CMO Executive Search - Expert CMO Recruiters

The Role of Chief Marketing Officers

A chief marketing officer (CMO) shapes and executes their organization’s overall marketing strategy to fuel demand generation for the products or services they offer. This senior executive is the head of the marketing department and aids in the development of marketing plans, brand identity management, and the promotion of products or services through various traditional and digital channels.

The CMO also conducts market research, analyzes customer and competitor data, and oversees advertising, public relations, and digital engagement activities. They are responsible for ensuring that all marketing initiatives complement the business’s broader objectives, enhancing brand awareness, and maximizing return on investment.

Our Approach to CMO Executive Search

Keller is committed to first gaining a deep understanding of the marketing needs of our clients, and then providing them with quality leadership candidates to fill any gaps in their marketing team. Once we have concluded a thorough assessment of the organization, we use the knowledge we gain to launch an exhaustive search for the ideal candidate.

We draw on our proprietary database of candidates, partnership with NPAworldwide, and specialized tools such as applicant tracking and talent analytics to aid us in our search for the perfect fit. From our broad network of connections, we hand-select a shortlist of modern marketing professionals who meet the requirements of our client’s marketing team.

Following this, we perform a thorough vetting process to establish which individuals from the talent pool demonstrate the highest aptitude for the role. This encompasses rigorous reference and background reviews and criminal record checks, as well as psychometric tests, skill-based assessments, and behavioral interviews. This ensures we not only find the right candidate in terms of technical expertise, but also cultural fit.

Keller also takes great pride in ensuring an inclusive search that considers all candidates for employment in equal measure. In other words, our CMO recruiters have been trained to eliminate unconscious bias from the selection process and do not discriminate against applicants based on their culture, gender, age, or other personal attributes. This enables us to deliver a diverse talent pool with the attitude, experience, and skills to thrive in our client’s executive marketing role.

With our evaluations complete, we submit a carefully curated list of pre-screened candidates for our client’s consideration. We then await their decision regarding who to hire to offer further assistance with negotiations, crafting an attractive compensation package, and onboarding.

Behind Keller's Tailored Approach

Keller has invested significantly in developing a customer-oriented approach that caters to our client companies’ unique needs. It also considers all the important factors that influence placement success, including the demands that are specific to our clients’ respective industries, their corporate culture, and capacity for long-term growth.

However, when we began offering recruitment solutions, we used a cut-and-dry hiring process that was simply not designed to fill executive-level positions. Many of our team members may remember one specific engagement where this method ended in a poor hire for a critical role, and this motivated us to rethink our approach.

We then devised our current recruitment process, which is completely customizable to our client organization’s needs and objectives. This allows us to find executive talent who not only possesses the requisite skills and qualifications to succeed in a role, but also the right attitude and leadership qualities to align with the organization’s ethos. Altering our method has helped us make many more successful placements than before, leading to higher retention rates and better outcomes for our clients’ firms.

The Keller name is now synonymous with world-class executive search solutions, with companies counting on us to solve their biggest recruiting challenges.

Refer to Keller’s Insights below for Thought Leadership and guidance on how to make your company a better place to work.

Some Areas We Specialize In

Keller’s executive recruiters are poised to locate exceptional candidates for top marketing positions across various industries. They boast extensive experience filling marketing roles and hold qualifications such as Certified Employee Retention Specialist (CERS) and Certified Personnel Consultant (CPC). Their deep industry insights enable us to advise companies appropriately when it comes to choosing candidates for their marketing teams.

Some of the industries we help find top-tier marketing talent for include, but are not limited to:

• Automotive
• Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG)
• Education and eLearning
• Fashion and Apparel
• Financial Services and Banking
• Food and Beverage
• Hospitality and Tourism
• Media and Entertainment
• Non-Profit Organizations
• Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare
• Real Estate and Property Management
• Retail and eCommerce
• Sports and Recreation
• Technology and Software
• Telecommunications

Other Senior Marketing Roles We Recruit For

As a leading executive recruitment firm, Keller draws on an extensive network and decades of combined experience in marketing executive search to connect companies with professionals who can turn ambitious growth targets and strategies into measurable gains. Our services go beyond simply filling open positions. Our goal is to source and attract exceptional leaders who can steer brands through rapid change, shifting consumer behavior, and the latest marketing trends. We also focus on identifying transformative marketing leaders who have a proven track record of promoting brand recognition, fostering business growth, and helping to ensure long-term business success.

Part of what makes our services stand out is our commitment to only placing the best candidates. Our assessments are not confined to a prospect’s skills and track record. We take into account more intricate factors that can shape marketing strategy and drive brand growth, such as strategic thinking, a working knowledge of analytics, and leadership style. We also verify a prospect’s alignment with the client’s company culture and commercial objectives.

Furthermore, our approach uses a blend of data-driven psychometric evaluations, scenario-based business simulations, and 360-degree referencing. We stress test each prospect’s ability to design a comprehensive marketing plan, mobilize cross-functional teams, and deliver sustained revenue growth. This approach means every shortlisted candidate is capable of excelling in high-stakes marketing leadership roles, giving our partner organizations the confidence that their investment will translate into measurable impact and competitive advantage.

Why Choose Keller as Your CMO Recruitment Partner?

Keller is recognized worldwide for our commitment to quality and a stellar customer experience during the executive search process. We are also known for providing timely results that have a high impact on the success of our customers’ firms.

We strive to foster and maintain strong client relationships by offering support throughout hiring, onboarding, and negotiations, as well as ensure clients are always informed about the progress of their searches. Our meticulous approach to search also helps us secure top talent who are more likely to stay and make an impact at our clients’ firms, improving their retention rates.

Additionally, our recruiters stay updated on current and emerging trends in the job market and are committed to continuous learning. This ensures that we continue to offer outstanding recruitment outcomes that can propel our client organizations to new heights in dynamic markets.

Our Promise – The Right Hire

Keller’s team of dedicated marketing recruiters prioritizes discretion and professionalism throughout the executive search. This means we safeguard our clients’ privacy while finding the best CMO talent for their businesses. We handle all sensitive information with the utmost care, adhering to strict NDAs and the data-protection laws of our clients’ locales.

Underscoring our dedication to delivering top-quality talent, we provide 210-day replacement coverage for every individual we place. This means that if a hire can no longer accept the role due to unforeseen circumstances, fails to meet client expectations, or departs within this timeframe, we will perform another search at no extra charge.

We are committed to fulfilling all your CMO executive search needs. Allow Keller to provide you with a new CMO who will lead your company to success.