Executive search in Singapore for tech companies
Scalerr runs retained executive searches in Singapore for tech companies hiring a country manager, regional sales leader or board member. Decide which decisions the leader can make in Singapore before you choose between a country, ASEAN or APAC title.
A country manager, an ASEAN director or a VP APAC?
Those titles can all sit in Singapore. They should not produce the same shortlist. A country manager may need to win the first local customers. An ASEAN director needs to decide where to put the next seller when different markets are competing for budget. A VP APAC has to make the case for the region at head office.
| Seat | Territory | Reporting line to agree | First-year assignment to test |
|---|---|---|---|
| Country manager | Singapore customers and partners | Regional lead, or founder if this is the first office | Win local accounts and show which opportunities can support a team. |
| ASEAN regional director | Singapore and named Southeast Asian markets | VP APAC or the global revenue lead | Choose the next territory and give its seller a workable starting point. |
| VP APAC | Regional leaders across Asia Pacific | Global CRO or CEO | Agree country priorities and defend the hiring budget for each. |
| CRO | Company-wide revenue, if the mandate is global | CEO | Agree who owns acquisition, renewals and expansion across the business. |
These are examples for scoping a role. If Singapore is the regional headquarters, ask the board who can sign off local prices and hiring. A candidate who has managed country teams with that authority may struggle in a job where every decision goes back to the founder. We also search for regional managing directors, chief marketing officers and non-executive directors through board and executive search. For a company-wide mandate, see CRO executive search. Compare the country manager and regional MD mandates.
What a regional leadership hire looks like in practice
Forter opened Singapore as well as Japan and China. Scalerr placed its VP of APAC, ANZ regional director and ASEAN regional director. The distinction is useful in an interview: ask which decisions belonged to the regional VP and which a country team could make without them.
For Triptease, Scalerr placed the leadership team, including the Head of APAC. Deel needed much of its APAC team hired. If the immediate job is selling to customers rather than running those teams, start with sales recruitment in Singapore.
How a confidential search works from Singapore
We start by agreeing the remit and looking at APAC compensation benchmarks. Tell us who can know that the role is open, particularly if an incumbent is still in post. The person who scopes the search runs it and agrees the longlist with you. Candidates should be able to discuss a comparable decision they owned, including what happened when a country missed its plan.
After the offer, Scalerr stays involved through the guarantee period. If your Singapore office will also open a neighbouring market, the ASEAN market entry brief can help define that part of the job. Compare Scalerr’s recruiting services if you are deciding whether to retain a firm for this seat.
Choosing a Singapore executive search firm
Ask a generalist and a specialist the same question: who will call the candidates, and what comparable leadership search have they run? For a SaaS company opening the region, an answer about an ASEAN commercial appointment is more useful than a list of companies the firm has worked with worldwide.
People also ask about executive search in Singapore
Who are the big 5 executive search firms? “Big five” refers to a group of global firms and tells you little about the team handling a Singapore assignment. Ask the partner who would lead yours to describe a recent regional appointment with a similar remit.
What are some reputable headhunters in Singapore? Look for a firm that can show what it did on a comparable search and identify the person who did the work. For regional tech roles, Scalerr publishes its Forter and Triptease assignments so you can judge the match.
How much do executive search firms charge? Ask for a written proposal specifying what the fee covers and when it is payable. Scalerr does not publish a fee schedule; the guide to recruitment fees explains what to compare.
What does an executive search do? A search firm agrees the leadership mandate with the employer, identifies people who could do the job and approaches them discreetly. It assesses candidates against that mandate and helps the employer through the offer.
What is the average fee for a headhunter? An average without a fee basis is hard to budget against. Ask whether the quote uses base pay or total compensation and whether expenses are extra.
Who are the top 10 headhunters in Singapore? There is no single ranking that measures fit for your role. Compare firms on searches for your buyers and territories, then check who will actually speak to candidates.
Is it worth it to hire a headhunter? It can be useful when you need confidentiality or have already exhausted the pool of regional leaders you know. If the remit is still unsettled, agree it with the board before paying for a search.
Who are the big five headhunters? The label describes international search firms, not individual headhunters. When comparing proposals, name the consultant you want to meet and ask them to talk through a Singapore mandate personally.
For a leadership hire based in Sydney, see executive search in Sydney.