Question 1

What does a search firm do that a Founder can’t do themselves?

Accepted Answer

You could probably find good people. What's harder is knowing which ones are the right fit for the seat you're trying to fill.  Objective testing and assessment, paired with critical judgement, from doing this every day (not once every few years) makes a huge difference. We do the deep research to find people who aren't actively looking, and because we're a trusted, objective third party, we can start conversations you can't credibly start yourself. A call from a founder can sometimes feel like pressure. A call from us eases that and feels like an option worth exploring.Senior candidates lean on us to guide them through the process: the questions, the negotiation, the decision itself. Approached directly by an employer, they're far less likely to be open and more likely to hesitate, or walk away altogether.

Question 2

Do executive search firms only work with large companies, or do they also work with founder-led and private businesses?

Accepted Answer

Plenty of firms focus on large corporations, however here at Moxie - we specialise in privately-owned, family and founder-led businesses across New Zealand. It’s a different kind of business, and it calls for a different approach.These businesses don’t have the brand recognition of household names, so the opportunity has to be understood properly and pitched with real conviction to attract sharp, experienced candidates.

Question 3

What makes founder-led business searches different to corporate executive searches?

Accepted Answer

A founder isn't just filling a seat, they're handing over a piece of what they've spent years building. The appointment is personal, so trust and  expectation involved run far higher than in a typical corporate search. Founders tend to stay close to the decision, rather than handing it off, which means we earn that trust through real partnership - more care and more involvement than a standard search process.Moxie is structured to be tied to the outcome, the same way the owner is - we grow on reputation, and reputation only holds if the delivery does.

Question 4

What industries or business types do Moxie specialise in?

Accepted Answer

Moxie works with privately-owned, family and founder-led businesses across New Zealand and Australia. We specialise in a range of business types, from professional service partnerships and multigenerational family companies, through to shareholder-led partnerships, founder-led firms and their leadership teams.Our clients span across a range of industries, including but not limited to:Professional servicesManufacturing and exportFood and primary industry (including farming and forestry)EnergyMedicalConstruction and civilHigh technology and financial servicesWholesale and retailTransport and logistics

Executive Search Explained

What does a search firm do that a Founder can’t do themselves?

Do executive search firms only work with large companies, or do they also work with founder-led and private businesses?

What makes founder-led business searches different to corporate executive searches?

What industries or business types do Moxie specialise in?