YLD Chief Operating Officer Case Study

Company Background

YLD is a software engineering and design consultancy, helping companies succeed by moving teams from a culture of delivery to a culture of learning. They help enterprises win by delivering mission critical software built by the best web engineering in Europe.

• Founded by Nuno Job in 2013

• HQ, London UK.

Search Background

• YLD was in the early stages of growth and the CEO needed a partner to drive and grow the operations and commercial side of the organisation.

• YLD was a very small company and therefore Oakstone needed to find people who were interested and had experience in a company of that size.

• Retained agreement

The Result

• The search took 6 weeks from start to the signing of the offer letter.

Successful Candidates Background

• The successful had extensive experience in previous COO and financial roles, having worked in smaller, high growth companies.

• Why do companies use retained executive search for COO hiring?

  COO hires are business-critical and often require a confidential, proactive search. Retained executive search enables deeper market mapping, targeted outreach, and careful evaluation of candidates with the right blend of operational and cultural fit.

• Why is cultural fit crucial when hiring senior leaders into small teams?

  In early-stage businesses, senior leaders have influence on culture, pace, and decision-making. Hiring someone who thrives in a small, entrepreneurial environment is essential for long-term success.

• How can Oakstone support companies hiring COO-level executives?

  Oakstone International partners with founders and leadership teams to appoint operational and commercial executives who can scale early-stage organisations, strengthen execution, and support sustainable growth through retained executive search.

I’m Hiring

Oakstone International are a specialised SaaS executive search and recruitment firm assisting companies globally. If you are looking for executive search assistance or would like to speak to a Divisional Director about future hiring assistance in EMEA, the US or APAC, contact Oakstone.

I’m Job Seeking

As a SaaS client-driven firm, we work exclusively for clients to find people with a specific set of skills and experience.

However, if you would like to submit your CV, it will be passed on to our divisional directors, and we will consider you for future roles that are appropriate to your background and goals.