Securethepeopleyournextstagedependson.
Executive search for exceptional AI, Product, GTM and leadership talent — from senior individual contributors to C-suite, across the UK, EMEA and US.
The best people aren't always looking for their next role. They're already doing exceptional work somewhere else. Olive Search identifies, engages and assesses the talent most firms never reach — helping ambitious FinTech, SaaS and AI companies make the hires that move their business forward.
Research-led, market-mapped and highly selective. Because critical hiring isn't a numbers game — and not every critical hire has “Executive” in the title.
Alongside search, we provide defined Talent projects and fractional Talent leadership for companies building the capability to hire to the highest standard and scale that capability in-house.
Proprietary market mapping. AI-enabled research. 2M+ monthly candidate & media reach. Human judgement at every decision.
Better access. Better intelligence. Better decisions.
Welcome to Olive Search.
- London
- New York
- San Francisco
- Austin
Built to raise organisational capability, not fill roles.
Scaleups rarely struggle to generate applicant volume. The harder problems are pipeline quality, access to exceptional talent, accurate market intelligence, laser-precision assessment and the talent infrastructure required for the next stage of growth. That is the work we do.
Proprietary market mapping & talent intelligence
We map where exceptional talent actually sits, what moves them and how competitive the market is — so hiring decisions are made on evidence, not availability.
2M+ monthly candidate & media reach
Direct access to senior talent combined with significant organic audience and media distribution. Not a database — reach, attention and warm access to people who never apply.
AI-enabled sourcing & research
AI deepens our research, market intelligence and sourcing speed. Assessment, calibration and the final call stay with a former Global Head of Talent with 15+ years scaling FinTech, SaaS and AI companies.
Three ways to solve your talent challenge
Executive search is the core of what we do. Alongside it, defined Talent projects and senior Talent leadership on demand — with the same bar for quality and the same founder-led delivery.
Executive Search
Exceptional people for the roles that matter.
When you need one exceptional senior hire.
“We need someone exceptional.”
Retained, research-led search for critical appointments across AI, Product, GTM and leadership — from senior individual contributors and Principals through to Heads of, Directors, VPs and C-suite, across the UK, EMEA and US. Seniority isn't decided by title. We work where the individual can materially influence your next stage of growth — and where getting the appointment wrong is expensive.
Discuss a senior hireFractional Talent Leadership
Senior Talent leadership without the full-time commitment.
When you need senior Talent leadership, but not another permanent executive.
“We need senior Talent leadership, but not full-time.”
A plug-in Talent leadership model for scaling businesses — working directly with your leadership team and Talent function to strengthen capability, evolve the operating model and build for scalable growth. Whether augmenting an existing TA/Talent leader or providing additional senior capability, I work across Talent strategy, operating models, AI-enabled systems and Talent transformation.
Discuss fractional Talent leadershipTalent Projects
Solve a defined Talent challenge without building permanent capability.
When you have a specific Talent problem to solve.
“We have a specific Talent problem to solve.”
Project-based engagements built around a defined outcome — from Talent strategy and workforce planning to AI-enabled hiring transformation, market expansion, specialist team builds and hiring infrastructure. Each engagement is scoped to a clear outcome and delivered on an SOW basis — giving businesses access to senior Talent expertise without a permanent hire or ongoing fractional commitment.
Discuss a Talent projectBuilt around the categories shaping the next decade.
Deep specialism in four interconnected sectors — so every brief lands with relevant networks, language and benchmarks.
Artificial Intelligence
Foundation model labs, applied AI, ML infrastructure and AI-native product teams — senior AI/ML specialists and Principals through to AI leadership.
FinTech
Payments, embedded finance, capital markets infrastructure, wealth and digital banking — senior specialists through to executive appointments.
SaaS
Vertical and horizontal SaaS scaling from Series A through to IPO — senior Product, GTM and engineering talent through to CPO and CRO level.
Technology
Cyber, data, developer tools, infrastructure and platform businesses — Heads of Function, Directors, VPs and C-suite.
A process designed for placements that last.
Discovery
We immerse ourselves in your business — strategy, capital plan, culture and the bar for leadership. We define the brief together.
Mapping
Deep market mapping across our private network, plus AI-augmented research and a data intelligence layer to surface the leaders who never apply.
Engagement
Discreet, founder-led approaches. We represent your brand the way you'd represent it yourself — with conviction and respect.
Assessment
Structured competency, leadership and culture interviews, paired with deep referencing from inside the rooms candidates have operated in.
Offer & Onboarding
We close offers, manage counter-offers and stay engaged through the first 100 days. Long-term placements, not transactions.
Lewis Evelyn — built to place exceptional talent, not fill roles.
Founder of Olive Search, with 15 years' experience scaling FinTech, SaaS and AI companies.
Having built teams both in-house as a Head of Talent and through executive search, Lewis brings a rare perspective on what great hiring looks like from both sides of the table.
He combines executive search with AI-driven market intelligence and a digital audience of 2m+ professionals — giving clients access to talent other search firms cannot reach.
Trusted by leaders building high-performance teams.
The difference isn't more candidates. It's access to the right ones.
Lewis consistently delivers high-calibre talent where other agencies fall short. Combining data, digital reach and an exceptional network, he uncovers candidates others simply can't access. Proactive, commercially minded and always moving at pace.
After struggling to fill critical roles through other recruiters, Lewis's network and hands-on approach made all the difference. Efficient, responsive and a genuine partner throughout the hiring process.
Lewis's market knowledge, agility and ability to deliver high-quality off-market talent helped us build a stronger team, faster. A true competitive advantage when hiring.
Founders and boards building category leaders.
From Series A challengers through to public-market technology businesses — we partner with the leadership teams who know the next hire will define the next chapter.
Venture-backed founders scaling their first senior leadership team
Growth-stage CEOs hiring critical Director and C-Suite seats
PE-backed leadership teams executing value-creation plans
Boards appointing Chairs, NEDs and Advisors
Tell us about the talent challenge in front of you.
A leadership hire, a defined talent project or fractional Talent advisory. Lewis personally reviews every enquiry and will come back within one working day.