If you’re a mid- or senior-level marketing leader—or a hiring manager trying to understand how to work effectively with an marketing executive search partner—this breakdown is one of the best I’ve seen.

Doug Lester does an incredible job explaining how retained executive search firms truly operate, what candidates should expect, and—most importantly—the real differences between contingency recruiters vs. retained search partners.

For anyone looking to advance into VP, SVP, or C-Suite marketing roles, or any CEO/Head of Talent trying to hire for them, this is essential listening. Doug pulls back the curtain on how search firms prioritize roles, how engagements work behind the scenes, and why the retained model consistently drives better outcomes, alignment, and speed.

As a specialized retainer-based Marketing Executive Search firm, MarketSearch Executive Search works exactly in this model—deep, relationship-driven, proactive outreach, and hands-on management of passive, hard-to-reach talent. This episode perfectly outlines what both clients and candidates should expect when partnering with a firm like ours to place senior marketing, growth, digital, or demand generation leaders.

If you’re a client looking to hire a retainer-based executive search firm for your next CMO, VP Marketing, Head of Digital, or Growth Leader, I’d love to talk.
📩 marketsearch29@gmail.com

Have a listen—you’ll walk away far more confident in how executive search truly works.

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