In Conversation: The Evolution of MODE EXECUTIVE

To mark a new chapter for MODE SEARCH, we sat down with co-founders Helen Porter and Stacey McCarthy to discuss the MODE story thus far. Founded in 2017, MODE SEARCH stands as an agency that strives to deliver a unique and modern recruitment proposition, well suited to the contemporary work space. 

Eight years on from starting MODE SEARCH, Helen and Stacey are launching MODE EXECUTIVE, a recruitment service offering an elevated service, that seeks to connect the world’s most iconic brands with the best C-Suite talent in the industry. 

Founders Helen and Stacey

1. You launched MODE SEARCH in 2017. Looking at where you are now, what’s most exciting about the journey ahead?

Helen: What’s most exciting right now is that we’re entering a new chapter with MODE EXECUTIVE, the new companion wing of MODE SEARCH that focuses on Executive and C-Suite level talent and recruitment. We’ve always delivered senior-level recruitment, but this gives it its own identity, something more defined, refined and purpose-driven.

Stacey: It’s the sense of possibility that we had at the beginning of MODE that still drives us, but it’s now backed by eight years of experience. MODE EXECUTIVE feels like a natural next step for us, born out of the trust we’ve built with our client base who are ready to grow their leadership teams with us. It’s about offering something more elevated, something future-focused that looks towards where the recruitment industry is heading.

2. What led to the creation of MODE EXECUTIVE?

Stacey: The foundation was always there. From day one, we were building relationships with global clients at a senior level. Over the years, it became clear that there was a real appetite for a more tailored, high-level service, something built specifically for C-suite roles. MODE EXECUTIVE is the result of listening to those clients and evolving with them.

Helen: We wanted to create a space where executive search could be approached with the same care and creativity we’ve always brought to MODE. It’s also a response to how the industry is moving, with leaders looking for more than just skills; they’re looking for people that fit into the culture of a business, who are innovative and who share values that align with those of the organisation. That’s what we’re delivering with MODE EXECUTIVE.

3. How has MODE shaped you as leaders?

Helen: From the very beginning, we were building something personal and meaningful. That mindset still guides everything we do, including the way we’ve developed MODE EXECUTIVE, which stands as an organic extension to what we were already offering.

Stacey: We’ve grown together, both as leaders and as a team.  As MODE has developed, so has our understanding of how to build a sustainable, people-focused company, that has lots of opportunities for personal development for our staff; our people have worked their way up from interns to managers, to heads of departments and directors, so we've built a really established team that helps us to deliver in really effective ways. This has given us the clarity and strength to move confidently into this next phase. We now have the strongest team we’ve ever had, and that’s empowered us to focus on expanding our offering.

4. What does it take to run a global agency, and how does MODE EXECUTIVE fit into that picture?

Helen:  Our international reach has always been one of our biggest assets. Different time zones can be a problem, but again this comes back to the fluid nature of how we work. We’re based in London, and could be working with a client in New York and interviewing a recruitment based in China, but it’s definitely possible to work in this way. We personally handle the out of hours element, so that we’ve got a complete overview of what’s going on. MODE EXECUTIVE is built with that same global mindset, and allows us to go even deeper, connecting visionary leaders with brands that are ready to scale.

5. What is it that continues to set MODE apart?

Helen: It’s the relationships. So many of our clients have been with us since the beginning, and that consistency says a lot. We listen, we adapt, and we care deeply about doing things properly.

Stacey: We’re also completely immersed in the fashion, luxury and lifestyle industries that we serve. That depth of understanding gives us a real advantage. We know what our clients are looking for, even when they’re still figuring it out themselves. With MODE EXECUTIVE, we’re applying that insight at the highest level.

6. What’s next for MODE as a whole?

Helen: MODE EXECUTIVE is just the beginning of a broader vision. It’s about meeting the evolving needs of our clients. We’ll continue to support junior and mid-level hires through MODE SEARCH, but this new strand allows us to build even stronger leadership pipelines.

Stacey: We’re always looking to the future, new markets, new specialisms, new ways of working. MODE EXECUTIVE is an exciting part of that. It allows us to partner with brands in an even more meaningful way, helping shape their future through the senior talent they bring on board.

7. And finally, how would you describe MODE today?

Helen: We’re talent curators. We connect exceptional people with the world’s most impactful companies.

Stacey: We love the unexpected. and are in constant pursuit of the exceptional, and MODE EXECUTIVE is a celebration of this ethos.