The appointment of ex-EY head Richard King to the board of global recruiter BIE Executive has signalled a shift in focus for the firm, chief executive Rob Walker told Recruiter.

King, former EY deputy managing partner and head of EY’s UK and Ireland practice, has been appointed non-executive chairman of BIE.

This marks the launch of the firm’s new specialist advisory service arm.

Walker told Recruiter the business would now operate more like a professional services business than a traditional recruiter, bridging the gap between recruiter and management consultant and helping clients scope their requirements for roles rather than just filling them.

“We now have the structure and the subject matter expertise to be able to deliver an effective advisory service that underpins our interim and executive search work,” he explained.

Walker said in a statement the appointment was a “major coup” for BIE.

“Lots of chairmen in our industry are former recruiters but we wanted to bring a genuinely fresh perspective to the table. We’re confident Richard’s counsel will be instrumental in the success of our new advisory arm.”