ServiceDue Diligence
Senior management background checks
Before you appoint a CEO, CFO, CXO, procurement head or board member, check the career, the record and the connections behind the CV.
When to call us
When to call us
Appointing a CEO, CFO or CXO
A senior hire controls money, people and reputation. A standard employment check is not enough.
Adding a director or independent director
Directorships, disqualifications, litigation and regulatory history, checked before the nomination committee decides.
Hiring a procurement or finance head
Roles that approve vendors and payments deserve a check for undeclared business interests.
Doubts about a serving executive
When questions arise about someone already in post, we review their record discreetly.
What we do
What we check
Carried out with the candidate’s consent wherever the law requires it.
Career and credentials
Education, qualifications and employment history verified at source, including the gaps and the roles left off the CV.
Directorships and business interests
Every company and firm the individual or close family is connected to, and any that could conflict with your business.
Litigation and regulatory record
Court cases, regulatory orders, director disqualification, tax disputes and adverse media.
Reputation
Discreet conversations with former colleagues, peers and industry sources, beyond the referees the candidate chose.
Conduct at past employers
How earlier roles ended, and whether there were unresolved concerns about money, vendors or people.
Lifestyle and means
Where appropriate and lawful, whether visible assets match a career’s worth of declared income.
How we work
How it works
- 01
Brief
You tell us the role, the concerns and the decision date.
- 02
Verification
Credentials, employment and records checked at source.
- 03
Enquiries
Discreet references and industry soundings beyond the ones offered.
- 04
Report
A clear profile that flags what was verified, what was not, and what needs a conversation with the candidate.
Why Spectra Forensics
Why boards hire us
Several of the frauds we have investigated were run by senior people whose backgrounds were never checked properly. We look for what those checks missed.
500+ due diligence and market intelligence assignments since 2007.
- 01Built for CXO and board roles, not volume screening
- 02References beyond the ones the candidate offers
- 03Findings that separate facts from opinion
- 04Absolute discretion for candidates and for you
Questions
Frequently asked questions
01How is this different from a standard employee background check?
Standard checks confirm identity, education and recent employment. Senior management due diligence goes further: directorships and business interests, litigation and regulatory history, reputation among peers, and how past roles really ended.
02Do you need the candidate’s consent?
Yes, where the law requires it, including under India’s data protection law. Most senior candidates expect a thorough check and consent readily.
03How long does it take?
Usually one to two weeks for an Indian career, longer where the candidate has worked abroad.
04Can you check a director we already have?
Yes. Boards ask us to review serving executives and directors when concerns arise, discreetly and without alerting the individual.
05Which roles do you cover?
CEOs, CFOs, COOs and other CXOs, group CEOs and CFOs, procurement and finance heads, business heads, and executive and independent directors.
Proof
Case files from this service
Real matters, anonymised. Client names, places and identifying details are withheld.
Client names and identifying details are withheld to protect confidentiality. Specific references and client experiences can be shared on request, with the client’s consent.
Talk to us first
Not sure what you need? Ask us.
Initial guidance is free and confidential. Tell us what has happened, and a senior member of our team will help you decide the right next step, even if that step is not an engagement.
Due Diligence
Other services in this practice
Confidential consultation
Discuss your matter with a senior expert.
Tell us what has happened. We will listen, advise on immediate next steps, and propose a scope, in strict confidence.