How the market of top management in Ukraine is changing and why remote CEO is the new norm
A frank conversation about C-level jobs in Ukraine
Why is the remote format not evil? Is it possible to find an adequate CEO if he has been in Europe for a long time? And why it's time for businesses to reconsider their expectations of the “ideal leader.”
Reality 2025: top management outside Ukraine
After 2022, most senior executives, especially from the corporate, innovation and IT sectors, have moved out of the country. Some of them:
- lives in Cyprus, Poland, Germany, Portugal;
- cooperates with Ukrainian companies remotely;
- partially returned, works in hybrid format;
- set up their own businesses or startups in the EU or UK.
Many of them do not plan to physically return to Ukraine, but are open to participating in Ukrainian projects if:
- there is a transparent management structure
- clear strategic objectives
- the ability to work remotely.
“We are looking for CEO in Kyiv.” He is now in Warsaw...
The reality we see every day in Safeline:
“We want to hire a Chief Commercial Officer in Kyiv”
But 90% of the relevant candidates are in the EU, UK or US.
So if you're looking for a CEO or CMO for a startup, IT company, or manufacturing, it's time to rethink your thinking format.
Remote top management is a reality
Why is remote CEO not a weakness, but a strategic advantage?
The main arguments:
- “The leader must be in place.”— myth. Real CEOs manage the strategy, not monitor the office.
- “Control is impossible”— KPI, regular 1:1 and reports — standard for remote format.
- “You need a presence for inspiration.”— are now inspired through content, video meetings, leadership by values.
Already now, investors, foundations, startups work with fractional CEOs, virtual SOs, executives without a link to the office.
Where to look for a modern C-level candidate?
The candidate in 2025 is not just a “director”, but a strategic partner:
- works from European hubs (London, Berlin, Warsaw);
- has experience in startups, investment rounds, M&A;
- combines knowledge of the Ukrainian market with global thinking;
- ready for fractional employment or consulting cooperation.
Search Sources:
- Closed recruitment networks(as in Safeline);
- C-level communityand CEO of Mastermind Group;
- Targeted headhuntingvia LinkedIn Premium;
- Atypical sources: international forums, MBA networks, venture funds.
Why the tops do not “hire”, but “partner”
This is the main rule of 2025:
Top managers are not looking for a job, but a place of influence. They do not choose the “position” - they choose the mission.
What do companies need to look at?
- Offerformat: options, share, participation in the strategy.
- Flexibility: not 8/5 in the office, but the result and autonomy.
- Culture: not control, but trust.
Results: how to hire a top manager in 2025
The tops in Ukraine have become less, but they are in Lisbon, London, Warsaw, and they are open for partnership.
The remote format is not a temporary solution, but a strategic advantage. Hiring a CEO, COO or CMO in 2025 is not about finding an employee, but an ally.
Safeline is a new generation recruitment agency
We don't just look for “resumes”, we find the same ones. With access to international communities, deep headhunting and a personal approach, we can:
- find a CEO in the UK who will raise your Ukrainian business;
- bring in a CMO with experience in raising $10M for a SaaS project;
- combine startup with Fractional COO from Silicon Valley.