Executive Search & Leadership Advisory

Finding the Leaders Who Define What Your Company Becomes

The Leaders Others Can't Find  —  Most firms search the market. We move beneath it.

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20+
Years of Advisory
VP–C
Senior-Level Focus
3–5
Curated Candidates
38d
Avg. Time to Shortlist

Based on SIG search data, 2022–2024. Senior-level placements across HR, Finance, Technology, and Marketing.

How We Work

Our Methodology

Most Search Firms Focus on Filling Roles

SIG focuses on understanding the full picture — from investment thesis to operating environment — before recommending a single candidate.

Our process is consultative, immersive, and relationship-driven.

A résumé does not tell you who can scale a portfolio company. Relationships and pattern recognition do.

01

Investment Thesis

We align every search to your value creation strategy and exit horizon.

02

Operating Environment

We assess stage, culture, and the specific pressures the executive will face.

03

Leadership Gap Analysis

We identify the precise gaps impacting growth, not just open headcount.

04

PE-Ready Profile

We define the archetype required to execute under private equity ownership.

Who We Serve

SIG works with organizations navigating critical leadership transitions and high-growth inflection points.

Private Equity Firms

Portfolio company leadership placements that protect and accelerate investment value. We understand the operating cadence and urgency of PE-backed environments.

Growth-Stage Companies

Series B through pre-IPO companies that need seasoned operators to professionalize finance, HR, and technology functions for the next stage of scale.

Enterprise Organizations

Established companies seeking transformational leaders who can modernize operations, drive culture change, and deliver measurable business outcomes.

Boards & Investors

Advisory support for board-level searches and investor-driven leadership transitions where the stakes are highest and discretion is essential.

Where We Go Deep

Four high-demand verticals where domain expertise and relationships define outcomes.

HR & People Leadership

  • Chief People Officer
  • VP of Human Resources
  • Head of Talent Acquisition
  • Director of Total Rewards
  • SVP, People & Culture

Finance & Accounting

  • Chief Financial Officer
  • VP of Finance
  • Controller / CAO
  • Director of FP&A
  • Head of Internal Audit

Technology

  • Chief Technology Officer
  • VP of Engineering
  • CISO / Head of Security
  • Director of Data & Analytics
  • Head of Product

Marketing

  • Chief Marketing Officer
  • VP of Marketing
  • Head of Demand Generation
  • Director of Brand & Communications
  • VP of Growth & Digital

Why Clients Choose SIG

We're not a database with a subscription fee. We're a partner who stakes our reputation on every placement.

Specialist Recruiters

Each search is led by a recruiter with 10–20 years of experience in the exact function they fill. Not generalists. Domain experts.

Speed Without Shortcuts

Average 38-day time-to-shortlist vs. 60+ industry average. Because our recruiters already know the market and the candidates.

Curated, Not Crowded

3–5 rigorously vetted candidates per search. We present leaders, not lists. Every candidate is a conversation we'd stake our name on.

Market Intelligence

Real-time data on compensation benchmarks, talent availability, and competitive dynamics in the verticals we cover.

Consultative Partnership

We co-design role profiles, challenge assumptions, and advise on organizational structure — not just fill requisitions.

Discretion & Trust

PE-grade confidentiality for sensitive leadership transitions. We understand what's at stake when the wrong hire costs millions.

SIG doesn't just fill roles — they understand the business context behind every search. That's what makes them indispensable.
Portfolio Operating Partner
Private Equity Client
SIG approached our CFO search as true strategic partners. They pushed us to think harder about the profile we actually needed for our next stage — not just the one we thought we wanted. The result was a hire that's already reshaping how we think about capital allocation.
Chief Executive Officer
Publicly Traded Company
We were scaling fast and our operations couldn't keep up. SIG brought us a leader who immediately identified the gaps and built the infrastructure we needed. Within six months, our business operations went from a liability to a genuine competitive advantage.
Founder & CEO
Growth-Stage Technology Company

Meet the Team

The practitioners, partners, and advisors behind every SIG engagement.

MB

Marie Bernardino

CEO & Lead Partner

Decades of executive search expertise leading SIG's client relationships and recruiter network.

in
CS

Chi Song

Operating Partner

Runs day-to-day operations, accounting, FP&A, and client management — the engine that keeps SIG moving.

in
AC

Andy Crewell

Administrative Partner

Manages day-to-day operations, legal infrastructure, and the administrative backbone that keeps SIG running seamlessly.

in
AA

Andrew Altholz

Advisor

Strategic advisor on finance, growth strategy, and the economic model that underpins SIG's platform and expansion.

in
JT

Jennifer Trafficanda

Talent Partner

Seasoned recruiter specializing in senior-level placements, known for building lasting relationships with both clients and candidates.

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For Senior Recruiters

Built for Recruiters Who've Already Proven Themselves

You've built your practice through relationships, expertise, and years of results. SIG gives you the infrastructure to keep more of what you earn — without going it alone.

80–90%
Of Your Fees — Yours to Keep
Full
Back-Office Infrastructure
Zero
Non-Competes or Politics

Ready to see the full economics, services, and how SIG compares? Tell us a little about yourself.

Tell Us About Your Practice

This helps us tailor the conversation. All information is confidential.

Your information is confidential and used solely for our initial conversation.

The Math That Matters

What the Traditional Model Really Costs You

Here's the math most firms hope you never run.

60%+
Typical Fee at Full-Service Firms
What you give up in exchange for overpriced benefits and stifling support
$200K+
Annual Cost to Top Producers
What that percentage means in real dollars on $500K+ in billings
80–90%
Your Take-Home at SIG
Keep the vast majority of your earnings with full infrastructure support

Your Take-Home on $500K in Billings

Traditional Firm
$200,000
40% take-home · 60% to the firm
vs
With SIG
$400,000+
80%+ take-home · Only 10–20% platform fee
Traditional firm take-home40%
SIG take-home80–90%

That's an extra $200,000+ per year back in your pocket. And the more you bill, the better it gets — million-plus producers keep up to 90%.

What SIG Handles So You Don't Have To

Focus on relationships and placements. We take care of everything else.

Portfolio Transition & BD

Move your clients seamlessly. Warm deal flow and shared introductions from day one.

Legal & Compliance

Entity setup, contract review, engagement letters, compliance monitoring, ongoing legal support.

Accounting & Finance

Bookkeeping, invoicing, collections, and financial reporting — handled professionally.

Healthcare Solutions

Quality coverage at a fraction of what you're subsidizing through high desk fees.

Technology & ATS

Loxo ATS included. Plus the tech stack to operate at the level of firms ten times your size.

Consulting Practice

Expand into consultant placement for recurring revenue that builds enterprise value.

The Three Options — Honestly

Every experienced recruiter faces the same crossroads.

Big Firm

Brand recognition, but at a steep personal cost.

  • Recognized brand name
  • Benefits and training included
  • Keep only 20–30% of billings
  • Meetings, reports, politics
  • Benefits cost you 40%+ of income
Best of Both Worlds

SIG

Independence with infrastructure.

  • Nationally recognized brand
  • Keep 80–90% of billings
  • Legal, accounting, compliance — handled
  • Peer network and warm deal flow
  • Healthcare at a fraction of the cost
  • Build equity in your own practice

Going Solo

Total freedom, heavy burden.

  • Complete autonomy
  • Keep 100% (before costs)
  • No brand recognition
  • Legal, banking, accounting on you
  • No deal flow — 12–24 mo. to ramp

Ready to Have the Conversation?

The best time to evaluate your options is when you're successful and in demand — not when you're desperate for change.

Schedule a Confidential Call →

Or reach out directly: (805) 774-1900 · info@joinsig.com

Let's Find Your Next Leader

Whether you need a CFO for a portfolio company or a CTO to scale your engineering org, SIG has the relationships and expertise to deliver.

Or call us: (805) 774-1900 · info@joinsig.com