One of Hong Kong's largest head-hunting firms, Russell Reynolds, is facing problems over its internal recruitment, with two of its three managing directors departing the company in quick succession. In recent months, Louisa Rousseau and Andrew Tsui have left the company, which in terms of personnel has been consistently one of the two largest head-hunters in the territory. The moves have taken away much of the company's firepower locally. The two had a reputation for being the firm's highest revenue earners. Ms Rousseau left to join another search operation, Bole, while Mr Tsui is understood to be considering his options. Russell Reynolds has put a brave face on the departures. A consultant at the firm, Andrew Choa, said late last week: 'We wish them well. 'It is a personal loss and a professional loss.' The two senior figures have not been replaced, with Russell Reynolds understood to be using senior associates on secondment from other countries. Ms Rousseau said there was no personal antipathy with the company that prompted her decision to leave. She said she left the firm because of the need for more flexibility in terms of structuring fees and doing business, something she could only obtain outside of the general major firm structure. She also wanted to spend more time devoting herself to the fledgling Chinese headhunting market. 'I believe that Asian markets, particularly emerging markets such as China, require much more flexibility and creativity,' she said. The problems in Hong Kong for Russell Reynolds are the latest in a string of international departures to have hit the firm, ranked among the world's top four head-hunters, with annual billings of about US$100 million among its 26 offices. Two senior figures departed the firm's New York practice last year, while one senior and two junior representatives in Tokyo left in quick succession earlier this year. During late 1993 and early 1994, a managing director and two other senior figures quit the firm's Sydney operations. The performance of Russell Reynolds' Hong Kong office has long been regarded as an industry benchmark, and one of its strongest operations globally.
