The Founder

Nikki Harkin founded ExecCo.Search after 30 years in Commerce, Management & HR,  Management Development, Recruitment & Executive Search working with Morgan & Banks, Talent2, Cadbury Schweppes & Coles.  A client described her as

 “natural networked and super-connector of people (and sometimes deals). She specialises in  recruitment and board structuring (and much more). She is also involved in Tech Start Ups and consults on people, culture & advising the CEO on some of the early-stage growth requirements and parts of the business strategy”.

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Our Firm is an Advisory & Executive Search Firm driven by an extensive & profound understanding of the talent landscape
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We help organisations be savvy around investments and pursuits focused on Real Commercial Growth & mobilising talented teams to outperform
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We build businesses with Founders & CEOs and give them access to an extensive network & grow relationships & customer acquisition
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We create solutions when Start-Ups grow customers and businesses need to mature with people & exceptional performance
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We partner with Boards & C-suite to recruit CEO, CFO, CCO, CMO, COO, CTO, CDO, CPO, CSO, CIO
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We assess talent & advise on successful People & HR solutions for hiring culturally aligned people across all functions: from admin to executive, from inside sales to developer, from operations to finance
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Nikki Harkin

Director

Nikki Harkin brings over 30 years’ experience in Commercial & HR including 20 years in Executive Search having completed over 500 assignments across a wide range of industry sectors.  In 2015 Nikki founded the Boutique Consulting & Advisory Firm ExecCo.Search, working in close partnership with Executives & Boards. 

Nikki is described as a

Start Up growth leader who builds Tech Scale Up Businesses with Founders.  She is an Entrepreneur, HR Evangelist & Headhunter

Nikki founded ExecCo.Search & Advisory and has 5+ years experience working with Tech Start Ups:  Buildxact, Sinefa, GreyScan, Emvisage, DGIT Systems, Bourne Digital, Red Marble AI.

Nikki partners with key clients to lead recruitment assignments and search assignments.  Usually critical talent that is difficult to source particularly Technology, Digital, Data, Security & Innovation crew.

30 years commercial experience with Morgan & Banks, Talent2, Cadbury Schweppes & Coles

Sales Guru with access to a large customer network centred around Tech Leaders, able to generate rapid business growth & worked in global account management, marketing & events

Philanthropic efforts include m.a.d.woman Ambassador and serving on GoGirls.

In the words of Matthew Toms, Founder, Wellaware

‘Nikki is one of the most impressive, enthusiastic, networked, professional & honest humans who is also inspiring, incredibly supportive and just great fun to be around’.

 

Executive Search & Recruitment

  • 20 years+ in Executive Search
  • 500+ recruitment assignments across a wide range of industry sectors

HR Advisory

  • 7 years in HR
  • 20+ years supporting Technology businesses grow

Nikki works with teams to grow commercial success.     Initially a key focus is recruiting Exceptional Talent.  Execeptional by definition is a ‘rare instance’ and ‘extraordinary’ and we assess competences around 3 categories: ’Gifted’, ‘Game’ & ‘Generous’ & identify how to build successful teams.    With Start Ups Nikki  targets growth initiatives and focuses on Organisational Capability, Sales & HR Hygiene.  We also firmly plant ourselves on Boards & Board Advisory Groups to grow from Start Up to Scale Up fast and furiously. Nikki is also invited to take an equity stake in Start Ups making her a partner who is ‘All In’.

 Nikki Harkin’s commercial experience commenced in 1990 after completing a Bachelor of Business at Deakin University when she joined Cadbury Schweppes in HR and spent seven years in leading HR roles & National Recruitment Manager.  Nikki led recruitment across Sales, Marketing, Finance, Procurement, IT, HR, Manufacturing & Supply Chain.

In 1997, Nikki joined Morgan & Banks and helped set up the Morgan and Banks Technology business to developed a specialisation in the IT&T recruitment market growing.  Nikki built and managed a significant recruitment practice & developed long lasting relationships with Clients across all Private, Public and Government Sectors.  

In 2002 Nikki managed major national account relationships and led large, complex recruitment projects. In 2003 Nikki was the National Practice Leader for the Sales, Marketing & Communication Recruitment Practice. 

Nikki joined Talent2 in May 2005 to specialise in senior executive search & recruitment for the IT&T market, managing the selection of Leaders in IT & Digital across national and international searches for leading Corporates. In 2008 Nikki lead Client Development & Major Accounts across all sectors and practices for Victoria.  

 In 2015 Nikki realised her true potential and created her own firm to deliver value beyond solving the initial request.  She is deeply passionate about her clients and candidates and their success model.  ExecCo.Search is 5 years old and the client stories tell the tale of why, what and how we have achieved with a creative, passionate and determined mindset.

The Person

Partner to a Hawthorn supporter,  ex Stockbroker & Accountant and Founder of a successful consumer goods business born 22 years ago who is Nikki’s Business Mentor & Commercial Guide

A Passionate parent to a 19 year old daughter & a teenager son involved in sporting clubs across rowing, netball, football, basketball, cricket.

Nikki is a keen AFL supporter, proudly supporting Carlton, she is an Ambassador for the m.a.d.woman foundation and actively supports the Liberal Party.