With just a few weeks into 2023 possibly some of those new year resolutions especially about food, fitness and time management may already be under pressure. However, if a key resolution concerns finding the next major career challenge, then understanding the state of the current Senior Executive market and confidentially getting that process underway may well be worth considering.

The Covid period, the war in Ukraine and the ups and downs of energy related costs along with all the other geo-political issues have clearly had a significant effect on corporations globally. Nevertheless against that backdrop the market for outstanding management talent is beginning the new year with a growing level of activity and whilst volatile in some business sectors, real opportunities to find your next major role are emerging.

Current situation update:
Geographically, the Middle East remains notably buoyant in terms of investment cross-sector. Although the world at large is well aware of the infrastructural investments and projects developing in Saudi Arabia, both state-backed and private organisations elsewhere in the GCC are also once again investing more in diversified projects such as alternative fuels and renewable energy as well as infrastructure projects and the acquisition of foreign assets globally.

In the APAC region, now that Lunar New Year celebrations and public holidays are concluded, it is expected that market activity cross sector will increase notably; although the lingering effects of Covid and associated restrictions are still more in the zeitgeist across Asia than they are in Europe or North America, market activity is expected to improve similarly to the uptick we have seen in the western hemisphere since the start of 2023.
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Globally, demand for candidates within the FMCG and food retail space remains strong; several sources have reported that many legacy organisations within these spaces are overdue for large scale transformation projects be they digital, financial or otherwise. Candidates with a track record of leading transformation projects are therefore increasingly in demand.

On the Financial and Professional Services markets the picture is currently unclear with Search Consultant opinions differing by sector and geographic regions. However there remains some positive areas where current mandates exist in a number of specific areas and there is clearly current opportunities in the UK, US, Switzerland as well as the Middle East and Africa.

Specific areas of interest:

Financial Services
PE – substantial opportunities at PE Fund and Investee Company level.
Risk , Compliance, Regulation (areas of possible future growth Crypto regulation-regulation of Shadow Banks )
ESG Renewables Sustainability
CFO/FD/Financial Controller Positions
Data : Enterprise Architects/Data and Analytics Specialists
M&A/Corporate Development sector specifically Healthcare
NEDs – Sustainability/Renewables/Private Equity/Technology/ Banking
FinTech/Digitalisation
Senior specialists namely : Tax – Actuarial – Treasury – Pensions
Investment Banking
Asset Management

Professional Services
Consulting particularly in FS/Energy/Data Sustainability/Digitalisation
Business Change and Transformation
Education/PE backed professional services firms
Legal

Finding the right Search Consultant, with the most appropriate job opportunity to match your objectives in this unadvertised and often politically complex marketplace is one of the key InterExec skills. Additionally focussing and preparing you and planning the entire process by which you identify and find that new challenge is InterExec’s core skill.

In planning for your next career challenge in 2023, getting that process underway early will take advantage of appointments Search Consultants continue to have mandates for. Please, do not hesitate to get in touch with the InterExec team at any time up to 6 months prior to when you hope to move.