MBN Solutions

What MBN Solutions does

MBN Solutions is a Glasgow-headquartered, UK-based specialist talent acquisition and executive search firm operating exclusively within the Data, Analytics, and AI talent market. Founded around 2005-2007, the firm has operated for nearly two decades placing senior data and AI leaders — including Chief Data Officers, Heads of AI, CTOs, and CISOs — as well as building specialist engineering, ML, MLOps, and analytics teams for clients ranging from high-growth scale-ups to global enterprises. The company claims over 4,000 cumulative Data and AI placements and a client roster spanning insurance (Lloyd's Market specialty insurer), energy (Aggreko), robotics (Aescape), autonomous vehicles (Outrider), consulting (Head For Data), and automotive retail.

The firm's offering is structured around four interconnected service lines: Leadership Search (retained executive search for senior data and AI leaders), Team Build & Scale (multi-hire capability for constructing full data and engineering teams), AI & Machine Learning Talent (specialised placement of ML engineers, MLOps professionals, and emerging AI skillsets), and Talent & Advisory (organisational design, market insight, and hiring strategy consulting). MBN does not develop technology products; its "core technology" is its market intelligence, talent mapping, and proprietary candidate assessment frameworks developed over two decades.

Commercially, MBN operates a sales-led, consultative go-to-market model with direct enterprise engagement through retained search mandates and multi-year contracts. Pricing is quote-based with no publicly disclosed rate cards. In October 2023 the firm secured a six-figure (£100,000) funding package from UK Steel Enterprise, a Tata Steel subsidiary, earmarked for doubling headcount from 20 to 40 employees within two years, purchasing new technology, expanding marketing, and pivoting further into AI and machine learning talent services. The firm remains privately held with no disclosed institutional PE/VC backing beyond this corporate investment.

Name

MBN Solutions

Legal name

MBN Solutions

Website

https://mbnsolutions.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

MBN Solutions is a Glasgow-based specialist executive search and talent solutions firm focused exclusively on Data, Analytics, and AI leadership. The firm provides retained leadership search, team build-outs, and advisory services to enterprises and scale-ups globally, with over 4,000 placements.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Glasgow

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Executive Search and Talent Solutions: MBN generates revenue through retained search engagements and talent solutions services for organisations building Data, Analytics and AI capabilities. The firm places senior leaders (CDO, Head of AI, CTO, CISO) and builds specialist teams across data engineering, AI, ML, and analytics functions. Revenue is derived from successful placements and retained mandates.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

MBN Solutions is a retained executive search and talent solutions consultancy that exclusively recruits Data, Analytics, and AI leaders and specialist teams for organisations ranging from high-growth scale-ups to global enterprises. Its core services comprise retained search for senior data and AI leaders (CDO, Head of AI, CTO, CISO), multi-hire team build-outs across data engineering, analytics, ML and MLOps, and advisory support for organisational design and hiring strategy.

Product overview

MBN offers a unified talent acquisition service focused exclusively on building Data, Analytics, and AI teams. The portfolio consists of four interconnected service offerings: Leadership Search (retained executive search for senior data and AI leaders), Team Build & Scale (multi-hire team construction across data, analytics, and engineering), AI & Machine Learning Talent (specialized placement for ML, MLOps, and emerging AI skillsets), and Talent & Advisory (organizational design and hiring strategy consulting). These services are designed to work together, enabling clients to secure individual leaders through Leadership Search while simultaneously building full team capabilities via Team Build & Scale, with specialized AI talent acquisition supported by advisory services for organizational structure.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Leadership Search Retained, research-led executive search service focused on securing senior Data and AI leadership talent (such as Chief Data Officer, Head of AI, CTO, and CISO) who define an organisation's data and AI strategy. It is targeted at enterprises and global organisations undertaking critical leadership hires.
• Team Build & Scale Multi-hire team build service for constructing complete Data, Analytics, and engineering teams from senior leadership through to specialist practitioners. It is aimed at enterprises scaling data functions and at high-growth scale-ups assembling founding or growth-stage teams.
• AI & Machine Learning Talent Specialist talent acquisition service for placing ML engineers, MLOps professionals, and emerging AI skillsets. It is targeted at organisations transitioning from existing data capability to AI and ML impact.
• Talent & Advisory Advisory service providing organisational design insight, market intelligence, and hiring strategy guidance to help structure and scale Data and AI capabilities effectively. It supports clients building out data and AI functions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4,000+ Data and AI hires delivered over 20+ years
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Heidrick & Struggles: Global executive search firm with a dedicated Technology, Data & AI practice. Directly comparable in leadership-hire scope but vastly larger scale, serving multinational enterprises rather than scale-ups.
• Korn Ferry: Large global organisational consulting firm with executive search across functions including Technology and Data. Overlaps with MBN on senior leadership search but operates across all C-suite mandates at much greater scale.
• Spencer Stuart: Global executive search firm with a Technology, Media & Telecommunications practice. Comparable in targeting senior leadership mandates, including CTO/CDO roles, but operates at much larger scale with broader sector coverage.
• Egon Zehnder: Global executive search and leadership advisory firm. Comparable in placing C-level technology and data leaders; however, Egon Zehnder serves a broader cross-sector leadership client base rather than specialising exclusively in Data & AI.
• Hays: Large UK-based staffing and recruitment group with dedicated Technology and Data practices. Comparable on Data/AI hiring mandates but operates across all sectors and functions at significantly greater scale than MBN.
• Robert Half: Global staffing and consulting firm with a technology practice placing Data and analytics professionals. Comparable on placement services for Data roles but operates as a broad generalist rather than a Data & AI specialist.

Direct peers

• Harvey Nash: UK-headquartered technology recruitment and executive search firm with a strong Data & Analytics practice. Closely comparable business model (retained search + team build) and serves overlapping enterprise and scale-up clients in the UK.
• Mason Frank: Niche technology recruitment firm specialising in Salesforce, Data, and emerging-tech talent. Comparable as a specialist recruiter targeting Data/tech professionals, though its brand is more closely tied to the Salesforce ecosystem than pure-play Data & AI.
• Nigel Frank International: Specialist technology recruitment firm focused on Microsoft, Data, and Cloud ecosystems. Comparable in serving Data/AI hiring needs with a niche specialist positioning, similar in scale and go-to-market to MBN.
• Computer Futures: Technology recruitment firm placing Data, AI, and engineering professionals across the UK and Europe. Closely comparable in target candidate profiles and team-build mandates, though broader in tech specialisation than MBN.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/520643
• Xx.com/mbnsolutions
• Facebookfacebook.com/mbn.rec.3

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about MBN Solutions