Insights

I don't often write about Hyperion, or specifically my day job, but every so often, a message lands that cuts through the noise and gets to the essence of what executive search really is. Not the admin. Not the CVs. Not handling the logistics of interviews. Any fool or AI can send CVs.

Recently, we placed a Non-Executive Director: a respected founder who’s built and exited his own company. After the process wrapped, he said something that stuck with me:

“Honestly, if it hadn’t been you reaching out, with your reputation in the market, I probably wouldn’t have responded or gone through the process. There are a lot of quite general requests for paid advisory, NED or consultancy roles I receive, but I paid attention because it was you.”

That line, “because it was you”, it isn’t about ego, I'm too long in the tooth to need an ego trip. It’s about credibility. It’s about trust. And it’s the essence of what you’re paying for when you engage a proper executive search firm.

What You’re Really Buying

At senior levels, it’s not just about who you can find. It’s about who will take your call.

That’s the difference between transactional recruiting and true executive search. Contingent recruiters can fill inboxes with CVs. But when it comes to high-stakes leadership roles, founders, investors, CHROs, CEOs, need far more than CV's or list of potential candidates. What's critical is access, a strong network and reputation, alongside judgement. You need someone who knows which conversations to start, and how to approach them, and how to assess suitability, cultural and motivational alignment.

When you engage a credible search firm, like Hyperion, or others who’ve earned their stripes, you’re not just buying a shortlist. You’re buying:

• The reach and network built over years in a specific sector
• Relationships forged across countries, companies, and communities
• Thousands of conversations, meetings, and shared experiences
• A reputation that opens doors and earns attention

That’s why people respond. That’s why they listen. That’s why they say "yes, tell me more."

The Bridge Between Opportunity and Trust

Executive search, when done well, isn’t a transaction. It’s a bridge. Between opportunity and trust. Between ambition and alignment. Between the right role and the right person.

It’s value creation; for all parties.

That's what you're paying for, not time worked, or CV's sent, but access to talent others can't reach. Because what you’re really buying is our discernment and credibility to start the right conversation, with the right person, at the right time.

That’s what makes the difference, and that's where the value lies.

What do you think? Everyone has bad experiences with recruiters, even executive search firms maybe, but what are the best outcomes and experiences you've had?

David Hunt