People problem fixer

WHEN it comes to solving business problems, the "who" is more important than the "what", declares Krishnan Rajagopalan. What the veteran consultant means is this: more often than not, the leader driving the outcome matters more than the solution itself. It is a conclusion that he has reached after 16 years in the headhunting industry, where he has seen first-hand how people at the top can make or break an organisation. And now, as the newly-installed global CEO of executive search firm Heidrick & Struggles, it is his turn to carry the mantle of leadership. The Chicago-headquartered, Nasdaq-listed recruitment powerhouse helps top organisations around the world find and develop senior talent, with some of their most notable placements including Eric Schmidt as CEO of Google (now known as Alphabet) and Satya Nadella for Microsoft.

As human capital continues to rise in significance even with disruptions coming fast and furious, Mr Rajagopalan has his work cut out steering a traditional behemoth through uncharted territory. Recently in Singapore to celebrate the 21st anniversary of the firm's office here, he tells The Business Times how he intends to take the business forward in a digital world.

The head honcho of one of the world's biggest executive search firms did not have his roots in HR. Neither did he start off immediately as a management consultant. Mr Rajagopalan began his career as an engineer in satellite communications dealing with technical issues.