Executive Search I

Commercial Director Recruitment

Appoint a Commercial Director who drives revenue, sharpens strategy, and unlocks new opportunities for growth.


We help SME owners and boards recruit commercially focused leaders who align sales, marketing, and strategic partnerships - and deliver results that move the business forward.

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Do you need to recruit a Commercial Director for your SME? Speak to our Managing Director, Oliver Adderley.

We recruit Commercial Directors for SMEs with turnovers between £20M and £250M — businesses that need strategic revenue leadership to drive growth, optimise performance, and open up new markets.

Appoint a Commercial Director Who Accelerates Your Growth

Whether you're scaling sales, launching new products, entering new markets, or aligning sales and marketing functions, we deliver Commercial Directors who bring clarity, structure, and momentum. Our approach is agile, cost-effective, and built for SMEs — not priced like a big-name search firm.

In the past two years, we’ve filled 100% of our retained commercial and growth leadership roles — placing Commercial Directors who’ve driven revenue growth, built high-performing teams, and delivered measurable commercial impact.

From family-owned SMEs evolving their go-to-market strategy to private equity-backed businesses pushing for aggressive growth, we deliver leaders who don’t just chase targets — they deliver lasting results.

How It Works: Our Search Process

Recruit director level talent in 12 weeks or less.

  • We begin every project with a formal strategy discussion to fully understand your business, structure, growth plans, and the leadership challenges you face. We confirm the scope of the role, commercial objectives, timescales, and fee terms before initiating any search activity.

  • Once terms are agreed, we prepare a detailed Assignment Brief outlining the role, responsibilities, business context, cultural environment, and ideal candidate profile. This document is approved by you and used to brief candidates consistently and professionally throughout the process.

  • We carry out a focused headhunting campaign across relevant sectors and leadership networks. This includes direct outreach, discreet advertising, referrals, and competitor mapping — tailored to attract commercially aligned directors with the capability to lead in fast-paced SME environments.

  • All shortlisted candidates are interviewed by our senior consultants and complete our in-depth Self-Awareness Questionnaire (SAQ). This provides deep insight into each candidate’s leadership style, career history, and operational decision-making — going well beyond a standard CV.

  • We present a carefully curated shortlist including candidate CVs, detailed consultant commentary, and SAQ insights. You’ll receive clear, structured feedback and comparative recommendations to support your selection process.

  • Once you’ve progressed to second-stage interviews, we conduct thorough, confidential verbal referencing. This includes targeted conversations with past colleagues to verify performance, leadership impact, and cultural fit — giving you complete confidence in your final decision.

  • We support you through salary discussions, offer negotiation, and onboarding. Because our fees are fixed and not linked to salary level, we maintain complete objectivity — focusing solely on securing the right long-term appointment for your business.

What sets us apart?

Specialist, Senior-Led Delivery

Every assignment is led by an experienced consultant - never passed to junior staff. We bring commercial acumen, market insight, and real leadership experience to every project, ensuring your search is handled with the focus and expertise it deserves.

Deeper Candidate Insight: The SAQ

Our proprietary Self-Awareness Questionnaire (SAQ) gives you unrivalled insight into each candidate’s leadership style, motivations, and behaviours. It goes far beyond a CV, helping you make better-informed decisions.

Unrivalled Candidate Reporting

Every candidate is presented with detailed consultant commentary, behavioural insight, and performance history, not just a CV. Our reports give you clarity, comparison, and the confidence to assess fit across strategic, cultural, and operational dimensions.

Fee Structures Built for SMEs

We offer transparent, fixed fees designed around the realities of SME budgets, without the inflated pricing models of traditional firms. You receive board-level quality with flexible terms and no hidden extras.

Access to Exceptional Talent

With over 30 years of experience, we have built deep networks across leadership functions. We find proven directors and rising leaders who are ready to create impact in fast-moving, scaling businesses.

Agile, Focused, Results-Driven

We’re an agile business, able to move quickly, adapt to your timelines, and stay aligned with your goals. We typically deliver fully assessed shortlists within 4–6 weeks, without compromising quality or process.

“SMEs don’t need FTSE-level search fees or to be delegated to a junior consultant. They need a bespoke service that understands their business, the stage of growth, their budget, and their urgency. That’s exactly what we offer.”
— Oliver Adderley, Managing Director

SME Commercial Director Recruitment Questions Answered

  • A Commercial Director oversees revenue-generating functions such as sales, marketing, and partnerships. In SMEs, they focus on driving growth, aligning commercial strategy with business objectives, and delivering measurable financial performance.

  • In UK-based SMEs with £20M–£250M turnover, Commercial Director base salaries typically range from £90,000 to £140,000, depending on industry, complexity, and scope of responsibility.

  • Bonuses for Commercial Directors usually range between 20% and 50% of base salary, commonly linked to revenue growth, margin improvement, or EBITDA performance.

  • In private equity-backed or high-growth SMEs, Commercial Directors may be offered equity, LTIPs, or performance shares, especially where their contribution is closely tied to the business’s valuation or exit event.

  • While a Sales Director typically focuses on sales strategy and team performance, a Commercial Director has a broader remit — overseeing sales, marketing, pricing, partnerships, and sometimes product strategy to maximise commercial impact.

  • The recruitment process usually takes 6 to 10 weeks for a retained search, depending on role complexity, location, and urgency.

  • We recruit for SMEs between £20M and £250M turnover, typically owner-led, PE-backed, or in a scale-up phase. We work across sectors such as manufacturing, B2B services, and distribution.