News & Insights

When I started working in executive search in 2001 the perception was that you had a little black book and operated in the shadows, having covert meetings with senior executives in clandestine locations. The reality was far removed from this. It involved working through the yellow pages to identify companies, piles of CVs and cover […]

Serving on a voluntary sector (charity) board can be a rewarding way to make a meaningful impact while developing valuable leadership skills. If you are considering Board service for the first time, understanding what is involved can help you decide where and how you can contribute most effectively. Start with your goals Before joining a […]

When preparing for a senior-level interview, most candidates expect questions about strategy, leadership style, and financial performance. Yet the most revealing questions are often the ones that don’t feel like questions at all. They probe culture, vision, and alignment: areas where high impact executives either shine or falter. Recognising and preparing for these “hidden” questions […]

For many senior leaders, 2025 has been a year to pause, assess, and recalibrate. The market remains active, but employers are hiring with sharper intent. This means that clarity, timing, and positioning matter more than ever when you decide to move. Here are 5 practical steps to strengthen your position and ensure your next move […]

The NI labour market remains resilient. Jobs and vacancies are at, or near, recent highs, with broad growth across manufacturing and services during 2025. At senior and Board level we are seeing steady demand for leadership that can deliver growth, cost discipline and, increasingly, digital transformation. However, organisations are more selective than a year ago […]

It is becoming clear that the future of work for many will include some form of hybrid working rather than 100% working from home. HR teams, who have had a busy year as it is, will have to review contracts and T&Cs to consider if pay needs reviewed. Managing a team where some are in […]

A business’s personality revolves around its company culture. All organisations have a company culture that reflects its values and priorities, whether you can define it and cultivate it, is a different matter altogether, but you do have one. Cultural fit is really how well your employees integrate with the overall culture. Questions you may want […]

The weekly lockdown ritual begins this evening of asking friends, ‘have you watched anything good?’, in the vain search for a boxset or movie recommendation to entertain you for a couple of hours over the weekend. Last week on my school friends WhatsApp group, a fairly innocent question, kickstarted a debate about the best sports […]

Over the years many prominent business owners and leaders have reflected that a characteristic of the ascent to their lofty heights is experiencing isolation or loneliness. Today’s executives often have support from Board members, or family members in privately owned businesses, from whom advice and counsel are found. Outside their organisation, they can access mentors […]

So far, we have covered strategy, leadership, stakeholder engagement in our first three instalments, and now we will consider; communication. A communication question is one of those competencies that is often assessed in a variety of different ways. It can be covered at the interview, absorbed into the presentation stage or marked separately at the end of […]