Executive search firm ZRG launches in the Middle East

Global executive search firm ZRG Partners has expanded into the Middle East, hiring Tim Rotherham from PwC as Managing Director for the region.

With revenues of over $60 million, US-headquartered ZRG Partners (ZRG) is one of the world’s larger headhunters. The firm has over 15 offices in the US, and a further nearly ten offices in Latin America, Europe and Asia. The new locale in Dubai, United Arab Emirates is the firm’s first in the Middle East, and its third in Greater Asia.

The new hub will serve the entire Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and initially focus on two verticals – financial services and private equity. “The MENA region represents a natural next step for ZRG,” said ZRG’s chief executive officer Larry Hartmann.

Commenting on the latter industry, Hartmann said: “The increasing liberalisation of the UAE is creating a strong and stable base for inward capital investment into the MENA region, and ZRG anticipates that the UAE will grow as the global hub for frontier market private equity and venture capital investment. Additionally, institutional and family office investors are increasingly looking at the region for investment opportunities.”

Financial services meanwhile is one of ZRG’s powerhouse areas of focus. Led by New York based Rahul Kapur, the practice recruits leaders – executives and middle-managers – across the segments of banking, insurance, asset & wealth management, commercial and specialty lending and fintech, among others. 

Where needed, ZRG will offer MENA clients the “expertise already available in the US and Europe through our Consumer, Healthcare, Life Sciences, Industrial, Aerospace & Defense and Technology practices,” said Hartmann. 

Leading the new business is Tim Rotherham, who brings a 15-year career in executive search. He most recently was a Director focused on Recruitment and Global Mobility at PwC, one of the globe’s top professional services networks. In his role, Rotherham led a team of more than 40 members across the Middle East and spearheaded a pipeline project identifying new partner talent in the areas of Cybersecurity, Digital Transformation, Forensics, Defense, Healthcare, and Education.

Before that, he recruited for the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), and based in London, he managed the talent acquisition function of AXA Investment Managers for the UK, US and Continental Europe (ex- France) and served two specialist headhunters.

Commenting on his new role, Rotherham said, “I’m glad ZRG has chosen the Middle East for the next expansion of their global footprint and I’m excited to take on this role.” Welcoming him to the firm, Hartmann added, “Tim is the right person to lead our new office. We look forward to his achievements and the expertise he is able to share with the ZRG team at large.”