Talentor International Adds Two Managing Directors for Austrian Partner

March 25, 2019 – Executive search consortium Talentor International has added two new managing directors, Barbara Ulman and Thomas Zembacher, to expand Talentor Austria.

“In Barbara Ulman, we found someone with excellent know-how in executive search,” said Michael Sarsteiner, CEO of Talentor International. “Thomas Zembacher’s healthcare and business expertise complement that perfectly.”

Ms. Ulman was most recently managing director of a recruitment consulting agency active in 28 European countries and the Middle East. She has 15 years of experience in executive search, both domestic and abroad. Her education includes studies in psychology in Vienna and San Francisco as well as training as a systematic coach in personnel management. Ms. Ulman deploys her deep understanding of her clients’ needs during hearings and potential analyses for leadership positions, said the firm.

Deep Experience

As managing director, Ms. Ulman’s focus includes the construction, building supply and automotive industries along with the public sector and NGOs. “As managing director at Talentor Austria I am looking forward to taking advantage of the full potential of the executive search market in Austria and setting new standards when it comes to search technology and client service,” she said.

Mr. Zembacher is responsible for executive search in the life science, healthcare, pharmaceutical and publishing sectors, along with select branches of industry. He has strong experience in management in digital product development, sales and change management. Most recently he was CEO of one of a large business-to-business media company. He has worked in the pharmaceutical industry and was also a partner in Austria’s most successful health portal and executed numerous digital projects in the life science branch.

“Executive search is an exciting challenge that meshes well with my expertise and my network,” said Mr. Zembacher.

Founded in 2003, Talentor’s client base spans a ranger of sectors including digital, IT, medtech, fintech, financial services and consumer goods. The organization’s business is executive search on an international level leveraging the local know-how of its partners.

A New Addition

The consortium also recently added Talentor Singapore into its network. “The employment agency market in Singapore is very competitive,” said managing partner Vijay Ryan. “Therefore, we are open to all profiles, but our forte is the healthcare industry and we are also specialized in the engineering and construction sectors. IT is an up-and-coming specialty for us. Our top clients include hospitals, nursing homes, engineering companies, and schools.”

Foreign companies tend to be pleasantly surprised when dealing with recruiting specialists in Singapore, said Mr. Ryan. “The employment agency market is very highly regulated,” he said. “Each employee must be trained and approved, and the ethics rules are very clearly laid out.”

Singaporean agencies tend to be highly experienced and well connected throughout the region, he added. “The strong currency means that citizens from surrounding countries are eager to work in Singapore,” said Mr. Ryan. “That is why we are so well connected with agencies in neighboring countries.”

Late last year, Talentor International added Scottish search specialist Denholm Associates to the fold. “When we were contacted by Talentor we realized we have a very similar approach,” said Denholm founding director and chief executive Nicki Denholm.

A Timely Move

The tie-up with the Austrian-based consortium “gives Denholm greater access to an international market as Scotland’s skills shortages, particularly in tech, continue to bite,” said Talentor.

John Denholm, Denholm’s executive chairman, said his firm has already seen the benefits of the alliance, and that it is working with some of Talentor’s clients in Europe. “From a strategic point of view, we also believe this is a timely move as we look ahead to Brexit and shortage of people talent on the domestic front,” he said.

Mr. Sarsteiner, Talentor’s CEO, described the consortium as a close-knit network of passionate people around the globe. “While our business is executive search on an international level, it’s also crucial that we can leverage the local know-how of our partners,” he said. “We were attracted to Denholm’s reputation, performance, people and culture and we think the business is a great fit for our global network.”

Denholm Associates, launched in 2002, has a client base that includes Standard Life, VisitScotland, the R&A, Edrington Beam Suntory, Baxters and Skyscanner, among others. The firm focuses on senior management and director-level profiles. Denholm operates across all industry sectors but has a particularly strong relationship with a number of high-profile luxury spirits brands and fintech companies. In 2017, the firm opened an office in Glasgow.

Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor; and Andrew W. Mitchell, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media