Local roots with global perspective
It’s just over two years since James Carss founded the Castle Peak Group executive search company. You might therefore assume this is a new firm getting established and finding its feet. Wrong!
James and his team have been involved in finding chairmen, chief executives, chief financial officers, company secretaries, board members and trustees for almost 30 years. Their reputation and experience is second to none.
This is certainly helped by the fact that along with being a front-line headhunter, James also has vast experience as an MD & CEO, when he was working in Hong Kong for 12 years he was running multiple offices of a NASDAQ listed firm. All this has helped him to shape a firm that understands exactly what the client wants.
But things are still evolving at Castle Peak Group.
James Carss has been involved in the appointment of many senior people across the UK. Many of those appointments have been in the public sector. Some of you reading this will have been involved with James as he either found the ideal candidate for your organisation or placed you into a new role.
However, people and organisations change…people move on… and they don’t necessarily stay in the same sector…they switch.
James is getting far more requests now from clients in the private sector who are looking appoint some senior executives. No surprises therefore that the phone rings at Castle Peak Group.
“I’m fortunate in that I’ve worked within the public and private sector for many years and know precisely what sort of person is suitable for various senior positions,” said James. “When I formed Castle Group after returning to the UK following many years working abroad in places like Hong Kong and Canada, I felt the public sector was an area which was badly underrepresented when it came to inclusivity led executive search, especially in the housing, education and health sectors. I had immediate success…built a team of skilled colleagues…and have moved forward rapidly, so much so that last year we were named Professional Services Start-Up of the Year at the National StartUp Awards which champions the best and brightest start-ups from across the UK. It’s something I’m really proud of.
“We’re now working 50-50 in terms of public and private sectors because clients I’ve worked with successfully in the past have either changed or are wanting to change roles. We’ve moved with them! They like the way we operate at Castle Peak Group, they like our results and they want to maintain a successful relationship.”
If you want an important position filling or are ambitious and want to find a key position, it’s very tempting to assume that the only way you’ll have any joy is by going to one of the big search firms in London. Here’s what is likely to happen. You establish a contact and will then be passed around and rarely speak to the same person twice. If you like to build a trustworthy relationship, good luck. Oh, and you’ll be paying a small fortune.
That won’t happen with Castle Peak Group. Your first point of contact will always be James Carss. He always vets every single candidate. He always speaks to companies on your behalf. He always works face-to-face. He builds trust…and he’s good. His current success rate is 96 per cent against an industry average in executive search of 77%. It would be 100 per cent if a handful of folk hadn’t changed their mind!
“When it comes to the North East, you need to understand the dynamics of this area,” added James. “I’m born and bred here but, having worked extensively in London and abroad, I fully understand how other regions and other countries operate. But, if there’s one thing that experience has taught me, is that the North East is a special area. It’s why we have success in attracting candidates to this area…and it’s also why we’re seeing an increasing number of boomerang talent…people who return to the region. It’s why our work in both the public and private sectors, is increasing month on month.”
Interested in what Castle Peak Group can do for you? You should be.
For more information, you can contact James Carss by calling 07802 531040 or emailing james.carss@castlepeak-group.com
You’ll also find out more details by logging on to www.castlepeak-group.com