Foreign managers fuel FTSE100 success

Harvey Nash UK plc is reaping the benefit of skilled migration with 42 per cent of current FTSE100 chief executives coming from outside the UK, recent Harvey Nash analysis shows. The increasing global reach of the executive recruitment market, a shortage of home grown talent and the attractiveness of Londonís capital markets means this trend is likely to continue.

Professional recruitment consultancy, Harvey Nash, has seen an increased positive sentiment toward skilled migration at the senior executive level and within IT vertical sectors. ìRecruitment is becoming ever more globalised. Talent is international and more UK firms are casting the talent net wider to find the best peopleî, says Harvey Nash CEO, Albert Ellis, himself a foreign national. ìIf the best person for the role is foreign born or based outside UK, looking beyond British shores can only serve to benefit companies.î

Recent Harvey Nash analysis* revealed that 42% of FTSE100 chief executives are foreign born or based. A large proportion of talent comes from North American counterparts, with 15% of CEOs from the US. A significant antipodean contribution was also witnessed, with 6% of CEOs hailing from South Africa and 4% from Australia. Closer to home, European chief executive figures for the FTSE100 stand at 11%, divided between France (3%), Ireland (3%), The Netherlands (3%), Spain (1%) and Sweden (1%).

Harvey Nash is witnessing the same skilled migration trend first-hand with operations in several international markets. ìA perfect example of the value gained from a global talent pool are the Scandinavian countries that have embraced the move toward foreign recruitment in the last few years and enjoyed great economic growth as a resultî, continued Ellis. ìGlobal marketplaces are paving the way for a global workforce.î

Despite becoming more cosmopolitan in global reach, the age and gender demographics of FTSE100 chief executives remain relatively unchanged and sway heavily toward a 45-55 year old male. 66% of chief executives fall into the 45-55 year old age bracket, with only 3% under the age of 40. A huge 97% of chief executives are male, seeing only three female FTSE100 CEOs.