About us
Since 2009, Talents First has been serving its clients as a recruitment firm that specialises in talent acquisition.
Backed by our international experience and expertise, we identify the best candidates with one aim in mind: to further the success and contribute to the business performance of our clients through our executive search assignments (direct and mixed approach recruitment), our coaching efforts and the assessment of the profiles and skill sets sought.
Our team of consultants and experts is all the stronger for its diversity, with each team member imbued with the company’s values.
Talent Acquisition is not something that can be improvised. It demands an in-depth understanding of the labour market, of the positions to be filled, of the various market sectors and above all of each client.
Talents First’s expertise is rooted in thoroughness and creativity. We successfully help our clients to think outside the box, which in turn increases our success in finding the very best candidates for each search we undertake.
Our language skills and our multicultural background enable us to guide and support you globally.
OUR STRENGTHS
OUR STANDOUT QUALITIES
EXPERIENCE, RESPONSIVENESS AND KNOW-HOW
We are a team of seasoned consultants with a rich and diverse background coupled with an in-depth understanding of the sectors in which we operate. This understanding and diversity are where our strengths lie. It allows us to quickly grasp the environment, the challenges and the business context of our corporate clients and our candidates.
ADAPTABILITY AND FLEXIBILITY
Our approach is to consistently deliver quality, innovative and creative solutions. Faced with today’s challenges, we have transformed the traditional executive search model, making it more efficient, whilst maintaining a high level of exactness and quality in our direct approach.
PRAGMATISM AND REALISM
With our down to earth vision and understanding, we help our clients to anticipate problems and risk areas on the strength of our many years of experience. We guide our customers, offering tailored solutions, whilst taking into account market dynamics. We help our candidates to better understand their current value and the next natural step as part of a career development plan.
PROXIMITY AND AVAILABILITY
We create and maintain close relations with our clients and candidates. We actively listen to the needs and requirements of both parties to provide real-time information. A balanced and respectful relationship is the best guarantee to foster trust and is a mark of our reputation.
OUR SHARED VALUES
We are a devoted and involved team, driven by shared values of transparency, frankness but equally of excellence, sincerity, loyalty and commitment to our clients and our candidates.
OUR UNDERTAKINGS
Through our Candidate / Client Charter, we commit to a mutual relationship of trust in all our dealings and communications.
Our code of conduct
We operate with the utmost confidentiality and professionalism, in compliance with our code of conduct and always in good faith.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Since 2010, we have been members of the ‘A Compétence Egale’ association.
The purpose of the association is to unite professional recruiters and to counteract discrimination in recruitment practices throughout the professional career of candidates. The association also promotes diversity in the world of work.
TALENTS FIRST IS:
1
out of 3 recruitment campaigns
are conducted internationally
90%
of repeat business
350
Placements completed over the past 3 years
3/4
Of our assignments conducted utilising direct search methods
MEET THE TEAM
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QUALITIES
My main quality is my tenacity: I never give up!
Francine Jeanblanc
Having started my career in Human Resources with an industrial company over 20 years ago, I chose to switch to recruitment consultancy services. Over the course of these 20 years, I have developed my team management and recruitment project management skills at a national, French-German and international level.
I was so passionate about the work that in 2009, I decided to partner up with Mike Yew to set up our own company, delivering bespoke recruitment methods.
My main quality is my tenacity: I never give up! I’m also involved, ever the optimist and truthful in any situation. I take pleasure in enrolling for further training so as to continuously develop my skills to serve clients and candidates alike.
When I am not meeting the needs of our clients and candidates, I work as a volunteer for several associations to help those in need or I share my knowledge with Master’s degree students in Human Resources.
Mike Yew
After graduating in corporate finance, I started my career in recruitment in 1998 when I joined a UK-based recruitment firm.
In 2001, I seized the opportunity to set up a specialist recruitment team operating in the European industrial market. We gradually opened several branches to guide our clients seeking to recruit the right profiles on a global level, in the areas of industry, pharmaceutical, Food & Beverages and B2B.
In 2009, Francine and myself decided to start our own boutique recruitment firm specialising in Executive Search and Selection in France and at international level. Nowadays, we are proud to serve a loyal and highly diversified clientele across the globe.
I attach great importance to the aspect of cohesion within our team. Joining forces, we are able to pool our skill sets, raise our requirement level and deliver answers in response to more complex issues.
When I’m not working with my candidates and clients, I enjoy running and spending quality time with my family.
QUALITIES
I’m enthusiastic and passionate, I like to take on new challenges and share this energy with the people around me.
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I’m always looking for the best solutions to facilitate my colleagues’ work.
Valéry Da Graça
After graduating in economics and management, in 2008 I started working with Mike and Francine. I’ve been part of the Talents First rollercoaster since it was incorporated in 2009. Since then, I’ve diversified my tasks in my current role as Administration and Finance Manager. I make sure everything runs smoothly.
This position gives me a cross-organisational view of the company’s activities and allows me to interact with people from different backgrounds.
I infuse this tight-knit and dynamic team with a little madness and resourcefulness. When I am not at work, I spend most of my time with my wife and kids. I have also become a DIY specialist renovating old houses.
Renaud Dumontier
As a Business Management College graduate after first having undertaken English language studies, I was torn between languages and human resources.
After racking up initial experience in the field of recruitment which enabled me to discover the various industries and service sectors. I support my clients by putting in place search strategies while approaching and assessing potential candidates. I found my professional career path.
I was lucky enough to join Talents First in 2021. I’m very interested in the world of industry and technology, so this job allows me to put my perseverance, my interpersonal skills and my pursuit of customer satisfaction to good use.
QUALITIES
I am determined to put my experience, perseverance, interpersonal skills and my customer centricity to good use to serve Talents First.
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Determined and enthusiastic, I fully engage myself in the new challenges entrusted to me..
Seif Bibimoune
I have always been passionate about human resources and business strategy, with a solid academic foundation in both fields. My interest in recruitment was sparked during my Master’s research in HR project management.
I joined Talents First as an intern to focus on my research, but quickly became captivated by the dynamic and rewarding nature of recruitment. I discovered a genuine enjoyment in helping companies find the right talent. This growing interest led to the opportunity to transition into a full-time recruitment role at Talents First.
I am now eager to continue developing my expertise, supporting organizations in their recruitment efforts, and contributing to their success by helping build strong teams. I look forward to further learning and growing within the company.
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I’m enthusiastic and passionate, I like to take on new challenges and share this energy with the people around me.
Aron Demirovski
Over the last 27 years, I have lived around the world, in places like the UK, Slovenia, Turkey, Mozambique, and the United Arab Emirates. These global insights developed my passion for better understanding different cultures and business environments. In addition, they led me toward a career that would enable me to support individuals and corporates on their journey.
In 2019 I began my journey in the Executive Search field at a FTSE 250 company based in the Middle East, focusing on developing my expertise within the Saudi Arabian market, engaging with clients across various sectors, including family offices, insurance companies, financial services, pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, construction and industrial organizations. My ability to navigate the complexities of this market, combined with my deep understanding of the needs of businesses across different sectors, has allowed me to become a trusted partner for companies looking to hire top executive talent.
I am proud to join Talents First on their continued global expansion and be part of their Middle Eastern Leadership Team.
When I’m not working I spend most of my time at the race track with my karting team or traveling abroad following my other passion for photography.
MEET OUR STAFFIRST DEPARTMENT
In order to meet our clients’ demands, in 2019, we set up the Staffirst department.
This team delivers straightforward solutions, with short timelines and flat rate fees.
Depending on the profile sought, Staffirst takes a different approach to recruitment, bringing adapted, swift-paced, and efficient solutions.
Timing undertakings: No more than 6 weeks before we present our first qualified candidates.
Probation period guarantee: The candidate is replaced if he/she leaves during the probation period.
Flat rate fees: Guaranteed reasonable cost of your recruitment.
Tailor service offering: Every recruitment is the result of an adapted search for the profile sought.
