Pamela Ruebusch featured in latest Executive Search Review – Hunt Scanlon
February 2022 – Check out the latest issue of Hunt Scanlon’s Executive Search Review to hear Pamela’s thoughts on how the talent landscape has changed as a result of the pandemic, and how organizations can adjust to the competitive market to meet their hiring needs.
The global financial crisis has brought increasing scrutiny from regulators and investors across the world. Combined with
digital disruption, new technologies, and a high profile conduct agenda, financial institutions face a number of challenges to continued growth, according to Odgers Berndtson. The firm notes that today’s boards and executives need to foster a culture of transparency and reduced risk, while leveraging new technologies to improve operational efficiency and cut costs.
Within North America, the finance industry has the opportunity to achieve incredible growth over the coming years. “But firms must prioritize cultural change and look towards new alternative revenues streams to secure their success,” Odgers Berndtson said. “Low interest rates, low yield, and political instability in many parts of the world have led to pressure on financial firms to change.” This has left the market is highly competitive for top talent across the financial services sector.
The market for senior financial executives still remains strong, with an emphasis on digitally oriented talent, according to Rahul Kapur, managing director, global head of fintech at ZRG Partners. “The bigger players (banks/FIs, large fintechs) are focused on potential team lift outs of disruptive technologies that may be somewhat hampered by the current environment. PE firms are investing heavily on the piping in fintech – open banking, banking as a service, payments as a service, etc. Those leaders are in high demand – everyone is looking for executives that can identify new revenue streams and build via technology.”
“The need for chief data and analytics officers that aren’t encumbered by the shadow of the traditional risk averse culture of banking – these folks are in high demand,” said Mr. Kapur. “Lenders, asset managers, service providers and payments companies are all seeking to enhance both their businesses and new revenue streams through innovative analytic leaders that embrace AI/ML. Data leaders who are commercially oriented are in high demand, because typically banks have had their data people buried within IT. Overall, the need for executives to enable revenue growth and business expansion remains strong. “