Executive Search and Transition Support

Finding and supporting the right leadership at the right time.

Arts and culture organizations compete for a small, highly specialized pool of leadership talent. The most effective candidates are often not actively seeking new roles, and the cost of a misaligned hire is high.

Our executive search work is disciplined, discreet, and rooted in a deep understanding of the arts ecosystem. We represent your organization—not individual candidates—and manage the full search and transition process from start to finish.

Our work includes:

• Clarifying leadership needs, expectations, and success criteria

• National and, when appropriate, international candidate identification

• Discreet recruitment and outreach beyond advertised searches

• Rigorous assessment of experience, leadership style, and organizational fit

• Interview design, facilitation, and comparative evaluation

• Offer strategy, compensation benchmarking, and transition planning

• Succession planning and interim leadership support

• Interim Executive Leadership

What to Expect

Process and timeline
A typical search is completed within five to six months, allowing time for thoughtful assessment, outreach, and decision-making.

Success and retention
MCA provides a one-year guarantee on executive searches.
Our placements demonstrate strong longevity, with a 99% retention rate at 12 months, 96% retention at 24 months, and an average tenure of approximately eight years.

Supporting long-term success
Beyond the search itself, MCA can provide onboarding, transition, and executive coaching support to help new leaders establish momentum and align effectively with boards, staff, and organizational culture.

A successful search results in a strong match: a leader excited by the opportunity, an organization confident in its decision, and a partnership positioned to move the mission forward.