The Right Leader Can Change Everything.
Scion helps Chicago organizations identify exceptional CEOs, C-suite executives, presidents, vice presidents and senior functional leaders through focused, retained executive search. We combine Chicago market knowledge with nationwide and international reach to find leaders capable of shaping what comes next.
Leadership Hiring Requires a Different Level of Search.
Senior leadership searches carry consequences far beyond filling an open position. The person you hire may shape strategy, culture, financial performance, growth and the future direction of the organization.
Our executive search team works with boards, CEOs and senior stakeholders to define the leadership outcomes required before the market search begins. From there, we map the relevant executive landscape, engage leaders directly and evaluate candidates against your strategic, operational and cultural priorities.
Some Hires Are Too Important to Leave to Inbound Applications.
The strongest executive for your organization may already be performing successfully somewhere else. Retained search allows organizations to proactively identify and engage the market rather than wait for leaders to apply.
CEO & C-Suite Succession
Identify transformational leadership when a CEO or senior executive transition will materially influence the future direction of the organization.
Growth & Transformation
Recruit executives with the experience to scale organizations, professionalize operations, enter new markets or lead complex change.
Confidential Leadership Change
Conduct discreet search activity when leadership replacement, competitive sensitivity or organizational circumstances require privacy.
Specialized Executive Expertise
Reach leaders with specific industry, functional, transformation, investor, regulatory or technical experience that may be difficult to find through traditional recruiting channels.
Investor-Backed Leadership
Recruit executives equipped for accelerated growth, value creation, operational rigor and the demands of private equity or venture-backed environments.
Board & Senior Leadership
Strengthen governance and executive leadership with searches for presidents, board leaders, C-suite executives and senior departmental leadership.
Search the Market, Not Just the Applicant Pool.
Executive search should give you visibility into the strongest relevant leaders in the market, including those who are not actively looking for a new position.
Principal-Led Engagement
Senior search leadership remains closely engaged throughout strategy, market development, candidate evaluation and delivery.
Market Mapping
We identify relevant organizations, leadership profiles and talent pools to build a deliberate executive search strategy.
Direct Executive Outreach
Experienced executives are approached directly rather than relying solely on leaders who happen to be actively applying.
Leadership Evaluation
Candidates are assessed against strategic objectives, leadership capabilities, experience and organizational alignment.
Confidentiality
Searches can be conducted discreetly when leadership transitions or competitive considerations require privacy.
Search Accountability
Structured communication and search management provide stakeholders with visibility throughout the engagement.
Leadership Across the Enterprise.
Our executive search engagements span the C-suite, presidency, board leadership and senior functional roles responsible for organizational performance.
Chief Executive Officer
Enterprise leadership, strategy, growth and organizational transformation.
President
Organizational, divisional and operating leadership.
Chief Financial Officer
Financial strategy, capital, reporting, planning and enterprise finance.
Chief Operating Officer
Operations, scale, transformation and organizational execution.
Chief Human Resources Officer
People strategy, talent, culture and organizational effectiveness.
Technology & AI Leadership
CTO, CIO, CISO, data, engineering and artificial intelligence leadership.
Revenue & Sales Leadership
CRO, CSO and senior commercial growth leadership.
Marketing Leadership
CMO, brand, communications, growth and product marketing leadership.
Legal & Compliance Leadership
General Counsel, CLO, compliance and enterprise legal leadership.
Product Leadership
Product strategy, innovation and product organization leadership.
Vice President Leadership
Senior functional leadership across core departments and business units.
Board Leadership
Board directors, chairs and governance leadership.
Executive Recruitment Across Leading Industries.
Chicago's economy spans global enterprises, investor-backed organizations, professional firms, healthcare, manufacturing, technology and mission-driven institutions. Our searches reflect that breadth.
Private Equity & Investor-Backed
Portfolio leadership, value creation executives, operating leaders and growth-stage C-suite recruitment.
Technology & AI
Leadership across software, SaaS, cybersecurity, data, product, engineering and artificial intelligence.
Healthcare & Life Sciences
Healthcare systems, medical organizations, health technology and life-science leadership.
Manufacturing & Industrial
Operations, engineering, supply chain, manufacturing and enterprise leadership.
Professional & Financial Services
Banking, finance, consulting, legal, accounting, advisory and professional-services leadership.
Consumer & Retail
Brand, merchandising, ecommerce, supply chain, commercial and enterprise leadership.
Real Estate & Construction
Development, finance, operations, acquisitions and commercial leadership.
Startups & Growth Companies
Leaders capable of building systems, scaling teams and guiding organizations through rapid growth.
Nonprofit, Foundation & Education
Mission-driven executive leadership supported by Scion's specialized nonprofit executive search practice.
Disciplined Search. Thoughtful Evaluation. Leadership Impact.
Every engagement is built around the needs of the organization, the realities of the executive market and the outcomes the incoming leader must deliver.
Discover
Define strategy, leadership needs, culture, priorities and success measures.
Map
Build the target market and identify relevant organizations and executive profiles.
Engage
Approach prospective executives directly and represent the opportunity strategically.
Evaluate
Assess leadership experience, impact, motivation and organizational alignment.
Hire
Support stakeholder interviews, references, closing and leadership placement.
Explore Our Full National Executive Search Practice.
Scion Retained Search provides dedicated executive search for corporations, private companies, investor-backed organizations, startups, growth companies and institutions across the United States.
Need Professional Talent Below the Executive Level?
Scion Staffing Chicago also provides temporary staffing and direct hire recruiting across professional functions.
Temporary Staffing
Access temporary, contract, project and interim professionals for immediate workforce needs and specialized initiatives.
Explore Temporary Staffing →Direct Hire Recruiting
Recruit permanent professional talent through targeted sourcing, candidate evaluation and personalized search support.
Explore Direct Hire →Chicago Expertise. National Executive Reach.
Scion supports organizations throughout Chicago and the surrounding region while conducting executive searches nationally and internationally when leadership requirements demand a broader market.
From downtown Chicago and the West Loop to the North Shore and greater Chicagoland, our executive recruiting team helps organizations identify leadership across industries, functions and organizational stages.
Executive Search Coverage
Who Will Lead What Comes Next?
Tell us about the leadership challenge ahead. Our executive search team will help you define the search, map the market and identify exceptional leaders capable of moving your organization forward.