The Future is Here: How Artificial Intelligence Transforms Executive Search

January 30, 2023

Artificial Intelligence can be intimidating for many, as this technology’s unknown power creates apprehensions. 

Countless Hollywood productions have frequently capitalized on these fears by telling stories about AI systems gone rogue – such as The Terminator movies and Westworld television series.

A worrying thought surrounding AI is the potential elimination of human jobs, substituted by machines that can produce results more efficiently. 

During previous automation waves, it was mainly manual labor positions that faced displacement; however, white-collar roles relying on highly skilled personnel are likely to be affected in this new one. 

There was much speculation and fear that Artificial Intelligence (AI) would eventually replace human recruiters in the Executive Search industry, thus bringing an end to recruiting as we know it.

However, these worries have been mostly alleviated due to an increased understanding of how technology can enhance executive recruitment processes and results.

Artificial intelligence has been highly sought after in many industries, enabling machines to adopt the same abilities humans possess and making tasks more streamlined, effective, and efficient.

Technology has revolutionized the business world – from production to healthcare and retail. Its impact extends far beyond just one sector, propelling businesses forward in ways we never thought possible.

AI will revolutionize executive search as it can increase the speed and accuracy of identifying potential candidates. AI-driven technology can quickly collect large amounts of data, analyze it to find patterns, and present this data in a meaningful way for the executive recruitment consultant.

A Revolution on the Horizon

AI’s most revolutionary application for the executive search industry is its ability to quickly and accurately compile large data sets and make accurate deductions. 

As these datasets continuously evolve, AI will become increasingly vital to draw meaningful insights.

Artificially intelligent algorithms have revolutionized the way businesses conduct hiring processes. 

Through AI technology, companies can now quickly assemble a 360-degree view of potential candidates by combing through billions of public and private sources across social media to create an up-to-date snapshot of the labor market – something that would’ve been unthinkable only a few years ago.

What can artificial intelligence do for executive search?

Leveraging Machine Learning to Make Sense of Data

Machine learning revolutionizes analytical model building by utilizing neural networks, statistics, operations research, and physics technologies to uncover data insights without requiring explicit instructions on where to look or what outcome is desired.

The machine learning engine is designed to offer comprehensive insights into the company and executive profiles, using a wide range of critical metrics for contextualizing.

Compared to keyword-matching systems that evaluate an executive based on predetermined criteria, sophisticated machine learning tools can consider the full context in which executives and companies interact with their environment. 

This allows the system to make more accurate inferences about qualities, connections, and potential interactions between them.

Astounding Accuracy

Instead of relying on traditional metrics like education, experience, and diversity to filter candidates, AI can be used to identify those who have consistently exhibited excellence in their past roles. 

This approach eliminates the need for humans to make qualitative assumptions about a candidate’s skills or capabilities.

AI algorithms can be utilized as they can run millions of pattern-matching comparisons each second and, in some cases, have inspected an astounding two billion career progressions. 

Algorithms can quickly make intricate and analytical interpretations about various individual and corporate profiles at a massive scale.

In other words, AI can provide astounding accuracy in assessing potential executives and organizations.

Streamlined Searching for Maximum Efficiency

Just as the tractor transformed agriculture, AI is revolutionizing executive search firms by enabling them to do their jobs with greater accuracy and speed. 

AI’s cutting-edge technology will not change what these firms are tasked to accomplish; instead, it will enhance their performance in completing those tasks.

Nowadays, instead of spending weeks developing a lengthy list of candidates with precise details and qualifications, AI-literate headhunters can rapidly assemble an in-depth roster of prospective executives just by offering the ideal profile to their AI program. 

This allows them to quickly scour through databases for profiles that share similar abilities, career paths, and job titles.

Reduce Human Bias

Artificial Intelligence has the potential to revolutionize talent acquisition by drastically minimizing human bias. 

Masking candidates in the recruitment process helps to diminish and eliminate human biases, thus making it easier to create a diverse search. 

Moreover, this allows for accurate accountability and tangible results when measuring diversity initiatives.

An AI algorithm can learn to conclude performance and quality, enabling it to reach decisions not limited by polls, human opinions, or past reputations.

The expansive knowledge and logical aptitude of AI can be beneficial in addressing the prejudice that exists towards educational institutions, granting deserving candidates fair opportunities.

Reduce Machine Bias

Artificial Intelligence algorithms can be taught to craft strategies that identify and quantify any existing biases, enabling them to work around these forms of prejudice.

Using AI algorithms makes it possible to construct strategies that identify, measure, and eliminate any biases found.

Artificial Intelligence can assess and analyze historic workplace relationships between individuals of various backgrounds and their employers while determining how bias may interfere with a person’s career growth. 

Moreover, this technology can compare all applicants in the same context, making hiring decisions more objective.

Uncovering Crucial Market Insights

As executive search firms become more adept at constructing and preserving their AI databases, they will begin commoditizing market insights.

With the power of AI, businesses have a remarkable opportunity to rapidly identify executive trends and conversations – providing crucial data-driven insights for maximum chances of getting the perfect executive.

It is truly revolutionary that these algorithms can be utilized to generate shortlists, pipelines, and even talent market maps of specific segments of the labor force.

How AI-Powered Tools Can Help With Executive Search

Candidate Sourcing

Executive search firms are more than familiar with locating the perfect candidate. With a broad range of recruiting channels, headhunters must identify top talent in suitable places. 

Fortunately, integrated web search techniques can significantly assist them in their recruitment strategies. 

Additionally, uncovering passive applicants and fostering interaction has become easier with the help of AI.

Here are AI tools to help your company in candidate sourcing;

Entelo 

Entelo is the game-changer in source-to-hire automation technology, offering groundbreaking managed services that guarantee results. 

Utilizing advanced AI to drive agile recruitment processes, Entelo gives humans a competitive edge when hiring other humans.

Its unique solution uses predictive analytics and NLP to help headhunters locate suitable executives. 

By granting them the ability to search according to gender, ethnicity, veteran status, or any other criteria they may have; Entelo makes it much easier for companies of all sizes to source both active and passive talent. 

The platform also allows one-click job postings and applicant tracking from within the company’s website, a feature used by some of today’s most notable brands, including Lyft, PayPal, and Target.

Hiretual

Hiretual is the only end-to-end outbound recruiting platform that empowers organizations to discover, engage with, and cultivate a more powerful talent pipeline.

Its AI-driven candidate, sourcing, and engagement solution make it easier for companies to find their ideal talent faster. 

Its impressive artificial intelligence engine stores data from relationships, people, and locations worldwide. 

Additionally, they offer the world’s first Healthcare Artificial Intelligence Solution to help businesses quickly source healthcare professionals.

Beamery

Beamery is a cutting-edge candidate relationship management system that leverages machine learning to foster proactive recruitment and construct an exceptional talent pool.

Beamery is the sole AI-powered talent platform that prioritizes ethics and enables efficient recruiting, successful movement of personnel, redeployment of crucial skill sets, more competent upskilling opportunities, and streamlined workforce planning.

With predictive analytics and Natural Language Processing assistance, Beamery evaluates interactions between candidates and employers so recruiters can quickly pinpoint potential recruits and develop enduring relationships with them.

Candidate Screening

After finding a suitable pool of passive or active candidates, screening them is necessary. 

Examining executive resumes, which outline past accomplishments and works, further assists in this process. 

Incorporating Natural Language Processing (NLP), Deep Learning, and Machine Learning can be incredibly beneficial to refine the screening approach.

Recruiters can benefit from utilizing these tools to match and rank potential candidates:

CVVIZ 

With CVViZ’s AI recruiting technology, companies can revolutionize their hiring processes and quickly source the perfect candidate for every position. 

Whether high-volume or niche recruitment, the platform ensures that the company always reaches the right executive.

CVVIZ’s resume screening software is revolutionizing the hiring process. It goes beyond simple keyword matching and screens resume contextually – constantly learning from your recruiting practices to recognize the most suitable candidates.

This state-of-the-art technology can seamlessly integrate with existing Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to provide a robust layer of intelligence on top of your current system, enabling companies to source, screen, and hire exceptional candidates quickly and efficiently.

IDEAL

IDEAL is a robust AI-driven talent screening and matching system that strives to help enterprise teams make informed, equitable, and expeditious decisions when it comes to hiring. 

This cutting-edge tool can quickly evaluate thousands of potential candidates in real time with unparalleled precision.

Utilizing IDEAL can aid you in quickly screening and selecting candidates with the utmost accuracy, fairness, and speed. 

Its Artificial Intelligence technology even allows you to search your database for top-notch candidates. 

You’re also capable of engaging with potential executives around the clock via chatbot technology – allowing chatbots to qualify them swiftly and automating tedious processes such as candidate progression & trigger assessments.

Mosaictrack 

Mosaictrack revolutionizes the way companies search for and screen potential candidates, enabling them to identify even the most negligible distinctions in their internal profiles or resumes already stored in clients’ Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). With its Artificial Intelligence capabilities, Mosaictrack can help organizations find the perfect candidate without relying on questionnaires or past data.

Candidate Assessment

The utilization of pre-employment assessment tools is now commonplace amongst organizations, allowing for comparison in the core competencies of potential executives to ascertain who would be most suited for their organization and the role itself.

Chatbots, such as Jobpal, Mya, and Olivia, have been designed with the help of Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Machine Learning technologies. 

These powerful chatbots can initiate conversations with prospective executives while enabling a wide range of screening duties to be carried out quickly and efficiently.

Chatbots can also help to elevate the candidate’s experience throughout the hiring process by providing regular updates.

Here are AI tools to help your company in candidate assessment:

Harver

Harver’s AI-driven pre-employment assessment technology has been used by many of the largest brands in the world. 

Through data science and its exclusive algorithm, Harver helps you to evaluate potential hires based on their aptitude, culture fit, soft skills, and long-term success potential. 

Additionally, it provides a tailored hiring process with various assessment types.

Harver’s comprehensive solutions—including assessments, video interviews, scheduling, and reference checking—enable you to source talent swiftly while reducing biased practices in the recruitment process. 

HackerRank

HackerRank is the go-to technology platform for assessing developer skills worldwide. 

More than 1000 companies worldwide regularly use our services to objectively evaluate potential employees at every stage of their recruitment process. 

HackerRank stands amongst the most impressive coding platforms due to its remarkable track record- someone worldwide finishes one of the tests every 8 seconds.

It strives to provide a reliable and efficient way for tech recruiters and hiring managers to quickly get an accurate assessment of applicants without any bias or subjectivity involved.

Interview Process

The interview process is an integral component of talent acquisition. Since it’s such a popular subject in the corporate world, companies are investing more resources into competitor intelligence research to ensure that their organization stays ahead with a superior interviewing system.

It is essential to keep in mind that providing a positive experience for all applicants is vital, even if they are not eventually hired. 

After all, candidates can quickly become your company’s next employees, customers, shareholders, or promoters who share their experiences with others.

Here are some AI tools you can use to conduct your executive interview process:

Calendly 

Calendly is an AI-driven tool designed to maximize efficiency and convert leads through real-time emotional analytics. It specializes in productivity, scheduling, and boosting the effectiveness of your business by helping you effortlessly identify optimum interview slots.

If you’re looking to meet in person, Calendly can help by enabling you to specify an exact address or simply letting the person who’s booking with you choose a location. 

Not only that, but it also allows for virtual meetings through booking in various video calls services like Google Meet, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams.

HireVue 

HireVue is a comprehensive talent experience platform that helps streamline hiring processes for organizations of any size.

Hirevue brings your team’s productivity, outcomes, and candidate experience to a higher level.

Engage, screen, and hire your executives using text recruitment, assessment, and video interviewing tools.

HireVue has revolutionized the process of scaling up, allowing you to extend recruitment opportunities without boundaries and hassle.

Offer and Onboarding Process

When recruiting and welcoming new executives to your company, the primary goal is to make the process as seamless as possible while providing them with an extraordinary experience.

Here are tools you can use to improve your offer and onboarding process:

Enboarder

Enboarder is an innovative employee onboarding experience that utilizes machine learning to provide organizations with the most effective tools for sustaining high levels of engagement. 

Enboarder enables users to craft unique onboarding experiences with simple drag-and-drop tools and pre-built templates based on best practices.

This comprehensive platform offers a seamless, consistent journey from day one through every stage of your employees’ careers. 

With Enboarder, you can be sure that your new hires will have a memorable and enriching onboarding experience.

Talmundo 

Talmundo makes it easy to create meaningful connections with newly recruited executives in your team.

It provides a complete view of their new workplace and helps them familiarize themselves through conversational chatbots. 

This facilitates organizations in developing an exemplary pre-boarding & onboarding experience for all incoming employees, giving you peace of mind that your team is off to a great start.

The reason why artificial intelligence cannot replace executive recruiters

Artificial Intelligence can be a helpful supplement to executive search services; however, it cannot substitute the expertise of an experienced executive recruitment consultant.

Executive search is specialized for top-level roles and critical positions that shape organizations’ strategic objectives.

In some instances, resumes are disregarded in favor of direct interviews to get a better understanding beyond titles, skills, and job duties. 

After all, it’s only through meaningful human interaction that we can access the mental capacity necessary to accurately assess these unique types of candidates.

Human cognition is the deciding factor in finding the perfect cultural and organizational match.

Executive recruiters are treasured not only for their capability to track down potential candidates but also for their capacity to effectively negotiate to recruit packages that work in favor of both the candidate and client. 

They serve as a bridge between them both, acting as indispensable allies throughout the process.

Executive search consultants are also well-versed in industry trends, current struggles, and opportunities that aid them in searching for exceptional talent for critical executive roles within a company. 

With their knowledge and experience, these experts can find what a business needs.

Although artificial intelligence has made its mark in business, it cannot supplant executive search management consulting.

For a candidate, an executive recruiter is not only their coach and advocate but also their career adviser. 

For the client, they’re an expert in the market who can strategize and negotiate deals to find them the perfect candidate. 

Most of all, these search professionals possess the remarkable ability to identify that ideal person for each role and then convince them through data-driven narratives why this opportunity should matter to them and how they are uniquely qualified.

As an AI-driven technology, the system lacks human capabilities, such as creative problem-solving and social interaction, necessary for success in executive search management consulting. 

AI cannot match the power of human storytelling to capture a candidate’s traits, comprehend a client’s needs, or develop an effective strategy. 

Since executive search consultants first appeared on the scene, they have been capable of crafting narratives filled with facts that guide clients and candidates toward making informed decisions. 

This is something AI will never be able to replace.

Furthermore, experienced consultants bring expertise to uncover organizational blind spots, which can be difficult for a machine to detect. 

Ultimately, no matter how advanced technology solutions have become – they can never replace the insight generated by people working together on complex projects with strategic objectives.

Final Thoughts

Anxieties and fear of AI stem from the fact that we are uncertain as to where this is headed and how soon it will get there.

Technology tends to develop quickly, often in unexpected ways; what may have seemed like an unfeasible timeline before might now be achieved much sooner than expected.

At an executive level, it is becoming evident that AI and other technological advancements will become more prevalent as legal concerns are addressed and human decision-makers accept machine-generated recommendations. 

The necessity of such machines becomes apparent when considering our limitations in predicting another’s future behavior. 

As humanity improves our assessment and selection tactics, this may help us stay one step ahead of the robots. 

AI can be used to analyze large sets of data and identify complex patterns, making it helpful in finding the right executives.

AI systems can track candidate interactions over time, allowing headhunters to assess potential hires better.

Although AI has advantages, the experience and expertise of executive search consultants and headhunters cannot be matched or replaced.

Those who bring sector knowledge and expertise shall be rewarded with success through enhanced performances due to assistance from AI.

To maximize the chances of landing with the perfect executive, companies must accept and embrace change rather than replace it.

References

Potter, S. (2020, April 13). Artificial Intelligence Is Going to Revolutionize the Executive Search World. Retrieved on January 17, 2023 from https://www.brinknews.com/how-artificial-intelligence-is-poised-to-shake-up-the-executive-search-world-jobs-recruitment/

Raju,V. (2020, June 4). 30 AI-driven Tools to Optimize Your Talent Acquisition Process. Retrieved on January 18, 2023 from https://www.aihr.com/blog/artificial-intelligence-talent-acquisition/

Schmelzer, R. (2019, October 21). Should We Be Afraid of AI?. Forbes. Retrieved on January 18, 2023 from https://www.forbes.com/sites/cognitiveworld/2019/10/31/should-we-be-afraid-of-ai/?sh=48fef8a34331

Thompson, W., Li, H., & Bolen, A. (n.d.). Artificial intelligence, machine learning, deep learning and more.  SAS. Retrieved on January 17, 2023 from https://www.sas.com/en_ph/insights/articles/big-data/artificial-intelligence-machine-learning-deep-learning-and-beyond.html

By: Curran Daly + Associates

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Jerry Amores

Practice Lead, Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance

Areas of Expertise

Manager to C- Suite Level

Banking (Retail Banking, Corporate Banking, Investment Banking, Private/Wealth management, Digital), Financial Services (Traditional, remittance, alternative finance, fintech), Insurance ( Life, Non-life, Reinsurance, Insur-tech)

With over 11 years of Executive Search experience, Jerry Amores has built a strong track record in leading talent acquisition strategies and delivering end-to-end recruitment solutions across APAC. His expertise spans Banking, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI), Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO), and a wide range of Talent Solutions, allowing him to support organizations with scalable, efficient, and high-impact hiring programs.

Jerry brings nine years of management experience, during which he has led multi-geography recruitment teams, strengthened operational performance, and fostered strong stakeholder partnerships. He has consistently driven process optimization, team development, and service excellence, while managing senior client relationships and ensuring the successful delivery of executive, specialist, and volume hiring projects.

Grounded in his background in Psychology, Jerry is deeply passionate about mental health and people development, which shapes his leadership philosophy and collaborative approach. He is committed to creating supportive, productive, and growth-oriented environments—both for his teams and the clients he serves—while continuously elevating recruitment standards and talent strategy impact.

 

Pam Delas Alas

Client Relations and Digital Marketing Lead

I shape the digital presence of Curran Daly & Associates through thoughtful branding, strategic content, and marketing that connects with the right audience.

Pam is a digital marketing and client relations professional with nearly a decade of experience in B2B lead generation, brand strategy, and early-stage sales enablement. She specializes in content that connects, campaigns that convert, and client journeys that start strong.

She started her marketing journey in 2016, gaining hands-on experience in business development, campaign execution, and client acquisition. She later took on lead generation and digital asset management as a Digital Marketing and Client Executive. Today, she drives branding and marketing at Curran Daly & Associates—boosting SEO visibility, launching outbound campaigns, and supporting lead generation and client onboarding. With a sharp eye for strategy and a collaborative style, Pam helps turn first impressions into long-term partnerships.

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing Management from Far Eastern University – Diliman and is passionate about using content to elevate brand image, drive recall, and support business growth. Her work spans branding, digital strategy, SEO, and client acquisition—contributing to how the firm builds presence and fosters long-term success.

Honey de los Reyes

Financial Controller

I bring discipline and dedication to finance and accounting—driving growth by transforming numbers into strategic insights, anchored in integrity and operational excellence.

Honey is a results-driven finance leader with over a decade of experience in accounting, taxation, and financial operations—spanning both professional service firms and corporate finance environments. She brings together deep technical proficiency and a commercial mindset to streamline financial systems, ensure full regulatory compliance, and support strategic growth.

As a Certified Public Accountant, Honey started her career in public practice, gaining a strong foundation in audit, tax, and regulatory advisory. She later transitioned into corporate finance, where she broadened her impact by managing end-to-end finance functions—from daily operations and payroll to high-level budgeting and forecasting.

She joined Curran Daly & Associates as Financial Controller, where she plays a critical role in financial leadership, systems transformation, and business process optimization. Beyond financial reporting, Honey partners closely with operational and executive teams to strengthen internal controls, drive cost efficiency, and support long-term planning.

Throughout her career, she has developed a strong reputation for operational excellence, collaborative leadership, and unwavering integrity. She brings both discipline and heart to her work—mentoring and empowering stakeholders with clear, actionable financial insights.

Honey holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accountancy and is a licensed CPA in the Philippines. She is passionate about continuous improvement and upholding financial excellence in a rapidly changing business environment.

 

James Kopp

Regional Director

Trusted recruitment partner for senior roles in CX, Sales, Operations, and Transformation across Southeast Asia and ANZ.

Areas of Expertise
Specialising in retained search assignments for senior and executive level leadership roles.

James Kopp began his executive search career in 1996 with de Jager Executive Search in Sydney, specializing in Automotive and Technology markets.

He later held leadership roles at Interim Technology, Spherion, and Korn Ferry Futurestep, before establishing Curran & Associates Melbourne in 2005.

For over 20 years, James has been Director of Executive Search at Curran & Associates, focusing on IT, Sales, Operations, and CX senior appointments across Australia and Asia.

He recently joined sister company Curran Daly & Associates to support executive search across the APAC region.

Previously, James spent 15 years at Toyota Motor Corporation Australia, leading regional and national divisions, including Lexus and Customer Relations. He holds qualifications in business and human resources and is a certified EQ-i 2.0 and EQ 360 practitioner.

 

Cess Rañola

General Manager, Recruitment

Passionate advocate of Human Resources with more than a decade of bringing people and opportunities together.
Areas of Expertise
  • Executive Search in FMCG,
  • Renewable Energy,
  • Industrial Manufacturing,
  • Infrastructure,
  • Semiconductor,
  • Real Estate & Construction,
  • 3PLs and Hospitality

Princess “Cess” Rañola has been bringing people and opportunities together for more than a decade as a Talent Acquisition Leader and Strategist for both internal and external firms, including Fortune 500 and local conglomerate companies. Throughout her career, she has skillfully combined her business sense, strong people skills, business growth, and strategic approach that impacts all of her stakeholders.


She joined Curran Daly as one of its transformation leaders in 2023, responsible for overseeing the recruitment operations in the Philippines—all while performing senior management and executive-level assignments in a variety of industries. Cess has a strong reputation and a good eye for finding the right candidates for every role— with a successful track record recruiting top talents from entry-level positions to C-suite executive leadership roles in a wide range of industries, including but not limited to Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG), Renewable Energy, Industrial Manufacturing, Infrastructure, Semiconductor, Real Estate & Construction, 3PLs, and Hospitality. She also advised start-ups and non-engineering companies with notable key leadership placements in the BPO, IT, Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) industries.


Cess holds MBA credits from Singapore Business School, and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from De La Salle University-Lipa. She is a Certified DDI Behavioral, a Certified Targeted Selection® Recruiter, and a Certified Social Sourcing Recruiter (CSSR).

Margaret Agustin

PRACTICE LEAD

Talent matchmaking success through strategic sourcing approach and dependable client and candidate partnership.
Areas of Expertise
  • HR (General and Specialized HR) Recruitment
  • Recruitment
  • Training
  • Quality/Operational Excellence
Meg has ten years of recruitment experience within the BPO industry. She stayed with a top BPO company for eight years, leading her teams to the successful closure of heavy-volume hiring requirements. She was instrumental in the growth of existing clients and the successful launch and expansion of new businesses acquired. In 2014, she joined Curran Daly & Associates, where she shifted to executive hiring. She is currently a Senior Consultant, specializing in the fields of human resources, process excellence, and operations.

Paula Piala

PRACTICE LEAD

Areas of Expertise
  • Sales and Marketing (Mid to C-Suite level)
  • FMCG (Food and Non-Food), Retail (Luxury, Fast Fashion, Automotive), Healthcare (Ethical Pharma, Consumer Healthcare, Lifesciences, Medical Devices, Healthcare Services)
Paula is a seasoned recruitment professional with seven years of experience, bringing a wealth of expertise in technical recruitment, client management, and strategic hiring practices across multiple industries.
  Her career began after university when she joined a global financial technology company as an internal technical recruiter, gaining a deep understanding of the nuances of technical recruitment. Seeking broader exposure, Paula joined a global recruitment consulting firm, where she spent five years growing her career. There, she became a Consultant for the Sales and Marketing team, specializing in recruitment within the FMCG, retail, professional services, and healthcare sectors.
  Throughout her career, Paula has consistently demonstrated her ability to excel in client and account management, business development, and strategic recruitment planning. She has successfully placed high-caliber candidates in a range of roles across local and global FMCG companies, fast-fashion retailers, ethical and consumer healthcare organizations, and the financial services industry.
  Paula is also a passionate advocate for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (ED&I). She believes in creating equal opportunities for everyone, regardless of gender, age, or nationality, fostering inclusive work environments. For her, recruitment is not just a profession but a platform for building long-term, meaningful relationships that drive success for both candidates and clients.
  Her dedication, industry expertise, and commitment to ED&I make Paula a trusted partner for any organization looking to find and nurture top talent.

Fab Javier

PRACTICE LEAD

Areas of Expertise
  • Technical Roles (developers – CTO level)
  • Commercial (finance, sales, accounting)
  • Industry expertise: IT/technical, start-up, banking, fintech & insurance
Fab has more than 7 years of experience in recruitment, including 2 years in a leadership role. She is skilled at aligning technical talent with business goals across various industries, including IT, BFSI, FMCG, and global markets.
  She began her career as a technical recruiter at an IT consulting company. After 2 years, she moved to an HK-based recruitment firm, followed by 2 years at a local recruitment firm. She then returned to an IT consulting firm before joining Curran Daly as a Practice Lead. Fab has a proven track record of recruiting top talent for both technical and non-technical roles, including IT Business Analysts, Solutions Architects, Developers (Java, iOS, Android, etc.), IT Project Managers, and Solutions Designers. She also has experience recruiting for executive positions such as CTO and CISO.
  With her extensive experience in recruitment, Fab is confident that she can deliver results while ensuring good relationships with her clients and candidates.

Aya Manzon

SENIOR CONSULTANT

Areas of Expertise
  • Technical Hiring (Engineering, Construction, & Infrastructure)
  • Technology Hiring (IT Managers, Cloud/Infra/Development)
  • Support Functions (Sales, HR, Accounting & Finance)

Aya is a skilled HR and Recruitment professional with over 7 years of experience, beginning her career in HR Administration before discovering her passion for Recruitment. She started with Compensation & Benefits and Payroll but transitioned to Recruitment, where she has excelled for the past 6 years.
Her recruitment expertise spans PH Executive Search across industries such as Engineering, Construction, Infrastructure, Fintech, Shared Services, BPO, Logistics, Start-ups, Technology, Industrial Manufacturing, and Healthcare. She has successfully placed talent in diverse functions—including Engineering, IT/Technology, Finance & Accounting, HR, and Sales & Marketing—covering roles from management to C-level executives.
She is highly proficient in Full Cycle Recruitment, Account Management, and Business Development, with a proven ability to deliver exceptional results. Aya’s additional skills include Process Improvement, Recruitment Marketing, Talent Mapping, Niche and Volume Hiring, and Negotiations.
Passionate about fostering meaningful connections, Aya understands the importance of aligning organizational culture and values with candidate skills and career goals. Her approach ensures long-term success for both clients and candidates, focusing on building strong relationships that drive growth and achieve mutual goals.

Karen Magat

PRACTICE LEAD

Bringing world-class talents to every organization by glorifying his name through my lifelong mission of providing jobs for EveryJUAN.
  • Areas of Expertise
  • Leadership to Rank and File Hiring and Volume Hiring
  • Commercial (Finance and Accounting, Sales, Marketing, Human Resources, Business Development, Operations)
    Supply Chain and Logistics
  • Technical Engineering for Manufacturing and Industrial
  • Industry Expertise/Exposure: Fast Moving Consumer Goods, Manufacturing, Industrial, Semiconductor, QSR, Hospitality, Retail, Life Science, Supply Chain and Logistics and Start-Ups
Karen brings with her a decade of experience in the Human Resources and Recruitment field, she took a leap of faith when she started an HR role for a manufacturing company, after working for 2 years in the Hospitality Industry and eventually began her recruitment journey in a local manpower firm, catering to clients across various service-oriented industries and gaining exposure to both volume and mass hiring.
  After her tenure in the local manpower industry, she transitioned to become a full-time HR Practitioner and showcasing her skills by taking impactful roles, focusing on Talent Acquisition, Employee Engagement, Talent Management, and Employee Relations. This enabled her to develop into an effective communicator and a trusted business partner with the service-oriented companies she worked with.
  In 2021, Karen reunited with her ‘first love’ (Recruitment) by joining one of the country’s largest executive search firms as a Senior Recruiter. She was part of the top-notch recruitment team, supporting clients from diverse industries and fostering strong, harmonious professional relationships. As a recruitment business partner, she consistently provided the best talents suitable for both our internal and external stakeholders’ organizations. Karen steadily progressed to the role of Executive Search Manager, consistently exceeding her targets, and successfully filling roles across different industries.
  Leveraging her extensive HR experience, Karen is also passionate about leading learning and development, employee engagement, values formation, and corporate social responsibility projects. She is now part of CDA’s core leadership team and pioneered the Consumer Goods, Hospitality, Retail, Life Sciences, and 3PL tower.

Margarita Morelos

PRACTICE LEAD

Empowering Careers and Businesses with Top Talent, Connecting People to Opportunities for Growth and Success.
Margarita brings over a decade of expertise in IT and corporate recruitment. Her career journey reflects a steadfast commitment to fostering a collaborative and equitable work environment, with a strong focus on consistent results.
  Margarita Morelos has a proven track record of recruiting top talent across a diverse range of industries, successfully placing candidates in roles from associates to C-suite executives. Her expertise is particularly strong in the Information Technology (IT) sector, where she has filled key positions such as CIO, CTO, and VP of Data Analytics, as well as roles in software development and system architecture.
  Additionally, Margarita has achieved significant placements in both local and international companies, ranging from start-ups to large conglomerates, as well as within the banking and financial services sector, recruiting key leadership roles. She has also been successful in placing corporate leaders, including CFOs, HR heads, and general managers, in various industries such as renewable energy, industrial manufacturing, and real estate.
  Her strategic approach to sourcing, along with her extensive industry network, enables her to meet the unique recruitment needs of each client, ensuring successful placements and fostering lasting partnerships.

Leigh Teo

Associate Director, Executive Search

Helping organizations find their next stars through data-driven insights and human-centered strategies. Let’s connect and redefine talent acquisition together.
Areas of Expertise
  • Sales and Marketing (Management, Operations, Research and Development)
  • Legal Practice (Corporate/Commercial Law, Regulatory and Compliance, Contract Management, Taxation)
Leigh is an industry expert with more than 11 years of successful experience in full life cycle experience in recruitment covering in-house and recruitment firm set up for volume, entry, and executive-level positions. She has proven ability to foster relationships for industries like Consumer, Life Science, Technology, Industrial, and Business Process Outsourcing opportunities.
  Leigh began her career in recruiting at a top Business Process Outsourcing Company in Cebu, Philippines as Recruitment Officer for 5 years. In 2013, she moved to Manila to join Curran Daly and Associates, initially as a Recruitment Consultant before being promoted to Senior Consultant in a role where she was responsible for middle management and senior-level assignments for roles across Southeast Asia. Leigh rejoined Curran Daly in 2021 after spending some time with a Singapore-based executive search firm dedicated to supporting Asia Pacific requisitions.
  Leigh knows that people hire people, not resumes. Companies are not just looking for a set of qualifications that match a job description. She is most fulfilled when helping people to grow professionally. Her vision and ability to nurture relationships lead to long-term solutions and success.

Kevin Fitzgerald

Director, Executive Search

My clients and my candidates are one and the same, I strive to deliver quality candidates to my clients and a quality service to my candidates.
Areas of Expertise
  • Senior and Executive Operations
  • Finance
  • Project Management
Kevin spent more than 20 years working in procurement and project/finance management, predominantly in an international development environment. His career has taken him all over the world, enjoying both short and long-term working assignments in a variety of countries, from Angola to Uzbekistan, taking in the likes of Bolivia, Egypt, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia, and Zambia along the way.
  He arrived in the Philippines in 2008, initially managing Japanese government-funded development projects around the country, before joining Curran Daly as a Senior Management Consultant in 2015.
  Kevin became a Director of the company in 2017 from which point he managed Senior Management and Executive level assignments across various industries notably in the areas of Operations, Finance, and Project Management.
  Kevin has a thorough/process-driven approach to his work, leaving no rock unturned, an approach warmly received by both his clients and his candidates which has in no small part led to him building a strong network of Senior/Executive level business contacts across the region.

Geoff Curan

MANAGING DIRECTOR, AUSTRALIA

Keep fit, love my family, sport and the Italian language.

Areas of Expertise
Executive Search in Sales, Service, Analytics, and, BPO – Australia, Philippines

Geoff Curran has a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Western Australia and over twenty years experience as a specialist recruitment practitioner. During that time he has worked with organizations to secure talent at the middle and senior levels.

Geoff began his recruitment career in Perth in the early 1980s. After several years with a national management consulting firm, he joined Arthur Andersen & Co. to establish its executive recruitment division.

In 1989, Geoff moved to Sydney and at Morgan and Banks specialized in recruiting for accounting and finance. He then spent two years in London, further developing his skills in this field. He returned to Sydney in 1994 and joined Margot Davis and Company, a recruitment consultancy which specialized in marketing, advertising, and marketing communications. He subsequently became a shareholder and a director in said business.

Geoff established Curran + Associates in 1998. His approach to executive recruitment and search is founded on several basic principles: knowledge gained through specialization, being relevant to both clients and candidates, and delivering outcomes quickly and efficiently. In 2009, he started a business in the Philippines, this time focused on executive appointments to the BPO sector. In 2014, it became what is now known as Curran Daly & Associates.

Geoff Daly

Managing Director, South East Asia

Rugby and cricket tragic, scuba diver, and traveller!
With over eighteen years in senior HR roles, Geoff has enjoyed a successful HR career “assisting business leaders with solutions to their people issues.” Working across several industry sectors, Geoff has had a long career in international HR with assignments in Eastern Europe and East Africa, first having worked in China and Hong Kong back in 1996. Geoff’s strength is being able to create rapport with business leaders of all backgrounds and understanding the way to get the best performance from a multi-cultural workforce.
  Since 2007, Geoff has been providing HR consulting services into the Philippines, relocating permanently to said Southeast Asian country in early 2009. This in-country experience has given Geoff a unique understanding of Philippine culture as well as issues that impact the sourcing of outstanding people for clients.
  Geoff joined Curran Daly & Associates in 2009. Geoff holds an MBA from Melbourne Business School and a Bachelor of Business in HR. Back in Sydney, he was an active surf lifesaver, spending over ten years patrolling Coogee Beach. Geoff is also a passionate rugby and cricket tragic, and in more recent years has fashioned himself into an avid global traveler and keen scuba diver.