Banking break-up could create demand for UK recruiters abroad

Fri, 6 Aug 2010

Opportunities abound for UK recruiters in immature international markets, should banking giants relocate headquarters if universal banks are broken up, according to Mark Cameron, chief operating officer at Astbury Marsden.

Cameron’s comments follow Financial Times reports that, in private, Barclays Bank executives say the bank would prefer to move its headquarters rather than be broken up by the government ahead of Commission on Banking recommendations.

Cameron told Recruiter: “HSBC has relocated its headquarters to Hong Kong. By doing this, its senior management has been relocated. So far, we have not seen a difference in how the UK business operates.

“The UK has one of the most mature recruitment markets. We are increasingly seeing demand for those skills in less mature markets. There are some great recruiters in Hong Kong but not enough them. There are opportunities for recruiters in places where the recruitment market is not as mature, where HR teams are not as structured as in the UK. There are opportunities for those recruiters who want to travel.”