Savannah Group Launched by Former Boyden U.K. Team
June 7, 2017 – The U.K. office of global search firm Boyden has launched a new executive search and interim management business called Savannah Group. The firm said that companies increasingly want to support and enhance their in-house capabilities by aligning them with specific parts of the search process.
“In the last 12 months, we have spent a lot of time talking with our clients and finding out what they are looking for in a modern executive search firm,” said John Ellis, managing partner of Savannah. “With advances in technology and a move by some organizations to bring elements of their executive resourcing in-house, there is a desire for change. Clients are particularly asking for a more tailored service to each requirement rather than the normal ‘one size fits all’ approach.”
“Clients also recognize that the workplace is changing and while in the past all executives were typically permanent employees, there is now recognition that some senior change or program roles can be better suited to more temporary / interim executives,” said Mr. Ellis. “The other main piece of feedback we received concerned the increasing depth of knowledge and specialization that clients now seek in their executive recruitment partner. They value deep industry and / or functional expertise and want the same partner to support them with their needs wherever they have a requirement.”
The New Firm
Savannah’s team of 50 includes 20 partners that are specialists in their fields, including board and corporate functions, financial services, hospitality travel & leisure, industrial, digital and media, sport & entertainment industries. Corporate functions filled by the firm include: finance, human resources, IT / digital and sales & marketing.
“We’re offering a bespoke service, not trying to force a one size fits all solution on businesses that increasingly value a more modern, flexible way of working,” Mr. Ellis said. “Independent and more agile, Savannah believes it is well placed to deliver the tailored experience organizations are seeking, without clients having to compromise on quality or global reach.”
“Digitization is forcing businesses in all industries and sectors to re-think their products and services and prioritize the customer experience,” he said. “The executive search and interim industry has the opportunity to harness the power and potential of this to deliver an exceptional end-to-end experience.”
Recruiter Rankings: London Top 60
London’s need for talent has transformed it into the second largest executive search market in the world after New York. Hunt Scanlon has selected the most prominent leadership solutions providers in this dynamic marketplace, settling on 60 of the most influential and innovative.
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Boyden U.K. Additions
As Boyden rebuilds its presence in London, the firm recently added Alastair Da Costa, Nick Robeson and Lisa Farmer there. The firm said that through its new team of executive search and interim management partners it will continue to serve its clients in the U.K. New additions are expected in coming months.
Mr. Da Costa joins Boyden as advisory chairman, bringing more than 20 years of experience developing teams in various sectors across the U.K., Asia-Pacific and Middle East. He is an executive director of Nicholson McBride, a European business psychology and leadership consultancy. Earlier, he was a partner and global board member at law firm DLA Piper as well as CEO of Prince’s Trust International. He also served as an advisory chairman to Warren Partners.
Mr. Robeson returns to Boyden as a managing partner having previously served with the firm from 2000 to 2008. He led a management buyout, and the company re-branded as Alium Partners. Most recently, he served as CEO and founder of Hemming Robeson. He was also chairman of the Interim Management Association and a member of the executive committee. The Hemming Robeson client portfolio will be folded into Boyden.
Ms. Farmer, who becomes a managing partner in the U.K., has established a record of providing clients with senior level interim managers and interim executives across all sectors. Most recently, she was a partner of Hemming Robeson, which she co-founded, responsible for the head of function and board practices. Previously, she served as a director of Alium Partners.
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor; and Chase Barbe, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
