Retained search for AI leadership is an exclusive mandate.
For the bearer of the AI yes. Christian Pobbig / Beyond Chiefs / DACH.
Contingent is a different architecture.
Contingent optimizes for fill revenue.
Retained optimizes for judgment, reporting line, stop and yes — under confidentiality.
AI leadership with a contested yes needs the second architecture.
In industry terms, executive search is retained and exclusive.
No Beyond Chiefs membership is claimed here.
The AI Executive Search mandate.
No fee table. No invented guarantee months.
### Is contingent enough for a CAIO?
No. The seat needs exclusive judgment — not contingent revenue.
### Do we show fees?
No. Architecture. Then Money.
