How To Find Executive (CEO) Email Addresses [12 Ways]

Whether you're looking to pitch a groundbreaking solution, forge strategic partnerships, or recruit top-tier talent, having direct access to decision-makers like CEOs can make all the difference. 

This article lists 12 proven methods to get executive email addresses and gives you practical tips for effective outreach. Let’s dive in. 👇

1. Use a lead generation tool

Lead generation tools find executive emails without the manual grunt work. For example, Kaspr’s LinkedIn Chrome Extension helps users find verified CEO email addresses on LinkedIn. You can also access phone numbers, job titles and company information.

The most significant advantage of using a powerful tool like Kaspr is the accuracy of the data. We verify data against 120 sources to make sure it’s accurate.

You can sign up free (no credit card required), which includes access to a database of over 120 million European contacts. 👇

2. Check the company’s website

Finding the CEO’s email address on a company’s website can vary in difficulty. It depends on how much the company shares and how easy they make it to find such information.

Here’s a general approach you can follow:

• Look at the “Contact Us page”. Go to the company’s site where it says “Contact Us” or “About Us” (usually found in the header). Sometimes, you’ll find the CEO’s email and other contact details.
• Search for leadership bios. Companies often have a section about their leaders. Check here for bios or profiles of executives, like the CEO. They might include email addresses.

Take your time to explore these sections, as the email address you’re looking for may be hiding in plain sight. 

3. Search for it on LinkedIn

If you’re not using LinkedIn for professional networking, now’s the time to start. This social media platform is a goldmine for connecting with top-level executives.

To find contact info manually, you need a LinkedIn account. Go to your target CEO’s profile and click the contact info button. 

The downside of manually searching for a CEO’s email address is that it isn’t always available. If this is the case, you can contact them directly and politely ask for their email address.

Or, to make your life much easier, use Kaspr’s Chrome Extension. 

To find prospects on LinkedIn, search for their names and use the filter options to help narrow your search.  If you have trouble finding the executive you’d like to speak to, go to the Company Page and find the CEO under the “employees” section.

Once on the CEO’s profile, click the Kaspr Extension to see their name, email address, and phone number. You can also see company information like founding date and number of employees.

Then, use a credit to reveal their phone number and an export credit to save it to your CRM.

4. Try Google Search Operators

Try using Google Search Operators to create a Chief Executive email list. Google search operators are special commands that help refine your search results by telling Google exactly what to look for.

Experiment with different Boolean search techniques like AND, OR and NOT. This will help you combine phrases in a search engine to find hyper-specific results.

You can even use Google’s Boolean search to look for relevant prospects on LinkedIn. Just make sure you add “site:linkedin.com” at the beginning of that search. 

Here are some commands to try out:

• Quotation marks detail an exact phrase you want to search for.
• OR helps you find results that contain either search terms A or B.
• AND will help you find results containing both search terms A and B.
• NOT will surface results that contain the search term A but not B. 

Here is some inspiration:

• "firstname.lastname@company.com"
• site:company.com + "email" + "CEO"
• intext:email + "executive name" -linkedin
• filetype:pdf + "contact" + executive name
• site:company.com + "contact" + (gmail.com OR yahoo.com)

5. Guess email formats

Many companies follow a standard email format for their employees. 

This typically includes variations of 

1. firstname.lastname@company.com or; 
2. firstinitial.lastname@company.com. 

By familiarizing yourself with these common patterns, you can make educated guesses to figure out the CEO’s email address. This is definitely not foolproof, but it’s worth a shot and may lead you to the right inbox.

6. Give the company a call

Struggling to find the CEO’s email address online? Consider picking up the phone and making direct contact with the company. Speak to a gatekeeper or customer service representative. Keep in mind that you might face some blockers.

After all, the gatekeepers won’t be doing a good job if they just let you through.

So, here’s what you can do to increase your chances of success:

• Be polite and friendly when speaking to the gatekeeper.
• Clearly explain why you want to speak to the CEO.
• If they refuse to connect you, ask for an alternative way to reach the CEO, such as an email address or direct phone number.
• If they still don’t connect with you, ask if they can pass along a message or provide guidance on the best way to get in touch.
• Be persistent but respectful. If one way doesn’t work, try another without being pushy or aggressive.
  
  👉 Check out these tips on overcoming cold calling objections.

7. Subscribe to the company’s newsletter

Subscribing to a company’s newsletter can be a strategic way to access the CEO’s email address. 

Many CEOs (particularly at SMBs) engage with their company’s email communications. And may use their personal email address to send out updates. 

By signing up for these, you stay informed about company news and establish a direct line of communication with the CEO.

If the CEO has their own newsletter, you can craft a thoughtful reply, and they’ll be much more likely to see and respond to it. 

8. Check press releases and the news

Another effective way to find executive email addresses is by watching press releases and news updates related to the company. Often, when these sources mention executives, they might include their contact information. Many companies issue press releases for significant events. Such as product launches, partnerships, or executive appointments. 

You can find press releases on company websites, relevant industry news sites, journals, and magazines. You can subscribe to industry newsletters or set up Google Alerts for relevant keywords. 

💡 Here’s how to set up Google Alerts:

1. Go to the Google Alerts website (search “Google Alerts” in Google).
2. Type in the keyword or phrase you want to track. For example, type in ‘executive email addresses’.
3. Customize your alert by selecting the type of sources from which you want to receive alerts (news articles, blogs, web, etc.).
4. Choose how often you want to receive alerts.
5. Enter your email address where you want to receive the alerts.
6. Click on the “Create Alert” button, and you’re all set.

This will help you stay updated on any mentions of C-Level Executives within your target organization. 

9. Try email finder tools

When all else seems to hit a dead end in your quest to find a CEO email address, try email finder tools. These tools use algorithms and databases. They track down email addresses linked to people or companies.

They often have advanced search filters to refine your results. These filters may include criteria such as job title, company size, industry, or location, enabling you to target specific executives.

Some email finder tools offer built-in verification features to check whether the address is valid and active. 

This step can help you avoid the frustration of sending emails to non-existent or outdated addresses, saving you time and effort in the long run.

To select an email finder that suits your needs, consider factors like:

• Accuracy rate.
• User reviews.
• Pricing.
• Bulk searches.
• Integrations with other software.

10. Reach out through the website’s live chat

Many corporate websites offer live chat support as a convenient way for customers to get in touch. 

The main purpose of these chats is customer service. But you can also use them to ask for executive contact details.

Once connected with a live chat agent, explain that you are trying to reach a specific executive within the company. Provide the name and position of the executive you wish to contact.

The chat agent may provide you with instructions on how to proceed.

This could include submitting a request through an online form. Or providing you with a direct email or contact info for the executive. While success is not guaranteed, it’s worth a try.

11. Tap into the CEO’s network

Instead of cold outreach, leverage your existing network's connections on professional platforms, industry associations, and alumni groups. 

Start by mapping out second-degree connections to your target executive, then reach out to mutual contacts who might facilitate an introduction.

First, look at your connections. Do you know anyone who might have a connection to the CEO or executive you want to contact? Politely ask them if they can help you get the email address you need. 

Social media platforms like LinkedIn are great for finding executive email addresses. Search for people connected to you and the executive you’re interested in. Reach out to them and explain why you need the email address. Most people are willing to assist if you ask nicely and clearly.

Always be polite and professional when contacting people in the CEO’s network. This is where value-based selling comes into play. 

12. Think twice before buying email lists

Buying email lists can sound tempting. It promises access to a large number of CEO emails with a click of a button. But it comes with some risks you need to be aware of.

Buying email lists can often result in low-quality or outdated contacts, damaging your email sender’s reputation. 

And it will mark your messages as spam.

Plus, they may violate data protection such as GDPR or CAN-SPAM, exposing your company to legal risks and hefty fines. 

Instead of taking shortcuts, focus on finding executive email addresses using tools that offer compliant data, like Kaspr, Cognism or Lusha.

Why finding executive email addresses is essential

Benefits for B2B sales and networking

• Accelerate your sales cycle by bypassing gatekeepers and reducing the typical 6-8 touch points needed to reach decision-makers.
• Increase response rates through direct communication with executives who have the authority to make decisions.
• Build valuable long-term relationships that can lead to multiple opportunities and referrals within executive networks.
• Gain a competitive edge by reaching decision-makers before your competitors, especially in time-sensitive opportunities.
• Improve the quality of your sales conversations by engaging directly with those who understand strategic value.

Challenges in finding executive emails

• Executive contact information changes rapidly, with an average turnover rate of up to 20% annually due to job transitions and role changes.
• Privacy measures and sophisticated gatekeeping systems often mask direct contact information from public view.
• Compliance requirements like GDPR and CAN-SPAM create complex legal considerations for email outreach.
• Multiple email addresses and executive assistants can make it difficult to identify the most effective point of contact.
• Verification challenges arise from outdated databases and the need to confirm email validity before outreach.

Can I get a free list of CEO email addresses?

The best way to get a free list of CEO email addresses is to use a prospecting tool. Kaspr has an extensive database of senior executives built from public records and proprietary research. This makes it easy to find CEO emails for your mailing list.

What are the best tools for finding executive email addresses?

The most effective tools depend on your specific needs and budget. Kaspr excels for European contacts with its high accuracy rates and Chrome Extension. Hunter.io is great for email pattern verification and bulk searches. For enterprise needs, Cognism offer comprehensive solutions with advanced features. 

Is it legal to scrape email addresses?

Email scraping laws vary by region and context. While it's legal to collect publicly available email addresses, how you use them matters. Under GDPR (Europe) and CAN-SPAM (US), you need a lawful basis for processing data and must provide opt-out options. 

How do I ensure email accuracy for executives?

Start with multiple verification steps:

1. Use email verification tools to check deliverability
2. Cross-reference found emails with LinkedIn profiles
3. Test email format patterns with known company emails
4. Look for email confirmations in press releases or company news
5. Send a test email using email tracking tools to verify opens

Remember that even verified emails can become outdated quickly, especially for executives who change roles frequently. Regular database cleaning and verification are essential for maintaining accuracy.

Get executive email addresses now

With Kaspr, you’re just a click away from getting executive email addresses. So, why miss out?

Sign up for Kaspr to start reaching your decision-makers right now. ⤵️