Turkish firms, employees ‘attract each other’ more

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

Ten years ago Turkish companies were looking for foreign directors, says George Cross, International chairman of Stanton Chase London [inset]. Hürriyet photo

As one of the most rapidly growing countries, Turkey is attracting talented native professionals amid the increasing tendency of Turkish companies to employ native professionals, a prominent executive search consultant says.

“Ten years ago, foreign companies were seeking Turkish executives, while the Turkish companies were looking for foreign directors,” George Cross, International chairman of Stanton Chase London told Daily News in a written interview. “Today Turkish companies want to utilize Turkish professionals with global expertise.”

He said the bilateral attraction stemmed from the fact that “the rapidly growing economy raises big demand for stronger executives.”

Likening the trend to the Indian case, Cross said talented native professionals came back to their homeland or never thought to leave for career opportunities abroad.

Speaking about women’s representation in Turkish management boards and business in general, he said he thinks nobody can “prevent a woman from achieving and having a better career.”
“If you bring two equal résumés to me, I would choose the female,” he said.