CIPD report is ëpatronisingí say executive recruitment experts

The Hitchenor Wakeford Group comments on todayís CIPD report that indicates women are only being appointed to senior positions as a last resort and they are unfairly given jobs in struggling companies:

Danny Hodgson, managing director of Hitchenor Wakeford Interim, which places senior executives, disagrees:

ìI think most women and businesses will find the interpretation of this research as patronising. Business leaders and recruiters more pragmatic than the CIPD gives them credit for. In my experience they appoint the person who will give them the best commercial advantage - irrespective of whether they are male or female. The CIPD is also misguided if it thinks that good mangers only want to work in a well-oiled machine. In reality, there is a lucrative market for experienced, high achieving managers of either gender who are appointed by companies facing difficulties.î

The Hitchenor Wakeford Group which comprises of three separate divisions (Hitchenor Wakeford Executive Search, Hitchenor Wakeford Interim and Hitchenor Wakeford Selection) now employs 22 people between its offices in Leeds and Manchester. The Group has achieved a turnover of 1m in its first year of trading. Current clients include First Direct, The Derbyshire, Cranswick PLC, Zeus Capital, Bradford and Bingley and Maplin Electronics.

The company was founded in January 2006 by Adrian Hitchenor, John Wakeford and David Tunna. Hitchenor was previously a director of recruitment giant ECHM, which was acquired by Imprint PLC in 2005. John Wakeford previously worked for Whitehead Mann and David Tunna arrived from Imprint PLC.