What is the difference between executive search and headhunting?

The terms are often used interchangeably. In practice, executive search refers to a structured, mandated assignment for a senior role; headhunting describes the method of approaching candidates who are not actively job-seeking. HR Plus handles both. For director-level and above, headhunting is usually the necessary approach.

Do you approach candidates who are not looking for a new role?

Yes. This is central to how senior appointments are made. The strongest candidates for a director or C-suite role are usually employed and not applying for jobs.

Can the search be kept confidential?

Yes. Senior searches frequently need to run before the incumbent is aware. We withhold your company name during initial candidate contact and manage each assignment on a need-to-know basis.

What roles do you place?

Management, C-suite, and senior specialist positions across executive leadership, human resources, IT, finance and accounting, legal and compliance, business support, construction and property and UHNW services.

Executive Search & Headhunting In Hong Kong

Find the Leaders Who Will Elevate Your Business.

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We Approach the People
Who Are Not Applying

HR Plus provides executive search and headhunting services in Hong Kong, helping employers appoint senior leaders through a discreet, structured search process. Rather than waiting for applications, we identify and approach the people who are already succeeding in comparable roles.

What We Know That Salary Surveys Don't

Our team combines market insight, professional networks, and a discreet search approach to identify leadership talent in Hong Kong.

Being based in Hong Kong rather than working through a regional hub means we know which candidates have actually moved recently, which employers people are leaving, and what compensation is genuinely being paid — information that does not appear in published salary surveys.

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✔ Permanent placement ✔ Contract placement

When Headhunting Is the Right Approach

A headhunting mandate makes sense when the appointment is business-critical, when the role has been open longer than expected, when the search must stay confidential, or when the people capable of doing the job are already employed elsewhere. For senior appointments in Hong Kong, most of these apply at once.

How We Protect Your Confidentiality

Confidentiality is not an added courtesy in executive search.

It is a condition of the work.

A senior search often has to run while the incumbent is still in the role and unaware. On the other side, the candidates worth approaching have careers, employers, and reputations that a careless conversation can damage.

If either side loses confidence that the process is contained, the search stops working.

How we handle it in practice:

Your company name is not disclosed during initial candidate contact unless you authorise it. Candidates will only be told the sector, scale, and scope of the role first.
Approaches are made individually, through direct contact rather than published advertisements or open databases.
Information is shared on a need-to-know basis within our team, and candidate details are not circulated beyond the people working on your assignment.
We do not use your search as a reference. Client names and mandates are not disclosed in our marketing or to other candidates.

Our Proven Expertise in Recruitment Services

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Visionary Leadership for Sustainable Growth

Chief Executive Officer

Our executive search firm excels in identifying and recruiting dynamic CEOs who possess the vision and strategic insight to drive your business forward. With our extensive network and industry expertise, HR Plus as the best recruiting firm can help you find the right leader to elevate your organization and steer it towards sustainable growth.

I am looking for this!

Financial Leadership for Strategic Growth

Chief Financial Officer

Securing a skilled CFO is crucial for any organization aiming to achieve financial excellence. Our executive search services focus on finding top financial executives who bring strategic planning, compliance, and financial management expertise to the table, ensuring your business thrives in a competitive landscape.

I am looking for this!

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Operational Excellence for Maximum Efficiency

Chief Operations Officer

The role of a COO is vital for optimizing operations and enhancing productivity. Our dedicated executive recruitment team specializes in sourcing COOs who can implement effective operational strategies, streamline processes, and lead your organization to new heights of efficiency and effectiveness.

I am looking for this!

How Our Headhunting Process Works

1. Role definition and market mapping

We clarify the mandate — reporting lines, scope, compensation range, first-year deliverables — then map the Hong Kong market to establish who realistically meets it, and where they are.

2. Direct approach

We contact identified individuals directly and individually, on the confidentiality terms above.

3. Assessment and shortlist

Candidates are assessed on track record, leadership style, and cultural fit. You receive a considered shortlist with our reasoning, not a volume of CVs.