Chief Data Officer Recruitment Agency
Licorne Society helps companies hire their Data leadership: Chief Data Officers, VPs of Data and experienced Heads of Data, on a permanent or fractional basis.
5/5 · 206 Google reviews More than 200 startups, scale-ups and digital companies have hired their Data leadership with Licorne Society.
Testimonials
They trusted the Licorne Society team with their Data hiring
We were hiring hybrid Data Scientist / Data Analyst / Analytics Engineer profiles with a solid technical background and real hands-on experience in Operations (Supply Chain, Logistics, Manufacturing...). We were introduced to very strong candidates from top schools, with relevant experience. The pre-screening and the way the process was managed were spot on. We successfully made several hires within a few months.
We brought in Licorne Society during our technology transformation, when we needed to hire new TECH skills across several areas: Product, Delivery, QA, Engineering. Not only were they very responsive, they also put forward the candidates who best matched the brief. Of the 4 agencies we worked with, Licorne Society had the highest success rate. Well done!
We were looking for a senior tech hire who would be key to our startup's growth. Working with Licorne Society saved us valuable time on screening and first calls with candidates. André fully understood our needs and our mindset, and only put forward highly relevant candidates. Having that support took a real weight off our shoulders.
Our typical Chief Data Officer profiles to meet your company's challenges
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Startup / scale-up CDO
- The company's first Data leader, able to structure governance from A to Z
- Equally strategic and hands-on, comfortable with small Data teams
- Product and business vision to turn data into value
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Experienced CDO
- 15+ years' experience in senior Data and AI roles
- Able to define a global data strategy and manage a budget
- Expert in structuring and managing a Data department
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Fractional / interim CDO
- Senior executive available at short notice for a one-off assignment
- Ideal for setting up governance, defining a data roadmap or preparing an AI initiative
- A smart alternative ahead of a permanent hire
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Governance & compliance-focused CDO
- Expert in regulatory frameworks (GDPR, AI Act, data governance)
- Able to engage with regulators, auditors and key account clients
- Particularly sought after in finance, healthcare and sensitive sectors
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AI-focused CDO / Chief Data & AI Officer
- AI is at the core of the role: machine learning, generative AI (LLMs) and MLOps
- Able to define an AI strategy, set model governance (AI Act) and scale use cases into production
- Sought after when data and AI are at the heart of the product and of value creation
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Head of Data
- Manages a Data team and is accountable for day-to-day execution of the strategy
- Versatile across the full data lifecycle (engineering, analytics, data science)
- Often a natural stepping stone to a CDO role, with experience managing Data teams
Our Chief Data Officer recruitment expert
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Pierre-Alexis Ardon
- CEO and co-founder of the Licorne Society recruitment platform. 🦄
- Former Product Manager on a Data / Data Science product at a startup. 🚀
- Expert in structuring Data teams and building data leadership functions at startups, scale-ups and large corporates. 📊
Our consultants specialise in Tech and Data recruitment and can support you on every data leadership role.
Recruiting a Chief Data Officer
Recruiting a Chief Data Officer is a strategic challenge for any organisation where data is becoming a key asset.
With the rise of AI, regulatory pressure (GDPR, AI Act) and the need to run the business on data, building a Data leadership function has become a priority for startups, scale-ups and large corporates. Yet leaders who combine strategy, technology and management are rare and in high demand.
What we do
quickly find the best Data leaders on the market, on a permanent, fractional or interim basis
Why us?
- A firm grasp of data and AI challenges for your company's maturity and sector.
- A powerful network of CDOs, VPs of Data and Heads of Data, from a startup's first Data leader to a group CDO.
- In-depth knowledge of the governance, architecture and value creation issues that define the role.
This makes Licorne Society the go-to partner for recruiting your Data leadership, on permanent and freelance contracts, in France and abroad ⭐
A 3.0 recruitment agency specialising in Chief Data Officer searches
- 01
A community of Data candidates
Licorne Society has more than 4,500 active job seekers registered on its platform.
- 02
Deep expertise in Data roles
For every brief, our team finds, approaches and screens the best Data leaders in the ecosystem.
- 03
A unique sourcing technology
100% tailored to each role and to your target, combining artificial intelligence and automation.
How our Chief Data Officer recruitment service works
- 1
Scoping your needs
We (really) take the time to understand.
- 2
Targeted sourcing
We quickly tap into our network of more than 50,000 professionals, and approach directly the candidates who are not in it yet.
- 3
Screening the best candidates
We take the time to call every relevant candidate to understand their background and aspirations.
- 4
Shortlist within a few days
You receive a list of qualified candidates who are available and interested.
Head of Data, Chief Data Officer, VP Data: what are the differences?
These job titles cover different levels of responsibility around data.
- Head of Data (in French)
- manages a Data team and is accountable for day-to-day execution of the strategy (engineering, analytics, data science).
- Chief Data Officer (CDO)
- sits on the executive committee and owns the company-wide data vision, governance and value creation.
- VP Data
- a title often used at international scale-ups for a Data leadership role close to that of a CDO, with a strong management dimension.
Depending on your organisation, the role will report to the CEO, the CTO (in French) or the executive leadership team. We help you settle this reporting line before launching the search.
How do you recruit a Chief Data Officer?
Recruiting a Data leader means defining the need precisely before launching the search. The key steps:
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Define the scope for your context
a hands-on CDO to lay the data foundations, or a manager CDO to lead an existing department and budget.
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Target the right sector experience
a bank, a healthcare company, a retailer and a SaaS scale-up face very different data challenges, so sector experience is often decisive.
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Source in a scarce market
the best profiles are rarely actively looking, so a direct approach (in French) is essential.
Whether you are a startup, a scale-up, an SME or a large corporate going through a transformation, securing this key hire takes a structured search. For support, talk to our Executive Search team.
Resources & related pages
Further reading on recruiting your Data leadership
To scope your needs, see our job profiles for data leadership roles (in French):
- Chief Data Officer (CDO): data vision, governance and value creation at executive committee level.
- Head of Data: manages a Data team, often the step before the CDO role.
Hiring for more hands-on Data roles (Data Analyst, Data Scientist, Data Engineer (in French))? See our Data recruitment agency page, which covers every data role.
This page is part of our Executive Search and headhunting service for hiring executives and C-level leaders.
Ready to hire your Chief Data Officer?
Frequently asked questions about recruiting a Chief Data Officer
01 What is the difference between a Head of Data and a Chief Data Officer?
What is the difference between a Head of Data and a Chief Data Officer?
The Head of Data leads a Data team and oversees day-to-day execution of the strategy (engineering, analytics, data science). The Chief Data Officer (CDO) sits on the executive committee and owns the company-wide data vision, governance and value creation. The CDO role is often the natural next step for a Head of Data in organisations where data is central to the product or the strategy.
02 Is a Chief Data Officer different from a Chief Digital Officer?
Is a Chief Data Officer different from a Chief Digital Officer?
Yes, even though both go by CDO. The Chief Data Officer heads up data (governance, data science, AI, analytics). The Chief Digital Officer leads the digital transformation (digital channels, customer experience, digitising products and processes). We help you pin down the scope precisely before launching the search.
03 Can you recruit a fractional or interim CDO?
Can you recruit a fractional or interim CDO?
Yes. Not every organisation needs a full-time CDO: we also place executives on a fractional, interim or freelance basis to set up data governance, lay the foundations of a data and AI strategy, or see a transformation through ahead of a permanent hire.
04 What budget should you plan for a Chief Data Officer?
What budget should you plan for a Chief Data Officer?
A CDO's pay depends heavily on the sector, the size of the organisation and its data maturity. A data leadership role comes with a C-level package: we share the market ranges we see during the scoping phase.
05 Where can you find Chief Data Officer candidates?
Where can you find Chief Data Officer candidates?
The vast majority of strong Data leaders are not actively looking. We identify and approach them directly through our network of more than 50,000 professionals, on top of the candidates registered on our platform.
Our specialities
A specialist recruiter for every need
Executive Search
We help companies find and hire senior executives and C-level leaders.
Learn more Tech & DataTech recruitment
Hire people with strong technical expertise in software development and data, in a highly competitive market.
Learn more Sales & MarketingSales & Marketing recruitment
We help companies structure their Marketing and Sales teams so they can drive the growth of the business.
Learn more OperationsOperations & Finance recruitment
Hire the people who will run and optimise your operations and processes.
Learn moreOur scope
Other roles covered by our services
Our locations
We recruit across the major French tech and digital ecosystems, and support your growth across Europe.