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. 👇
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. 👇
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:
Take your time to explore these sections, as the email address you’re looking for may be hiding in plain sight.
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.
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:
Here is some inspiration:
Many companies follow a standard email format for their employees.
This typically includes variations of
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.
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:
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.
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:
This will help you stay updated on any mentions of C-Level Executives within your target organization.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Start with multiple verification steps:
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.
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. ⤵️