01 / RESULTS
98%+ Long-Term Retention
More than 98% of placed executives remain successfully in their roles beyond the first year.
Chief Investment Officer Executive Search
Chief Investment Officer Executive Search
Chief Investment Officer Search Built Around Your Investment Mandate.
Recruit a proven Chief Investment Officer with the investment experience, leadership judgment, governance capabilities, and organizational alignment your portfolio requires.
Scion Executive Search leads nationwide retained CIO searches with targeted investment-market mapping, confidential executive outreach, rigorous assessment, and hands-on guidance for boards, investment committees, CEOs, family offices, asset owners, and investment organizations.
Nationwide retained search
Confidential executive outreach
Passive CIO talent
Targeted Investment Leadership Search
Build the market first. Then identify the right leader.
Looking for a Chief Investment Officer Executive Search Firm?
Scion Executive Search is a national retained executive search firm recruiting Chief Investment Officers and senior investment leaders for family offices, asset managers, foundations, endowments, pensions, wealth management firms, private investment organizations, financial institutions, insurers, and other institutional investors. Our CIO search process combines targeted market mapping, confidential outreach, executive assessment, and board-level search guidance to identify leaders aligned with each client's specific investment mandate.
What Clients Gain With Scion
A Retained Search Partner Accountable to the Outcome.
A consequential CIO appointment demands more than access to résumés. Scion combines research, executive relationships, targeted outreach, assessment, stakeholder alignment, and hands-on search management to help clients reach a confident appointment.
02 / ACCOUNTABILITY
Dedicated Retained Search Team
Your team is focused on successfully completing the assignment, not simply submitting executives who happen to be available.
03 / MARKET
National CIO Market Mapping
We identify investment leaders across relevant organizations, investment models, asset classes, industries, geographies, and adjacent talent markets.
04 / PASSIVE TALENT
Access Beyond the Applicant Pool
We directly engage accomplished investment executives who may never apply to a posted role and must be proactively recruited.
05 / ASSESSMENT
Investment-Specific Executive Assessment
Candidates are evaluated for investment leadership, relevant portfolio experience, judgment, governance, organizational alignment, and long-term potential.
06 / PARTNERSHIP
Board & Committee Guidance
We help stakeholders align around the leadership profile, evaluate finalists consistently, and move toward a confident final decision.
Everything Included in Your Retained Search
Deep discovery and position strategy
Customized search strategy for the organization and mandate
Industry and functional alignment
High-touch search communication and calibration
Confidential executive outreach
Interview and selection support
Candidate references and finalist guidance
Offer and closing support
Search guarantee subject to engagement terms
20 years of executive search experience
1,000+ executive placements nationwide
National recognition including Forbes and Best of Staffing
When Organizations Engage Scion
When the CIO Search Cannot Be Left to an Applicant Pool.
The organizations that engage us are often solving a specific leadership challenge where the right investment executive must be actively identified, assessed, and recruited.
Planned CIO Succession
Replace or succeed a long-tenured investment leader while protecting continuity.
Specific Investment Experience
Find leadership with the asset-class, portfolio, strategy, or governance experience required.
Confidential Leadership Change
Protect the organization, incumbent leader, team, and candidate market through discreet outreach.
Portfolio Transformation
Recruit a CIO capable of changing asset allocation, risk, governance, or strategic direction.
Growing Assets & Complexity
Bring in leadership prepared for increased AUM, expanded strategies, and larger teams.
Building an Investment Office
Identify a leader who can establish governance, infrastructure, reporting, and capabilities.
Board Alignment Is Needed
Help directors, principals, and investment committees align around the next leadership profile.
Previous Recruiting Fell Short
Expand beyond visible candidates and systematically build the executive market.
Search Built Around the Investment Environment
What Kind of Chief Investment Officer Are You Searching For?
CIO requirements change dramatically based on investment model, governance, stakeholders, portfolio composition, scale, liquidity, and institutional objectives.
Family Office CIO Search
Family office investment leadership often requires portfolio expertise, discretion, principal alignment, governance, flexibility, and success within a highly customized investment environment.
Principal Relationships
Direct Investing
Manager Selection
Privacy
Multi-Generational Objectives
Alternatives
Governance
Reporting
Discuss a Family Office CIO Search
Endowment & Foundation CIO Search
Endowment and foundation CIOs may need to balance long-term portfolio growth, liquidity, spending requirements, mission, committee relationships, and governance.
Long-Horizon Investing
Spending Policy
Liquidity
Alternatives
Committee Governance
External Managers
Discuss an Institutional CIO Search
Pension & Institutional Asset Owner CIO Search
Asset-owner leadership can require expertise in governance, liability-aware investing, allocation, private markets, risk, and stakeholder decision-making.
Asset Allocation
Risk
Governance
Liability Awareness
Private Markets
Board Communication
Discuss Your CIO Mandate
Asset Management CIO Search
Investment managers may need CIO leadership capable of shaping investment philosophy, portfolio construction, research, risk, talent, and client credibility.
Investment Philosophy
Portfolio Construction
Research Leadership
Risk
Product Strategy
Discuss an Asset Management CIO Search
Wealth Management CIO Search
Wealth platforms often require leaders who combine institutional investment capabilities with advisor support, communication, products, and client credibility.
Portfolio Strategy
Advisor Support
Manager Research
Investment Products
Client Leadership
Discuss a Wealth CIO Search
Private Markets Investment Leadership
Private equity, private credit, venture, growth equity, infrastructure, and real-asset organizations often need specialized investment leadership.
Private Equity
Private Credit
Growth Equity
Venture Capital
Infrastructure
Real Assets
Discuss Private Markets Leadership
Insurance Investment CIO Search
Insurance investment leadership can require experience across general account portfolios, liquidity, fixed income, alternatives, regulation, and asset-liability dynamics.
General Account Investing
Fixed Income
Liquidity
Capital Preservation
ALM
Discuss an Insurance CIO Search
Corporate & Strategic Investment Leadership
Corporations may seek investment leadership around strategic capital, corporate venture, treasury assets, pension capital, or enterprise allocation.
Capital Allocation
Strategic Investments
Corporate Venture
Portfolio Strategy
Governance
Discuss Your Investment Search
Why Retained CIO Search
Your Next CIO May Not Be Looking for a Job. We Still Find Them.
A posted position primarily reaches people willing to apply. Retained search builds and engages the executive market around the leadership profile your organization needs.
Applicant-Led Recruiting
Starts with who is actively visible and available.
Post the role
Receive applications
Review available candidates
Interview the strongest applicants
Scion Retained Executive Search
Starts with the mandate and systematically builds the relevant market.
Define the investment mandate
Map target organizations and adjacent markets
Identify active and passive investment leaders
Conduct confidential executive outreach
Assess leadership and investment alignment
Calibrate the market with stakeholders
Advance a qualified finalist slate
Guide selection, offer, and close
National Investment Leadership Market Mapping
We Build the Executive Market Around Your Mandate.
The strongest CIO candidate may be sitting inside an organization you have never considered, leading a transferable portfolio, or succeeding in an adjacent market.
Scion identifies where relevant leadership exists, expands beyond obvious competitors, and directly engages executives whose experience and leadership context may align.
Investment Model
Asset Classes
AUM & Scale
Governance
Geography
Leadership Scope
Stakeholders
Risk Profile
Your CIO
Mandate
Mandate
Asset Mix
Governance
Stakeholders
Leadership Scope
Risk
Scale
Target Organizations → Target Executives → Adjacent Talent Markets
Investment Leadership Reach
A CIO Market Broader Than Your Immediate Network.
We do not limit the search to executives already in our database. Our team maps the market around the experience your organization requires and directly recruits from relevant and adjacent investment environments.
Institutional Asset OwnersPensions, public funds, and institutional portfolios.
EndowmentsUniversities and institutional investment offices.
FoundationsMission-driven institutions balancing growth and spending.
Family OfficesSingle-family and multi-family investment organizations.
Asset ManagersInstitutional and multi-asset investment firms.
Private EquityBuyout, middle-market, and diversified firms.
Private CreditDirect lending, credit, and private debt platforms.
Venture CapitalEarly-stage and innovation-focused investors.
Growth EquityGrowth-stage investment firms and capital partners.
Hedge FundsAlternative strategies and sophisticated portfolios.
Insurance InvestorsGeneral-account and insurance investment organizations.
Wealth ManagementRIA, private wealth, advisory, and investment platforms.
Financial InstitutionsInvestment, treasury, portfolio, and balance-sheet environments.
Real AssetsReal estate, resources, infrastructure, and tangible assets.
Infrastructure InvestorsLong-duration infrastructure investment organizations.
Corporate Investment TeamsStrategic investment, venture, and capital allocation.
Investment & Capital Leadership Search
Leadership Searches Across the Investment Organization.
Enterprise Investment Leadership
Chief Investment Officer
CIO
Global Chief Investment Officer
Co-Chief Investment Officer
Deputy Chief Investment Officer
Chief Investment Strategist
Head of Investments
Head of Investment Management
Asset-Class Leadership
Head of Private Markets
Head of Public Markets
Head of Private Equity
Head of Private Credit
Head of Real Assets
Head of Infrastructure
Head of Fixed Income
Head of Equities
Head of Alternatives
Portfolio, Strategy & Investment Leadership
Managing Director, Investments
EVP, Investments
SVP, Investments
Portfolio Leadership
Investment Strategy Leadership
Head of Research
Asset Allocation Leadership
Investment Operations Leadership
Industry & Investment Environment Alignment
Search Expertise Shaped Around How Your Organization Invests.
Endowments & Foundations
CIOs experienced in long-duration portfolios, spending requirements, alternatives, liquidity, governance, and committees.
Family Offices
Investment executives experienced in principal relationships, discretion, direct investing, governance, and complex portfolios.
Asset Management
Leaders capable of shaping investment philosophy, portfolio construction, research, risk, talent, and products.
Pension & Institutional Capital
Leadership across asset allocation, liabilities, governance, private markets, transparency, and scale.
Private Markets
Senior investment leadership across private equity, private credit, growth equity, venture, infrastructure, and real assets.
Wealth Management
CIOs combining portfolio leadership with advisor support, communication, products, and client credibility.
Insurance
Executives experienced in general account portfolios, fixed income, alternatives, liquidity, capital preservation, and risk.
Financial Institutions
Investment and capital leaders across banks, treasury environments, balance sheets, and institutional portfolios.
Corporate Investment
Executive leadership around strategic investment, venture, treasury portfolios, pensions, and capital allocation.
98%+
Long-term executive retention beyond the first year
Board & Investment Committee Partnership
A Search Process Built for High-Stakes Stakeholder Decisions.
CIO selection often involves multiple stakeholders with different priorities. We help organizations create alignment before finalists reach the boardroom.
01
Before the Search
Align stakeholders around the mandate, leadership outcomes, experience, and success profile.
02
During the Search
Share market intelligence and calibrate expectations as the executive landscape develops.
03
At Finalist Stage
Create consistent evaluation criteria so finalists are compared against the same mandate.
04
At Selection
Support references, comparison, compensation discussions, offer strategy, and closing.
Chief Investment Officer Search Methodology
From Investment Mandate to Executive Appointment.
01 / DISCOVER
Define the Mandate
Strategy, governance, portfolio, stakeholders, objectives, culture, and leadership outcomes.
02 / MAP
Build the Market
Target organizations, investment models, asset classes, geographies, and adjacent markets.
03 / ENGAGE
Recruit Leaders
Confidential outreach to active and passive investment executives across the mapped market.
04 / ASSESS
Evaluate Depth
Investment experience, leadership, judgment, motivation, governance, and organizational alignment.
05 / SELECT
Calibrate Finalists
Structured interviews, executive comparison, references, market feedback, and stakeholder alignment.
06 / CLOSE
Secure the Hire
Candidate engagement, compensation, offer strategy, acceptance, and transition support.
Investment Leadership Assessment
Hire for the Portfolio You Are Building, Not the Portfolio You Had.
The right Chief Investment Officer depends on far more than title history. Our executive assessment is built around the context in which a candidate has invested, led, governed, communicated, and produced results.
01
Investment Philosophy & Judgment
How the executive forms views, allocates capital, evaluates risk, and makes decisions.
02
Relevant Portfolio Experience
Asset classes, AUM, liquidity, external managers, direct investments, and decision authority.
03
Governance & Stakeholder Leadership
Board, investment committee, principal, executive, client, and institutional relationships.
04
Team & Organizational Leadership
Building teams, developing talent, managing change, and creating durable capabilities.
Nationally Recognized Search Partner
Proven Search Experience Backed by Independent Recognition.
Scion combines a national executive network, established methodology, high-touch client service, and a record of lasting leadership placements.
Forbes Recognition
ClearlyRated Best of Staffing
Inc. 5000
Business Times & Journal Recognition
1,000+ Executive Placements
Serving Employers Since 2006
Chief Investment Officer Search FAQ
Questions Employers Ask Before Starting a CIO Search.
Answers for boards, CEOs, investment committees, family offices, institutional investors, HR leaders, and investment organizations.
Discuss Your CIO SearchWhat does a Chief Investment Officer executive search firm do?
A Chief Investment Officer executive search firm identifies, recruits, evaluates, and helps organizations appoint senior investment leaders. Scion's retained process includes mandate definition, market mapping, confidential outreach, assessment, calibration, finalist management, references, selection support, and offer guidance.
What types of Chief Investment Officers does Scion recruit?
Scion leads searches for Chief Investment Officers, Global CIOs, Deputy CIOs, Co-CIOs, Chief Investment Strategists, Heads of Investments, portfolio leaders, asset-class leaders, and related senior investment positions.
Which organizations hire Chief Investment Officers?
CIOs are found across family offices, foundations, endowments, pensions, asset managers, wealth firms, insurance companies, financial institutions, private equity, private credit, corporations, and institutional asset owners.
How does Scion identify passive CIO candidates?
Scion builds a targeted market around each assignment, identifies investment leaders across relevant and adjacent organizations, and conducts direct professional outreach beyond active applicants.
How does Scion assess Chief Investment Officer candidates?
Assessment may include investment philosophy, asset allocation, portfolio construction, manager selection, risk, governance, fiduciary experience, board communication, team leadership, asset-class expertise, and alignment.
Does Scion conduct confidential CIO searches?
Yes. Confidential search can be valuable when an incumbent remains in place, succession plans are sensitive, team stability matters, or candidates require discretion.
Can Scion conduct a national Chief Investment Officer search?
Yes. Scion leads executive searches nationally and builds the CIO market across relevant geographies rather than limiting the assignment to local applicants.
Does Scion recruit CIOs for family offices?
Yes. Family-office CIO searches may require experience with principal relationships, privacy, direct investing, alternatives, governance, reporting, and complex structures.
Does Scion recruit investment executives for foundations and endowments?
Yes. These searches may involve long-horizon investing, spending requirements, liquidity, alternatives, managers, committees, governance, and mission alignment.
Can Scion help our board or investment committee define the CIO profile?
Yes. Scion's discovery process helps stakeholders clarify the investment mandate, leadership priorities, experience requirements, governance needs, and desired outcomes.
What is the difference between a Chief Investment Officer and a Chief Information Officer?
A Chief Investment Officer leads investment strategy, portfolio management, asset allocation, investment risk, and capital decisions. A Chief Information Officer generally leads technology and information systems.
Why use retained executive search for a Chief Investment Officer?
Retained search supports consequential leadership hires through dedicated research, proactive outreach, confidentiality, assessment, and close stakeholder partnership.
Does Scion's retained search include a guarantee?
Scion states that retained engagements include a service guarantee. In qualifying circumstances, a search may be reinitiated without an additional search fee, subject to the engagement terms.
Start Your Chief Investment Officer Search
Your CIO Search Starts With the Mandate, Not a Résumé Database.
Tell us what your organization needs from its next investment leader. We can discuss the mandate, executive market, search strategy, and how Scion can identify and recruit the right Chief Investment Officer.
Confidential conversation
Nationwide search
Dedicated retained search team
Hiring a Chief Investment Officer?
Discuss Your Search