Market report
CTO pay in PE-backed companies, 2026
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A practical way to weigh mandate, risk and the total package when hiring technology leadership.
A practical way to weigh mandate, risk and the total package when hiring technology leadership.
Compare mandates before packages.
A technology leader responsible for stabilising a platform faces a different job from one building a new product line. Compare scope, reporting relationships, resources and investment horizon before treating two compensation packages as equivalent.
Explain the whole proposition.
Candidates need a clear account of the business plan, the decision-making authority and the structure of any incentive. Discuss assumptions and risks openly. The most persuasive offer is a role the candidate understands and believes they can deliver.
A practical next step
Before starting your next appointment, agree the outcomes, the evidence you will assess and the support the new leader will need. Bring those decisions into the first conversation with your search partner.
WRITTEN BY
Daniel Reyes
Daniel leads technology searches for businesses preparing for their next stage of growth.
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Talk to the partner who’d run your search.
Tell us the role in a few lines. A partner calls you back within one working day.
Brief a search →