Permanent CPO recruitment risk-free

Chief Product Officer recruitment firm for startups and scale-ups.

1 week

For the first profiles

+30

CPOs in the collective

+200

Clients supported

98%

Client satisfaction

Where our CPOs have worked

ModjoLemlistSanofiBNP ParibasAccorJobteaserCapgemini

Hiring a CPO often means hiring blind

A CPO decides what your team is going to build. If the profile doesn't fit, the roadmap heads in the wrong direction, and you often only realize it months later.

No one on the team has ever hired a CPO

Hard to tell whether a candidate really knows how to prioritize, or just presents well

Generalist firms struggle to grasp what this role really involves

Your job description doesn't attract the right candidates

A CPO recruitment firm led by CPOs

At CO-CPO, every search is led by an experienced CPO backed by our collective of 30+ CPOs and 700+ CTOs. They help scope the brief, write the job description and run the interviews.

Generalist firm

Hiring on your own

CO-CPO

Assessment of candidatesRarelyDepends on your teamBy an experienced CPO
Access to off-market profilesLimitedYour network30+ CPOs and their network
First profilesVariableVariableWithin a week
Follow-up after signingRareNoThrough the end of the probation period (with a re-sourcing guarantee)

Our 5-step CPO recruitment method

1

We dig into your needs together

Week 1

  • ·Scoping workshop with an experienced CPO
  • ·Analysis of your stage, your product and your team
  • ·We write the job description with you
  • ·CPO, Head of Product or CPTO: we define the right level
2

We activate the network

Week 1

  • ·Activating the CO-CPO collective and the CO-CTO network
  • ·Targeted headhunting beyond our pool if needed
  • ·First profiles within about a week
3

We vet every candidate

Ongoing

  • ·Reference checks
  • ·Assessment of experience on comparable products
  • ·You only meet profiles validated by a CPO
4

We fine-tune as we go

Weeks 2 to 8

Your feedback on the first candidates helps us adjust the profile.

  • ·Debrief after each interview
  • ·Profile adjusted if needed
  • ·Iterating until the right fit
5

We stay with you through probation

First 3 months

  • ·Regular steering committee
  • ·Support through the first 3 months
  • ·Free re-sourcing if probation isn't validated

How we assess a CPO

On paper, many product profiles look alike. In the interview, a CPO from the collective checks what makes the difference:

  • product vision, and the ability to defend it in the boardroom as well as in the team
  • prioritization by business impact
  • managing PMs and structuring a product team
  • day-to-day work with tech and business

How much does it cost to recruit a CPO?

Our fee is 25% of the recruited candidate's gross annual salary.

On salary, a permanent CPO package ranges between €73,000 and €150,000 gross per year in 2026. Our Chief Product Officer role guide covers the responsibilities, salary and career path.

Permanent CPO or fractional CPO?

A permanent hire makes sense when product is at the core of your model and the need will last: a product team to build, a roadmap to carry over several years.

A fractional CPO is a better fit when you need to structure fast, or when the budget doesn't yet allow a full-time CPO. A CPO from the collective then works 1 to 3 days a week.

Discover the fractional CPO

Questions fréquentes

FAQ

Our fee is 25% of the recruited candidate's gross annual salary, within the range of specialist firms (15 to 30%). It covers the assessment by a CPO from the collective, follow-up through the first 3 months, and the re-sourcing guarantee if the probation period isn't validated.

The first qualified profiles arrive within about a week. We then adjust the search based on your feedback on those first candidates. The full process, from scoping to signing, usually takes 4 to 8 weeks.

That's the role of the CPO from the collective who follows your recruitment. They run the product interview and walk you through their assessment of each candidate: vision, prioritization, management and work with tech.

The CPO owns product strategy and sits on the executive committee. The Head of Product runs the product team day to day. The senior Product Manager is responsible for one area of the product. Scoping is exactly what determines the right level for your stage.

Yes. When product and tech need to be carried by a single person, we look for a CPTO. Scoping is then done with a CPO and a CTO from the collective.

We restart the recruitment at no extra cost. We also provide regular follow-up through the first 3 months so that onboarding goes well.

A permanent hire suits a lasting need where product is at the core of your business. A fractional CPO is a better fit for a structuring phase, or for companies that don't yet have the budget for a full-time CPO.

Let's talk about your CPO recruitment

A 30-minute conversation, no commitment.