--- title: The Executive Brief Blog | Retained Executive Search description: Retained Executive Search | --- [![kystone](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/hubfs/Keystone%20Executive%20Search%20/Keystone_exec_search_logo@2x.svg)](http://www.keystonesearch.com/) # Category Archive Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as **“retained-executive-search”** [![When Hiring an Integrator, Mind the Gap!](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/hubfs/rsz_mind-the-gap-1876790_960_720.jpg) ](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/when-hiring-an-integrator-mind-the-gap) ## [When Hiring an Integrator, Mind the Gap!](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/when-hiring-an-integrator-mind-the-gap) In Great Britain, **mind the gap** is a warning phrase issued to Underground (subway) passengers, warning them to take caution while crossing the physical gap between the platform and the train. It is a warning urging people to take care and avoid injury. [Read More](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/when-hiring-an-integrator-mind-the-gap) [Visionary](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/visionary) [EOS](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/eos) [Executive Leadership](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/executive-leadership) [Integrator](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/integrator) [Retained Executive Search](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/retained-executive-search) [![8 Questions to Ask While Preparing Your ESOP for CEO Succession](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/hubfs/Stock%20images/Hand%20drawing%20results%20graph%20with%20white%20chalk%20on%20blackboard.jpeg) ](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/8-questions-to-ask-while-preparing-for-ceo-succession-in-your-esop) ## [8 Questions to Ask While Preparing Your ESOP for CEO Succession](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/8-questions-to-ask-while-preparing-for-ceo-succession-in-your-esop) In the life cycle of a business, there is no moment quite as pivotal as CEO succession. This is a huge moment, an opportunity to continue the company's upward trajectory and to bring new skills to the company. Get it right, and the results can be transformational. But, get it wrong, and your ... [Read More](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/8-questions-to-ask-while-preparing-for-ceo-succession-in-your-esop) [ESOP](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/esop) [Executive Leadership](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/executive-leadership) [Retained Executive Search](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/retained-executive-search) [Succession](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/succession) [CEO Succession](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/ceo-succession) [![Don't Leave Your Executive Hire to Chance](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/hubfs/rsz_casino_roulette_close_up_with_the_ball_on_number_zero.jpg) ](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/dont-diy-your-executive-hire) ## [Don't Leave Your Executive Hire to Chance](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/dont-diy-your-executive-hire) We've discussed [time](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/the-war-for-leadership) and [time again](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/are-you-a-talent-have-or-have-not) the increasing difficulty of making great hires in private companies. In a booming economy with a low unemployment rate, private companies have a difficult time attracting top talent to their companies: this is especially an issue when it comes to executive level ... [Read More](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/dont-diy-your-executive-hire) [Culture](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/culture) [Evaluation](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/evaluation) [Executive Leadership](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/executive-leadership) [Hiring](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/hiring) [Retained Executive Search](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/retained-executive-search) [![Why Retained Search is like a Beautiful, Buttery Leather Sofa](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/hubfs/rsz_pexels-photo-279645.jpg) ](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/why-retained-search-is-like-a-customized-piece-of-furniture) ## [Why Retained Search is like a Beautiful, Buttery Leather Sofa](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/why-retained-search-is-like-a-customized-piece-of-furniture) Retained executive search often seems to scare business owners - or perhaps it just confuses them. They wonder: if other recruiters only charge me if/when I hire one of their candidates, why would I ever pay a recruiting firm a retainer fee? This is a great question. Let me answer it by making an ... [Read More](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/why-retained-search-is-like-a-customized-piece-of-furniture) [Executive Leadership](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/executive-leadership) [Executive Search](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/executive-search) [Private Companies](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/private-companies) [Retained Executive Search](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/retained-executive-search) [![Retained vs. Contingent: Decoding the World of Executive Search](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/hubfs/rsz_lupanaencyklopedii.jpg) ](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/retained-vs.-contingent-decoding-the-world-of-executive-search) ## [Retained vs. Contingent: Decoding the World of Executive Search](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/retained-vs.-contingent-decoding-the-world-of-executive-search) At some point in its history, the executive search industry made a (perhaps not so) brilliant decision to categorize firms by their fee structures; Retained vs. Contingent. [Read More](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/retained-vs.-contingent-decoding-the-world-of-executive-search) [Executive Leadership](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/executive-leadership) [Executive Search](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/executive-search) [Retained Executive Search](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/retained-executive-search) [![Which Kind of Company Needs an Integrator The Most?](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/hubfs/plant_growing2.jpg) ](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/which-kind-of-company-needs-an-integrator-the-most) ## [Which Kind of Company Needs an Integrator The Most?](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/which-kind-of-company-needs-an-integrator-the-most) It's actually a bit of a trick question. ***Any company that wants to grow needs an Integrator.*** But companies with leadership teams who are adamantly against hiring an Integrator, are probably the ones who need them the most.  In my 20+ years of serving private companies, I’ve observed many leaders ... [Read More](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/which-kind-of-company-needs-an-integrator-the-most) [Visionary](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/visionary) [EOS](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/eos) [Integrator](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/integrator) [Retained Executive Search](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/retained-executive-search) [All posts](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/all) ### How aligned are you? 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