–24 months of momentum (consistent with Harvard Business Review research on executive mis-hire impact). Our executive risk profiling flags leadership style mismatches, cultural incompatibilities, and board-level red flags before the first conversation.
For leadership searches, LinkedIn Intelligence maps not just what a candidate has done but who they know — investors they've worked with, leadership teams they've built, board members who know their work first-hand.
Every C-suite function — from founding CEO appointments to functional heads at enterprise scale. Each role type uses a different analytical weighting because what makes a great CFO is not what makes a great CTO.
Executive search is available under our Premium plan — a $6,000 annual retainer with a 25% success fee and a 6-month replacement guarantee. The retainer is fully deductible from the first placement invoice.
| Assessment area | Generalist recruiter | 9cv9 Executive Search |
|---|---|---|
| Leadership trajectory analysis | Tenure and title listed on CV — no career arc assessment. | Scope acceleration, P&L growth, and headcount progression mapped across full career history. |
| Stage-fit assessment | Functional match based on previous job title alone. | Explicit mapping of candidate history against your company stage: Series A through post-IPO and PE-backed contexts. |
| Executive hire risk profiling | Reference checks after the decision is made. | Board alignment risk, cultural fit, and counter-offer exposure flagged before the first conversation. |
| Network depth & reach | LinkedIn Recruiter search — candidate pool limited to active job-seekers. | Direct access to the passive executive market — candidates not browsing job boards. |
| Candidate brief quality | CV summary and recruiter's subjective opinion. | Board-ready briefing document with six-dimension scores, comparative analysis, and evidence for every claim. |
| Mandate timeline | Unpredictable — driven by active application volume. | 90 days average from brief to final shortlist. Expectations set upfront. |
| Placement guarantee | Rarely offered at executive level. | 6-month replacement guarantee on all executive mandates. |
| Confidentiality | Standard sourcing outreach — incumbent at risk of discovery. | Fully discreet process from first contact. Incumbent and candidate relationships protected throughout. |
The right C-suite appointment accelerates everything. The wrong one costs two years. Our analytics exist precisely to close that gap — and our retention numbers show it.
Executive search demands a different operating rhythm from contingent recruitment. We run every mandate on a retained basis — meaning full commitment, continuous progress, and board-ready deliverables at every stage. Our executive search team operates across Southeast Asia and globally.
Our typical mandate runs 90 days from brief to final shortlist. Complex or highly confidential mandates may run longer — we will always set expectations upfront.
Every great company-defining moment begins with the right person at the top. Let us find yours — with the rigour, discretion, and analytical depth the decision deserves.