Griffith Group Expands to British Columbia
May 17, 2024 – Toronto-based executive recruitment firm Griffith Group Executive Search has expanded its presence with the opening of a new office in British Columbia. “This expansion marks a significant milestone in the firm’s growth and to its commitment to serving its clients with local expertise,” the search firm said. “The firm’s new office in British Columbia strategically positions the firm to expand on its offerings in the province.”
“We are thrilled to further establish our presence in British Columbia,” said Jane Griffith, managing partner and founder. “This expansion reflects our dedication to serving our Western Canadian clients with their evolving executive search needs, while fostering an expanded reach for the firm in British Columbia and Western Canada.”
“We look forward to deepening our relationships with clients and partners in British Columbia,” said Robin Noftall, principal at Griffith Group. “As a resident of British Columbia for over 16 years, both the firm and I are excited to collaborate, innovate, and contribute to placing highly qualified and diverse candidates in the province, thereby contributing to the prosperity of the region.”
British Columbia is the third largest Canadian province by population and fourth largest provincial economy. Like other provinces in the Canadian federation, it consists of both private and public institutions. However, as Canada’s westernmost province, located between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains, B.C. has unique economic characteristics that distinguish it from much of the rest of Canada. British Columbia has had the lowest unemployment rate in Canada since July 2017.
Founded by Ms. Griffith in 2021, Griffith Group is a retained executive search firm focused on senior-level recruitment for academic, not-for-profit, and broader public organizations across Canada. The firm is committed to supporting, championing, and advancing equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility. Griffith Group is 100 percent owned by Ms. Griffith, who identifies in two equity-seeking categories, and is a certified diverse supplier company, through WBE Canada. WBE Canada certifies Canadian B2B businesses that are at least 51 percent owned, managed, and controlled by women. Griffith Group is also a member of the Canadian Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and a signatory of the BlackNorth Initiative, and of the federal government’s 50-30 Challenge.
Related: Canadian Executive Search Market Shifts to Meet New Demands
Ms. Griffith, a veteran search leader, is a frequent speaker and guest lecturer on hiring practices, with a specific focus on diversity and inclusion initiatives. She has spoken at conferences across Canada and at the Rotman School of Business at the University of Toronto. Prior to founding Griffith Group, she was a partner and national diversity leader with three national and global search firms. She also founded Griffith Research, with clients in Australia, Dubai, Canada, and the U.S.
Canadian Search Landscape.
Ms. Griffith recently sat down with Hunt Scanlon Media to discuss the market condition in Canada. “The search landscape in Canada remains competitive,” she said. “The broader public sector is still active in hiring, while the private sector appears to be continuing to be somewhat cautious as it continues to experience layoffs and right sizing,” she said. “We are still seeing talent shortages across many roles and sectors. In our opinion, many folks still seem to be burnt out from the three years in which Canada had lock downs during covid. We are seeing that some folks are less interested in moving into senior leadership roles as a result. The increase in pay does not, for some, seem to outweigh the added hours and responsibilities of the roles.”
Ms. Griffith is bullish on the economic outlook for Canada explaining that after a slower than usual fall, she saw a dramatic increase in RFPs in November-December, which has continued into 2024.
“I think there are many areas of opportunity in Canada for both employers and employees,” Ms. Griffith said. “We are continuing to see change in the C-level, with a significant movement in financial roles. Organizations are seeking leaders who bring the required skills and experiences, but that are also strong and empathic people leaders, who can build and support customer service -whether that be to internal, or external customers.”
Related: Griffith Group Assists Habitat for Humanity Canada with CEO Search
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor; Lily Fauver, Senior Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
