AI Magazine Issue 10 2018

42 Acquisition International - Issue 10 2018 Phaidon International is the parent company of five award-winning micro- specialist recruitment brands. Following his success in Leading Adviser Awards 2018 where he was awarded the accolade Leading Marketing Services Expert of the Year (Recruitment), UK, we spoke to Global Marketing Director, Gareth Saunders who revealed more about Phaidon International and how they have established themselves within such a dynamic industry. haidon International value their clients and help them grow by finding rare talent through a model of long-term partnership and the thorough understanding of their verticals. Gareth Saunders oversees the planning, development and execution of the organisation’s marketing and advertising initiatives these five brands. Going into detail about Phaidon International’s approach to undertaking a new client, Gareth begins by explaining to us how both himself and the team ensure right from the beginning that the outcome meets the needs of everyone involved. “As a whole, I think that it is important to do your own diligence before coming to the table with a possible solution. It is necessary to spend time getting to know the client, by listening to their needs in order to execute a plan. When it comes to recruiting in general, we always need to be a few steps ahead – and the way to do that is superseding expectations from the start. Here at Phaidon International, we are not afraid to roll up our sleeves, and I think our client’s value that approach.” Having recently been selected in Acquisition Intl.’s Leading Adviser Awards 2018 as the Leading Marketing Services Expert of the Year (Recruitment), UK, it is no secret that Gareth or the team at Phaidon International (who have numerous accolades under their belt) have a strong grasp on achieving success within their respected industry. When discussing the attributes that are essential to succeeding, Gareth is keen to highlight how both himself and the firm are able to achieve their goals. “I think it depends on your attitude, drive and willingness to go the extra mile. I stay away from following the pack and mimicking what competitors are doing because in the long run, I feel it holds you back. It’s important to stay ahead and clients appreciate that type of determination and leadership. “Wayne Gretzky said it best, ‘I skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it has been.’ This quote has stuck with me for a long time and is the mantra that I live, work and manage by. In the marketing team, we not only embrace this quote, but Contact: Gareth Saunders Company: Phaidon International Address: Ground Floor, 21 Lombard Street, London EC3V 9AH, UK Telephone: 020375 88906 Web Address: www.phaidoninternational.com Creating a Positive Impact P 1809AI56 we even have it on a window in our office. We don’t want to be where everyone else is, and in order to do this, we want to be ahead of the game to give the best possible solutions to our clients and candidates. We want to do our part to push the industry forward for our business, our clients and our candidates. In order to do so, we embrace failure rather than fearing it. Trials and tribulations can only lead to change, and therefore, progress.” Whilst discussing success of the firm, Gareth also touches on the challenges that he has had to overcome whilst working at Phaidon International. “The biggest challenge I faced was affirming Phaidon’s brand when the company achieved such vast growth in such a short period. Phaidon is now the parent company of five uniquely specialised brands and making sure to uphold our core messaging across all verticals was challenging. The marketing team worked tirelessly to cultivate ideas and concepts that upheld our overall mission, while also distinguishing between the different verticals.” Bringing the interview to a close, Gareth reflects on the current state of the industry, highlighting a few areas that are affecting it. “Currently, I think that fear of adapting and embracing new technologies poses a major issue for the recruitment industry. Recruitment is evolving quickly – and the industry needs to keep up to fit in with the current climate and consumers appetite for easy end-to-end digital solutions. As an example; In any scenario when purchasing from Amazon is seamless. From refund to return its one click away and people expect that level of service from any industry now. A wider adaption of AI and big data into the recruitment industry will make it quicker and easier to sift through applications, provide feedback quicker and match people with jobs in the future, even if they aren’t a fit for something now. A real end-to-end service. This is something we still don’t have right, but we are working hard to get that ideal outcome.” Looking ahead to what the future holds, Gareth signs off by envisioning what the future holds for the firm, touching on where the team want to be in the years yet to come. “As Phaidon International continues to expand, we aspire to grow our presence and brand globally. We want Phaidon to be recognised across sectors as the trusted partner for professional growth needs, while still upholding our essential brand identity.” “Recruitment is evolving quickly – and the industry needs to keep up to fit in with the current climate and consumers appetite for easy end-to-end digital solutions.”