Functional Roles
Defining leadership across critical roles...
At Vangarde, we focus on leadership functions that carry strategic, operational and governance responsibility.
These functions span executive, financial, operational and mission-critical roles where decisions impact long-term trajectories.
We help boards and investors secure capable leadership in these pivotal areas.
Executive Leadership
CEOs and top executives set strategic direction and embody organizational purpose.
We support the identification, placement and transition of leaders who must navigate volatility, stakeholder complexity and enterprise-wide impact.
These roles are at the intersection of governance, performance and long-term value creation.
Typical Roles
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Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
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President / Managing Director
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Deputy CEO / Chief of Staff
Financial Leadership
Financial stewards ensure capital discipline, transparency and credibility with investors, regulators and boards.
We engage on mandates where financial leadership intersects with strategic decisions, such as refinancing, restructuring, carve-outs and growth transitions.
Typical Roles
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Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
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Finance Director
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Head of Treasury / FP&A
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Investor Relations Lead
Operational & Transformation Leadership
Operational leaders translate strategy into execution, optimize performance and steward change.
We engage in contexts where transformation, turnaround or scaling require structured leadership capable of harmonizing execution and governance.
Typical Roles
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Chief Operating Officer (COO)
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Head of Transformation / Change
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Supply Chain / Production Leadership
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Integration Lead (M&A / carve-out)
Governance & Oversight Roles
Board and governance roles shape the rules of engagement, risk appetite and strategic oversight.
We help organizations and investors strengthen their governance structures and secure expertise that anticipates, questions and guides executive decisions.
Typical Roles
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Board Member / Independent Director
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Chair of Board
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Lead Director
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Governance Committee Lead
Mission-Critical Specialty Functions
These functions carry unique complexity due to regulatory, societal or technology exposure.
They require leaders who combine functional excellence with high governance maturity.
Typical Roles
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Chief Risk Officer / Compliance Lead
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Chief Legal & Regulatory Officer
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Head of People & Culture (strategic)
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Chief Technology / Digital Officer (strategic)
Explore Your Leadership Needs
Leadership decisions in critical functions are rarely isolated events. They often reflect broader governance questions, strategic inflection points and long-term accountability.
Understanding the context behind the role is as important as identifying the right individual.
If your organization is evaluating a leadership question within these functions, we would welcome a thoughtful and confidential exchange.
“The right leader in the right function can stabilize, accelerate or redefine an organization’s trajectory.”
— N. C. Naili, Founder & Managing Partner