Head of Facilities & Office Services for FTI Consulting

Background

FTI Consulting is a globally recognised business advisory firm with over 30 years of experience helping organisations navigate complex financial, litigation and business challenges. With a presence in over 30 countries and a workforce of experts drawn from finance, law and technology, FTI is a trusted partner for companies facing critical issues that shape their futures.

FTI Consulting approached Maxwell Stephens to fill a critical senior role: Head of Facilities & Office Services. The position was based in central London, with responsibilities spanning multiple locations across EMEA, including Paris, Madrid, Johannesburg, Moscow and Dubai.

The Challenge

The role required not only a strong grasp of facilities management but the ability to operate effectively within a multinational, professional services environment. Several factors set the bar high:

• Geographic reach. A London-based leader would be accountable for offices from Paris and Madrid to Johannesburg, Moscow and Dubai, each with its own suppliers, building arrangements and regulatory context. Regional FM leadership of this kind depends on setting standards that hold when the leader is not in the building.
• Breadth of technical remit. The ideal candidate needed a proven track record in senior operational facilities management, with a strong understanding of property management, project management and the latest technological developments in the field.
• Commercial delivery. They also needed to be adept at managing supplier relationships, maintaining health and safety compliance and delivering financial efficiencies across multiple suppliers.
• Credibility with the business. In a professional services firm, the facilities function serves demanding, fee-earning occupiers. The appointee had to be credible with senior executives and comfortable working across different cultures and regions.

Our Approach

Maxwell Stephens drew on its established network and sector knowledge to identify candidates who met the technical requirements and also fitted FTI Consulting's corporate culture. The search concentrated on individuals with significant experience in international environments, particularly within the professional services sector.

In assessing candidates, we paid particular attention to:

• Multinational operations. Evidence of having managed complex facilities operations across more than one country, rather than a single large site.
• Supplier and contract management. Experience negotiating and managing supplier contracts, and a track record of delivering cost efficiencies without degrading service.
• Interpersonal skills. The ability to build strong relationships with executives and to communicate effectively across different cultures and regions, which in a role of this kind matters as much as technical knowledge.

The Outcome

After a rigorous selection process, Maxwell Stephens placed a highly qualified individual as Head of Facilities & Office Services at FTI Consulting. The chosen candidate brought a wealth of experience in facilities management, strong financial acumen and a proven ability to lead cross-functional teams in a multinational setting.

Their appointment has meant that FTI Consulting's offices across EMEA are managed efficiently and effectively, with a continued focus on delivering modern, well-run facilities and excellent customer service. The new Head of Facilities & Office Services now oversees a wide range of responsibilities, from building infrastructure and office services to supplier management and health and safety compliance, supporting the smooth operation of FTI Consulting's global business.

Why This Placement Worked

Regional facilities leadership roles are often recruited on technical FM credentials alone, and then struggle because the appointee cannot carry senior stakeholders across borders. This search weighted international experience, commercial delivery and interpersonal credibility alongside the core facilities skill set, and assessed all of them directly.

If you are recruiting a facilities leader with a multi-country remit, Maxwell Stephens can help you define the brief and reach candidates who have already operated at that scale. Get in touch with our team.