Jun 25 2013

The ABCA Q2 2013

June 19th, 2013 – Vienna, Austria – AIMS International, a preeminent global Executive Search and Talent Management organization, has launched the 7th issue of its Business Climate indicator. The ABCA delivers a global insight into the executive search business.

This analysis of the Executive Search Market surveys past, present and expected business conditions in 7 major business segments. It approaches the last 4 months and forecasts the next 4 months on the basis of interviews with AIMS International partners and consultants in 46 countries. The first ABCA was published in Q2 2011.

“Every issue of the ABCA delivers interesting insights for me, as EVP AMERICAS at AIMS International and as an owner of a company with international business relations” comments AIMS International Vice President John W. Poracky.

The ABCA Q2 2013 shows the following significant results:

1. 36% (Δ +8%) of the AIMS International partners and consultants evaluate the current state of business locally as good, 49% (stable) as middle and 16% (Δ -8%) as bad. These are small new indices for a stabilization of the local economy which had been visible already in the Q2 2012 ABCA, but proven false in the Q4 2012 ABCA. Solely evaluating the situation in the EMEA Region it seems even worse, as only 23% evaluate the situation as good there.How is the present state of local business

   

2. Allowing multiple answers, significant differences in the development of important business segments during the last 12 months have become obvious:  Industrial, Engineering and Logistics has strengthened its position as the core segment of AIMS International Partners, followed by FMCG, Retail and Luxury goods (which had a strong increase (Δ +17%) of the share of business).Whilst the business share of Financial Services is stable the Pharmaceutical, Health Care and Life Science business share shrinks by 5%.Automotive, IT&T and Energy business share increases continuously since the ABCA in 2012 Q3.

3. Following the answers to the questions about the revenue development of the surveyed companies in the last 4 months you can see that stabilization is starting to take place. There is a shift from companies with decreasing revenues to stable revenues. Global markets in the 7 industry segments are in rough waters still. Solely evaluating the situation in the EMEA Region it seems to be even worse, as only 17% evaluate the turnover as increasing in this region.

   

4. The strongest markets for Executive Search seem to be in EMEA Finland and Italy, in the AMERICAS Brazil, Canada and the US, in APAC China and Hong Kong.
5. Only 58% (Δ +2%) of the AIMS partners evaluated the number of current projects as large or sufficient, 42% (Δ -2%) as not enough. Alarming is that still only 9% of the companies evaluate their number of current projects as large. Upcoming free capacities are mainly used for quality enhancement initiatives.
6. As for the forecast for the next 4 months, 89% (Δ -2%) expect the business to be stable or better, 11% (Δ +5%) as worse. The significant decrease of positive business expectation (Δ -10%) is another signal of tendencies towards rougher markets.

   

The overall outlook for Q3, 2013 is not worse than in Q1 2013 and not promising.

Corporate Communications

Christian Schulte +49 178 2854744

About AIMS International (www.aims-international.net)

Incorporated in Vienna, Austria in 1992, AIMS International is an international executive search organization of independently owned and managed executive search firms who work collaboratively to execute executive search assignment for global clients around the world. AIMS International is represented by over 350 consultants in more than 90 offices in over 50 countries throughout all continents. It was ranked the largest executive search partnership in the world by Search-Consult Magazine.

For more information, please visit www.aims-international.net.

By Christian Schulte • International News •

Jun 14 2013

Global Megatrends Transform Businesses and Recruitment Needs

AIMS International dedicates Vienna conference to future outlook

Vienna (Austria) – June 14, 2013. Global megatrends and their impact on talent search will be the main subject of a conference hosted by the premier executive search firm AIMS International. The event will be part of AIMS International’s annual general meeting, scheduled for June 20-22 in Vienna. The company has invited the renowned futurologist Matthias Horx as the keynote speaker.

Six megatrends

According to Horx, six megatrends are transforming the world of business as we know it.

• Glocalization: The new wealth created in developing countries will lead to a new, multipolar world order. As firms change ownership, executives increasingly find themselves representing companies in foreign hands. Also, value-added distances will shrink and offshoring will be replaced by intelligent nearshoring.

• Feminization: Women have caught up in terms of qualification and employers cannot ignore these valuable resources. As the male career model is outdated, companies will need to implement “flexicurity” all the way up to the executive suites.

• Individualization: A “culture of choice” will drive a greater variety of lifestyles and concepts in the developed societies; softer, individual skills will gain importance.

• Down-Aging: While public debate focuses on aging societies in Europe, an opposing trend involves the rejuvenation of social behavior. At the same time, linear biographies are making way for “multigraphies” involving a repetition of life phases.

• Fitness/Mindness/Selfness: Health and well-being are taking on new meanings, personal empowerment is a key component. This new understanding will also change employees’ attitudes towards their work lives.

• Cooperative individualism: Traditional forms of work are being deconstructed. Jobs of the future will be performed in networks and in continuously changing mobility settings.

Tomorrow’s executives will have to fill new roles, as Horx points out: “Rather than oversee and monitor staff, they will be required to moderate and facilitate the interaction of strong individuals in multinational networks – and to take an active part in social dialog.” As a result, recruitment profiles will have to change drastically. Horx: “Key skills include intercultural competencies – referring to both regional cultures and generations –, strong personal skills, and universal knowledge and education.”

Aligning executive search with future needs

AIMS International makes a point of integrating forward-looking insights like these in its business approach. “We see ourselves as strategic advisors,” explains the firm’s President Rolf Heeb, “and it is our key concern to help clients address future challenges. So, in order to provide the best possible assistance in talent acquisition and talent management, it is essential that we maintain an active dialog on the social changes affecting companies.”

Just recently, AIMS International has launched the second wave of a study on board-level competences. One key finding is that the gender gap in top management is due to diverging communication styles rather than missing qualifications. AIMS International is driving the discourse on these matters and plans to create a practical guide for organizational leaders.

The Vienna conference will provide yet another forum for debate. “We really look forward to our Megatrends conference on June 21st,” says Günther Salzmann, Manager of AIMS Austria, “which will be attended by corporate representatives from a number of countries worldwide.” Vienna was an obvious choice for this year’s event, Salzmann explains, due to its growing importance as a gateway to Central and Eastern Europe. “There is a large and increasing number of high-potentials in these countries and almost half of them are women.”

Another key agenda item for the firm’s general meeting is a change in leadership: Since Rolf Heeb has completed the maximum of two consecutive 3-year terms in office, AIMS International is going to elect a new President.

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Background info:

AIMS International is an executive search firm headquartered in Vienna (Austria) and operating from more than 90 offices in some 50 countries. Over 350 consultants provide executive-level talent acquisition and talent management services to major client corporations in a broad range of industries.

Matthias Horx is a leading trend researcher and futurist. He teaches at Zeppelin University in Friedrichshafen, Germany, and heads the Futurism Institute in Frankfurt/Main. Mr. Horx is the author of several bestselling books on future trends.

Contact:

Christian Schulte

AIMS International (President’s Office)
Gut Vellbrueggen 13

D-41469 Neuss
Germany

Mobile: +49 (0) 178 28 54 744
Phone: +49 (0) 2137 78 70-10
Fax: +49 (0) 2137 78 70-79
e-mail: christian.schulte@aims-international.net

Websites:

www.aims-international.net
www.horx.com

By Christian Schulte • International News •