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Why Going External for Executive Search is a Strategic Advantage
by Matt Sommi, Senior Vice President of Client Engagement at Bespoke Partners
When a pivotal leadership role opens up, one of the first decisions facing both executive teams and their private equity partners is whether to conduct the search internally or engage an external partner. It’s a reasonable debate and one we work through with clients and investors on a regular basis.
As someone who has spent years helping companies navigate executive transitions, I’ve seen firsthand the differences in outcomes between internally managed and externally led searches. While internal teams play a critical role, there are clear, measurable advantages to bringing in an outside partner—especially when the stakes are high.
Here’s why organizations that choose to go external often see faster, sharper, and more successful executive placements:
Scaling Internal Capacity, Not Replacing It
The best internal talent teams know how to be strategic. By partnering with us, they offload the most resource-intensive parts of search—outreach, vetting, qualification—while staying focused on long-term workforce planning, cultural alignment, and leadership development. It’s a true capacity multiplier, not a replacement.
Parallel Processing: Internal Candidates with External Efforts
We work closely with clients to ensure internal candidates are thoughtfully considered alongside external talent. By running both tracks in parallel, we help leadership teams build conviction—giving internal candidates a fair opportunity while also surfacing proven external executives. This approach ensures flexibility and partnership: clients can move internal candidates through their own process while we execute a rigorous external search in tandem.
Functional Specialization That Drives Precision
At Bespoke, our recruiters are deeply focused by executive function—whether that’s CEO, CFO, HR, GTM, product, or technology. This structure ensures we’re in constant dialogue with the top talent in each domain. We know who’s ready to move, who’s rising, and who can deliver results in your unique context because we’re having those conversations every single day.
Your internal talent team, while capable, is typically spread across functions and levels. Ours lives and breathes executive search.
A Comprehensive, AI-Powered Talent Lens
Our Executive Index is one of the most powerful search platforms in the industry, mapping nearly 700,000 software and SaaS executives across the U.S. We source from over 575,000 third-party data points—not self-reported bios—to build a validated, real-world view of candidate accomplishments.
This allows us to offer a level of market visibility that internal teams simply can’t replicate. We give you instant access to the full spectrum of credible, proven executive talent.
Candidates Trust Us—And It Shows
Our average candidate engagement rate is 82%—that’s nearly double the industry average.
Why? Because executives know us. We’ve guided hundreds through pivotal career moves and earned a reputation for respecting their time and aligning them with the right opportunities. When we reach out, they listen. That’s a competitive advantage no tool or platform can match.
Bringing Objectivity to the Table
Having placed nearly 2,000 executives, we’ve developed a clear picture of what success looks like in every segment of the software and SaaS landscape. That experience helps our clients avoid internal biases, think beyond legacy norms, and calibrate their expectations against top-tier benchmarks—not internal comfort zones.
Faster, Smarter Search Execution
Thanks to our AI-driven, data-powered process, we routinely close even highly specialized searches in under 100 days. That’s half the industry average. Our workflow is built for speed without sacrificing quality—because when leadership gaps linger, business momentum suffers.
Compensation Intelligence
Most companies make compensation decisions based on limited or anecdotal data. We provide actual compensation benchmarks from recent searches, including salary, bonus, and equity insights—so you can make competitive offers with confidence and avoid costly missteps.
Placement Guarantee
We stand by our placements. Our standard placement guarantee lasts a full year—and can extend even further for clients with a services agreement. Most firms cap at six months. We go beyond because we know our process works—and we’re willing to put our name on it.
The Bigger Picture
Leadership hires are some of the most consequential decisions companies and their private equity partners make. Whether you’re navigating rapid growth, preparing for an exit, or building out a new function, these roles shape not just the org chart but the direction and profitability of the business.
When those moments arrive, the question isn’t just who can fill the seat, but how to find the best possible person, as efficiently and thoughtfully as possible.
That’s where an external search process often brings the clarity, speed, and objectivity that internal efforts can struggle to deliver.
To learn more about how we can help you elevate your executive team, contact Bespoke Partners.
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