Forensic Referencing & Executive Assessment
Independent insight for critical hiring decisions
Hartford Advisers provides forensic referencing and executive assessment for investors, portfolio companies and corporates making senior hiring and leadership decisions. Assignments support private equity portfolio hiring, executive search, succession planning, board appointments and other sensitive leadership situations.
how clients use forensic referencing & executive assessment
Senior Leadership Hiring
Independent referencing for CEOs, CFOs, board members and other senior leadership appointments.
Designed to provide visibility into leadership capability, judgement, management style and reputation before a hiring decision is made.
Private Equity Portfolio Talent
Assessment of incumbent and prospective management teams before and after investment.
Frequently used during investment processes, leadership changes and value-creation planning.
Executive Assessment During Transactions
Interview-led executive assessment during acquisitions, investments and strategic transactions.
Provides additional visibility into management quality, decision-making and governance standards beyond conventional diligence processes.
Sensitive or High-Risk Appointments
Enhanced referencing for appointments involving regulatory, reputational or stakeholder considerations.
Commonly used for regulated industries, public-facing leadership positions and complex international appointments.
Succession Planning & Leadership Transitions
Independent assessment of internal and external leadership candidates during succession processes.
Designed to help boards and investors evaluate leadership credibility, organisational confidence and transition risk.
Why clients use Hartford
Investigative background
Founded by former investigative journalists with experience conducting complex research, source development and intelligence gathering assignments.
Independent source development
Hartford identifies and interviews independent sources rather than relying solely on candidate-provided referees or existing professional references.
Global networks
Longstanding relationships with journalists, industry participants and other well-placed sources across multiple jurisdictions and sectors.
Discreet execution
Assignments handled carefully and confidentially, particularly where enquiries involve sensitive appointments, reputational considerations or senior leadership changes.
Decision-ready reporting
Clear, commercially focused reporting designed for investors, boards, executive search firms and HR leadership teams.
Cross-border capability
Assignments conducted across developed and emerging markets, including situations involving internationally active executives and management teams.
Case Outcomes
Forensic referencing identified recurring concerns regarding judgement, relationship management and leadership style relating to a prospective CEO hire for a UK portfolio company
Management assessment highlighted capability gaps within an incumbent leadership team and informed succession planning priorities for a US portfolio business
Leadership referencing identified governance concerns and strategic execution risks relating to a founder-led management team ahead of an African private equity investment
other services
FAQs
What is forensic referencing?
Forensic referencing involves conducting independent interviews and investigative research to assess an executive’s leadership capability, judgement, reputation and broader risk profile.
How is Hartford different from traditional executive referencing?
Hartford identifies and interviews independent sources rather than relying solely on candidate-provided referees. The work combines investigative research, targeted interviews and strategic analysis.
What types of appointments does Hartford support?
Assignments commonly support CEO and CFO hiring, private equity portfolio talent decisions, board appointments, succession planning and other sensitive leadership situations.
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