InterQuest is looking for a chief executive who will be “a different driver to race the car round the track” at the technology, analytics and digital markets recruitment business following turnaround expert Mark Braund’s decision to step down as chief executive.

In a statement released this morning, the group revealed Braund has a six-month notice period but will remain as a non-executive director.

He is leaving to join telecommunications company Coms as its new CEO, a company where Braund is already a non-executive director.

Commenting on Braund’s departure, InterQuest chairman Gary Ashworth told Recruiter a new set of skills is required from the company’s next CEO.

“We changed from being a generalist IT recruiter to being a specialist digital and analytics recruiter. 

“Mark is a first-class guy and a very good turnaround consultant. The way we framed it internally is that we are a world-class racing car but his skills are more on dragging the brands together, putting infrastructure in place, and we think we need a different driver to race the car around the track.

“The way the management team are at the moment, it is almost somebody to lead from behind that we’re looking for, rather than a change specialist. It is just about facilitating existing management teams to adjust to more of what they’re doing,” he added.

As for the search for Braund’s successor, Ashworth added the company’s next CEO could be an internal or external appointment.

“Mark only tendered his resignation last week. We will go through the process. They’re may be somebody internally. They’re may be somebody externally.”

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