Headhunting exec firm notches up further double-digit growth

Carlyle, the Edinburgh-based headhunter, has posted its sixth consecutive year of double-digit revenue growth.

The executive search practice, which last year relocated its capital office to Charlotte Square, said it was on track for another strong financial performance in the current year.

Carlyle, which was founded in 2002, has added expertise to its own team in recent months with particular growth in board and advisory, asset management and food and drink.

The firm now has a permanent office base in London and is plotting further expansion including by way of possible acquisitions.

Founding partner Duggie Carlyle said: “As the majority of our assignments are UK wide in reach, and given our pedigree in financial services and tech, it was an obvious evolution for the practice to have a more permanent presence in London. It also enables us to better act as a conduit for talent between the Scottish and wider UK markets.”

Increasing demand for high impact interim executives and specialist expertise across a range of industry sectors has seen Carlyle mark a UK first through the registration of a trademark for “parallel search”.

Fiona James-Martin, who was instrumental in establishing the firm’s interim practice, and was recently promoted to partner, said: “We developed our parallel search model as a direct response to client demand for a more flexible search offering which addressed their immediate short-term needs as well as their long-term talent requirements.

“Parallel search is a seamless approach which enables us to run permanent and interim search processes simultaneously, which ensures minimal disruption to our client’s business.”

The firm’s recent client list includes Tesco Bank, Deloitte, John Menzies and Stewart Milne Group.