Neon River specializes in hiring Chief Product Officers into software companies
In software, “CPO” often becomes the role that turns a strategy slide into an operating reality. That is especially true during transitions. Moving from on-premise to SaaS forces hard choices about packaging, migration, retention, and commercial model. Moving from services to product requires focus, roadmap discipline, and a clear definition of what becomes repeatable. In highly acquisitive PE-backed groups, the product mandate is often integration, governance, and deciding what stays local versus what becomes shared.
We support software companies with partner-led executive search. Our approach is research-driven and designed to identify product leaders who can make trade-offs and build an operating rhythm. We assess for context, including SaaS migration and monetisation, productising services, platform and portfolio integration, and cross-functional alignment with Engineering, Sales, and Customer Success.
Product leadership appointments in software businesses
CPO scope varies widely. In software, the role often sits in the middle of major transitions, including on-premise to SaaS migrations, services to product shifts, and integration in acquisitive PE-backed groups. The placements below are two examples of senior product leadership work at that level.
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Lloyd’s List Intelligence builds subscription software and data products for maritime and trade. Their platforms support decision-making across shipping markets, vessel and company intelligence, and related analytics and workflow.Placed Nicola Marlin as Chief Product Officer, supporting product leadership at executive level.Chief Product Officer
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Wireless Logic provides managed connectivity and IoT services for businesses deploying connected devices. Their software and platforms help customers provision, manage, and monitor SIM and device estates across networks and geographies, with tooling for control and visibility.Placed John Dillon as Managing Director, Product and Marketing, supporting product and commercial alignment at leadership level.Managing Director, Product and Marketing
What matters in CPO hiring for software companies
We help clients define the CPO mandate in practical terms. What must be true in the first 6, 12, and 18 months, what trade-offs are acceptable, and what “good” looks like given your commercial model, product maturity, and stakeholder expectations.
On-premise to SaaS migration leadership
Sequencing migration, protecting retention, and aligning packaging, pricing, and contracts with the target SaaS model.
Packaging and monetisation judgment
Ability to simplify offers, manage discounting, and evolve pricing without breaking adoption or customer trust.
Services to product focus
Turning bespoke commitments into repeatable capabilities, setting boundaries, and driving roadmap discipline.
Product operating model and decision rights
Clear ownership across Product, Engineering, Sales, and Customer Success, including escalation paths and cadence.
Integration in acquisitive PE-backed groups
Portfolio strategy, platform choices, and the balance between shared services, economies of scale, and subsidiary autonomy.
Portfolio rationalisation and duplication removal
Reducing overlapping roadmaps, consolidating capabilities, and making trade-offs that protect revenue while improving efficiency.
How Neon River helps software companies hire a Chief Product Officer
Our searches are designed to surface product leaders who can make trade-offs and drive execution in your context. We combine research-led mapping with scenario-based assessment so the shortlist reflects your realities, not a generic CPO template.
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1
Define the mandate with constraints
We pin down outcomes, constraints, and decision rights, including migration, productisation, and integration expectations where relevant.
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2
Build the target market map
We map product leaders across relevant software models and adjacency, including candidates with proven transition experience.
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3
Calibrate around your operating model
We test early market feedback and adjust the profile, for example builder vs transformer, portfolio vs single product, group vs subsidiary.
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4
Assess with scenarios that mirror the job
We pressure-test candidates using situations drawn from your context, such as an on-premise to SaaS pricing reset, a services productisation plan, or a PE integration decision about shared platform versus autonomy for acquired businesses.
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5
Close and de-risk
We support offer shaping and structured referencing tied to outcomes, then agree first 90-day priorities so the CPO lands with momentum.
Research and thinking on CPO hiring, product leadership and scaling software organisations
Hire a Chief Product Officer for a software company
Partner-led executive search for software Chief Product Officers. We find product leaders who set direction, build teams, and deliver outcomes.