A survey from the Association of Executive Search Consultants (AESC) has revealed the latest thinking on retained executive search services in France.

In collaboration with its French members, AESC surveyed 140 clients of executive search in France and discovered that clients rate the individual search consultant’s reputation and methodology as the most important criteria when choosing an executive search firm, rather than the profile of the search firm itself.

Highlights from the ‘AESC 2010 Retained Executive Recruiting Report France’ revealed:

· The number one reason why organisations partner with retained executive search firms is to gain access to a broader talent pool and a diverse slate of candidates.

· Most HR professionals (65%) engage the services of executive search partners for between one and five assignments per year.

· After the individual search consultants reputation and methodology, the next most valuable asset when choosing a search firm is the insurance of ethical and professional consulting.

· Over half the hiring professionals surveyed work with multiple executive search firms as long-term consulting partners.

· 57% of HR managers say that their choice of search partner varies (in terms of size/structure) depending on the position and circumstances.

· Most hiring professionals would like to build longer-term relationships with executive search firms.

· 99% of HR professionals surveyed are happy, or somewhat happy, with their relationships with executive search firms.

· Executive coaching is the most popular value-added service.

· French HR managers most commonly choose to work with search firms based in France, after which they look to retain partners in other European countries (outside of France and the UK).

The majority of respondents (84%) in the survey work for international organisations; 70% are senior HR professionals and 17% are chief executives.