Technology Executive Search in Ireland
Hiring a senior technology leader is one of the most important decisions a business can make — whether it is a CTO, CIO, CISO, VP of Engineering, Head of IT or Head of Digital. This is not just about filling a vacancy; it is about finding the person who can shape your technology strategy, lead your teams, protect your business and help you move forward with confidence.
At Star Recruitment, we have been helping companies across Ireland hire senior IT and digital leaders for over 30 years, with the care, judgement and market insight that only comes from deep experience in the Irish market. We work with Irish businesses and international companies building their teams here, across financial services, retail, professional services, construction, legal, technology and the wider Irish business market. Our clients come to us because they want a recruitment partner who understands both the technical depth of these roles and the reality of the Irish hiring market.
The Senior Technology Roles We Support
Senior IT leadership hiring is changing, and will continue to change. Technology leadership has moved from a functional responsibility to a strategic one, and the pressure on organisations to find the right person for these roles has never been greater.
Cultural fit, leadership style and the ability to work credibly across the business are as important as technical knowledge, and in many cases matter more. Each role carries different expectations, different risks and different demands. A CTO, CIO, CISO, Head of IT or VP of Engineering may all sit under the broad technology umbrella, but the type of person needed for each is very different. That is why we invest time at the start to understand not just the role, but the organisation, the team and what success genuinely looks like.
The CTO is typically responsible for the technical vision of the business — the architecture, the engineering teams, the product infrastructure and the decisions that shape how technology is built and scaled. In Irish businesses, the role often carries a dual responsibility: keeping the lights on while building for the future. A strong CTO bridges the gap between what the business needs commercially and what the technology can deliver. We help clients find CTOs who can lead technically, communicate clearly at board level and bring the engineering function with them.
The modern CIO is both a technology leader and a business leader. A strong CIO connects IT strategy with business priorities. They understand governance, systems, vendors, security, budgets and people. They can speak with the board, support internal teams and bring structure to complex technology environments. We help clients identify CIOs who can bring calm, clarity and direction at senior level.
The CISO role has become one of the most significant appointments an Irish organisation can make. NIS2, DORA and the growing complexity of the threat landscape have moved cybersecurity from a technical function to a boardroom priority. A strong CISO can assess risk clearly, communicate it credibly to leadership and build the right frameworks to protect the business. We help clients find CISOs who understand both the technical and the regulatory environment, and who can lead a security function with real authority.
The VP of Engineering is the person who takes technical strategy and turns it into delivery. They are responsible for engineering teams, processes, performance and culture — the operational reality of how software is built and how people grow. In growing Irish businesses and scaling technology companies, this role often determines whether the engineering function can keep pace with commercial ambition. We help clients find VPs of Engineering who can hire well, manage at scale and build an engineering culture that attracts strong talent.
The Head of IT keeps the technology environment running while also helping the business move forward. In many Irish organisations, this is the most operationally demanding technology leadership role — managing infrastructure, vendors, teams, security and projects, often with limited resources. We help clients find Heads of IT who combine strong technical grounding with the people skills and commercial awareness to be a genuine business partner.
The Head of Digital typically sits at the intersection of technology, customer experience and commercial strategy. In Irish businesses undergoing transformation, this role often carries responsibility for digital channels, platforms and the programmes that bring digital change to life. We help clients find Heads of Digital who can lead teams across the business, engage at senior level and deliver tangible results from a complex change agenda.
Market Intelligence You Can Actually Use
Most recruitment firms talk about market knowledge — at Star Recruitment, we have documented it.
We published The Rise of Strategic IT Leadership in Ireland, a report drawing on direct conversations with thirty senior technology leaders across Irish business. It examines how the CTO, CIO and CISO roles are evolving, what Irish organisations are expecting from their technology leaders, and where the most significant gaps exist in the current talent market.
This kind of insight shapes how we approach every search. When we advise you on a candidate profile, a salary range or a realistic timeline, it is grounded in direct knowledge of the Irish market rather than assumptions carried over from the UK or the US.
There are many recruitment firms in Ireland. What makes Star Recruitment different is genuine depth in senior IT hiring, a network built over 30 years in the Irish market, and a personal approach that larger firms find difficult to replicate.
We understand the Irish IT leadership market in detail, including the organisations, the talent pool, the salary expectations and the dynamics that shape senior hiring decisions here. That knowledge is current, not theoretical.
We take time at the outset to understand the real requirement — not just the job description, but the business context, the leadership gap, the team the new hire will lead and the reason this appointment matters now.
We give clients an honest view of what is achievable. If salary expectations, title, location or timelines need to be adjusted against current market conditions, we will tell you early and clearly.
We reach senior professionals who are not actively looking. The most capable technology leaders in Ireland are rarely browsing job boards, and reaching them requires relationships, trust and a considered approach — which is where our network makes a real difference.
We represent your organisation with care. Every approach we make to a senior candidate is a reflection of your brand, and we treat that responsibility seriously.
Imelda O’Hanlon leads every senior search personally. You will not be handed to a junior consultant once the contract is signed.
Our Executive Search Process
Every effective executive search follows a clear structure. You can see the full process here.
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on the role, the market and how quickly your business can move through the process, but as a general guide you should allow six to ten weeks from the start of the search to a shortlist, and a further two to four weeks to complete interviews and reach offer stage.
Senior searches take longer than volume hiring because the process needs to be thorough and discreet. That said, a search that is run well does not have to drag. Clarity at the start, prompt feedback during interviews and decisive decision making on your side all make a significant difference to the timeline.
Most of the senior technology leaders we place were not applying for jobs when we approached them. The honest answer is that the best people rarely are.
We find them through a combination of a network built over many years in the Irish IT market, direct research and proactive outreach. When we approach a senior candidate on your behalf, we do so carefully and professionally, because that conversation reflects on your business as much as ours. The quality of that approach — and the trust we have built with senior technology professionals in Ireland — is one of the things that makes a real difference to the calibre of candidates we can bring to a search.
Yes. Businesses sometimes need experienced technology leadership at short notice — to cover a gap, lead a specific project or provide senior guidance while a permanent search is underway. We can help identify interim CTO, CIO, CISO and Head of IT talent for these situations.
Fractional technology leadership is also becoming more common in Ireland, particularly among growing businesses who need strategic IT input without a full time hire. If you are weighing up whether a permanent, interim or fractional appointment is right for you, that is a good conversation to have at the start — and we are happy to work through the options with you.