The InterExec network of Search Consultants report that the market, in terms of Senior Executive mandates and the related hunt for outstanding candidates remains very active in several key business sectors and across the major geographic regions.

The situation is best summarised by the comments of one highly experienced Search Consultant, “ Sometimes it does quieten down in July and August, but that’s definitely not the case this year”.

Another summed up the situation in the simplest of terms, “yes very busy!”.

In the Financial and Professional Services market there is significant growth. The market for business change and digitalisation remains strong both in consulting and delivery.

As may be expected there is activity in the Energy sector. Senior Executive roles in Government and Charity Sectors are coming on stream.

Capital Markets Activity particularly the distressed debt market is currently active in a number of geographic regions and in Investment Banking structured finance experience is an increasingly important sector.

In Commercial Banking the implementation of business change within financial institutions offers significant opportunities. Equally Senior Executives with proven skills in risk, compliance and regulation are in strong demand.

Specifically In the UK the July BoE Financial Stability Report: ‘Judges that UK Banks have capacity to weather the impact of severe economic outcomes’. “The outlook is therefore cautious optimism on sustainability of business models”.

In other business sectors the IT services and consultancy spaces are seeing a significant increase in discussion of opportunities at the C-Suite level across Europe.

Food, Manufacturing and Agriculture sectors are all currently active.

Investment remains high from the GCC and wider Middle East thanks to consistently high oil prices. Their desire to move away from dependency on hydrocarbons leads to increased investment both domestically and internationally in other sectors.

For example, Family Offices from the Middle East are looking to add international talent as they diversify their portfolios both geographically and in terms of sector.
It is clear from the network that a lot of mandates are coming into Search Consultants, especially in Europe, US and increasingly the Middle East. Senior Executive candidate generation remains a little harder, which is a key benefit for those who are currently considering their next challenge.

InterExec have spent over 45 years advising and working with Senior Executives across all business sectors and geographies in their search for the next key challenge. The InterExec network of Search Consultants is in excess of 15,000 and regular communication with that network provides InterExec with up to the minute market information as well as detailed knowledge of current mandates by sector and region.