Tag: Executive Search

Service offering covers specialist sectors including, industrials, financial services, energy, consumer, digital and technology, life sciences and private equity

Norman Broadbent Group, the UK’s oldest executive search firm, is expanding in Scotland with the opening of its first offices north of the border.

The launch of London headquartered Norman Broadbent Group in Scotland marks the arrival of a well-established executive search firm with ambitions to disrupt the market.

With offices in both Edinburgh and Aberdeen, the firm has established a six-strong team to launch the Scottish business, aiming to employ 20 staff across Scotland by the end of 2025.

Having partnered with significant brands across Scotland for decades, a physical presence in two key cities strengthens Norman Broadbent’s service offering across multiple verticals and specialist sectors including, industrials, financial services, energy, consumer, digital and technology, life sciences and private equity.

Led by experienced search leader Michael Diamond, the team is focusing on targeting the board, C-suite and leadership market of Scotland’s largest brands and businesses, utilising its UK footprint and international networks.

Based in Edinburgh, Michael is the Managing Director for Norman Broadbent’s operations in Scotland and leads the firm’s global practice focused on private capital and investors. With over 14 years’ experience in executive search, talent advisory and leadership consulting, Michael will advise and support the firm’s client base and focus on growing the Norman Broadbent team in Scotland across its industry and functional practices.

Norman Broadbent’s Chief Operating Officer, Aberdeen-based Sean Buchan, will be based out of the firm’s new office on Rubislaw Terrace within the heart of the city’s prestigious West End office district. Sean has 20 years’ experience in executive search and leadership advisory, with specific expertise in the global energy and infrastructure market.

Kevin Davidson, Norman Broadbent Group CEO, began his 25-year search and advisory career in Scotland before relocating to Houston, Texas and then back to London 15 years ago.

He said: “I am thrilled to have Norman Broadbent firmly established north of the border. Having started my career at Scottish Enterprise I am passionate about the economic contribution and prospects of Scotland on the international stage and incredibly excited to be playing our part in shaping leadership teams of the future across industries.”

Michael Diamond, Managing Director for Norman Broadbent Group in Scotland, commented: “With Norman Broadbent Group, we see a fantastic opportunity to disrupt the Scottish market in an impactful way and establish ourselves as the leading player within executive search and a valued strategic partner to investors, high-growth companies and major brands who have a base or are headquartered in Scotland.

“The year ahead will bring many challenges for Scotland’s businesses but also a number of opportunities for those who can lead their teams through economic volatility and uncertainty.  Combining our experience in executive search and leadership consulting with our domain knowledge and networks, we’re very well placed to help these businesses find the right leaders in a highly competitive talent market.”

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Stateside move to provide better service for US-based clients

Software and fintech executive search consultancy Oakstone International has opened an office in Chicago to provide better service for USA-based clients and candidates.

The US operation is led by Arran Campbell, Managing Consultant North America. Campbell has transferred from Oakstone’s Poole headquarters to the Illinois city. The move provides the consultancy with more US working hours and the ability to meet clients and candidates in person.

Campbell has been with Oakstone International for two years. Before Oakstone, he was an award-winning senior manager in the automotive industry for 20 years. He began his recruitment career after selling a vehicle to Paul Rayner, CEO of Oakstone.

Arran Campbell, Oakstone Managing Consultant North America, said: “There is a huge opportunity for Oakstone International here, with the amount of software companies which are looking for assistance and candidates who are seeking to change their lives.

“Oakstone having a greater presence in the USA and really cementing our global status as an international company is nothing but a good thing. It gives us visibility in the US, which is a huge market of clients and candidates.

“I’ve transitioned my workload to the US. I had started doing more and more US projects while I was in the UK – dealing with clients and candidates and doing searches – and found myself dealing almost exclusively with American roles.

“Being in the UK made this challenging – time differences meaning only six hours a day of communications was possible – so when the opportunity came up for my wife and I to move to the US we thought it was perfect timing.”

“One thing I have noticed here in the States, which I have tried to relay to my client managers, is the speed of hiring. People are now going through processes in two weeks. Gone are the days when you might have up to 10 interviews

“People are being hired for high-paid jobs on one or two Zoom interviews. Here, it is generally a two-week notice period, a bit more fluid than much of the rest of the world

Paul Rayner, Oakstone Chief Executive Officer, said: “Arran is an experienced operator whose skill sets make him ideal for this position. I had no hesitation in backing this opportunity

“From a business perspective the benefits for Oakstone having a representative in Chicago is that a lot of the long-term clients he is working with all have their head offices in the city.

“With Arran as a full-time representative we not only have a better chance to communicate with and meet clients and candidates, but we are also better placed to meet existing and future prospects in person.”

“The clients who are flexible in terms of salary and remote working are the ones who are succeeding in winning the talent. Software companies which are stuck in their ways are no longer getting the best people.

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