I understand what makes a great leader because I've watched it play out in real teams

Carlton's Story

I’m Carlton Schoburgh, Founder & Executive Search Partner.
Across 27 years in talent acquisition – including leading MD and ED hiring for one of the UK’s top retail banks – I’ve helped FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 organisations build the leadership capability required to navigate complexity, transformation, and long‑term organisational change.

My approach is shaped by three principles: rigour, intelligence, and narrative clarity.
I work closely with clients to understand the strategic context behind each mandate, ensuring every appointment strengthens capability, accelerates transformation, and creates lasting organisational value.

Today, Brown Strategic Search Partners brings that same operator‑level discipline to help ambitious organisations select the leaders who will shape their future.

Example Areas of Impact

Our work spans senior leadership appointments across the functions that underpin resilience, transformation, and long‑term performance. We specialise in identifying talent that sits at the intersection of these critical domains:

Architecture, Data & AI Leadership

Senior appointments driving enterprise architecture, data strategy, and the adoption of AI‑enabled capabilities across complex environments.

Compliance, Risk & Financial Crime

Leaders strengthening regulatory frameworks, operational resilience, and non‑financial risk management.

Cyber, Technology Risk & Operational Resilience

Specialists overseeing cyber strategy, technology risk, and the integration of resilience across critical systems.

Transformation & Change Leadership

Executives delivering large‑scale digital, operational, and regulatory change programmes.

Across these mandates, we consistently source candidates from FTSE 100 institutions and global consultancies — individuals with proven leadership, deep domain expertise, and the ability to influence at scale.

Across these mandates, we consistently source candidates from FTSE 100 institutions and global consultancies — individuals with proven leadership, deep domain expertise, and the ability to influence at scale.

Performance

Excellence demands relentless refinement

Our performance is measured not only by the speed and quality of delivery, but by the long‑term impact of the leaders we place.

Key Performance Indicators

56

Days

Average time‑to‑offer (TTO), significantly ahead of typical executive search timelines, without compromising on rigour.

46%

Diverse Hires

Actively strengthening leadership capability and organisational representation.

85%

Retention at 36 months

Our leaders remain in role, continue to deliver, and frequently assume broader responsibilities.

71%

71% Shortlist Progression

A high conversion from shortlist to initial meeting, demonstrating our precision in calibration and “fit.”

55%

Positive Candidate Response

Reflecting the quality of our engagement and the narrative clarity we take to market.

Example Hires

A track record of delivering senior leadership capability across complex, highly regulated environments.

Risk, Compliance & Financial Crime

Focusing on the leaders who provide robust oversight and institutional resilience.

  • Chief Risk Officer – Channel Islands
  • Director of Compliance & Non-Financial Risk
  • Head of Financial Crime – Corporate Banking
  • Head of Operational Risk – IT, Cyber & Data
  • Head of Provisions & Forecasting
  • Head of Compliance Monitoring
  • Head of Fraud Prevention

Data & Emerging Technologies

Securing the technical visionaries who bridge the gap between innovation and governance.

  • Chief Architect
  • Head of AI Strategy
  • Head of Data Ethics
  • Head of Data Governance
  • Head of Data Engineering & DevOps
  • Head of Cloud Data Engineering
  • Head of Customer Data

Strategy & Transformation

Identifying the change agents who drive large-scale digital and operational evolution.

  • Head of Transformation
  • Head of Strategic Change
  • Head of Strategy & Corporate Development
  • Head of Payments Transformation
  • Head of Payments Strategy
  • Head of Cards Tech & Transformation