IMD International Continues U.K. Expansion
October 25, 2016 – IMD International Search Group has added London-headquartered Caton Search as a member firm. Founded by Bob Caton in 2008, the executive search firm focuses on industrial and services companies in the infrastructure, manufacturing, energy and environmental sectors.
The firm consists of three partners who have an average of 16 to 17 years of experience in the executive search business, and each of them is directly in charge of delivering executive search and market mapping to clients.
Mr. Caton has 13 years of international experience of oil and gas contracting and transportation management together with 15 years of experience of executive search. He has worked for a number of high profile clients, including Siemens, Stagecoach and Eurostar as well as smaller startup organizations.
Gregor Tait has over 15 years in the executive search market and is currently a global talent acquisition director at Caton working with international clients across all sectors, helping them with their resourcing challenges.
Christian Rolke has 15 years of experience of research in the executive search industry and conducts international searches in a variety of different sectors, including automotive, aerospace, B2B, public transport, security equipment, consumer goods, contract manufacturing, media, energy, building services, the financial markets and the public sector.
Caton Search’s activities are complementary to those of IMD member firm Highfield Human Solutions, a consumer, marketing/communications and media specialist also based in the U.K. The search firm said the dual approach in the U.K. now gives the firm broader coverage.
“We are really delighted to have been asked to join a group like IMD,” said Mr. Caton. “We are looking forward to making a positive contribution to the global network through our U.K. operations and place an enormous amount of value on the collective expertise which IMD can bring to Caton Search.”
“After doing some research on the U.K. executive search market, we found out that due to the structure of the business in that country, the best solution for IMD’s expansion in the U.K. was to find boutique firms, each specialized in selected practices,” said Dr. Matthias Mohr, IMD president and managing partner of Dr. Heimeier & Partner in Germany. “With Highfield Human Solutions and Caton Search, we now have two members in London and are continuing our efforts.”
Membership Expansion
Just recently, IMD International added Palo Alto, CA-based Fortra Executive Search and London-headquartered Hill Coates Associates as member firms. Fortra Executive Search is a boutique firm specialized in the specific niche of the venture-funded and private equity technology market in San Francisco. Hill Coates, founded in 2008, specializes in leadership roles in private equity-backed companies. The firm was acquired by an international executive search group in 2011 from which the partners have recently withdrawn in order to start a new entity under their old brand.
IMD International also strengthened its presence in South America with the addition of Osser & Osser. Headquartered in São Paulo, Osser & Osser is led by Anna Luiza Osser and Patricia Osser Sales who founded the firm in 2002. It provides search services to medium and large-sized national and multinational companies, start-ups, family companies and non-profit organizations.
Earlier this year, the organization added Hungarian executive search firm Telkes Consulting as a member. Founded in 1991, Telkes Consulting is led by managing Director Zsolt Lukács and recruits for a variety of industries, including a special expertise in financial services, media or automotive sectors. “Having again an office in Hungary marks a symbol of the willingness of IMD to develop in Eastern Europe after years of difficult economic times in the region,” said Daniel Lewczuk, IMD director, EMEA region and CEO of Executive Network in Poland.”
“We are delighted to say that 2016 is by far the best year in IMD history for membership expansion, with no less than five new members, and the year is not over,” Dr. Mohr continued.
Contributed by Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor, Hunt Scanlon Media
