Lightwheel Search is a boutique executive search practice for hard-to-find, mission-critical, timing-critical, and confidential leadership hires.
We take on the openings where the cost of a miss is high and the candidate universe is small. Internal recruiters stay focused on volume. Lightwheel carries the searches that need one senior person on them from start to finish.
Leadership gaps where weeks matter more than months.
Passive candidates, niche operators, specialized functions.
Hires that determine whether the plan executes.
Discreet replacements and off-market outreach.
Lightwheel leads searches for fiber and digital infrastructure operators, the contractors who build for them, the OEMs who supply them, and the investors who back them.
FTTH and regional ISPs scaling builds, operations, and go-to-market teams.
The engineering and construction firms turning capital plans into networks.
Equipment and software suppliers who need leaders fluent in the industry.
PE firms and platforms backing the build - portfolio leadership and operating talent.
Network, talent mapping, deep search, and referrals combine into a Research Report with 50–100 benchmarked candidates. That map shapes the outreach plan.
Top candidates approached with tailored materials. Structured evaluations on leadership competencies, strategic thinking, and cultural alignment - every vetted candidate shared with a detailed report.
Interview scheduling, reference checks, offer negotiation, and onboarding handled end-to-end. Post-hire support through the first 90 days.
Every engagement ships with a private workspace that shows exactly where the search stands. Built for how boards and hiring committees review.
Candidates, stages, and next steps in one view - updated as we work.
Structured write-ups on each vetted candidate, attached to the profile.
Your team comments and feedback stay on the record, beside the candidate.
Every view and report prints clean for offline review or board packets.
Role-based permissions; DE&I reporting available on request.
24/7 cloud access from any device.
| A Large Retained Firm | Lightwheel | |
|---|---|---|
| Who runs your search | A rotating associate with a shared template | Taylor Smith, direct - start to finish |
| Candidate pool | ~250 on a list, most already known to you | 50–100 mapped against your specific mandate |
| Pace of search | 120–150 days, multiple handoffs | Timeline built around your needs, single point of contact |
| Shortlist you see | Screened against a firm-wide rubric | Benchmarked to your business and team |
| Conflicts | Off-limits list covers half the market | Boutique footprint - the market is open |
| Communication | Weekly status email | Live platform, 24/7, with your team in it |
Taylor ran an efficient, structured search that led to several qualified and experienced candidates - ending in a great hire that met our needs and beyond. Effective, frequent communications, supplemented by a great search platform that was easy to use and insightful.
Taylor was fantastic to work with during my job search. On time for every call, regularly followed up, and always did what he said he would. He even called months after I accepted the position to make sure things were going well.
Taylor is an excellent recruiter, helping me staff hard-to-fill positions in the telecom world. Responsive, always willing to help, and stays on top of an ever-changing industry. The first person I reach out to when I need additional hands.
Original research, market notes, and hiring guides on fiber and telecom leadership.
61% of fiber CEOs come up through general management. 1 in 5 founded the company they run. The real routes to five C-suite seats at 50 U.S. broadband operators.
When a chief title is missing, accountability often sits with an EVP, SVP or VP. The mandate matters more than the label.
Taylor Smith · Founder & Principal
Taylor Smith is the founder and principal of Lightwheel Search, an executive search firm serving the companies building fiber and network infrastructure. Over more than twelve years in telecom recruiting, he has placed leaders across FTTH platforms, long-haul builders, ISPs, OEMs, national engineering firms, and the private equity firms and family offices that back them, with work spanning the US and LATAM.
Every build plan and investment thesis ultimately comes down to a small number of leaders who have done it before. Lightwheel exists for that layer: Director, VP, and C-level searches built on honest role scoping, full-market research, and disciplined assessment.
From a CFO to a VP of OSP to a Director of Network Engineering, every seat is filled by someone who will thrive and move the company forward.