June 2017

110 APAC / June 2017 , 1706AP05 Firm Decisions Stones International is a search & leadership firm, headed up byManaging Partner & Founder GiuseppeMilito, Italian executive search consultant. As part of our Business Leaders in Eastern Asia series, we interviewed the man at the helmof the firm. ​Stones International is a search & leadership firm, dedicated to assisting some of the world’s most successful companies and brands in identifying, securing and retaining senior management talent a in Asia, through retained executive search and leadership advisory services. Stones International is a boutique firm with a truly international reach and is a member firm of IIC PARTNERS, the world’s 8th largest executive search group, established in Europe during 1986. With a network of more than 50 offices, the firm provides their clients with expertise, excellence and consistent quality in every assignment they undertake across Asia Pacific, Europe, and the Americas. Based in Asia since 1996, Managing Partner & Founder Giuseppe Milito has an excellent track record in placing CEOs and senior functional specialists in the fashion & luxury, industrial and automotive sectors spanning the Asia Pacific region including China, Japan and Korea. Giuseppe Milito begins by offering an introduction to his own excellent track record and of course, that of the firm itself. “Since 2016, I have served as worldwide practice leader of IIC Partners, the world’s eighth largest executive search group, of which Stones International is a member firm. Before joining Stones International, I worked for six years as the practice group leader in consumer & retail for a well-known, Hong Kong-based search firm, focusing at that time on the major Asian markets. “Prior to joining the executive search industry, I was engaged in both the fashion & luxury industries, having he worked for the Benetton Group (production planning and distribution of accessories and travel goods) and Fila Group (production and distribution of watches and accessories). In 1999, I joined the German group EganaGoldpfeil, where I oversaw the development and worldwide distribution of one of the group’s key watch brands. In addition, I am an Italian national, fluent in Italian, French and English. I graduated in Political Science, with a major in International Economics from Padua University, Italy. “At Stones International, we offer far more than the tactical skills and experience of a traditional executive search practice. We centre our approach on the power of our people. Drawing on the strengths of our management, we put distinctive yet complementary skills, experience and personalities to work for each of our clients, fostering a dynamic culture that leads to focused strategy and flawless execution.” Standards of excellence Stones International is accredited by the AESC (www.aesc.org) , the Worldwide Association for retained executive search consultancy firms, which endorses the firm’s professional practices, standards and code of ethics. They commit to the AESC Standards of Excellence, more of which Giuseppe is keen to detail. “The AESC is the official body representing retained executive search consulting firms worldwide, with regional councils in the Americas, Europe and Asia/Pacific and an international board of directors. The AESC is recognised by the United States Government and the European Commission as the representative body for the retained executive search industry. “AESC’s mission is to promote the highest professional standards in retained executive search, ensure highly professional execution of search assignments and serve as an advocate to protect the interests of clients and candidates. Membership of the AESC is only granted to an executive search firm that meets rigorous criteria and following a process of due diligence involving client references, site visits and a vote by the appropriate regional council. “AESC publishes, amongst other various publications, a Client Bill of Rights, a Candidate Bill of Rights, and the Code of Professional Practice, which are designed to help clients and candidates obtain the best value from executive search and to ensure compliance of the search firm with agreed and tested principles.” Leadership advisory At Stones International, they essentially help leaders, teams and organisations excel. Giuseppe is enthusiastic to explain more on this vital point. “We know that for our clients the quality of the senior leadership has a crucial impact on company performance. The stakes for leadership decisions continue to rise as companies grow and transform themselves into new markets, geographies and dynamics. “We take an integrated approach to leadership advisory, to help our clients achieve their objectives. We act as strategic advisors to senior business leaders, CEOs and boards, becoming an extension of our clients’ organisations.” ​In short, the firm provides: • Talent monitoring – Constantly mapping the markets for best talents and regularly updating their clients with information regarding management candidates they could consider hiring; • Board advisory – Providing search, assessment and comprehensive advice on structure, governance and reporting practices and; • Career coaching & advisory – Helping executives move to the next level in their careers, through all steps from their social presence to compensation negotiations. The team Giuseppe then steers the conversation towards his team and provides a flavour of the firm’s culture. “At Stones International, we are more personal than larger, institutional search networks. We enjoy the hunt for solutions. Our culture is high-energy. While we