Overview
Alexander Adams has been recruiting exclusively for the Executive Search market for over eight years. The business was set up to meet the demands of executive recruitment firms who require highly specialized and experienced individuals to win and deliver assignments for some of the world’s leading businesses.
As well as the core search business of sourcing and placing fee generating search consultants and Partners, we also place Managing Directors and CEOs for larger recruitment groups operating from multiple offices and covering diverse service lines including Interim and project based work.
Based in the UK, Alexander Adams has a strong track record in delivering international assignments throughout Europe, Asia and the US.
Who We Are
The business is run by Rob Gray, who has over twelve years experience in managing search assignments, initially for a boutique focused on the Technology and Professional Services sector before focusing for the past eight years on the Executive Search market.
Before entering the executive recruitment industry Rob was the founder and main shareholder in Greece AD, a travel portal promoting and marketing Greek Island vacations to the US travel market. Prior to this he spent many years in the Advertising industry in various business development and management positions.
A graduate of the University of London and Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, Rob's early career was spent as a professional actor appearing in film and theatre work throughout the UK and Europe.
What We Do
Rather than providing a purely candidate-led service,
Alexander Adams focuses on proactively sourcing and approaching individuals who match the specific requirements of Clients operating at the Search level or Managers and Directors for executive level recruitment groups.
The majority of assignments have been focused on placing Senior Consultants, Partners, Heads of Practice, Directors, Managing Directors and CEOs.
Having recruited exclusively within this space, Alexander Adams has gained extensive knowledge of the sector and is uniquely positioned to source talent throughout the UK, Europe, US, Middle East and Asia Pacific.
All Client work is fully retained, with relationships dating back over many years, including multiple hires for specific clients.
The core business is focused on a research led approach to sourcing, approaching and attracting experienced and highly credible individuals within the Executive Recruitment sector.
Assignments
Examples of recent searches include:
- Group CEO for a Private Equity backed, diversified, international recruitment group
- Global Managing Director and equity partner for a privately held search firm
- Global Managing Director for a niche financial services consultancy
- Equity Partner based in Singapore for a Global TMT boutique
- Director for a listed global Search Group
- Joint venture partner in China for a global automotive boutique
- Managing Director for a listed global recruitment group
- Head of Technology Practice for a major international search brand
Although based in the UK
Alexander Adams undertakes a considerable amount of international assignments. Searches have been executed throughout Europe, Asia the US and Middle East.
Alexander Adams has undertaken assignments and placed individuals with the following firms:
- Alexander Mann Solutions
- Alexander Hughes
- Calibre One
- Clive & Stokes International
- Curzon Partnership
- Courland Automotive Practice
- Cripps Sears & Partners
- Harvey Nash
- Korn Ferry
- Langley Search
- Dryden Human Capital
- Ejs Search
- Hanover Fox International
- Heidrick & Struggles
- Odgers
- Redgrave Partners
- RSA Group
- Whitney Group
Methodology
Each assignment offers a unique set of requirements and challenges. However the fundamental process remains the same:
- Initial meeting with the Client to fully understand the business, its current situation, aspirations, history, key people, core markets and reasons for the hire
- Formulation of a detailed Assignment Brief: sign off
- Desk research to draw up a long-list of target companies and appropriate individuals therein: sign off
- Approach calls and source calls
- Weekly contact list submitted to Client detailing current status of all candidates and pipeline
- Initial interviews
- Written reports and profiles presented to Client
- Shortlist agreed.
- Final interviews.
- Offer and package negotiations.
Whilst this methodology does not differ radically from any basic search approach, it is relatively rare in the Search to Search market. When approaching experienced Recruiters, Directors and Partners it is important to have a clear understanding of the Client’s proposition, and why this might be of interest to a busy and successful individual: helping Clients to articulate this proposition through the formulation of a compelling Assignment Brief is crucial for a successful outcome.
If the initial approaches are badly targeted, ill thought through or clumsy, there is little chance of attracting the right calibre of individual. Having a clear understanding of the executive recruitment market, how it operates and who might be interested in specific roles has allowed Alexander Adams to deliver extremely strong short-lists and placements within tight timeframes.
Fee Structure And Costs
We are happy to work with Clients to ensure the most appropriate fee structure is in place for each assignment. This will typically reflect a “shared risk” scenario in which there is little chance of Clients paying up to two thirds of a fee without seeing tangible results.
A flat fee structure is often used as it frees us from promoting one candidate above another, based on their remuneration, and it fixes fees at the outset so both parties know what they are in for with no surprises along the way.
- for a straightforward Search, fees are charged at 30% of guaranteed remuneration
- for a flat fee, the amount will be agreed with the Client prior to beginning the assignment
- a 'rolling' monthly retainer can be agreed where there are multiple hires - this is usually around £5K per month, which is then deducted from the placement fee
- for team moves a fee will be agreed in advance
Alexander Adams does not operate a fee structure that is set in stone; we remain flexible in our approach to structuring fees and are keen to partner with Clients for the long term rather than exploit short term opportunities.
