Building the First HR Function: A Founder's Guide to People Leadership
Most founders wait too long to hire their first senior HR leader. Here's how to know when you're ready, what to look for, and how to set them up to succeed.

From permanent CHROs to fractional and interim solutions — we partner with boards and C-suites to place the people leadership your next stage demands.
Trusted by leading organisations across every sector
Retained search for CHRO, CPO, VP HR, and senior HR leadership roles across all sectors and geographies.
Proven senior HR professionals deployed rapidly to lead through transitions, transformations, and critical periods.
Part-time, portfolio-style HR leadership for scaling businesses that need senior expertise without full-time overhead.
Supporting early stage venture capital and private equity-backed companies to scale their hiring engine and reduce agency reliance.
Clients return to us not just because we find the right person — but because we understand what "right" means for their organisation, culture, and moment in time.
We work exclusively within the HR function. Every search, every conversation, every relationship is built inside this world — giving us unmatched depth, credibility, and access.
We invest in relationships, not transactions. Our consultants bring candour, care, and long-term partnership to every mandate — with clients and candidates alike.
Senior interim leaders deployed within days. Permanent searches completed in weeks, not months. We move with urgency and precision — because great organisations cannot afford to wait.

We are specialists, not generalists. For over 18 years, we've focused exclusively on human resources leadership — from CHROs at Fortune 500s to the first People hire at high-growth start-ups. Our consultants have walked in the shoes of the leaders they place.

20+ years in HR leadership at publicly traded companies and executive search. Former Head of Talent himself, David brings firsthand insight to every C-suite mandate he leads.

20+ years in HR leadership at both Private and Publicly traded companies and executive search, expertise in Interim placements. Trusted by boards for the most sensitive mandates.
Dedicated professionals ensuring we locate, assess, and check the background of great talent.
We immerse ourselves in your business context, culture, and strategic ambition to define the ideal leadership profile.
Leveraging our global HR network and proprietary data, we identify and approach the strongest candidates in the market.
Rigorous evaluation through structured interviews, psychometric tools, and deep reference checks to present a curated shortlist.
We support the offer process and provide onboarding advisory to ensure a smooth transition and long-term success.
Most founders wait too long to hire their first senior HR leader. Here's how to know when you're ready, what to look for, and how to set them up to succeed.
After hundreds of conversations with senior HR leaders, we know exactly what makes the best candidates say yes — and what makes them walk away.
Access to board-level HR thinking without a full-time salary. We explore the model that's reshaping how high-growth companies build their people function.
Whether you're a CHRO exploring your next chapter, an HR Director ready to step up, or a specialist seeking an interim or fractional opportunity — we work with the best HR talent in the world. Let's talk.
All candidate interactions are handled with complete discretion. Your interest in exploring the market stays private.
Access mandates spanning CHRO, VP People, HR Director, HRBP, Interim and Fractional roles across every geography.
Share your CV once. We'll proactively match you to relevant searches and keep you informed of opportunities that fit.
"ElevateHR understood our culture and strategic direction from day one. They presented candidates we would never have found ourselves — and our new CHRO has been transformative."
"Their fractional HR model allowed us to access seasoned leadership at a critical growth stage. The impact was immediate and lasting."
"The depth of their HR network is unmatched. Within three weeks, we had a shortlist of exceptional candidates for our VP People role across EMEA."
Whether you're looking for your next HR leader, exploring advisory support, or considering interim and fractional solutions — we'd love to hear from you.