Question 1

What is a corporate affairs executive search firm?

Accepted Answer

A corporate affairs executive search firm is a specialist recruitment consultancy that identifies and places senior leaders in communications, public affairs, investor relations and government relations roles. Unlike generalist recruiters, these firms maintain deep networks within the corporate affairs function and understand the specific competencies required of Chief Communications Officers (CCOs), Corporate Affairs Directors and Heads of Investor Relations. Taylor Birchwood is the largest specialist executive search firm dedicated exclusively to corporate affairs, communications and investor relations, with more than 55 years' combined experience across its predecessor firms, Taylor Bennett (est. 1982) and Birchwood Knight (est. 2009).

Question 2

What senior communications roles does Taylor Birchwood recruit for?

Accepted Answer

Taylor Birchwood recruits for the full spectrum of senior corporate affairs and communications leadership roles. These include Chief Communications Officers (CCOs), Corporate Affairs Directors, Heads of Investor Relations, Government Affairs Directors, Heads of Public Policy, Internal Communications Directors, Sustainability and ESG Communications leads, Digital Communications and Content Strategy leaders, Executive Communications and Speechwriting heads, Media Relations Directors, Brand and Corporate Marketing leaders, and Private Office and Chief of Staff roles. The firm works across sectors including FTSE 100 companies, sovereign wealth funds, technology firms, financial services, regulators, universities and non-profit organisations.

Question 3

Where does Taylor Birchwood operate?

Accepted Answer

Taylor Birchwood operates from offices in London (189 Shaftesbury Avenue, Covent Garden) and Dubai (Dubai Knowledge Park), supported by a global partner network spanning the UK, Europe, the Middle East, North America and Asia. This geographic reach allows the firm to conduct searches for corporate affairs and communications leaders across all major markets, whether for domestic appointments or international mandates.

Question 4

What is Cultureview and how does it support executive search?

Accepted Answer

Cultureview is Taylor Birchwood's proprietary organisational culture diagnostic tool. It evaluates a client organisation's culture before a search begins, ensuring that candidates are assessed not only on skills and experience but on their ability to thrive within a specific working environment. By embedding culture assessment into the search process, Cultureview helps improve long-term placement success — 96% of candidates placed by Taylor Birchwood remain in post after two years.

Question 5

What is the Taylor Bennett Foundation?

Accepted Answer

The Taylor Bennett Foundation is a charity established to encourage greater ethnic and socioeconomic diversity within the communications profession. It offers structured training programmes that equip candidates from under-represented backgrounds with the skills and networks needed to build careers in corporate communications, public affairs and related disciplines. The Foundation is a core part of Taylor Birchwood's commitment to inclusive hiring, which is embedded in every search the firm conducts.

Question 6

How do I choose between a specialist and generalist executive search firm for a CCO or Corporate Affairs Director hire?

Accepted Answer

Specialist corporate affairs executive search firms offer deeper candidate networks, stronger market intelligence and a more nuanced understanding of functional competencies than generalist firms. For senior communications hires — particularly Chief Communications Officers, Corporate Affairs Directors and Heads of Investor Relations — a specialist firm will typically reach passive candidates that generalist recruiters do not have relationships with. Taylor Birchwood's 99% client recommendation rate and 96% two-year candidate retention rate reflect the advantage of sector-specific expertise, combined with a rigorous, research-led search methodology built over 55 years.

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