We share executive moves, placement insights, and Software and SaaS PE leadership trends weekly — feel free to follow us on LinkedIn here:
Product & Tech Talent Pulse: Rising Comp, AI Disruptors, and a Competitive Market
by Jay Nguyen
The tech leadership market for top tier executives in 2025 is a study in contrasts: a tight talent market yet unprecedented opportunities, soaring compensation packages alongside cautious career moves, and an AI revolution that's redefining what we expect from our technology leaders.
As someone who's spent two decades navigating these waters, I'm seeing patterns that have caught my attention. Here are four key trends shaping the tech executive search landscape right now that are worth taking note of.
A Tight Talent Market
Finding and securing top tech talent right now is like NFL free agency – everyone wants the best on the market, but players are holding out for the best offer. The executive market is especially tight, with most heavyweights staying put and playing the long game for their next big exit. We’ve also noticed turnover rates decline for product and tech executives, but this actually signals some stabilization in the market – a positive indicator for both companies and candidates making strategic moves.
Healthcare and Fintech Dominate Product & Tech
Healthcare and fintech are absolutely dominating the demand for top product and tech talent. Healthcare has been revolutionizing everything from how you book appointments, to how AI reads your X-rays.
Fintech has experienced a renaissance as traditional financial services continue to undergo digital transformation, like embedded finance, blockchain applications, and personalized banking solutions. To keep up with innovations coming at the speed of light, they’ll need the best product and tech leadership to hold on to and grow market share in a profitable way.
Compensation that’s Rivaling that of CFOs
Executive compensation for product and tech leadership is making a strong comeback, and we don't see this trend reversing anytime soon. Top tech leaders, especially those with public company experience, are commanding packages that rival or even exceed traditional CFO compensation. It's important to note that these premium packages are primarily reserved for "unicorn" candidates – those rare finds who bring the perfect mix of technical expertise, leadership experience, and industry knowledge.
The AI Takeover
The AI revolution is reshaping every corner of tech, and its impact cannot be overstated. We're seeing two distinct trends: aggressive hiring by AI-focused startups and established companies integrating AI into their existing products. AI has been transforming everything from healthcare diagnostics to financial modeling. This technological revolution is reshaping our world at an unprecedented pace, creating both extraordinary opportunities and critical challenges that demand thoughtful consideration as we navigate its implementation across industries.
What’s even more exciting, and possibly daunting, is the emergence of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). While current Generative AI, like ChatGPT, can create content, AGI is giving machines the ability to think with human-like abilities. It’s equal parts fascinating and terrifying.
The Search is On
The tech leadership market is heating up again and companies are in the search for their next CTOs and Chief Product Officers. The market is tight, and the thought of searching for the one in a sea of candidates can be intimidating.
Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Our Product & Technology Practice delivers results. We've placed over 220 tech leaders and watched many of them drive successful exits, generating over $27 billion in enterprise value. We close searches in under 95 days, while maintaining a 9.5 client NPS score. These aren't just metrics – they show we understand what technology companies need and how to find the leaders who can deliver it.
In addition, our Executive Index is the industry’s first comprehensive talent market mapping platform, and it can give you unprecedented visibility into the track records of tens of thousands of tech leaders.
Our Product & Tech team isn't just predicting the market – we're actively shaping it. Let's talk about who's going to drive your next big exit.
Bespoke Partners Named in Top 10 of the “Top 49 Retained Executive Search” 2-Years Running by C-Suite CV Secure.
Authored by:
Share this article: