EGM Executive doubles down on search as Adelaide talent demand grows
With a new senior hire and a sharpened focus on real search, EGM Executive is expanding its reach in South Australia’s competitive C-suite recruitment market.
A growing appetite for more sophisticated executive search – and a renewed focus on connection at the top end of business – is driving the next phase of growth for EGM Executive Search and Recruitment, as the Adelaide-founded firm strengthens its specialist offering and expands its footprint in the executive market.
Founded by Yasmine and Mark Johnson, EGM has built its reputation on relationships and networks across South Australia’s business community. Now, nearly a decade on, that foundation is evolving into a more defined executive search proposition, supported by new talent and a sharpened focus on how senior leaders are identified, engaged and supported.
“Two years ago, we launched EGM Executive to focus more on recruiting C-suite level roles in South Australia and nationally,” Yasmine says.
“We’ve always recruited executive positions but we wanted to carve out the brand because at EGM we run a high touch, thorough process. We spend the time on search, market mapping and headhunting – it’s not just advertised search, which tends to be a lot of what our competitors do.”
That distinction is central to the firm’s positioning in a competitive market, where traditional recruitment models often rely heavily on advertising roles rather than proactively identifying candidates.
“We live and breathe building our networks and having those connections in that executive space – mostly in South Australia, but definitely tapping into talent nationally and globally to bring people into the state,” Yasmine says. “That’s our point of difference.”
The next step in strengthening that capability comes with the appointment of Emily Palmer, who has joined the business in recent weeks.
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“Emily brings more than 20 years of senior search experience gained at global firms, working across the UK/Europe, US and Asia,” Yasmine says. “She has been working in Adelaide on and off for the last seven years.
“Having her come on board solidifies our proven capability and focus on CX in this space.”
Palmer’s role is designed to deepen the firm’s search expertise and track record, complementing Yasmine and her colleagues’s Paula and Mark, who lead client engagement and executive recruitment.
“It means that no one is left uncovered and we can make sure we’re presenting a range of suitable candidates to our clients.”
That investment comes as demand for executive talent in South Australia remains steady, underpinned by a resilient local economy and ongoing business growth.
“I would say the market is good and relatively active,” Yasmine says. “There are great executive roles here; we are in a decent position with our economy in South Australia.
“Many positions we recruit are not advertised. Because we have strong networks and connections, we’re filling roles without putting them out to market.
“I always say to candidates, don’t assume that the advertised jobs are the only jobs out there. There’s always a lot happening behind the scenes – it’s important to keep connected and ensure you are having conversations with us to be a part of that network.”
That network-driven approach also plays into a broader ambition: positioning South Australia as a destination for high-calibre executive talent.
“There’s still a perception at an executive level that we don’t have the talent here in South Australia,” Yasmine says. “But we do – it’s just about tapping into it.
“At the same time, we’ve got great networks of South Australians who have moved interstate or overseas and want to come back, as well as people who are open to relocating here. For us, we’re really passionate about progressing South Australia.
“Our purpose is about how we bring talent into the state to continue growing our economy. It’s about investing in South Australia, keeping revenue here and bringing great people in, rather than losing talent to interstate or overseas roles.”
Alongside the growth of its executive search arm, EGM has also been building out a program designed to address a post-Covid gap in executive connection.
“The Catalyst Project (TCP) is a program powered by EGM Executive that we developed 18 months ago,” Yasmine says. “Through our journey growing our executive brand and consulting with executives and boards in South Australia, we found there was a gap – particularly post-Covid – in feeling a sense of community and connection. The Catalyst Project is bringing back networking at that level.”
The program brings together cohorts of senior leaders – including CEOs, CFOs, chief people officers and CIOs – for a mix of larger events and smaller, more confidential discussions.
“We’ve created cohorts of executives and run four events annually,” Yasmine says. “There’s a larger event with guest speakers, but also smaller roundtables with 10 to 12 executives in a confidential environment.
“It creates a safe space to talk about challenges, bounce ideas around and learn from others who might have been through similar experiences. It can be quite lonely at the top.”
For Yasmine, the expansion of EGM Executive and the introduction of new team members comes at a reflective moment for the business, which approaches its 10-year milestone later this year.
“We turn 10 in July, and it’s definitely making me stop and reflect,” she says. “We’ve been running hard for so long that you don’t always take a step back to think about what you’ve achieved.
“But when you do, it’s like, wow – we’ve built something really special. Not just in terms of growth and the roles we’ve filled, but in the contribution to our state.
“To be able to keep growing, bring new people into the business and continue building that legacy – helping great people find great roles in South Australia – it’s really exciting.”
EGM Partners is a proud partner of the South Australian Business Index lunch and networking event.
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