Booming economies need global talent (hktdc.com)


	Huxley Associates' Joris Beerda says executives enjoy a comfortable life in Hong Kong

International recruitment consultancy Huxley Associates has opened its first Asia Pacific office in Hong Kong, positioning itself to meet a growing need for high-level financial and IT executives.

Booming Asian economies have created a strong demand for top talent in the region, with Hong Kong the recruitment gateway.

"Our new Hong Kong office will serve as a gateway to the rest of the Asian market, providing a catalyst for Huxley Associates to open further offices in Tokyo, Singapore and Shanghai,” said Joris Beerda Head of Contracts Division Asia of the UK-based company.

This exciting move had been on the Huxley agenda for some time now, he added. "It will give us access to an enormous market and we are currently looking to recruit dynamic consultants to join our team.”

Global reach covered

Huxley Associates is now represented across Europe, the US and Asia. Recruitment is an international business and the company will use its global reach to attract candidates to and from Hong Kong.

Mr Beerda says Hong Kong makes an excellent entry point to Asian markets, especially the Chinese mainland. It is a well-connected international city that understands how business works, and has the infrastructure to support it. "A lot of our clients who have a base in Hong Kong will set up affiliates in China, and this gives us a piggy-back opportunity to move with them.”

He added that it's easy to attract international talent to Hong Kong.

"People like living and working here – it's a very good climate to be in, especially for younger people. While there seems to be some misinformation about pollution, the fact is that you can live a much more comfortable life in Hong Kong than in many other places.

"It's also seen as a good career move. With China booming and Asia the focal point of global economies, having Hong Kong (experience) on your CV is a definite advantage.”