MidYear Market Snapshot: Executive Landings & Hiring Trends
The first half of 2026 brought meaningful progress for senior HR and Finance leaders
nationally and ELITE’s own results reflect that momentum.
From October 2025 through May 2026, 41 ELITE members landed new opportunities, most of these were fulltime executive roles but we did have several who chose to pursue consulting as their fulltime path. We had the opportunity to toast and celebrate with many of you at the May ELITE Social.
Across the broader executive market, hiring activity strengthened in Q2 after a slower
start to the year:
• Executive landings increased 12–15% year over year, signaling renewed
confidence across mid-market and growth stage organizations.
• The global fractional executive market reached $9.4B in 2025 and is
projected to grow to $24.7B by 2034. (11.3% CAGR).
• Interim and fractional roles now represent 20–25% of executive engagements –
an increasingly important channel for visibility, income continuity, and rapid
impact.
• HR leadership roles saw heightened demand as companies invest in workforce
redesign, AI-enabled productivity, and culture stabilization. At the same time, we
observed a shift in titles across many organizations – from traditional CHRO and
VP of HR roles to “Head of HR.” This title compression often reflects a narrower
scope of authority, a greater emphasis on execution versus strategy, and, in
some cases, lower compensation bands. It’s a trend worth watching as
companies recalibrate their leadership structures during transformation cycles.
• Finance leadership hiring accelerated due to rising M&A activity, capital
efficiency mandates, and FP&A modernization. CFO agendas have expanded
from cost discipline to capital allocation, growth strategy, and risk foresight,
reshaping hiring needs.
• Average time-to-landing remains 4.5–7 months, with faster landings for leaders
who maintain a disciplined networking cadence and have a differentiated value
proposition.
ELITE’s landing data mirrors the broader market: leaders who stay visible, articulate a
crisp value proposition, and network consistently with peers, search firms, and private
equity networks are seeing strong results. The second half of 2026 is expected to
continue this upward trend.
Outlook for the Remainder of 2026
The second half of the year will reward leaders who can step confidently into
transformationheavy environments. Organizations are prioritizing:
• AI literacy and workforce transformation experience
• Cost discipline, scenario planning, and financial rigor
• Culture repair and change leadership
• Governance modernization and boardlevel readiness
What this means for you:
Now is the time to refine your Q3-Q4 Executive Value Proposition – articulate what you
solve, how you lead, and where you add immediate value.
MidYear Reflection: What’s Working & What Needs Adjustment
A thoughtful midyear review helps you recalibrate your strategy and accelerate
momentum.
Celebrate your wins!
• New relationships formed
• Projects completed or consulting engagements delivered
• Strengthened brand presence
• Skills refreshed or newly acquired
Identify gaps
• Inconsistent networking
• A narrative that feels too broad or too backwardlooking
• Branding materials that need updating
• Limited visibility with search firms, PE talent networks, and key professional
associations
The Power of Networking & the ELITE Community
Relationships land roles. Relationships create consulting opportunities. Relationships
accelerate transitions. Networking is not transactional – it is transformational. It expands
your opportunity funnel, strengthens your brand, and keeps you visible in the
conversations that matter.
We hope you can join us on Friday, July 10 th for our Monthly Zoom Meeting focused
on Networking Etiquette followed by a Networking session to connect with one
another. Register here
ELITE Summer In-Person Networking Events
Thursday, July 23rd & Wednesday, August 26th
Location: Eataly – 43 E Ohio St, Chicago
Time: 8:30 AM
During the event, you’ll have the opportunity to:
• Build relationships with individuals across HR and Finance
• Exchange perspectives in this hiring landscape.
• Share experiences, best practices, and career strategies.
Discover new opportunities through authentic networking!
Closing Thought
ELITE thrives because of your generosity, your willingness to share insights, and your
commitment to helping one another navigate transition and open up your networks. The
Board and Sponsors are here to help. Reach out and connect. The road ahead is
promising. Stay visible, stay connected, and stay confident in the value you bring.
All the best…
Kathy Kilroy