What is Heron Talent's expertise?

Leadership and expert roles in technology-driven organizations: Sales & Business Development, Marketing & E-commerce, Data Analytics & AI, Product & Design, and Technology & Engineering. From C-suite to senior experts across the Nordics and Europe.

How long does the executive search process take?

Shortlist in about 3 weeks. Full process 8-12 weeks depending on your interview availability.

What is the difference between Active and Hybrid Search?

Active Search: Heron Talent does the outreach, best for roles needing discretion or access to passive candidates. Hybrid Search: You post the role, Heron Talent handles vetting both inbound applicants and actively sourced candidates. Both get the same senior-level attention.

What is Heron Talent's geographical reach?

Nordics and Europe primarily. UK and US through our network when needed.

What is Heron Talent's pricing model?

Fixed fee plus success component. Straightforward, no surprises.

Which companies has Heron Talent worked with?

Vaisala, Reaktor, PwC, Nordea, Starship Technologies, Siili, LeadDesk, Wolt, Futurice, EY, Deloitte, among others.

What is your expertise?

Leadership and expert roles for organizations building AI and data capabilities: Data, Analytics & AI, Technology & Engineering, Sales & Business Development, Marketing & E-commerce, Product & Design. From C-suite to senior experts.

How long does the search process take?

Typically, a shortlist is delivered in about three weeks. A full search process usually takes 8–12 weeks and depends mostly on your calendar, not ours.

What is your search process?

We start by listening and understanding what you actually need, beyond the job description and into the wider context. Then we run an active outreach process through our network, vet candidates before you meet them, coordinate communication and interviews, and support you through offer and onboarding. Every search is personally led by a senior partner.

What's the difference between Active and Hybrid Search?

In Active Search, we do the outreach and focus on passive candidates, which is ideal when the role requires discretion or a targeted approach. In Hybrid Search, you publish the role and we handle everything else, vetting both inbound applicants and the candidates we source. Both models get the same level of senior attention and quality.

What is your geographical reach?

The Nordics and Europe are our core markets. We also cover the UK, US and other regions through our established international network.

What is your pricing model?

We use a fixed fee plus a success-based component. The structure is straightforward with no hidden costs or surprises.

What companies have you worked with?

We have worked with organizations such as Vaisala, Reaktor, PwC, Nordea, Starship Technologies, Siili and LeadDesk, among others.

What makes Heron different from generalist search firms for data & AI roles?

We combine deep, hands-on experience in the data and AI ecosystem with a senior-led, boutique search process. Our founder has worked inside digital consulting and technology organizations, not just recruited for them, which means we can evaluate candidates on domain expertise in areas like data strategy, AI product development and engineering leadership, as well as on leadership capabilities.

What does "AI-native search" mean in practice?

AI-native search means we use modern AI tools end-to-end in the search process, from LLM-augmented sourcing and market mapping to AI-assisted candidate assessment. This enables faster identification of passive candidates, broader market coverage and evaluation that goes beyond simple CV matching. It is an operational way of working, not just a marketing phrase.

What does "Nordic Precision" mean?

Nordic Precision means focused, efficient execution with no unnecessary steps. Every search is personally led by a senior partner, with no handoffs to junior researchers or heavy committee layers. Communication is direct, iteration is fast, and a qualified shortlist is typically delivered in about three weeks.

Do you work on data & AI executive roles outside the Nordics?

Yes. While our strongest network is in the Nordics and Northern Europe, we regularly run searches across European markets including the UK, the DACH region and Benelux.

Are you limited to data & AI roles, or do you also place sales and product leadership?

Our core specialization is data, AI and technology leadership. Because building AI capability requires strength across all key functions, we also regularly place Sales Directors, Product Leaders, Design Leaders and Marketing executives in organizations where AI and data competence is a strategic focus.

What happens after initial contact?

We start with a conversation to understand your situation, what you are looking for and whether a specific role makes sense for you. If both sides want to proceed, you usually go through two to three interviews with the client, sometimes supported by a case exercise or leadership assessment depending on the role. There is no pressure at any stage – it is your decision.

Not immediately. We prefer to talk first. If you decide to move forward, we will send you a link to provide your CV and ask you to approve our candidate terms. A good rule of thumb is to keep your CV consistent with your LinkedIn profile and use the CV to expand on details you do not want to share publicly.

What information do you share about opportunities?

We share as much relevant information as we can, including role scope, organizational structure, culture and the technical environment. We will also discuss your salary expectations, as open dialogue about compensation is standard practice in the Nordics. Some details may need to wait until later in the process for confidentiality reasons, but we do our best not to waste your time with vague descriptions.

Do you offer interim roles?

Occasionally. Our core focus is permanent placements, but some clients also need interim leaders or experts. If you are specifically interested in interim opportunities, please let us know.

How do you handle data privacy?

All conversations are confidential and handled with care – it is a core principle of how we work. Our systems and processes are GDPR compliant, and we always ask for explicit consent before sharing your information.

I'm a Head of Data or AI leader – how should I work with you?

If you are a Head of Data, AI leader or senior technology executive, the best starting point is an honest, no-pressure conversation about your situation. We will talk through where you are now, what genuinely interests you next and which markets and role types are realistic, without you needing to pitch yourself or commit to a change before it feels right.

Can I talk to you even if I'm not actively looking?

Yes. Many of the most valuable discussions happen before there is an active search on the table. We can review the market, different role options – for example Head of Data, Director of AI or VP Engineering – and what might be a sensible next step for you over a one to three year horizon.

What if the role you contact me about isn't the right fit?

If the role we initially contact you about is not the right fit, that is completely fine – saying no is part of a healthy process. What matters more is that we learn which types of roles and environments are right for you, so that we can reach out again when there is a much stronger match.

How does Talent League work for candidates?

Talent League is our confidential network for senior data, AI and technology leaders who are interested in their next executive role in the Nordics and Europe. When you join, you are not added to a generic mailing list – instead, we contact you directly when a search genuinely aligns with your background and the direction you want to take your career.

Frequently Asked Questions

Heron Talent is a boutique executive search firm specializing in data, AI and technology leadership roles in the Nordics and across Europe. This FAQ answers the most common questions from companies and candidates about our AI-native, senior-led executive search process.

FAQ — Clients

Leadership and expert roles for organizations building AI and data
capabilities:
- Data, Analytics & AI
- Technology & Engineering
- Sales & Business Development
- Marketing & E-commerce
- Product & Design
From C-suite to senior experts. More about what we do.
Shortlist in about 3 weeks. Full process 8-12 weeks — depends mostly on your calendar, not ours.
We start by listening. Understanding what you actually need — not just the job description, but the context around it.
Then:
- Active outreach through our network
- Candidates vetted before you see them
- We handle coordination and communication
- Support through offer and onboarding
Every search is led personally by a senior partner.
Direct Search: We do the outreach. Best when the role needs discretion or you want access to passive candidates.
Hybrid Search: You post the role, we handle everything else — vetting both inbound applicants and candidates we find. Same quality, broader reach.
Both get the same level of attention.
Nordics and Europe are our home markets. UK, US and beyond through our established network.
One flat fee, agreed when the search is contracted. A fixed sum, set from the agreed annual salary. No sliding scales, no surprises at offer stage. Billed in three milestones: engagement, shortlist, placement. Every placement covered by our replacement guarantee. Let's talk specifics
Vaisala, Reaktor, PwC, Nordea, Starship Technologies, Siili, LeadDesk, among others. Success stories
We combine a decade of hands-on experience in the data and AI ecosystem with a senior-led search process. Our founder has worked inside digital consulting and technology organizations, not just recruited for them. This means we can evaluate candidates on domain expertise — data strategy, AI product development, engineering leadership — not just leadership competencies.
We use the latest AI tools throughout the search process — from LLM-augmented sourcing and market mapping to AI-assisted candidate assessment. This means faster identification of passive candidates, deeper market coverage, and assessment that goes beyond CV matching. It is not a marketing label — it is how every search is executed.
Focused, efficient execution with no wasted steps. Every search is personally led by a senior partner — no handoffs to junior researchers, no committee layers. Direct communication, fast iteration, and a shortlist typically delivered in three weeks.
Yes. While our strongest network is in the Nordics and Northern Europe, we regularly search across European markets including the UK, DACH region, and Benelux.
Our core specialization is data, AI and technology leadership. But building AI capability requires leadership across every function — not just technical roles. We regularly place Sales Directors, Product Leaders, Design Leaders and Marketing executives for organizations where AI and data competence is the strategic context.

Ready to discuss your search?

If you are planning a data, AI or technology leadership search in the Nordics or Europe, get in touch.

Contact Us

FAQ — Candidates

We have a conversation. We want to understand your situation, what you're looking for, and whether this particular role makes sense for you.
If we both think it's worth exploring, you'll typically go through 2-3 interviews with the client, sometimes a case exercise or leadership assessment depending on the role.
No pressure at any stage. It's your decision.
Not immediately. Let's talk first.
If you want to proceed, we'll send a link for CV. You'll also be asked to approve our candidate terms.
Tip: Keep your CV aligned with your LinkedIn — use the CV to expand on things you'd rather not share publicly.
As much as we can: role scope, organization structure, culture, technical environment. We'll also ask about your salary expectations — open dialogue about compensation is normal here in the Nordics.
Some details may need to wait until later in the process for confidentiality reasons, but I won't waste your time with vague descriptions.
Occasionally. Our focus is permanent placements, but clients sometimes need interim leadership or experts. Let us know if that's what you're looking for.
All conversations are confidential — that's foundational to how we work. GDPR compliant systems and processes. Explicit consent before anything is shared. Privacy policy
If you are a Head of Data, AI leader or senior technology executive, the most valuable starting point is an honest, no-pressure conversation about your situation. We will discuss where you are now, what genuinely interests you next, and which markets and role types are realistic — without you needing to "pitch" yourself or commit to anything before it feels right.
Yes — some of the most useful conversations happen before there is an active search on the table. We can walk through the market, different role types (for example Head of Data vs. Director of AI vs. VP Engineering) and what might be a sensible next step for you over a 1–3 year horizon.
If the role we contact you about is not the right fit, that is completely fine — saying "no" is part of a good process. What matters more is that we understand more clearly which roles and environments are right for you, so we can reach out again when there is a much better match.
Talent League is our confidential network for senior data, AI and technology leaders interested in their next executive role in the Nordics and Europe. When you join, you are not added to a generic mailing list — we approach you directly when a search genuinely aligns with your background and the direction you want to go.

Want to stay on our radar?

Talent League is our confidential network for senior data, AI and technology leaders interested in their next executive role in the Nordics and Europe.

Join Talent League