A sitting CEO in a boardroom overlooking the city

For sitting CEOs

CEO Career Desk

Your growth, your documents and your next seat, handled in private.

Where would you like to begin?

Boards and promoters hire CEOs through firms like ours. Until one of them calls, the preparation is in your hands: knowing where to move, how you read when someone looks you up, being found without looking, and presenting for that exact role.

Built for
CEOs and chief executives planning a next move
Confidentiality
Nothing is published unless you approve it. No message to your employer.
How you use it
Each service stands alone. Take one, or several.

Know where to go

Confidential CEO Career Strategy and Growth Planning

“I don’t know whether to move, or where.”

A private document that reads your record against the market and shows you which moves are worth making. It is written for you and sent to you, and we keep no copy.

You receiveA private strategy document, written for you alone.

Open the Career Strategy The full details and the price are on its own page.

Two senior leaders walking and talking through a career decision

Strictly confidential

Career, Compensation & Global Mobility Strategy

Prepared for you aloneGladwin International & Company

In six parts

  1. Executive summary
  2. Where you stand
  3. Your pathways
  4. Your compensation
  5. Global mobility
  6. Your roadmap

Illustrative layout

  1. If I read only one page, what should I do?Executive summary
  2. How does my record look from the outside?Where you stand
  3. Where can I realistically go from here?Your pathways
  4. Which move actually leaves me better off?Your compensation
  5. Is a move abroad worth it for my family?Global mobility
  6. What do I do next, and by when?Your roadmap

Be found in your own words

Personal Website for CEOs

“When someone looks me up, I want them to find the right story.”

When a chair, a nomination committee or a search firm looks you up, what they find should be clear, current and yours. You see a private preview first, and nothing goes live until you approve it.

You receiveA website you review and approve before anything is published.

See the Personal Website The full details and the price are on its own page.

The Obsidian website template, The Sovereign, shown for a fictional CEOObsidianRoyale · The SovereignThe Obsidian website template, The Columnist, shown for a fictional CEOObsidianSignature · The ColumnistThe Obsidian website template, The Profile, shown for a fictional CEOObsidianAdvantage · The ProfileThe Cypress website template, The Monograph, shown for a fictional CEOCypressRoyale · The MonographThe Cypress website template, The Essayist, shown for a fictional CEOCypressSignature · The EssayistThe Cypress website template, The Card, shown for a fictional CEOCypressAdvantage · The CardThe Meridian website template, The Manifesto, shown for a fictional CEOMeridianRoyale · The ManifestoThe Meridian website template, The Op-Ed, shown for a fictional CEOMeridianSignature · The Op-EdThe Meridian website template, The Headline, shown for a fictional CEOMeridianAdvantage · The HeadlineThe Sandstone website template, The Odyssey, shown for a fictional CEOSandstoneRoyale · The OdysseyThe Sandstone website template, The Field Notes, shown for a fictional CEOSandstoneSignature · The Field NotesThe Sandstone website template, The Panorama, shown for a fictional CEOSandstoneAdvantage · The PanoramaThe Travertine website template, The Monograph, shown for a fictional CEOTravertineRoyale · The MonographThe Travertine website template, The Essayist, shown for a fictional CEOTravertineSignature · The EssayistThe Travertine website template, The Card, shown for a fictional CEOTravertineAdvantage · The CardThe Porcelain website template, The Manifesto, shown for a fictional CEOPorcelainRoyale · The ManifestoThe Porcelain website template, The Op-Ed, shown for a fictional CEOPorcelainSignature · The Op-EdThe Porcelain website template, The Headline, shown for a fictional CEOPorcelainAdvantage · The HeadlineThe Indigo website template, The Odyssey, shown for a fictional CEOIndigoRoyale · The OdysseyThe Indigo website template, The Field Notes, shown for a fictional CEOIndigoSignature · The Field NotesThe Indigo website template, The Panorama, shown for a fictional CEOIndigoAdvantage · The PanoramaThe Sandstone website template, The Sovereign, shown for a fictional CEOSandstoneRoyale · The SovereignThe Sandstone website template, The Columnist, shown for a fictional CEOSandstoneSignature · The ColumnistThe Sandstone website template, The Profile, shown for a fictional CEOSandstoneAdvantage · The ProfileThe Obsidian website template, The Monograph, shown for a fictional CEOObsidianRoyale · The MonographThe Obsidian website template, The Essayist, shown for a fictional CEOObsidianSignature · The EssayistThe Obsidian website template, The Card, shown for a fictional CEOObsidianAdvantage · The CardThe Cypress website template, The Manifesto, shown for a fictional CEOCypressRoyale · The ManifestoThe Cypress website template, The Op-Ed, shown for a fictional CEOCypressSignature · The Op-EdThe Cypress website template, The Headline, shown for a fictional CEOCypressAdvantage · The HeadlineThe Graphite website template, The Odyssey, shown for a fictional CEOGraphiteRoyale · The OdysseyThe Graphite website template, The Field Notes, shown for a fictional CEOGraphiteSignature · The Field NotesThe Graphite website template, The Panorama, shown for a fictional CEOGraphiteAdvantage · The PanoramaThe Indigo website template, The Sovereign, shown for a fictional CEOIndigoRoyale · The SovereignThe Indigo website template, The Columnist, shown for a fictional CEOIndigoSignature · The ColumnistThe Indigo website template, The Profile, shown for a fictional CEOIndigoAdvantage · The ProfileThe Travertine website template, The Manifesto, shown for a fictional CEOTravertineRoyale · The ManifestoThe Travertine website template, The Op-Ed, shown for a fictional CEOTravertineSignature · The Op-EdThe Travertine website template, The Headline, shown for a fictional CEOTravertineAdvantage · The HeadlineThe Copper website template, The Odyssey, shown for a fictional CEOCopperRoyale · The OdysseyThe Copper website template, The Field Notes, shown for a fictional CEOCopperSignature · The Field NotesThe Copper website template, The Panorama, shown for a fictional CEOCopperAdvantage · The PanoramaThe Graphite website template, The Sovereign, shown for a fictional CEOGraphiteRoyale · The SovereignThe Graphite website template, The Columnist, shown for a fictional CEOGraphiteSignature · The ColumnistThe Graphite website template, The Profile, shown for a fictional CEOGraphiteAdvantage · The ProfileThe Sandstone website template, The Monograph, shown for a fictional CEOSandstoneRoyale · The MonographThe Sandstone website template, The Essayist, shown for a fictional CEOSandstoneSignature · The EssayistThe Sandstone website template, The Card, shown for a fictional CEOSandstoneAdvantage · The CardThe Obsidian website template, The Manifesto, shown for a fictional CEOObsidianRoyale · The ManifestoThe Obsidian website template, The Op-Ed, shown for a fictional CEOObsidianSignature · The Op-EdThe Obsidian website template, The Headline, shown for a fictional CEOObsidianAdvantage · The HeadlineThe Oxblood website template, The Odyssey, shown for a fictional CEOOxbloodRoyale · The OdysseyThe Oxblood website template, The Field Notes, shown for a fictional CEOOxbloodSignature · The Field NotesThe Oxblood website template, The Panorama, shown for a fictional CEOOxbloodAdvantage · The PanoramaThe Copper website template, The Sovereign, shown for a fictional CEOCopperRoyale · The SovereignThe Copper website template, The Columnist, shown for a fictional CEOCopperSignature · The ColumnistThe Copper website template, The Profile, shown for a fictional CEOCopperAdvantage · The ProfileThe Indigo website template, The Monograph, shown for a fictional CEOIndigoRoyale · The MonographThe Indigo website template, The Essayist, shown for a fictional CEOIndigoSignature · The EssayistThe Indigo website template, The Card, shown for a fictional CEOIndigoAdvantage · The CardThe Meridian website template, The Odyssey, shown for a fictional CEOMeridianRoyale · The OdysseyThe Meridian website template, The Field Notes, shown for a fictional CEOMeridianSignature · The Field NotesThe Meridian website template, The Panorama, shown for a fictional CEOMeridianAdvantage · The PanoramaThe Oxblood website template, The Sovereign, shown for a fictional CEOOxbloodRoyale · The SovereignThe Oxblood website template, The Columnist, shown for a fictional CEOOxbloodSignature · The ColumnistThe Oxblood website template, The Profile, shown for a fictional CEOOxbloodAdvantage · The ProfileThe Graphite website template, The Monograph, shown for a fictional CEOGraphiteRoyale · The MonographThe Graphite website template, The Essayist, shown for a fictional CEOGraphiteSignature · The EssayistThe Graphite website template, The Card, shown for a fictional CEOGraphiteAdvantage · The CardThe Sandstone website template, The Manifesto, shown for a fictional CEOSandstoneRoyale · The ManifestoThe Sandstone website template, The Op-Ed, shown for a fictional CEOSandstoneSignature · The Op-EdThe Sandstone website template, The Headline, shown for a fictional CEOSandstoneAdvantage · The HeadlineThe Porcelain website template, The Odyssey, shown for a fictional CEOPorcelainRoyale · The OdysseyThe Porcelain website template, The Field Notes, shown for a fictional CEOPorcelainSignature · The Field NotesThe Porcelain website template, The Panorama, shown for a fictional CEOPorcelainAdvantage · The PanoramaThe Meridian website template, The Sovereign, shown for a fictional CEOMeridianRoyale · The SovereignThe Meridian website template, The Columnist, shown for a fictional CEOMeridianSignature · The ColumnistThe Meridian website template, The Profile, shown for a fictional CEOMeridianAdvantage · The ProfileThe Copper website template, The Monograph, shown for a fictional CEOCopperRoyale · The MonographThe Copper website template, The Essayist, shown for a fictional CEOCopperSignature · The EssayistThe Copper website template, The Card, shown for a fictional CEOCopperAdvantage · The CardThe Indigo website template, The Manifesto, shown for a fictional CEOIndigoRoyale · The ManifestoThe Indigo website template, The Op-Ed, shown for a fictional CEOIndigoSignature · The Op-EdThe Indigo website template, The Headline, shown for a fictional CEOIndigoAdvantage · The HeadlineThe Cypress website template, The Odyssey, shown for a fictional CEOCypressRoyale · The OdysseyThe Cypress website template, The Field Notes, shown for a fictional CEOCypressSignature · The Field NotesThe Cypress website template, The Panorama, shown for a fictional CEOCypressAdvantage · The PanoramaThe Porcelain website template, The Sovereign, shown for a fictional CEOPorcelainRoyale · The SovereignThe Porcelain website template, The Columnist, shown for a fictional CEOPorcelainSignature · The ColumnistThe Porcelain website template, The Profile, shown for a fictional CEOPorcelainAdvantage · The ProfileThe Oxblood website template, The Monograph, shown for a fictional CEOOxbloodRoyale · The MonographThe Oxblood website template, The Essayist, shown for a fictional CEOOxbloodSignature · The EssayistThe Oxblood website template, The Card, shown for a fictional CEOOxbloodAdvantage · The CardThe Graphite website template, The Manifesto, shown for a fictional CEOGraphiteRoyale · The ManifestoThe Graphite website template, The Op-Ed, shown for a fictional CEOGraphiteSignature · The Op-EdThe Graphite website template, The Headline, shown for a fictional CEOGraphiteAdvantage · The HeadlineThe Travertine website template, The Odyssey, shown for a fictional CEOTravertineRoyale · The OdysseyThe Travertine website template, The Field Notes, shown for a fictional CEOTravertineSignature · The Field NotesThe Travertine website template, The Panorama, shown for a fictional CEOTravertineAdvantage · The PanoramaThe Cypress website template, The Sovereign, shown for a fictional CEOCypressRoyale · The SovereignThe Cypress website template, The Columnist, shown for a fictional CEOCypressSignature · The ColumnistThe Cypress website template, The Profile, shown for a fictional CEOCypressAdvantage · The ProfileThe Meridian website template, The Monograph, shown for a fictional CEOMeridianRoyale · The MonographThe Meridian website template, The Essayist, shown for a fictional CEOMeridianSignature · The EssayistThe Meridian website template, The Card, shown for a fictional CEOMeridianAdvantage · The CardThe Copper website template, The Manifesto, shown for a fictional CEOCopperRoyale · The ManifestoThe Copper website template, The Op-Ed, shown for a fictional CEOCopperSignature · The Op-EdThe Copper website template, The Headline, shown for a fictional CEOCopperAdvantage · The HeadlineThe Obsidian website template, The Odyssey, shown for a fictional CEOObsidianRoyale · The OdysseyThe Obsidian website template, The Field Notes, shown for a fictional CEOObsidianSignature · The Field NotesThe Obsidian website template, The Panorama, shown for a fictional CEOObsidianAdvantage · The PanoramaThe Travertine website template, The Sovereign, shown for a fictional CEOTravertineRoyale · The SovereignThe Travertine website template, The Columnist, shown for a fictional CEOTravertineSignature · The ColumnistThe Travertine website template, The Profile, shown for a fictional CEOTravertineAdvantage · The ProfileThe Porcelain website template, The Monograph, shown for a fictional CEOPorcelainRoyale · The MonographThe Porcelain website template, The Essayist, shown for a fictional CEOPorcelainSignature · The EssayistThe Porcelain website template, The Card, shown for a fictional CEOPorcelainAdvantage · The CardThe Oxblood website template, The Manifesto, shown for a fictional CEOOxbloodRoyale · The ManifestoThe Oxblood website template, The Op-Ed, shown for a fictional CEOOxbloodSignature · The Op-EdThe Oxblood website template, The Headline, shown for a fictional CEOOxbloodAdvantage · The Headline
The Obsidian The Sovereign design from the Royale collection, shown with a fictional CEO

The Flagship Collection, written for a CEO

Open Obsidian as a live site

Demonstrations with fictional leaders. Your own portrait and approved words replace them.

  • Your biography, career history, case study and philosophy
  • A design chosen from 300, on a domain you can own
  • Your CV stays private and is not published automatically
  • Domain, hosting and a LinkedIn review, so that it all tells one story

Be found quietly

Custom Whisper Job Search Agent for CEOs

“I can’t be seen looking, but I want to hear what opens up.”

An agent set up around a brief you set. While you keep running the company, Whisper works in silence and reads the market against that brief every week. When something aligns you hear first, and your identity stays protected until you choose to engage.

You receiveA steady read of the market, set against your brief.

Open the Job Search Agent The full details and the price are on its own page.

Whisper · This week Identity protected

  • PE-backed hospital chain, Bengaluru

    FactThe founder-CEO has moved to a board role.

    InferenceA professional CEO may be appointed before a listing.

  • A multinational’s India subsidiary, Gurugram

    FactIndia revenue has been flat for three years in the group’s results.

    InferenceThe global board may look again at the India MD seat.

  • Family-owned chemicals group, Ahmedabad

    FactA holding board has been formed, with its first independent directors.

    InferenceA first professional Group CEO may follow.

Illustrative, not live signals

What it reads

  • Regulatory filings
  • Board announcements
  • Leadership changes
  • Funding rounds
  • M&A activity
  • IPO activity
  • Business news
  • Tenders
  • Conferences
  • The roles, sectors and locations you want, your floor, and the companies to leave out
  • What is known, kept apart from what is inferred
  • No public CV and no broadcast search
  • It never contacts an employer in your name

Present for the role

Custom CEO Resume, CEO Board Profile Development

“I am applying for a role, or several this year.”

One career, read by very different people. Choose a reader below: what an IPO board looks for first is not what a global treasury looks for. Each document is made for the role in front of you.

You receiveA document made for the one role in front of you.

Open Resume & Board Profile The full details and the price are on its own page.

First page of The Company in Three Editions, a CV design for a CEOThe Company in Three EditionsCEOFirst page of The Conditional Price, a CV design for a Group CEOThe Conditional PriceGroup CEOFirst page of The Continuity Compact, a CV design for a CEOThe Continuity CompactCEOFirst page of The Country Case, a CV design for a Country HeadThe Country CaseCountry HeadFirst page of The Country Charter, a CV design for a Country HeadThe Country CharterCountry HeadFirst page of The Dissent Minute, a CV design for a Managing DirectorThe Dissent MinuteManaging DirectorFirst page of The Exit Attribution, a CV design for a Managing DirectorThe Exit AttributionManaging DirectorFirst page of The Integration Seam, a CV design for a Group CEOThe Integration SeamGroup CEOFirst page of The Larger Denominator, a CV design for a PresidentThe Larger DenominatorPresidentFirst page of The Last Trading Day, a CV design for a Country HeadThe Last Trading DayCountry HeadFirst page of The Market Deduction, a CV design for a Managing DirectorThe Market DeductionManaging DirectorFirst page of The Month Without Me, a CV design for a CEOThe Month Without MeCEOFirst page of The Network Decision, a CV design for a PresidentThe Network DecisionPresidentFirst page of The Portfolio Ballot, a CV design for a PresidentThe Portfolio BallotPresidentFirst page of The Promise Audit, a CV design for a Group CEOThe Promise AuditGroup CEOFirst page of The Recurring Half, a CV design for a Managing DirectorThe Recurring HalfManaging DirectorFirst page of The Renewal Book, a CV design for a CEOThe Renewal BookCEOFirst page of The Right to Reprice, a CV design for a CEOThe Right to RepriceCEOFirst page of The Shareholder Letter, a CV design for a Managing Director and Chief Executive OfficerThe Shareholder LetterManaging Director and Chief Executive OfficerFirst page of The Whole Cohort, a CV design for a Group CEOThe Whole CohortGroup CEOFirst page of The Downside Design, a CV design for a SVP and Division CEOThe Downside DesignSVP and Division CEOFirst page of The Group Gain, a CV design for a EVP and Business HeadThe Group GainEVP and Business HeadFirst page of The Longer Obligation, a CV design for a SVP and Division CEOThe Longer ObligationSVP and Division CEOFirst page of The Partnership Surplus, a CV design for a SVP and Division CEOThe Partnership SurplusSVP and Division CEOFirst page of The Second Signature, a CV design for a Deputy Managing DirectorThe Second SignatureDeputy Managing DirectorFirst page of The Standalone Account, a CV design for a EVP and Business HeadThe Standalone AccountEVP and Business HeadFirst page of The Stores That Waited, a CV design for a Deputy Managing DirectorThe Stores That WaitedDeputy Managing DirectorFirst page of The Terms of Reach, a CV design for a SVP and Division CEOThe Terms of ReachSVP and Division CEOFirst page of The Two-Brand Account, a CV design for a EVP and Business HeadThe Two-Brand AccountEVP and Business HeadFirst page of The Unbought Company, a CV design for a EVP and Business HeadThe Unbought CompanyEVP and Business HeadFirst page of The Average I Withdrew, a CV design for a VP and General ManagerThe Average I WithdrewVP and General ManagerFirst page of The Common Customer, a CV design for a VP and General ManagerThe Common CustomerVP and General ManagerFirst page of The Entry Warrant, a CV design for a VP and General ManagerThe Entry WarrantVP and General ManagerFirst page of The Nearer Office, a CV design for a Regional PresidentThe Nearer OfficeRegional PresidentFirst page of The Regional Return, a CV design for a Regional PresidentThe Regional ReturnRegional PresidentFirst page of The Repeatability Test, a CV design for a VP and Regional PresidentThe Repeatability TestVP and Regional PresidentFirst page of The Revenue We Refused, a CV design for a VP and General ManagerThe Revenue We RefusedVP and General ManagerFirst page of The Scarce Hour, a CV design for a VP and General ManagerThe Scarce HourVP and General ManagerFirst page of The Second Season, a CV design for a VP and General ManagerThe Second SeasonVP and General ManagerFirst page of The Whole Region, a CV design for a Regional PresidentThe Whole RegionRegional PresidentFirst page of The Anchor Release, a CV design for a Business HeadThe Anchor ReleaseBusiness HeadFirst page of The Bill for Being Ready, a CV design for a Business HeadThe Bill for Being ReadyBusiness HeadFirst page of The First Surplus, a CV design for a Director, Business UnitThe First SurplusDirector, Business UnitFirst page of The Paid Pilot, a CV design for a Head of Strategic Business UnitThe Paid PilotHead of Strategic Business UnitFirst page of The Price of Yes, a CV design for a Business HeadThe Price of YesBusiness HeadFirst page of The Replacement Dispatch, a CV design for a Director, Business UnitThe Replacement DispatchDirector, Business UnitFirst page of The Right to Leave, a CV design for a Head of Strategic Business UnitThe Right to LeaveHead of Strategic Business UnitFirst page of The Smaller Bet, a CV design for a Director, Business UnitThe Smaller BetDirector, Business UnitFirst page of The Space We Sold, a CV design for a Director, Business UnitThe Space We SoldDirector, Business UnitFirst page of Where Customers Disagree, a CV design for a Business HeadWhere Customers DisagreeBusiness Head

Written for the Nomination & Remuneration Committee and the chair

Your name

CEO

CEO who has run a listed business through a full cycle and left a successor ready.

Leads with

  1. Decisions that were yours, kept apart from what the market gave
  2. Your record with the board, investors and analysts
  3. The successors you built below you

Steps back

Every function that reported to you

Illustrative layout, not a real candidate

A senior leader presenting to a board around a table

Prepare for the bigger seat

CEO to Group CEO / Board Chair Readiness Audit and Strategy

“I want to know whether I am ready for the bigger seat, and what stands in the way.”

Group CEO and Board Chair are two different tests, decided by people who rarely tell you why you were passed over. We read your record as they would, say plainly whether it holds, and set out what to do about each gap. The Ascent, further down this page, is a free three-minute rating of yourself. This reads your actual record.

You receiveA private audit with a verdict for the seat you chose, and the strategy to close each gap.

Open the Readiness Audit The full details and the price are on its own page.

Strictly confidential · Prepared for you alone

Readiness Audit

CEO to Group CEO

VerdictClose, with two gaps to fill

  • Leading a Portfolio of BusinessesPartial
  • Leading Other CEOsNot yet evidenced
  • Capital Allocation Across BusinessesEvidenced
  • Public-Market & Investor StandingEvidenced
  • Succession You Have BuiltPartial

First moveName a ready successor to your board within the year.

Illustrative layout

  • Your record read against ten dimensions for the seat you chose
  • Each one rated: evidenced, partial or not yet evidenced
  • What to start, stop and amplify, in a dated sequence
  • A plain answer, including "not yet" when that is the truth

How they work together

Each stands alone. Together, they cover the whole move.

  1. A private conversation about a next move
    Before you move

    Know where to go, and whether you are ready for the seat you want.

  2. A personal website design, shown with a fictional leader
    Before anyone looks

    Make sure that what they find is clear, current and yours.

  3. A private door opening onto a quiet room
    While you keep working

    Hear what is opening up, without being seen looking.

  4. Senior leaders reviewing a document at a table
    When a role appears

    Present your record for the people who will read it first.

Senior leaders on a panel in front of an audience

Why a search firm

We know how these records get read, because we read them.

Gladwin International is an executive search firm, with 200+ CEO and MD placements across a decade-long practice. The Career Desk puts that knowledge on your side of the table: what a chair, a Nomination & Remuneration Committee or a promoter looks for, before they ever call.

The line we hold

The Search Desk works for boards. The Career Desk works for you.

  • Buying here does not put you on a shortlist for our retained searches, and not buying does not keep you off one.
  • We do not contact your employer, and nothing about you is published unless you approve it.

Before you begin

Questions about the desk

Where should I begin if I am not sure?

If you do not know whether to move, begin with the Career Strategy. If you already have a bigger seat in mind, begin with the Readiness Audit. If a role is in front of you now, begin with the document for it.

Do I have to buy more than one?

No. Each service stands alone, with its own page and its own order.

Will my employer find out?

We do not contact your employer. Nothing is published unless you approve it, and Whisper never contacts anyone in your name.

Do I need an account?

No. You can order from each service’s own page with secure Razorpay payment, and your GST invoice comes to your email. The Personal Website is ordered through its packages.

Can any of this get me a role?

No one can promise a role, and we do not. These services prepare you and keep you informed. The appointment is decided by the people who appoint.

The Ascent

CEO Effectiveness Audit

The CEO role demands mastery across strategy, stakeholder governance, culture stewardship, and personal resilience. This audit evaluates your current effectiveness across 10 critical dimensions.

Start Your Audit

Takes 3 minutes · 10 dimensions · Personalised gap analysis