The SHREK firms, namely the top Search Consultants globally, are increasingly busy across most business sectors; in other words for this 1st quarter, getting back to normal. The feedback from the InterExec network is a clear signal of an uptick in the market where there is a significant demand for the right level of Senior Executives to meet the growing number of mandates.

Overall, the Financial / Professional Services market is considerably stronger. Roles in mainstream areas such as Payments have returned and Renewables, which had previously been quiet, has now positively picked up.

Search Consultants are demonstrating firm interest in operational candidates across the Financial / Professional services sector in a number of major geographic regions. There are senior roles in Business Transformation, Insurance, Insurtech and Consulting.

Candidates with experience around consumer focused Fintech products and money services are increasingly in high demand in developing markets as they transition rapidly towards a cashless society.

Search Consultant network comments:

“Market in general picking up across most sectors so far this year.”

“There is a lot of noise out there at the moment, we are getting there……”

“January was great – just need candidates now!”

“We’re crazy busy at the moment working with clients who are desperate for talent across the UK, Europe and US. Good candidates have plenty of opportunity and you need to be quick to secure them.”

To summarise the view from the global network:

January was busy for most and a really positive start to the year. Senior roles are emerging in most business sectors and the market is clearly strengthening now we are broadly moving on from Covid and restrictions are starting to fade out.

Geographically not only are the traditional markets stronger but despite the issues the HK market is busy as skilled Senior Executives have been attracted overseas and ME / African markets are also increasingly active.

Clearly in Asia there is the usual short term hangover in HK, Singapore and mainland China following Lunar New Year which is being exacerbated by a current Covid outbreak, meaning a lot of organisations are reverting to remote working and dealing with short to medium term strategic uncertainty which affects hiring decisions.

The InterExec global network of some 15,000 senior Search Consultants covers all of the major business sectors and geographic regions. Having been established for over 45 years, the network has been built to provide the most comprehensive base, enabling up to the minute assessment of the Senior Executive recruitment market and specific information on currently active mandates Search Consultants are dealing with.

If you are considering searching for your next challenge please do not hesitate to get in touch with the InterExec team.