Top CDO (Chief Data Officer) Executive Search Firms
When your company is on the hunt for a Chief Data Officer (CDO), a leader responsible for shaping data strategy, governance, analytics, and monetization, the stakes are high. With data powering the Artificial Intelligence (AI) revolution, it’s only logical to hire an excellent executive to spearhead all things data.
Working with an executive search partner offers clear advantages. Firms that specialise in C-suite and board-level roles maintain deep talent pipelines and robust networking capabilities that support international searches and faster access to qualified leaders.
These firms are structured to deliver a swift response, present exceptional slates early in the process, and guide you from the initial meeting through to term placements.
Many firms also measure success beyond placement, tracking integration and output up to the one-year mark to ensure exceptional candidate satisfaction and leadership continuity.
Still, it’s not all so straightforward.
One survey shows that more than 40 % of all executive search engagements fail to result in a hire. Similarly, executive‑level roles (including data/analytics and CDO) can take well over 120 days to fill.
In this article, we’ll highlight the top executive search firms for CDO appointments and offer guidance on how to choose the right recruiting partner for your organization’s needs.
TL;DR: Best 5 CDO Executive Search Firms
Alpha Apex Group: Alpha Apex Group is a fast-growing executive search and consulting firm that specializes in placing CDOs with deep expertise in data governance, analytics, and information strategy. Their combination of recruiting and advisory services makes them ideal for organizations that need strategic alignment and rapid placements.
Korn Ferry: Korn Ferry is an executive search firm with broad reach and deep functional expertise in C‑suite roles. They offer structured processes, talent networks, and full leadership advisory services for organizations scaling their data capabilities.
Cowen Partners: Cowen Partners focuses on high-impact C‑suite placements and guarantees a shortlist within 38 days. Their industry coverage and one-year replacement guarantee reduce risk for complex data leadership hires.
Heller Search: Heller Search is a women-owned firm specializing in technology leadership, including CIOs and CDOs. Their process and candidate networks in data and analytics make them a good partner for sourcing strategic, governance-focused data leaders.
Bespoke Partners: Bespoke Partners uses retained search and AI-driven candidate mapping tools tailored for SaaS and other tech verticals. Their focus on fast-growing tech makes them suited for hiring CDOs who drive analytics, product development, and enterprise data strategy.
Benefits of Working with a CDO Recruiting Partner
The role of a CDO keeps expanding, and its importance is hard to overstate. With AI constantly changing daily operations, large organizations will rely more and more on CDOs to turn their data into clear decisions and a competitive advantage.
According to a Gartner survey, 70% of Chief Data and Analytics Officers (CDAOs) are responsible for AI strategy.
For such an incredibly important role, it’s essential to find the best executive who has the right expertise, experience, and ambition to oversee analytics and data governance.
That's where a specialized executive search firm offers distinct advantages that traditional hiring cannot compete with.
You Gain Access to Deep Talent Network
Executive search firms work inside networks that traditional hiring never reaches. They stay connected to senior leaders across scientific and data fields and financial leadership roles, people who aren’t actively searching but are open to the right opportunity.
This access changes the outcome. You’re not limited to applicants. You can evaluate proven operators who already lead scientific endeavors, manage large data teams, or deliver development efforts tied to business capabilities.
It leads to a cleaner fit, stronger alignment with your goals, and key position placements that would never surface through public listings or inbound résumés.
You Get Industry‑Specific Expertise
Firms that specialise in C-suite and technology executives bring experience that goes beyond recruiting. Their executive search leadership gives them the context to understand your business, your industry, and your value-creation objectives.
And that's important for most clients. A benchmark from the Association of Executive Search and Leadership Consultants (AESC) shows that 33% of clients rate the firm’s industry-wide or functional knowledge as critical.
This specialized knowledge helps ensure your ideal candidate is operationally capable and aligned with your organization’s strategy, culture, and governance objectives.
You Get Operational Coverage During The Process
Executive-level hiring pulls time away from real work. Market mapping, sourcing, alignment, vetting, and closing can leave a data organization without leadership longer than it can afford.
A strong search team absorbs that load. They run the full process, keep momentum steady, and prevent your internal leaders from getting pulled into weeks of head-hunting. You stay focused on the business while the search moves forward with discipline and speed.
You Gain Long‑Term Value
Top search firms stay involved after the hire. They support onboarding, advise on team structure, and strengthen the leadership network around your new CDO so the role connects cleanly to analytics, governance, and business-intelligence functions.
This steady guidance matters in fast-growing organizations. It gives you continuity, clearer decision paths, and support at the board level without turning the search into a transactional, one-off engagement.
Top 10 CDO Executive Search Firms and Recruiters
To make your search for a CDO recruiting partner easier, here are our top choices (including Alpha Apex Group, of course).
1. Alpha Apex Group
Alpha Apex Group is a full‑spectrum executive search firm and consultancy that runs a search process based on speed and accuracy. Within just 72 hours, you’ll receive a list of vetted candidates.
Our time-to-fill across positions and industries is 43 days, which is 60% faster than the national average.
For a Chief Data Officer hire, every step centers on depth. We evaluate candidates across data architecture, analytics leadership, governance, business intelligence, and operational alignment so you see people who can take ownership of complex environments on day one.
Our track record includes more than 2,000 placements, including tech executives, in companies around the world.
Alpha Apex focuses on matching leadership talent with organizations navigating complex change. We support teams in IT, manufacturing, industrial automation, and supply-chain technology, where the right hire stabilizes operations and moves transformation forward.
Competitive organizations like Meta, AWS, Siemens, Zendesk, and Altus Group have trusted our services.
Here’s what our process looks like:
Assessment of your organization’s structure, culture, and strategy (specific to the role in question).
Creation of an ideal leadership profile that matches the scope of the role and is aligned with organizational goals at large.
Utilization of proprietary, data-driven sourcing tools and internal/external networks to find and screen the most promising executive talent.
A successful hire is only the start. We continue supporting clients and talent through transition and early execution, ensuring the role settles quickly and the partnership stays strong.
Key Services:
Executive search for senior leadership, including C‑suite and data/analytics roles.
Fractional executive placement, including interim or part‑time leadership when full‑time hires are not yet in place.
Talent‑acquisition consulting and staffing support in areas such as digital technology, AI, and HRIS.
Management consulting services that align leadership placement with organizational strategy, including data governance and information strategy.
Why Work with AAG?
With Alpha Apex Group, you work with a partner who understands the full scope of the CDO role. We know it spans data science, analytics, governance, product development, and the decisions that connect those functions. Our expertise in executive search and consulting allows us to define the right profile, reach high-quality candidates, and guide onboarding so strategy and leadership stay aligned from the start.
2. Korn Ferry
Korn Ferry is an executive search and leadership advisory firm with a broad international presence.
Their search practice uses a Success Profile approach that looks at skills, working style, and cultural fit. This helps ensure that executive candidates align with your information strategy, analytics needs, and data governance priorities from the outset.
Besides recruitment, they advise on compensation, rewards packages, and market benchmarking.
In one case, Korn Ferry helped a new airline, Avelo, fast-track executive recruitment at a time when the pandemic had ravaged the air travel industry. The airline formed a team of 200 leaders and employees in just 4 months.
Compared with Korn Ferry’s global operations, Alpha Apex Group is more focused on the US executive market. Because our network is strong at home, we’re able to deliver tech leaders locally, which further accelerates recruitment and helps companies avoid unnecessary roadblocks.
More importantly, we can make executive search cost-effective, with up to 70% savings, compared to larger operations like Korn Ferry.
Key Services:
Retained executive search for senior leadership (C‑suite, Board & operational leadership team) across sectors including technology, manufacturing, financial services, and energy.
Interim and contract executive placements.
Talent‐acquisition consulting, recruitment process outsourcing (RPO), and tools to streamline hiring at scale.
Leadership assessment, succession planning, and global outreach (international recruitment pipeline).
Why work with Korn Ferry?
If you’re developing or scaling data, analytics, and governance capabilities, Korn Ferry’s experience and reach can support that work. Their decades in the industry and global network help connect companies with qualified leaders.
3. Cowen Partners
Cowen Partners Executive Search is a retained executive search firm headquartered in Vancouver, Washington, USA.
They position their service around delivering an “ideal candidate” for data-leadership roles and state that their searches focus on the top 1% of available talent.
Cowen Partners highlights a streamlined search process. They report an average of 38 days to present candidate options for C-suite roles, along with strong success rates and a 365-day replacement guarantee.
In comparison, as mentioned, at Alpha Apex Group, you get your hands on candidate profiles within 72 hours.
Their clientele spans industries including technology, manufacturing, financial services, private equity, and more.
Key Services:
Retained executive search engagements for C‑suite, including CDO, CSO, CTO, CFO, and other senior executives.
Industry‑spanning search capabilities
Deep candidate pipeline building and diversity recruiting initiatives (supported by a 12‑step vetting process, psychometric / due diligence-informed candidate analysis)
Why Work with Cowen Partners?
You get a search partner that understands the pace and importance of data-leadership hiring and focuses on a curated set of highly qualified candidates.
4. Heller Search
Heller Search is a women‑owned, executive search firm that specializes in senior technology leadership roles, including C‑suite positions such as CDO, Chief Information Officer (CIO), Chief Technology Officer (CTO), and Chief Information Security Officer (CISO).
Heller Search focuses on deep talent networks in technology and begins each search by aligning data maturity and business goals with the role profile, similar to AAG’s process.
The firm’s focus fits organizations that need a strategic partner to find leaders for data-governance, information-strategy, and business-analytics roles.
For example, during the first two weeks of a search, they’ll present initial candidate options so you can iterate on the profile early on. Their clients include Fortune 500 companies, non-profits, and private equity.
And these clients have generally positive reviews of them. Donna Bonnaparte, CHRO at Babson College, says:
“From the first meeting, they understood our talent needs, promised (and delivered) top candidates in the timeframe specified.”
Key Services:
Technology executive search (CDO, CIO, CTO, CISO).
Industry‑specific candidate sourcing and comprehensive vetting of professional candidates.
Agile recruiting process backed by a client portal and frequent updates
Thought‑leadership and support around technology leadership trends (via The Heller Report, read by 30,000+ executives)
Why Work with Heller Search?
If you need a leader who works across data science, analytics, information strategy, and business transformation, Heller Search offers the specialization and search infrastructure to support that.
5. Bespoke Partners
Bespoke Partners is an executive search and leadership advisory firm headquartered in San Diego, California.
Their industry‑specific recruiting experience, data‑driven processes, and global talent networks have allowed them to place more than 1,400 senior executives in technology companies.
They report above-average search speed, supported by their AI-based “Executive Index” and their score-carding tool, Calibrator. For instance, their platform can cut weeks off the recruitment timeline, with a reported 92% match accuracy.
That volume is surely an advantage. However, the process lacks the human touch that AAG brings to executive search. We, too, use AI tools to fast-track headhunting, but that’s combined with our human expertise to identify the most suitable matches after they trickle down from the filters.
Key services they provide:
Retained executive search senior leadership roles (CEO, C‑suite, Board, and operational leadership team) in technology, software/SaaS, and growth‑oriented businesses.
Talent market mapping and research‑driven candidate sourcing, including candidate pipelines and international recruitment capabilities.
Leadership advisory services, including onboarding support, team build‑out, diversity recruiting, and succession planning
Private equity-specific search solutions.
Why Work with Bespoke Partners?
Their already established network in technology and SaaS is combined with data‑driven tools that increase placement speed and quality.
Discover the Best AI Executive Search Firms
6. The Good Search
The Good Search is a retained executive search firm that specializes in technology leadership roles.
They describe themselves as “not a traditional retained executive search firm” because of their investigative approach that surfaces high‑calibre candidates others may miss.
Their approach is similar to ours, focusing on passive candidates with the background to succeed as CDOs. Like us, they understand the role’s growing importance as machine learning and AI advance.
Based in Westport, Connecticut, and serving North America, they cater to sectors such as technology, private equity‑backed companies, nonprofits, and venture capital‑backed organizations. Their clientele includes Airbnb, Uber, and Google.
Key services they provide:
Retained executive search for C‑suite and senior executive positions
Investigative retained search and active headhunting of passive executive candidate options.
Diversity & inclusion recruiting (Diversity recruiting) and candidate pipelines for underrepresented groups such as women and BIPOC, especially for technology and data/analytics leadership roles.
Flat‑fee pricing model (versus percentage‑based fee) and full transparency in research for clients.
Why work with The Good Search?
Their investigative-search method allows them to tap talent networks that traditional recruiting may miss. It also aligns well with DEI priorities, with qualified CDO candidates from underrepresented communities actively identified and considered for C-suite roles.
7. Stanton Chase
Stanton Chase is a global retained executive search and leadership advisory firm founded in 1990 with over 70 offices operating in 45 countries.
They offer a strong, structured executive recruitment process and board‑level advisory services that can make a difference in the selection of your next CDO.
Their “Search+”® retained executive search methodology provides tailored recruitment solutions. It uses deep functional expertise, leadership assessment, succession planning, and onboarding support.
Stanton Chase places around 300 CEOs and Board Members each year. Their leadership advisory work and global network are well-suited to CDO hiring, including searches that require international candidates.
Like Alpha Apex Group, Stanton Chase also serves businesses of all sizes, including startups.
Key services they provide:
Executive search and deep recruitment services across industries and geographies.
Executive assessment, including psychometric research, structured candidate evaluation, and leadership fit analysis
Succession planning and onboarding services help ensure that once the ideal candidate is placed, they integrate effectively into the business.
Board services, including director recruitment and governance advisory.
Why Work with Stanton Chase?
Stanton Chase’s combination of global presence, leadership advisory services, and structured executive search process makes them a strong partner.
8. Odgers
Odgers is a global executive search firm with a reputation for supporting high‑stakes leadership appointments.
Odgers offers a credible partnership by aligning your search with both your technology vision and strategic business objectives.
Like us, they also provide leadership advisory to help organizations strategically select their next executive who shares the same drive and values for data-driven decision-making.
They operate through regional divisions, giving companies the option to work with teams on the ground in specific countries. AAG takes a different approach, concentrating its efforts in the U.S. market, which keeps the process focused and consistent for clients operating primarily in the U.S.
Key Services:
Retained executive search for senior leadership
Global executive recruitment capabilities with an international pipeline and cross‑border talent sourcing.
Leadership advisory and assessment services.
Thought leadership and market insights on technology‑driven leadership roles.
Why Work with Odgers?
Their global reach opens access to broader talent networks and international pipelines, which helps companies with cross-border or fast-growth needs.
9. Scion Technology
Scion Technology specializes in executive search for technology and data‑leadership roles.
Because their core is tech‑centric recruitment, they have a track record of recruiting executives for fast-growing corporations.
Their model helps identify talent capable of aligning data and analytics work with broader business goals and stakeholder needs.
Scion’s process starts by building candidate pipelines of passive and active professionals with experience in data management, governance frameworks, and transformation leadership. And all placements come with a 98% retention guarantee.
Key Services:
IT staffing
Tech executive search
Candidate sourcing and talent‑pipeline development
Remote talent recruitment
Complete hiring support, including vetting, candidate assessment, and alignment of the hire with the business.
International recruitment pipeline and remote‑capable leadership sourcing.
Why Work with Scion Technology?
Scion Technology handles tech and executive searches and has a large candidate database, which creates a broad pool of potential CDO candidates.
11. True Search
True Search is a global executive search firm under the umbrella of True Platform.
They describe themselves as “a global leader in tech and data‑first retained executive search.”
They have amassed 12 years of proprietary data and market‑insight experience.
That helps them deliver executive search services that align tightly with business strategy, data quality, analytics, and information‑governance demands.
True works across multiple industries, including financial services, software & SaaS, energy transition, enterprise software, cyber security, and industrial sectors.
They have had great success with AI executive hires, placing 200+ AI-related leaders in different companies. Their clientele from the tech industry includes the likes of Spotify, Stackoverflow, HPE, and MongoDB.
Key Services:
Retained executive search for leadership roles across various tech-related verticals.
Fractional and interim hiring of executives.
Inclusive and equitable executive hiring.
Extensive candidate pipelines and professional candidate networks
Leadership consultation and advisory services, and partnership orientation.
Why Work with True Search?
Their focus on technology and data leadership, combined with access to a broad, global executive candidate network, allows you to source high‑quality matches more quickly and with better strategic fit.
How to Choose the Right CDO Recruiting Company
When you’re ready to bring in a specialist executive search firm for a CDO role, you need a partner whose talent pipeline, industry network, and executive search process match your objectives.
It’s not just a question of who has been in the business for long, but who has the expertise, network, and tools to find that perfect tech executive. Remember, CDO didn’t even exist until the late 2000s.
Here’s what you should consider:
Confirm Functional and Industry‑Specific Expertise
A CDO and tech executive search firm needs real expertise in the tech sector, especially from the people guiding the engagement. A reliable way to assess this is by looking at their prior work in headhunting and placing CDOs or other executives at a similar level.
Questions to ask:
“How many CDO or data leadership placements have you executed in the past 24 months?”
“What candidate networks do you have in analytics, data science, information strategy, and C‑suite roles?”
Evaluate the Depth Executive Recruiter Network
An effective search for a high‑impact CDO isn’t about posting a job and waiting. You need access to passive executive candidates, global professional networking capabilities, and thoughtful outreach into data communities.
Questions to ask:
“What percentage of your candidate slate comes from passive sourcing vs active job‑seekers?”
“How do you build candidate pipelines for tech leadership roles?”
“What is your international recruitment pipeline or geographical recruitment capabilities?”
Deep Dive into Their Process
You want an executive search firm whose processes reflect their level of attention to detail. You should look for a “competency‑driven or skills‑based approach” that expands candidate thinking beyond narrow experience.
Questions to ask:
“What psychometric research or candidate vetting methods do you employ?”
“How do you align the search strategy with our decision‑making stakeholders and organizational direction?”
“What is your success rate or client satisfaction on past C‑suite or data analytics executive placements?”
Clarify Cost and Expected Timelines
Since the CDO role is strategic and high-stakes, the cost and structure of the search engagement should be transparent. Executive search fees for retained models commonly range between 25 % to 35 % of the hired candidate’s first‑year compensation.
Questions to ask:
“What is your average time to present a shortlist of ideal candidates?”
“Do you guarantee a replacement if the hire leaves within a defined period?”
“What is included in the fee versus what might be additional (travel, research, international outreach)?”
Hire Your Next CDO
If you want to secure a future CDO who will lead your data/analytics and information strategy function, manage data quality and governance, build a high‐performing team, and deliver measurable success, hiring an executive search firm should be your next move.
Alpha Apex’s combination of executive search, recruiting, consulting, fractional executive services, and talent pipeline building gives you both a placement and a strategic talent partner.
Our work spans candidates in industries including technology, data, and research. We are also a great fit for organizations that operate in competitive, forward-thinking markets and need alignment with long-term goals with investors.
With our nimble team and laser-sharp focus, we’re capable of delivering:
First candidates within 72 hours
Average time-to-fill of 43 days
Significant savings in the long-term compared to more mainstream recruiters
Interested in partnering? Let’s talk!
FAQ
What expertise should a CDO have?
A Chief Data Officer (CDO) must combine a strong foundation in data management, analytics, and business intelligence with real‑world leadership in driving enterprise strategy, governance, and stakeholder alignment.
What is the average cost of an executive search?
Retained executive search firms typically charge 30 % to 35 % of the hired candidate’s first‑year total cash compensation (base salary plus projected bonus) for C‑suite and senior leadership roles.
What is the average time to fill an executive role?
For senior leadership roles (C‑suite, functional heads), the average time to fill is approximately 120 days. AAG’s 43-day average allows search work to move faster, helping companies in competitive business environments reach that attainable reality sooner.
How do executive search firms vet candidates?
Executive search firms follow structured processes to source, assess, and present executive candidates, especially for roles like a CDO with business analytics, data governance, and leadership implications. Typical steps include discovery intake and alignment meeting, vetting (behavioral interviews and skills assessments), candidate presentations, and post-placement support.
What support do executive recruitment agencies provide?
Beyond simply sourcing a list of candidates, high‑quality executive search firms provide a full suite of services aimed at ensuring the role delivers strategic value. These can include defining the role scope, building a talent pipeline, advising on candidate selection, compensation assessment, and performance tracking.
