Broadly speaking, market activity seems to be increasing in line with expectations from a few weeks ago. The market and the perspective from Search Consultants and end Employers appears to be a renewed confidence and stability macro-economically which has led to more positive, longer term decision making in relation to senior appointments with the remit of driving growth and transformation.

Search Consultants across the global InterExec network have reported that they expect market activity to remain at a relatively high level between now and the start of the summer period in mid-July.

Post Ramadan, activity in the Middle East is following a similar but even more positive trajectory; the clement market conditions the region was seeing in the last few months before Ramadan are continuing at a pace.

Interestingly, along with the state-funded, family office backed or larger scale organisations which typically make up a big part of the market in the GCC, there is also an increased demand for candidates with experience relevant to start-ups and other smaller organisations looking to drive high growth.

Quotes from Search Consultants further indicates the positive trend:

“The market is still very much in demand of candidates in the consumer sector in the Middle East region especially with the new Airline being introduced”.

“The market is good at the moment – very buoyant at the Senior Executive end of the market (Procurement & Supply Chain in Professional Services, Retail & Consumer, Banking & Financial Services, Property & Construction)”.

“The market hasn’t slowed at all since the start of the year, specifically within Engineering and Industrial related clients. There is particular demand across the Global Energy market and a real need for some outstanding candidates”.

In the global Financial and Professional services market the spread of opportunities for senior Executives is comprehensive but principal areas of focus are as set out below.

Financial Services
Risk in established areas (Credit Risk) and new areas (Climate Risk).
Compliance.
Technology in Banks, Hedge Funds, Fintech (start-ups through developing to established businesses).
Digitalisation.
Data in several manifestations including Data Architecture, Data Analytics, Data Management.
Debt Recovery and Business Restructuring.
ESG/Energy/Renewables as applied to financial services.
Real Estate investment.
M&A.
Wealth Management.
Specialists in areas such as Pensions, Fixed Income and Quantitative Analysis.
Asset Management / Investment Management.

Professional Services
Business Change and Transformation.
Consulting across several areas including Data, Strategy, Digitalisation, Real Estate. ESG and Energy.
Lawyers with specialist experience in areas such as Commodities. Derivatives, Debt Recovery and Tax.
Education.
Transaction Services within Advisory Firms.

Geographically roles in Financial and Professional Services have principally originated from the UK, Africa, Middle East and Europe.

Results from the Banking Sector UK and US have exceeded expectations and a banking crisis has not happened. This demonstrates the benefit of strong regulation in the UK and Europe, whilst the particular issues at Credit Suisse have been /are being managed and the potential for problems with regional banks in the US have been recognised and are being dealt with.

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 currently 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.