Executive Search · Board Hiring
Defining theBoardroom Vision
The right board can shape the future of your company. We support clients in appointing impactful board members - whether you're seeking a board representative, chairperson, or strategic advisor. With deep expertise in board recruitment, our team helps you identify leaders who bring strategic insight, governance experience, and long-term value.
Get in touchBoard Member Types
Board Representative
Appointed by a specific shareholder or group, board representatives advocate for their interests while upholding a fiduciary duty to the company. Their role brings important stakeholder perspectives to board discussions and decisions.
Regular Board Member
Elected to represent all shareholders, regular board members provide oversight, support strategic direction, and ensure management accountability. They are expected to act independently and in line with governance best practices.
Chairman / Chairwoman of the Board
The chairperson leads the board's work, setting agendas and guiding discussions. They often play a key role in executive hiring, ensuring leadership aligns with the company's long-term strategy.
Why it matters
Why hire an independent board member
Governance & Resilience
Board leadership in times of crisis
Having a solid and experienced board that has not only seen fair weather and growth can be crucial, especially during downturns and crisis management.
During a crisis, an experienced board member may realise that their CEO is unable to navigate through rough waters. While making C-level changes in the midst of a crisis can be risky, it may be necessary to reorganise management responsibilities to support the CEO and strengthen the C-level team. If the board determines a CEO change is necessary, engaging in a CEO succession process early is advisable - particularly if the crisis is expected to last 2–3 years.
Common crises for start-ups
- Failed business model
- Potential customers don't want the product / solution
- Problem with product / solution
- Not able to pivot or pivoting too often
- Not able to scale
- Not able to evolve and change roles
- Not able to execute
- Lack of cash
- Loss of a key player
Strategic Governance
Scenario Planning
In unpredictable and fast-changing markets - particularly for innovative or early-stage companies - relying on a single financial forecast is no longer enough. Developing multiple scenarios allows boards and leadership teams to anticipate risks, stay agile, and make informed decisions even in times of crisis.
Request the management team to prepare a range of financial scenarios to guide decision-making.
Use scenarios as benchmarks for daily operational and strategic choices.
In times of crisis, expect significant performance fluctuations - scenarios help maintain stability.
Strengthen the board with members experienced in financial oversight and strategic navigation.
Ensure board input provides regular “reality checks” to keep planning aligned with long-term goals.
Partner with an executive search firm to identify and appoint board members with the right expertise to support scenario planning and long-term strategy.
Your Expert Partners
Meet the team behind your board hire
Franziska Palumbo-Seidel
Partner, Board Leadership
Zurich, Switzerland
Franziska leads Key Search's board hiring practice in Switzerland. She holds a certification in Swiss board hiring for start-ups and has a particular focus on placing women in board mandates - partnering with Women for the Board to strengthen the pipeline of female board candidates across Switzerland and Europe. Franziska has placed board members for companies like Klarna, N26, and Shopify.
William Langdon-Banks
Partner, DeepTech & AI | Investors & Board Advisory | Logistics
Monaco, Europe
William specialises in C-Suite and Board mandates across DeepTech & AI Infrastructure, Logistics & Supply Chain, and Investors & Board Advisory. His DeepTech mandates include Corintis, Lilium, Fernride, and Vay; his Logistics work spans ClearOps, byrd, B2X, Wayfair, and Grover - in partnership with investors including SoftBank, Atomico, and LGT. He operates across the UK, France, Germany, Switzerland, EMEA, and Japan.
Effective board hiring is not about filling seats - it's about elevating vision, oversight, and impact.
Board Insights
Further reading
Get Started
Interested in Board Hiring?
Franziska and William lead our board hiring practice. Together they have helped some of Europe's and the US's most ambitious companies build boards that drive long-term value. Reach out directly or use the form to get started.