Global executive recruitment improves in Q3

International executive recruitment increased by 11 per cent during July and September, as clear signs of recovery are recorded in the world's economies.

According to data released by the Association of Executive Search Consultants (AESC), senior executive search activity in the third quarter of 2009 was significantly greater than in the previous three-month period.

On a regional basis, Asia Pacific saw the greatest acceleration in search assignments at 32 per cent, while Europe, Latin America and North America recorded rises of 11 per cent, six per cent and 2.4 per cent respectively.

In addition, the figures revealed that the global technology industry witnessed the most significant rise in executive recruitment campaigns in this period, followed by finance and consumer companies.

Peter Felix, president of the AESC, suggested that executive talent is becoming a "priority" for international organisations again.

He said: "These results are an encouraging confirmation that the worldwide search profession has reached a tipping point in its fortunes."

In September, the AESC revealed that the life sciences industry had managed to escape the declines in executive search campaigns recorded elsewhere in the global economy.