All retained executive search firms, large and small, share certain similarities in their methods and processes. However, there are some very important advantages that small niche boutiques have over the larger and more generalized firms.
First of all, boutiques like Burkholder Group have a much larger candidate pool from which to recruit. Why? Because many large firms do business with a third or more of the Top 100 insurance carriers in the nation and must honor a “hands-off” posture with them. Since boutique firms tend to maintain a smaller client list, they have the ability to bring a more diverse slate of candidates to their clients from a much larger universe of source companies.
BGI clients know that no part of the candidate or client interface will be delegated to researchers or junior associates. Approaching targeted executives who are not in the job market requires maturity and finesse to generate an actionable interest level to pursue a client’s position. Not surprisingly, less experienced associates will have lower success rates in attracting the best and brightest to searches.
Boutiques who take a focused key account approach do so in order to be considered as trusted and productive partners with each of their select group of clients. Such full commitment to the projects undertaken means a higher sense of urgency, a more thorough process, and a better speed-to-completion. Your search doesn’t get lost somewhere in a bloated project list.
Finally, smaller recruiting firms like Burkholder Group who focus on a single industry are deep experts in that field. We’ve spent every workhour of every day for more than two decades talking to P&C leaders and building our knowledge base of the companies in the insurance business. Consultants at larger firms often cover the broader financial services grouping which dilutes their ability to focus on any one industry in the group. You benefit from having a search partner who has the broad and deep P&C market knowledge, a database of its high performance managers and executives, and a network of relevant insurance industry contacts to bring your project to an outstanding finish.