A CTO with AI expertise is not automatically AI Executive Search.
The CTO often owns engineering, platform, delivery.
The bearer of the AI yes is often a CAIO or C-level AI seat: not the default CTO.
I run retained AI Executive Search mandates from Hamburg for DACH seats. No firm names. No money-H1 steal.
Some houses put the yes on the CTO.
Many need a distinct AI seat.
The question is: who holds stop and yes?
Only when the decision architecture matches.
Seat labels: CTO. CAIO. AI-CTO. No JD dump.
When the architecture is clear, they buy the AI Executive Search mandate.
### Is a CTO with an AI background enough?
Only if they own the yes. Expertise alone is not a seat.
### Is every CTO-AI search our mandate?
No. Only when the judgment logic matches Money.
