Net Zero Search

Everyone’s talking about a “war for talent.” But the companies struggling to hire right now? It’s not because there’s a shortage of people. It’s because their search approach is out of date. Top talent is there… but they don’t respond to generic recruiters. They don’t get excited by slow, process-heavy firms. And they certainly don’t wait around for the shortlist to be “finalised in 12 weeks.” Today’s most relevant companies are partnering with true sector specialists, leveraging talent intelligence before launching a search, and hiring faster, with greater accuracy and retention. At Net Zero Search, we’re not just helping you hire. We’re helping you stay relevant in a market that won’t wait. Don’t fall behind because your process did.

Here’s the question no one asks their search firm: “What percentage of your hires are still in post after two years?” Too many traditional firms treat executive search like a transaction. Find a candidate. Fill the seat. Collect the fee. Move on. They don’t track retention and they don’t care about long-term outcomes.  Because they don’t have to. At Net Zero Search, we’ve built retention into the very structure of our model. 📌 Our pricing rewards performance over time 📌 We align with your growth curve – not just your org chart 📌 We stay involved after the hire, not just until the invoice When we place a leader, we back them. Because the real value of an exec isn’t who they are at week one: it’s what they deliver in year two. Ready to stop hiring for the headline and start hiring for impact?

Some of the best leadership hires we’ve made recently? They weren’t on the market. They weren’t applying for roles. They weren’t on your radar… but they were on ours. We speak to senior operators and executives in energy transition every. day. Not just when a brief lands. That’s why we’re able to move quickly when clients need someone who’s scaled infra, launched in new markets, raised capital, or led regulatory change. If your competitors are making moves and you’re not, it’s worth asking: What do they know that you don’t?

A fast-scaling energy transition company doesn’t have time for slow search. You don’t need 60-page longlists or a six-week "market mapping" phase. You need insight. Speed. Access. Here’s what good executive search in this space should look like: → Delivered by people who actually live in the market → Candidates who’ve already solved the problems you’re facing → Fee structures that reward long-term outcomes, not just process → Clear, weekly communication. No smoke, no mirrors This isn’t theory, it’s how we operate. If you’re scaling in energy transition and need a leadership hire to shift the trajectory, we’re built for it. Talk to one of our partners directly: Matt Churchward | Harry Davies

Billions are pouring into clean fuels, EV infrastructure, and grid-scale storage. But most executive search firms? Still stuck in neutral. Rigid fee models One-size-fits-all processes Junior researchers doing 90% of the work If you’re scaling a portfolio company or investing in this space, ask yourself: 👉 Is your search partner helping you move faster or slowing you down? 👉 Are they speaking to sector talent daily or building networks after you sign a contract? At Net Zero Search, we do things differently: - Every search is Partner-delivered - Every fee structure is bespoke - Every hire is aligned to long-term retention This is search built for results, not process. Let’s talk if you’re hiring in the energy transition and want a firm that lives in your market.

There’s a talent war playing out in energy transition. But it’s not just about engineers or analysts. It’s happening at the top of the org chart. 📉 Leadership supply isn’t keeping up with demand 📈 The best candidates get snapped up before they ever hit the market ⚠️ Traditional firms aren’t embedded in the sector enough to move fast Hiring a leader who knows how to scale in this environment can save you 12–18 months of trial and error. That’s why Net Zero Search exists. We’re not generalists. We’re not passive. And we’re not cheap suits and slide decks. We’re the specialist executive search firm built for this market—and we deliver C-suite talent that traditional firms miss.

Policy shifts and supply chain challenges demand leaders who can adapt fast. At Net Zero Search, we embed ourselves in the market to ensure our clients stay ahead.

Want to know what top execs in energy transition are earning right now? In this month’s Salary Report, we’re breaking down the latest compensation trends for CFOs and CTOs in Clean Tech, Engineering, and Grid. Here’s what we’re seeing: 1. Base salaries are shifting in response to market uncertainty. 2. Demand for top technical talent is driving up pay—even for those with under 10 years of senior experience. 3. Companies are adjusting offers to secure leaders who can navigate the sector’s biggest challenges. Want the full breakdown? Message “Salary Report” to Matt Churchward, and we’ll send it your way.

Hiring the wrong executive search firm can cost your business more than just time—it can slow your entire growth trajectory. Executive search is supposed to accelerate your leadership team’s success. So why do so many firms drag out the process? Because they start from scratch every time. We don’t. Here’s the deal: ⚡ If you don’t have a clear leadership strategy, even the best candidate won’t solve your biggest challenges. ⚡ Most firms wait until you hire them to start looking—we're always tracking the top 1% in energy transition. ⚡ Instead of a long, drawn-out process, you get a highly targeted shortlist fast—without sacrificing quality. That’s why we take a sector-focused, results-driven approach—so you get THE leaders who can drive your business forward, faster. When is the right time to partner with an executive search firm? When you need high-impact leadership and can’t afford to waste time on the wrong fit.

Me: "So why do you work with... INSERT ONE OF 'Spencer Stuart, Heidrick & Struggles, Russell Reynolds, Egon Zehnder or Korn Ferry' ” ? Hiring Lead: "Uhmmm because we always have and if they f*ck it up I won't get in trouble from the board". I hear this more than you would think. Don't get me wrong all great businesses BUT does that mean they deliver the required VALUE that your business requires. Methodologies and pricing in traditional search have not changed for decades. When working with traditional search firms, what you see on the surface is often very different from what you get. What You See: - A managing partner leading your search, offering tailored service and access to a top talent pool. - An overly complex drawn out hiring process packaged up to justify inordinately high fees What You Don’t See: - Junior recruiters doing 95% of the legwork, without the same level of market expertise. - Fees funding corporate overhead, not going directly into the search process. - A lack of senior-level involvement in sourcing and vetting candidates. - A one-size-fits-all approach that doesn't address your unique needs. At NetZero Search, we work differently. We bring C-suite expertise directly to the table. Our searches are tailored specifically for the energy transition sector, ensuring faster, more efficient hires that align with your vision and future goals. If you’re looking for leaders who can drive meaningful change, get in touch.