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Marketing Recruitment

How to Hire a Head of Marketing in the UK (2026)

Hands-on marketing leadership for growing businesses. How to hire a Head of Marketing.
By Mark Wilkinson, Managing Director of Coburg Banks
Mark has over 30 years in recruitment, placing marketing professionals from executive to Marketing Director across the UK.
Mark's Linkedin Profile

A Head of Marketing leads the function day to day - strategy close enough to still get hands-on. In a growing business it's a pivotal role, and the balance between doing and leading is the thing to get right.

⚡ In short

A UK Head of Marketing typically earns £60k-£90k plus bonus. Expect a placement in 6-10 weeks. Coburg Banks recruits them with no fee until your hire starts.

£60k-£90k

Typical base salary

6-10 weeks

Time to hire

48 hrs

To first shortlist

12 wks

Replacement guarantee

What to look for in a Head of Marketing

1

Hands-on and strategic

Ask for examples of both setting direction and running campaigns themselves.

2

Full-funnel breadth

They cover brand and demand. Match their breadth to what you need led.

3

Commercial results

Look for someone who talks in pipeline and growth, not just activity.

How to run the hire

1. Define hands-on versus strategic
Decide how much the role does versus leads, and brief to it.

2. Score for breadth and results
Weight the channels you need plus commercial impact.

3. Source and approach
Approach people rather than relying on an advert.

4. Use a real challenge
Ask how they'd grow a specific part of your funnel in 90 days.

5. Reference impact
Confirm they drove results and led a team.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to hire a Head of Marketing?

Fees typically run 18-23% of first-year salary, capped and agreed upfront.

You pay nothing until your hire starts.

How long does it take to hire a Head of Marketing?

Usually 6-10 weeks, with a shortlist in the first fortnight.

Notice periods and how specific your channel needs are shape the timeline.

What does a Head of Marketing do?

A Head of Marketing leads the marketing function - strategy, campaigns, brand, demand and the team - usually more hands-on than a Director and often reporting into one.

They turn plans into activity that drives the business.

Do I need a Head of Marketing or a Marketing Manager?

A Head of Marketing owns strategy and a team; a Marketing Manager runs delivery within it.

In smaller businesses one person does both. We scope the level with you.

What should I ask a Head of Marketing at interview?

Try: How would you grow our pipeline in 90 days?
Tell me about a campaign that delivered and one that flopped.
Which channels are you strongest in? and How do you develop your team?

Do you recruit Heads of Marketing for SMEs?

Yes - SME and mid-market marketing leadership is a core focus.

We look for people who thrive as a hands-on leader without a big team beneath them, which is a different job to a large-corporate role.

External citations

Ready to hire your next Head of Marketing?

Tell us about your role and a specialist marketing recruiter will call you. No fee until your hire starts.