It is interesting to read The Economist’s updating of the important role executive recruiters play in today’s economy. In the early 1990’s when The New York Times featured the profession the Wall Street Journal would still not publish the names of recruiters, refusing to recognize their role! Ram Charan’s update on the profession in 2016 in the Harvard Business Review provided further insight into the importance of good advice.
However, of most interest to many C suite and Board executives should be the importance of potential conflicts of interest, which all these articles highlight. These conflicts of interest should be of far greater concern than the traditional “firms off limits” question.
I am thrilled to continue to be a part of the vital and exciting professional service industry and humbled and gratified by the trust that my clients place in me.