How long does a CTO search take?

Our median CTO search closes in 118 days. CTO is our highest-volume single role, with 237 CTO searches run since 2014, and the candidate pool is well-mapped, especially in AI, SaaS, and cybersecurity.

Technology & AI Executive Search

Technology leaders for a different operating environment

Gain competitive advantage with CTOs, CIOs, or Chief AI Officers who can architect a truly defensible enterprise platform.

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85% Return Rate

4.9 out of 5 rating

106 Median Days to Close

400+ Searches in Function

The Function

Technology & AI
executive search

Technology feels the change in the executive job before anywhere else. Nearly half the leaders in our 2026 research say AI fluency will be the top skill their successor needs, and the C-suite is already moving: 75% feel very prepared for AI personally, with the VP layer at 42%. The strongest CTO and CIO candidates close that gap, because they architect at the platform layer and bring the team up with them.

Source: ON Partners Widening Gap, 2026

Roles in this function

Technology leadership is no longer one role.

A sample of four seats that decide whether your platform compounds or stalls. Each one is searched against a different candidate pool, and our partners know how the seats interact.

The Role

Chief Technology Officer

As one of our largest single search discipline, our practice targets high-impact CTOs who confidently command both product vision and development velocity. We identify forward-looking technology leaders built to design defensible architectures that scale seamlessly alongside your long-term business milestones.

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A sample of our work in this area

The Role

Chief Information Officer

The modern CIO serves as a vital champion of enterprise value, transforming traditional data infrastructure and advanced AI tooling into powerful levers for workforce optimization. We source sophisticated information executives who maximize operational efficiency while driving forward-looking digital integration.

Visit our CIO page

A sample of our work in this area

The Role

VP, IT

Operating at the center of enterprise enablement, a progressive VP of IT masterfully modernizes corporate systems and systematically retires legacy technical debt. We secure data-fluent IT executives who smoothly introduce advanced workplace automation and AI tooling while maintaining absolute operational continuity.

Visit Our Vice President & Senior Leadership Page

A sample of our work in this area

The Role

VP, Software Engineering

This dynamic leader commands the software delivery organization across every growth inflection, optimizing engineering throughput while championing a premium quality bar. We source elite delivery executives who leverage modern AI-driven development tools to accelerate shipping timelines and maximize output.

Visit Our Vice President & Senior Leadership Page

A sample of our work in this area

Our clients

Companies trust ON Partners

In their words

What clients say after the placement.

1 / 3

“

I was really impressed with my first search with your team. Every week there were meaningful updates, helpful prep, and the interview processes themselves were incredibly well organized and thorough. Looking forward to working with you all again!

Energy Storage

Head of Talent

Common Questions

What leaders may ask before a search

What's the difference between a CTO, a CPTO, and a VP of Engineering?

A CTO owns technology vision and the external technical voice. A CPTO unifies product and engineering under one leader. A VP of Engineering owns the engineering organization, hiring, and delivery.

When does an AI company hire a CTO?

If the founding team includes a technical co-founder, the CTO is already in place. If not, the first technical leadership hire is often a VP of Engineering, with a CTO recruited later when the company needs an external technical voice for fundraising or partnerships.

Does a CIO still matter at a digital-native company?

Yes, but the role looks different. At a digital-native company the CIO owns internal systems, data infrastructure, and increasingly AI tooling for the workforce, distinct from the CTO who owns the product technology stack.

How is enterprise AI changing what a CTO or CIO needs to be?

Both roles now require fluency in model strategy, data infrastructure, and AI governance alongside their traditional mandates. The right hire isn't always an AI specialist, but they need pattern recognition for where AI fits and where it doesn't.

Start a Search

Hire the technology leader who compounds across cycles.

A conversation is all it takes to know if we're the right fit. Tell us about the role, and we'll tell you what the market looks like. You'll speak directly with the partner who would lead your search.

85% of clients search with us again

4.9 / 5 client satisfaction rating

Partner-led from kickoff to close

98% placement rate

Technology leaders for a different operating environment

Technology & AI
executive search