Workplace Demand & Supply

How companies can grow a sustainable talent pool

- Victor Chen

BTI Executive Search began its operation as BTI Consultants in 1982. Currently headquartered in Singapore, it is today a leading staffing company with business in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Hong Kong, and India. Under the leadership of Mr. Jonathan Guilfoile, managing director & regional head, BTI Executive Search has refocused its services to be “industry specialized.”

“Within our Singapore business, we’ve established specialization in five core industry verticals: industrial and manufacturing, technology and digital, healthcare and life sciences, and banking, financial services and insurance,” Mr. Guilfoile says. “On top of that, we also have functional specialization looking at human resources, finance and accounting, and supply chain and procurement.”

The company’s services include executive recruitment, talent mapping, competitive intelligence, salary benchmarking, board consulting, and project recruitment. Of these, executive recruitment is the company’s bread and butter, according to Mr. Guilfoile.

“Our goal is to provide a seamless experience for our clients across different markets. If there is, say, a Singapore-based technologydigital client looking for local leadership talent, but also looking to enter Indonesia and Thailand, we would be able to provide them with the same level of expertise and delivery because we’re specialized in all the different markets.”

Portfolio sat down with Mr. Guilfoile to discuss the rapidly changing landscape of executive recruitment in Asia Pacific.

Portfolio: Describe the demand and supply situation of talents. Who are looking for talents and who are supplying them?

Demand and the growth are correlated. With technology and digital as two main industry verticals showing high demand in Singapore, a corresponding demand for talent comes from them.