Function · Information security
Security leadership for the trust behind the brand.
Retained CISO search for luxury houses, family offices, consumer businesses and investor-backed companies protecting valuable clients, intellectual property and reputation.
The appointment
For a luxury or UHNW-facing organisation, security is not an isolated technology function. It is stewardship of client confidence, proprietary knowledge and the licence to operate. The CISO must combine technical authority with the judgement to make risk intelligible to a board and proportionate to the business.
The organisations
Luxury groups and maisons, family and principal offices, private banks, hospitality businesses, premium consumer companies and private-equity portfolio businesses managing sensitive data and high-value relationships.
Leadership briefs
- Chief Information Security Officer
- Chief Security Officer
- Cybersecurity and information-security leadership
- Privacy, data-protection and digital-trust leadership
- Technology risk and resilience leadership
- Security leadership for family and principal offices
Reading the field
The strongest candidates bring depth without abstraction. We assess their command of cyber risk, regulation, resilience and emerging AI exposure, alongside their ability to influence an executive team, communicate under pressure and build a security culture that enables the business rather than obstructing it.
Questions behind the brief
- Which assets, relationships and operations are most consequential?
- What should the board expect to understand and govern?
- Does the mandate require transformation, stabilisation or both?
- Which regulated or adjacent sectors provide relevant leadership?
How we conduct a retained search
We define what must be protected, what must change and how the role will carry authority before approaching candidates. The search then examines direct and adjacent markets, discreetly engages selected leaders and tests evidence under the conditions the appointment will face.
- Define: establish the risk, operating context and decision rights.
- Map: build a disciplined international view of credible leaders.
- Engage: conduct confidential, context-rich approaches.
- Assess: test technical depth, judgement, communication and resilience.
- Advise: remain through selection, referencing and appointment.
Practical questions
Will the search extend beyond luxury?
Frequently. Financial services, technology, defence, professional services and other regulated sectors can provide relevant leaders. We test whether their judgement and operating style will travel.
Can you support a confidential replacement?
Yes. Sensitive succession and replacement searches are structured around tightly controlled communication, clear governance and discreet market engagement.
Do you cover family-office security leadership?
Yes. We work across enterprise and private interests where discretion, privacy and the protection of principals are central to the brief.
Protecting trust begins with leadership.
Begin a confidential conversation about the mandate and its context.
Discuss a mandate