The search firm for the second-in-command across the United States.
Placing Chief Operating Officers and Chiefs of Staff.
What sets us apart?
- Niche Focus
- Proven Experience
- Unrivalled Access
Keystone Executive focuses exclusively on second-in-command and right-hand leadership appointments, placing Chief Operating Officers and Chiefs of Staff across the US.
These are context-driven leadership roles – defined by leadership style, organizational maturity, and the inflection points unique to each business. Success requires more than experience; it calls for sound judgment, built-in trust, and the ability to create structure within ambiguity.
Keystone Executive is built to meet that challenge. We lead searches for the most nuanced seat in the business: the person who enables the CEO to scale beyond themselves.
With over a decade of experience leading senior searches across listed businesses, private equity-backed firms, and privately held companies.
We have placed leaders into a wide range of operating environments, and we understand how the shape of a role shifts with ownership structure, scale, and internal dynamics. No two COO or Chief of Staff mandates are the same – each requires careful definition, precise alignment, and a tailored approach.
Retained
Our core end-to-end solution for critical leadership hires. Ideal for second-in-command roles requiring deep calibration, stakeholder alignment, and rigorous assessment utilizing our KEYS methodology.
Contingency
A responsive model for time-sensitive or narrowly defined mandates. Best suited to businesses seeking external reach and targeted support without committing to a full retained process.
Interim
Rapid access to vetted operators for immediate needs. Designed to support leadership transitions, project delivery, or stabilisation periods with flexible, high-impact interim talent.
Bringing cross-sector insight to critical second-in-command and right-hand hires.
From founder-led startups to private equity platforms and mature enterprises, we understand how leadership needs shift with structure, scale, and speed. We have seen how the same title – Chief Operating Office & Chief of Staff – can mean radically different things depending on the operating context. That perspective lets us calibrate each search to the reality on the ground, not just the job description.
- Financial Services
- Professional Services
- Consumer Markets
- Life Sciences
- Private Equity
- Investment Banking
- Venture Capital
- Technology
