This year marks my 23rd year at Pacific International, and it feels like the right moment to pause, reflect, and look ahead. Over the course of more than two decades, the world has undergone transformations that none of us could have imagined when I first became an executive recruiter. Today, the advances in AI are significantly accelerating these changes even further.
When I started, LinkedIn didn’t exist, mobile phones weren’t the center of our lives, and conducting a video interview with someone on the other side of the world was almost unthinkable. Today, technology drives the pace of change in every industry, including ours. From the rise and fall of BlackBerry to the replacement of cash by digital payments, history shows that businesses that fail to adapt are often left behind. Executive search is no exception.
Yet despite each wave of disruption, our profession has endured. The reason is simple: executive search is, and always will be, about people. Technology can enhance the process, but it cannot replace the judgment, relationships, and trust that underpin decisions at the highest level. Boards and CEOs look to us not just to source talent, but to help mitigate risk when making leadership changes that shape the future of their organisations. That value is timeless.
The pandemic was a powerful example of how adaptability defines success. Almost overnight in 2020, the world moved online. Fortunately, Pacific was ready. We had been using video technology for a decade, which meant we could continue supporting clients seamlessly during those uncertain months. As a technology-led company, the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns had a minimal impact on our operations. For many organisations, hiring through a screen was a leap of faith, but we were there to guide them through it. That readiness is one of our greatest strengths, and it is a mindset we carry forward today.
Now, we are entering another transformative era: the age of artificial intelligence. Yet again, I hear voices that claim our profession is under threat. I see AI as a powerful partner for our business. It is already helping us supercharge research, speed up processes, and enable us to learn about new clients faster than ever before. What once took hours of manual effort can now be achieved in minutes, freeing our consultants to focus on what truly matters, like building relationships with high-impact leaders and advising clients. I would strongly suggest that clients review their talent partners and inquire about their use of AI and how this benefits them as clients. I frequently discuss this with our clients already.
Crucially, in my view, AI will not replace the human element in executive search. Instead, it will enhance it. No board will ever entrust a leadership change or executive bench hiring decision solely to a machine.
They will continue to seek human judgment, perspective, and partnership. What AI does is provide us with better tools to serve our clients and help our teams grow, learn, and become more effective professionals. It will also distinguish good executive search firms from the great ones, and I have every confidence that Pacific will make the cut.
That excites me, because our value as trusted advisors is now stronger than ever. We are helping clients navigate change while embracing it ourselves. At the same time, we are investing in our people, equipping them with new skills, ensuring they are confident with emerging technologies, and allowing them to thrive in a rapidly evolving world.
The next few years will be defined by agility, curiosity, and growth. I am proud of how far Pacific has come, and I am even more optimistic about where we are going. The journey has never been about simply keeping up with change. It has been about staying ahead of it and ensuring that our clients and our people benefit from everything we learn along the way. And even more so, doing it alongside people whom I deeply respect and who, alongside me, challenge the status quo to ensure a sustainable future for the business and continuously add value to our clients.
Here’s to the next chapter.
David Howells