How long does a VP or C-suite search take? This page benchmarks timelines by role type, stage, and search methodology — so you know what to expect and what performance looks like.
Executive search timelines are not just a project management concern. Every week a VP seat is open carries a direct cost — in deferred revenue, in CEO bandwidth consumed covering the function, in team uncertainty and attrition risk. Benchmarking your timeline against the market is the first step to understanding whether your search is on track or quietly stalling.
| Role | Industry Median (retained) | Top Quartile | Majhi Group Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| VP Sales / CRO | 70–85 days | 45–55 days | 38–45 days |
| VP Engineering / CTO | 75–90 days | 50–60 days | 40–50 days |
| CFO | 80–100 days | 55–65 days | 42–52 days |
| VP Marketing / CMO | 65–80 days | 45–55 days | 35–45 days |
| COO | 80–95 days | 55–70 days | 44–55 days |
| VP People / CHRO | 65–80 days | 42–55 days | 35–45 days |
Company stage is a significant driver of search timeline. Earlier-stage companies face a smaller addressable candidate pool (candidates willing to join pre-scale organisations with equity-heavy comp), longer candidate consideration periods, and more complex founder-candidate calibration requirements.
| Stage | Typical Timeline | Primary Timeline Driver |
|---|---|---|
| Series A (first VP hire) | 75–100 days | Candidate pool size; equity calibration |
| Series B | 60–80 days | Brief precision; shortlist calibration |
| Series C+ | 55–75 days | Competitive market; counter-offer management |
| PE-backed / private | 60–85 days | Comp structure; board approval process |
| Established private / bootstrapped | 65–90 days | Cultural fit bar; slower process |
Industry data consistently identifies week 10 as the critical inflection point. Searches that have not produced a placed candidate by day 70 have a significantly elevated probability of complete failure — not simply extension. By week 10, most of the passive candidate pool has been contacted, response rates have decayed, and the search requires a methodology reset rather than continued execution of the original approach.
68% of VP searches that reach week 10 without a shortlist in final stages will not close. The search will either stall completely or require a new firm. The week-10 signal is detectable from week 3 — if you know what to look for.
The 41-day average is not a speed play — it is an efficiency outcome driven by three process factors: a precise intake brief that produces a shortlist approved at 82% on first presentation; passive-first sourcing that reaches the best-qualified candidates before they enter competing processes; and active counter-offer and offer design management that keeps acceptance rates above 90%. Each factor reduces timeline at a different stage of the search.
Sources & methodology: Majhi Group placement data (25+ retained searches, 2022–2026); AESC Executive Search Review 2025; Korn Ferry Executive Search Benchmarks; LinkedIn Talent Insights 2025.
Related benchmarks and resources:
Cost of Failed Executive HireSearch Success FactorsWhat Is Time-to-Fill?State of Startup Hiring 2026Majhi Group Methodology20-minute confidential search assessment. We assess whether your search timeline, criteria, and approach are optimised for the hire you need.
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