Executive Search

A practitioner’s perspective on a recurring, and underexamined, pattern in senior talent mobility. The scenario is familiar to anyone who has spent time in executive search. A senior candidate has been unhappy in their current role for months, they said so, directly and without prompting. The offer on the table is, by every measurable standard,…

What is a “wrong hire”? A wrong hire occurs when a new employee is not a good fit for the position, the team or the company – or alternatively leaves the employer during the first 6 months of service. Often a wrong hire could be due to professional reasons, such as a lack of qualifications…

It is a simple question. In executive hiring, it is one of the few that actually determines whether a decision holds up over time. What is striking is how inconsistently we apply the principle regarding recommendations as a key tool for decisions. We take restaurant advice from strangers, read reviews written by people we will…

Senior executives who suddenly find themselves between roles often face a difficult transition. After decades of leadership experience, many assume that their track record alone will quickly open the next opportunity. However, the executive job market works very differently from traditional recruitment. In reality, the transition for senior leaders often requires a shift in strategy,…

We’re entering a new phase in the talent market, and I’m not sure enough people are paying attention to what’s happening. Candidates use AI to refine their CVs. Companies use AI to draft job descriptions. Hiring managers put together question sets with the help of AI and generate transcripts. On the surface, this might look…

Why AI is making executive selection harder to interpret – not easier For decades, executive search has relied on the assumption that signals such as CVs, career trajectories, interviews, references, and market reputation provide a sufficiently reliable basis for assessing candidates. While never perfect, these signals allowed organizations to differentiate between options and make structured…

You have found a strong candidate. The conversations went well. There is a clear fit in terms of experience, leadership style and culture. The candidate can make an immediate impact. And yet, in many executive search processes, the same reaction follows: “Let’s wait a little longer. Maybe there is someone even better ” It sounds…

Executive recruitment public sector challenges are intensifying across Canada as a wave of senior leadership retirements converges with growing competition from the private sector. Government agencies, Crown corporations, and parapublic institutions are facing mounting pressure to secure leaders who can operate within complex governance frameworks while delivering measurable impact. According to Government of Canada data,…

Organisations are facing a paradox: while hiring has become more cautious in the current economic climate, the structural shortage of skilled talent remains. In Germany, 36% of companies are still unable to fill open roles, while 83% expect negative consequences from talent shortages in the years ahead (DIHK). The competition for the right candidates has…