Executive Recruiting Growth Continues Uptick

May 15, 2011 – Following a major comeback for headhunters in 2010, first quarter data for 2011 showed a continued path toward growth. According to data released by the Association of Executive Search Consultants (AESC) first quarter data revealed a seven percent rise in the number of new executive searches started worldwide from the fourth quarter of 2010. Senior executive hiring within the consumer goods and technology industries saw the greatest quarter-on-quarter strength, with the life sciences/healthcare and industrial sectors following closely behind. In Q1 2011 executive search activity in the financial services sector fell against its quarterly and yearly levels. The regional picture highlighted increased executive search activity in Europe, particularly in Germany (+34 percent), the U.K. (+14 percent), and France (+nine percent) — rising from Q4 2010 to Q1 2011 – and also increasing year-on-year.