Hiring the right executive talent is more challenging than ever. With a growing skills gap, rapid technological advancements, and fierce competition for top leaders, businesses need more than just a solution-provider, they need a trusted partner. We sat down with Neil Humphreys to understand how Howgate Sable supports businesses to grow. Here, he shares why a boutique, high-touch approach to executive search delivers.
Q: Tell us a bit more about the Howgate Sable Network and how the organisation is set up to support clients.
The set-up we have here at Howgate Sable puts quality front and centre. As a team of highly-skilled, independent consultants and small organisations, we operate together under the Howgate Sable Network to offer our clients more – a greater global reach, more boots on the ground and a shared expertise that I haven’t seen replicated anywhere else.
Everyone working under the Howgate Sable Network name approaches things with the same goals in mind. We all believe in a highly personalised, high-touch approach to executive search. Businesses are not only looking for candidates with the right skills on paper, they need leaders who understand the complexities of their sector, align with their culture and can drive long-term success. We focus on building deep, long-term relationships with our clients, acting as their trusted advisor.
Q: What are some of the biggest challenges in hiring senior talent in your key operational markets today?
I work predominantly in the manufacturing and industrial sectors, where a number of key challenges are commonplace across the board.
Firstly, there’s a growing skills gap – many experienced professionals are reaching retirement age, and there aren’t enough younger leaders with the same depth of industry expertise coming through. Secondly, the rapid evolution of technology, automation, and sustainability initiatives means that businesses need leaders who can adapt and drive change. Lastly, competition for top talent is intense. The best candidates are often not actively looking for new roles, so they need to be engaged in a thoughtful and strategic way.
Q: How does the Howgate Network help address these challenges?
We act as consultants to the businesses we work in, taking time to understand their specific set up and advising on the type of person or role that is going to help them move forward. We proactively identify, approach, and engage the very best talent, whether they are actively looking or not. This means conducting in-depth market mapping, discreet networking, and rigorous candidate assessment.
Our approach ensures that clients are introduced to candidates who are not just highly qualified but also motivated, well-matched to the organisation, and aligned with its long-term goals. The right hire at the executive level can be transformative for a business, particularly in a sector as dynamic as manufacturing and industrial.
Q: Many large firms operate in this space, so why should companies choose a boutique firm like yours instead?
Large firms tend to work on high volumes, often juggling multiple clients within the same industry with significant ‘off limits’ blocks. This can create conflicts of interest and limit the talent pool they can access, in some cases there is refusal to have current clients off-limits even during a search. They also tend to utilise the classic bait and switch where the partner ‘sell’ and the actual delivery are handled separately.
As a boutique firm, we take the opposite approach. We work with a select number of clients at any given time, allowing us to dedicate more resources and attention to each search. Our clients work directly with Partners who have deep industry expertise, not associates working from a database. We take the time to understand your business, your leadership needs, and your long-term objectives, ensuring a truly tailored search process.
Q: What does being a ‘trusted partner’ mean in executive search?
It means we are not just filling roles – we are advising and guiding our clients through complex hiring decisions. Our relationships are built on trust, discretion, and long-term collaboration. We provide market insights, help shape hiring strategies, and support our clients beyond just making a placement. Clients come back time and again because they know we genuinely care about their success.
Q: Any final thoughts for businesses considering executive search?
Finding and securing top executive talent is one of the most critical decisions a business can make. The right leader can drive growth, innovation, and stability, but finding the right person can be a mammoth task. This is where executive search at the highest levels comes in. Search partners that prioritise quality over quantity, understand the intricacies of the sector, and are committed to your long-term success can be the catalyst that makes change happen in your organisation.