Signium Opens Office in Dubai
January 6, 2025 – Executive search consortium Signium has opened a new office in Dubai, UAE. This expansion strengthens Signium’s presence in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, complementing its existing Dubai leadership consulting office, led by managing partner Hisham El-Badawy since 2006. The new office is led by search veterans Jon Ashcroft and Mark Holdich, who have joined as managing partners. Together with Mr. El-Badawy, they will operate under the unified branding of Signium GCC, offering specialized services tailored to the region.
“The GCC economies demonstrated resilience during 2024, achieving steady growth despite global challenges,” Signium said. “While the oil sector remains vital, the region’s focus on economic diversification has driven significant contributions from non-oil sectors such as tourism, trade, finance, construction, and manufacturing. This transformation has opened doors for business leaders across various industries.”
As a recognized global crossroads for commerce, the GCC has shown resilience and economic growth in recent years, with Saudi Arabia and the UAE leading the growth. “Saudi Arabia is undergoing a transformative change, pioneering growth in non-oil sectors such as technology, renewable energy, financial services and tourism,” said Mr. Holdich. “Signium GCC is well-positioned to navigate these opportunities and deliver tailored solutions for C-suite level placements.”
Mr. Ashcroft emphasizes the UAE’s role as a world-leading economy: “The UAE is a hub of innovation and investment, attracting talent and businesses from across the globe,” he said. “As sectors like fintech, real estate, and manufacturing flourish in Dubai and surrounding areas, the demand for highly skilled leadership is on the rise.”
“This collaboration creates synergies between our deep local expertise and the global reach of Signium,” said Mr. El-Badawy. “By combining our networks and resources, we’re in a favorable position to deliver comprehensive talent solutions for the GCC market.”
Piotr Pilecki, Signium vice chair and managing partner in Poland, played a key role in overseeing the expansion. “Jon and Mark’s proven track record in executive search, coupled with Signium’s robust reputation of over 70 years in executive placement, makes this partnership a natural fit,” he said. “Their entrepreneurial vision aligns seamlessly with our mission to deliver exceptional client value.”
Mr. Holdich also notes that, although the socio-economic environment in the GCC has modernized rapidly, the business landscape is still distinctly relationship-driven. “There are particular nuances in this region and how people here like to do business,” he said. “It’s not highly transactional, and relationships need to be developed over a period of time before trust is truly earned. This works really well for us because it aligns with our preferred way of working.”
A Promising Future in Leadership in the GCC
The new office will concentrate on executive and board-level searches across industries while fostering collaborations with the leadership consulting division. “Our priority is to address the growing need for localization while also tapping into global talent,” said Mr. El-Badawy. “We aim to position Signium as a trusted partner for organizations navigating the complexities of growth and diversification.”
Related: Signium Expands in France
“We were actively seeking a new partner to join, one with shared values of trust, innovation and collaboration,” said Mr. Ashcroft. “What stood out was that Signium has a credible global brand with a rich history and a network of highly experienced executive search recruiters. With that kind of reach and trusted expertise, especially in sectors that we’re only just beginning to explore, we anticipate being able to expand broader service offerings in terms of leadership advisory. We’re excited to embark on this journey and contribute to the region’s remarkable growth.”
Mr. Holdich has nearly 20 years of recruitment experience across Asia, Australasia, and the last decade in the Middle East. His career began with Lloyds Bank London, where he worked for three years before joining Hays New Zealand in 2005. Leading the banking team, he was the top fee earner in the Auckland market for two consecutive years before moving to Hong Kong in 2007 to lead financial services and executive search. During this period, he completed assignments across various industries, including financial services, professional services, healthcare, industrial, agriculture, and energy. In 2014, Mr. Holdich relocated to Hays Middle East. Since then, he has led search campaigns for Sovereign wealth funds, private equity firms, family offices, multinational corporations, and corporates. He has overseen numerous C-level and board searches, filling senior-level positions for organizations such as the Public Investment Fund (PIF), ADQ, G42, SALIC, Dussur, Savola, and Olayan.
Mr. Ashcroft began his career in the U.K. before relocating to the Middle East in 2008. Prior to joining Signium, he led the executive search division across the MENA region for global recruitment firm Hays, where he built a team that achieved a ten-fold growth within 10 years. Mr. Ashcroft has track record of recruiting senior leadership positions and board appointments across various sectors in the Middle East, including consumer, industrial, energy, and construction. His clients range from multinational corporations and semi-government entities to sovereign wealth funds, family groups, and private equity firms. Mr. Ashcroft’s assignments have included regional and global searches, placing both Arab nationals and expatriates.
Signium has 38 offices in 30 countries serving clients in the Americas, EMEA, and Asia-Pacific regions. The firm delivers talent acquisition and management solutions for global companies across industry sectors, including consumer goods, financial services, technology, industrial, life sciences, and professional services.
Related: Signium Adds Former HR Executive in Dublin, Ireland
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
