Retained Search

What is a retained executive search?

Retained executive search is a form of management consulting - the phrase refers to the contract under which consulting and recruiting advice is performed. The process of contacting and introducing senior candidates is a sensitive one and should be performed correctly. It is not just a matter of payment. The retainer provides an umbrella of professionalism, credibility and recognised practice management.

Thorough consideration should be given as to who you partner with on your retained search mandate, as proper process and due diligence needs to be carried out. A retained search also implies a partnership between the executive search firm and the client. Stonebridge Executive Search will bring industry-specific expertise and unique insight into the specialist market that we are being asked to operate within.

Why engage us to carry out a retained search?

• It is critical to hire not just a qualified candidate but to recruit the most skilled person.
• Allows you to outmanoeuvre the competition in gaining the best talent, by seeing four or five high-quality candidates with the right skills, cultural fit and salary expectations.
• You require a unique candidate with a rare skill set.
• You are developing a broader Senior Leadership Team.
• Time is vital in today’s world, so many businesses don’t have the time to wait for a contingent recruitment campaign to deliver.
• Discretion is paramount in specialist fields such as Restructuring and Insolvency and Tax.
• You will gain the findings of our extensive research on the business sector, competitors and ideal candidates.

Using the retained search model for identifying top talent and Senior Leadership is the most effective source for hiring such professionals. At Stonebridge, we have been engaged on numerous successful mandates that have delivered the best candidates to the clients who want to acquire the best talent.