How Executive Candidates Are Approached
By Annabel Norman, Managing Partner · Norman Consultants The short answerExecutive search approaches candidates directly and discreetly — reaching out to leaders identified as strong fits, including many who are not actively looking, to explore their interest confidentially. Done well, the approach is personal, credible, and respectful, opening a genuine conversation rather than pitching a […]
The Offer Stage in Executive Search
By Annabel Norman, Managing Partner · Norman Consultants The short answerThe offer stage is where a chosen candidate is made a formal offer and, ideally, accepts — the culmination of a search, but a stage where strong candidates can still be lost. Handling it well means understanding what matters to the candidate, structuring a compelling […]
Board vs Management: Who Does What?
By Annabel Norman, Managing Partner · Norman Consultants The short answerThe board governs and oversees the company on behalf of its owners — setting direction with management, holding it to account, and providing counsel — while management, led by the CEO, runs the company day to day and executes. In short, the board oversees; management […]
What Does a Company Secretary Do?
By Annabel Norman, Managing Partner · Norman Consultants The short answerA Company Secretary ensures a company complies with its legal, regulatory, and governance obligations — supporting the board, maintaining statutory records, ensuring proper processes are followed, and advising on governance. Often underappreciated, it is a crucial role in good governance, and in many companies the […]
What Does a Managing Partner Do?
By Annabel Norman, Managing Partner · Norman Consultants The short answerA Managing Partner leads a partnership — a professional services, law, accounting, or investment firm — running the business while also being a partner and owner. The role blends leading the firm’s strategy, operations, and people with the distinctive dynamics of leading fellow partners who […]
How to Hire a Chief Administrative Officer
By Annabel Norman, Managing Partner · Norman Consultants The short answerHire a Chief Administrative Officer by first defining exactly what the role will own — the mix of internal functions varies widely — then hiring a strong operator and coordinator who can run them well and free other leaders to focus on their specialisms. Look […]
How to Hire a Deputy CEO
By Annabel Norman, Managing Partner · Norman Consultants The short answerHire a Deputy CEO by first being clear about the role’s purpose — a partner sharing the running of the business, or a successor being prepared — and defining what they own and the CEO relationship. Look for a leader whose strengths complement the CEO’s […]
How to Hire a Country Manager
By Annabel Norman, Managing Partner · Norman Consultants The short answerHire a Country Manager who combines commercial and operational leadership with genuine local market knowledge and credibility, and the ability to represent the brand and work with headquarters. Define what the role owns and its relationship with the wider company, and decide whether you need […]
The 100-Day Plan After a Private Equity Investment
By Annabel Norman, Managing Partner · Norman Consultants The short answerThe 100-day plan after a private equity investment is the focused agenda for the crucial early period — establishing priorities, quick wins, and the foundations for the value-creation plan, while assessing and strengthening the leadership team. Because execution depends on leadership, getting the team right […]
K-Beauty and the Globalisation of Beauty Leadership
By Annabel Norman, Managing Partner · Norman Consultants The short answerThe rise of K-beauty and the broader globalisation of beauty have reshaped the industry — driving innovation, new trends, and global talent flows. For beauty leadership, this means valuing global perspective and cross-cultural capability, understanding that innovation and trends now emerge worldwide, and recognising that […]
