Datacenter People Launches Executive Search Division
May 21, 2018 – U.K.-headquartered recruiting organization Datacenter People has formed a new executive search subsidiary, Portman Partners, to focus on C-level leadership and senior executive roles within the datacenter industry worldwide.
“This is a new chapter in the growth of the firm” said Peter Hannaford, founder of Datacenter People. “We’re well established and have built a loyal following from our clients with whom we enjoy repeat and regular business. Our work has brought us into contact with many of the leaders in our industry who now form part of our extensive global network.”
Finding the ideal candidate to fill a vacancy on an executive board, in a senior team or for a specialist position requires the services of a consultancy with an intimate inside knowledge of the datacenter industry and the digital economy that it supports, Mr. Hannaford says. “Recruiting for C-level executive and leadership positions requires a different approach to traditional recruiting.”
“Discrete and confidential discussions on both sides,” he said. “And while clients may decide to look outside the industry to bring in new ideas, our intimate knowledge of the datacenter and associated landscapes can ensure that the right senior executive with appropriate skills qualities can be rapidly found to effectively manage the tasks in hand.”
Mr. Hannaford, remain chairman of Datacenter People and will continue to work with clients with whom I have a personal relationship, will move over to Portman to focus on leadership positions. He hands over the managerial reins of Datacenter People to Steve Brown, who joined the company in 2012. Mr. Brown has over 35 years’ experience in technology and telecoms executive search and recruitment.
“Our clients have told us that traditional executive search firms just don’t understand the special nature of our sector” said Mr. Hannaford. “So we’re hoping that this new focus will continue to deliver the same level of personal service at board level, be it permanent hires or the provision of consulting, advisory, non-executive directors or simply the provision of interim executives – very experienced and highly qualified senior executives for full-time assignments for fixed terms, typically between six and twelve months, and at short notice, to provide cover during mergers and acquisitions, business transformations or crisis management.”
Datacenter People was formed in 2010 as a talent acquisition firm to focus on the data center industry worldwide. The company works clients in the internet and cloud infrastructure sector, from hyperscale operators to regional colos, designers, builders and plant & equipment manufacturers around the world, providing talent with skills ranging from executive management, sales, engineering, software and operations.
Offering Search Solutions
Over the past year, a number of other organizations have expanded into executive search as the top-end talent sector heats up globally. Here’s a sampling from the Hunt Scanlon Media Archives:
Partners in Human Resources International (Partners International), a New York City-based provider of career transition services, executive coaching and talent consulting, has formed an executive search practice. Peter Movesian has joined the firm as senior vice president of executive search and will lead the new division.
The Medicus Firm, which specializes in permanent placement of physicians has created a physician executive recruiting division. The firm has conducted physician executive level searches for several years on a smaller scale, which was largely driven by established clients within the firm’s private practice sector.
AMM Communications, a St. Louis-based public relations, communications skills training and marketing firm, launched an executive search division to help clients identify talent for management positions in sales, business development, marketing, finance, accounting and operations. Ed Mayuga will manage the new division while overseeing the talent acquisition process.
U.K.-headquartered recruiting company TeamJobs appointed search veteran Sally Bennett to head its new executive search division. Ms. Bennett, a former executive recruitment director with 13 years of industry experience, will spearhead the firm’s advance into executive recruitment, sourcing candidates from senior manager to board level.
Irvine, CA-based professional services firm GPG Advisers appointed Bernie Ocampo as a managing director and leader of its newly-established executive search platform. Mr. Ocampo has nearly 30 years’ experience in the real estate and alternative investment industries. He previously served as principal of ELEOS Group, a boutique executive search and consulting firm.
U.K. recruitment solutions provider Acorn strengthened its executive search division with the additions of Laura Nicholas, Gareth Edwards and Jan Hughes. Since its launch in 2015, Acorn’s executive search division has worked on over 40 vacancies for CEOs, finance leaders, sales & marketing directors and executive & non-executive board members.
i4cp, a network of HR and business professionals, added Kate Jackson as vice president of talent acquisition within its new executive search division. Ms. Jackson is a seasoned assessment and recruiting professional who has a deep understanding of the nuances of organizational culture.
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor; and Andrew W. Mitchell, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media