New international service to link MBA graduates, business schools and recruiters

exec-appointments.com is launching a new service to bring together MBA graduates from leading international business schools and key, senior executive recruiters.

MBA-Direct.com will provide a unique resource for business schools to link their MBA students and alumni, at every stage of their career, to the most significant recruiters of MBAs.

Betty Thayer, chief executive of exec-appointments.com, said the service would fill the current vacuum for a professional one-stop resource. ìThere are resources available but they are not harnessed together in one easy to use site.

ìThrough MBA-Direct, business schools will be able to help past and present students to find the best jobs available. MBA graduates, at any point in their career, will be able to use the service as part of their job search. And recruiters and corporate companies will have access to the current crop of students as well as those with postgraduate MBA experience.î

MBA-Direct will also carry information on career development and contacts for major MBA recruiters, as well as news, surveys, coaching and development programmes and interview tips.

Betty Thayer said: ìItís an ambitious project but one that we think is genuinely needed by the MBA community. MBA-Direct will provide a valuable and relevant platform for all those interested in MBA careers and development, as well as recruiters and corporate companies looking to attract MBA talent.

ìWeíve had a very positive response from business schools who recognise the need for an authoritative and up-to-date service.î

Julia Marsh, director of careers services for Europe at the Chicago Graduate School of Business, said a number of factors had influenced the schoolís decision to participate with MBA-Direct.

She said: ìAs a school, we are always looking for opportunities that are out there in the market, including those for more seasoned professionals. This was one of the attractions of MBA-Direct. Itís not the just the milk round, traditional recruitment for young MBAs in their 20s and early 30s. There is an interesting mix of different-level opportunities. There is also a good geographical split with opportunities in wider Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.

ìAlso, having been exposed to exec-appointments.com and non-execs.com, I felt confident that MBA-Direct would offer a quality, professional service, and this was important to us.

ìThe third factor, and it was something I was very particular about, was that we are part of an exclusive circle. We are in the company of good European business schools and itís not just a random selection, open to everyone. It actually focuses on the quality of the talent that we offer.î