The Global Scene

Roddy Gow of Russell Reynolds was asked to comment on the global aspects of headhunting and suggested that search firms are perhaps most significantly differentiated by the extent of their international network. The largest of these have extensive coverage, and most international firms have offices in at least the three major financial centres of London, New York and Tokyo. Since the majority of high-level recruiting projects call — by definition — for the headhunter to find the best candidate possible, such searches are more international than domestic, more global than regional. It is the effective use of this international or global network which should be seen as a source of strength and added value by potential clients, and is frequently cited as a reason for choosing one firm in comparison with another. To be effective, however, such a network requires the existence of broadly accepted standards and procedures within a firm combined with the placing of a very high premium on the provision of assistance by one office or individual to another when requested; arguably, it also needs a method of measuring such contributions. In simple terms, the recruiter in Singapore must be prepared to work closely with, and support, colleagues in Sydney or San Francisco if asked to do so, and this global capability both in research and execution must subsequently be offered as a complete service to the client.