Executive Search

Consequential appointments, led by the Founder.

Executive search is the anchor of the firm. Every senior mandate is led by the Founder from the first briefing to the integration reviews, against a clear brief, through the same disciplined seven step method, whether the appointment is a group chief executive in Riyadh or a head of artificial intelligence in Mumbai.

The H&S Method

Seven steps. One line of accountability.

  1. 01

    Discover

    An immersive briefing on strategy, culture, mandate and success measures, held with the board or hiring leader and HR.

  2. 02

    Design

    The ideal candidate profile, the competency framework and a structured map of the market universe.

    Talent Landscape Report before the first approach
  3. 03

    Outreach

    Targeted, confidential headhunting, with deep engagement of the passive market that does not answer advertisements.

  4. 04

    Assess

    Structured interviews, behavioural and leadership assessment, domain deep dives and independent reference work.

  5. 05

    Shortlist

    A calibrated shortlist framed by fit, risk and likely impact in the first twelve months. Not a stack of CVs.

  6. 06

    Close

    Offer design, depth referencing and transition planning, including the first conversations with the incumbent team.

  7. 07

    Onboard

    Integration coaching and structured reviews through the first months, so the appointment lands and stays.

    Integration reviews
Roles we close

Senior appointments across the leadership domains.

Representative roles in the six leadership domains, as on our C Suite page. Specific mandates are never published without client consent.

Finance and Governance

  • Chief Financial Officers
  • General Counsel
  • Chief Risk Officers

Operations

  • Chief Operating Officers
  • Supply Chain and Projects Leaders
  • Heads of Service Delivery

Technology

  • Chief Technology Officers
  • Chief Digital and Data Officers
  • Chief Information Security Officers

People

  • Chief Human Resources Officers
  • Chief People Officers
  • Heads of Talent and Learning

Commercial

  • Chief Commercial and Marketing Officers
  • Heads of Business Development
  • Growth Leaders

General Management

  • Chief Executive Officers and Managing Directors
  • Country Heads and Regional Presidents
  • Business Unit Leaders
Questions boards ask

Executive search in Dubai and the GCC, explained.

What does an executive search firm do?

An executive search firm finds, assesses and secures leaders for senior roles, most often people who are not looking for a move. Hunters and Skipper is a founder led executive search firm in Dubai: every senior mandate is led personally by the Founder, from the first brief to the leader's first year.

Which appointments do you handle?

Four levels of search: chief executive and board; executive leadership, including chief financial, operating, people and technology officers; heads of function; and senior management. Leadership assessment, succession planning and market intelligence are available within a search or on their own.

Where do you work?

From Dubai across the United Arab Emirates, including Abu Dhabi, and across Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman, with reach into India, Africa, Europe and South East Asia.

How are your fees structured?

Through the Outcome Partnership, a share of our fee follows the outcome of the appointment, and we remain responsible for it through the leader's first year. Full commercial terms are set out in a proposal after the first conversation.

How do you keep a search confidential?

The brief is held in confidence, candidates are approached personally, and a candidate's profile is shared with a client only with the candidate's consent for that specific opportunity.

How do you assess candidates?

Through structured interviews, independent references and our own assessments, ASCEND for senior managers and APEX for C Suite and board candidates, alongside established behavioural instruments. Every report is finalised by a qualified assessor, and the decision always rests with the client.

Do candidates pay a fee?

Never. Hunters and Skipper never asks a candidate for any payment, fee or deposit. If anyone approaches you in our name with such a request, please tell us through the Contact page.

Where we search

An executive search firm in Dubai, working across the GCC.

Hunters and Skipper is a founder led executive search and leadership advisory firm based in Dubai. We search for chief executives, board directors and C Suite leaders across the United Arab Emirates, including Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and across Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman, with reach into India, Africa, Europe and South East Asia.

We work with listed companies, family owned groups, government related entities and investor backed businesses. Where national talent programmes such as Emiratisation and Saudisation apply, qualified national leaders are built into every longlist.