Signium Continues Expansion
September 6, 2017 – Executive search firm Signium has expanded with the additions of partners Felipa Xara-Brasil and Joana Proença de Carvalho in Portugal and Alberto Chico in Spain.
Ms. Xara-Brasil was one of the founders of Heidrick & Struggles in Portugal, where she was responsible for starting the firm’s office in Angola, leading business development in Mozambique and managing the Lisbon office’s executive search and leadership consulting projects. She was also CFO in a technology, media and telecom and services group, and has been financial director of the Lisbon Oceanarium and the Multipurpose Pavilion. She previously worked as a controller at Danone International Brands and as senior associate at KPMG. Ms. Xara-Brasil speaks fluent English, French, Spanish and Portuguese.
Ms. Proença began her career at Accenture as a human capital consultant. Having joined Heidrick & Struggles in 2001, she was part of the team that developed and launched leadership services in Portugal and the SELA region (South Europe and Latin America). In 2006, she joined Brandia Central, a group of branding and communication companies, where she held executive positions responsible for human resources and support in Portugal, Angola and Brazil. From 2012 to 2015, Ms. Proença was partner at Fesa, an executive search firm in Brazil, where she launched consulting services and led projects in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Curitiba, Porto Alegre, Brasilia and Belém.
The addition of these two partners reinforces Signium’s position in the Portuguese market, where both will lead projects in executive search and leadership services, said the firm. Based in Lisbon, they will be responsible for developing business and leading projects in their respective practices.
Mr. Chico will be responsible for Spain’s leadership advisory services practice. He will be based in Signium’s Madrid office and is expected to strengthen the positioning of the firm in leadership services. With more than 13 years’ experience in multinational companies, he has held managerial roles in human resources, selection and search, and executive talent projects. Before joining Signium, Mr. Chico worked as a partner of leadership and human resources practices in Spain at Odgers Berndtson. Before that, he held several management positions at Banco Santander, first as global head talent acquisition, then human resources senior manager for top executive, and later was appointed human resources director of global corporate banking, with international responsibility in EMEA, LATAM, USA and APAC. Before that, he worked for three years as manager at Michael Page.
Global Growth
Signium has 45 offices in 27 countries serving clients in the Americas, Europe/ Middle East/ Africa and the Asia-Pacific regions. The firm delivers talent acquisition and management solutions for global companies across industry sectors, including consumer goods, financial services, technology, industrial, life sciences and professional services.
Signium has been expanding in other regions around the globe as well. Here’s a look at the firm’s most recent movement from the Hunt Scanlon Media archives:
In July, Signium U.K. named Andrew Dawson as director of its industrial practice, Paul Surridge as global head of leadership consulting, and Dominique Graham as global head of legal and professional services. Mr. Dawson was previously a key member of Hoggett Bowers’ senior leadership team and a former head of its industrial practice.
In June, Signium U.K. named Paul Surridge as global head of leadership consulting and Dominique Graham global head of legal and professional services. Mr. Surridge is an experienced management consultant, specializing in talent and transformation. He has worked with a wide range of FTSE 100/ 250 and Fortune 500 organizations in many industries.
At the beginning of the year, the firm added Johannesburg, South Africa-based Talent Africa, which became part of Signium’s EMEA regional offering and membership. “Talent Africa’s membership will add a significant footprint in sub-Saharan Africa for Signium,” said Ignacio Bao, chairman of recruitment firm.
Signium also recently opened an office in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Led by Rubén Heinemann, Signium Argentina serves a number of industries, including industrial, financial, business & professional services, as well as oil & gas throughout Argentina. Mr. Heinemann has over 30 years of cumulative C-suite and executive recruiting experience in the Argentine market.
Lastly, Signium added Honoré Verbeet as a partner in Amsterdam. For over 20 years, he has completed hundreds of searches, both in the Netherlands and across Europe. At Signium, he focuses on the industrial & manufacturing, technology and professional services sectors. Mr. Verbeet has built a portfolio of clients for both local and international companies.
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor; and Will Schatz, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
