The Ultra-Confidential EA Role for an UHNW VIP Client

A high-profile, VIP client approached Knightsbridge Recruitment with an urgent need to hire an exceptional Executive Assistant on a salary of up to £150k. However, due to the sensitive nature of the business and the individual involved, they would not be able to disclose the individual’s name and company until the final interview stage. The brief was deliberately vague, with only a few guiding parameters: exceptional discretion, high emotional intelligence, and experience working at C-suite level – probably a top graduate.

This level of opacity was far from ideal particularly when securing interest and genuine commitment from high level EAs.

With over 40 years of experience placing PAs and EAs in similar roles, Knightsbridge Recruitment understood immediately that this assignment required:

• A highly selective and proactive approach
• Sourcing EAs from our current candidates but also approaching our wider, trusted network of suitable candidates
• Absolute discretion and clear, transparent communication – within the limits permitted

We contacted a small number of EAs who had previously expressed interest in exceptional, one-of-a-kind roles and who we knew could handle ambiguity professionally. They had all been carefully interviewed by us in person, so although we were not able to share an accurate job specification with them, we had a clear idea of what they were looking for as well as their personality, working style and resilience under pressure.  Equally important, the EAs trusted our consultants.

We presented a shortlist of five outstanding candidates – each hand-picked for their ability to thrive in a discreet, fast-paced environment. The client interviewed them all and recruited one:  a career EA with a background in both corporate and private households, and a proven record of loyalty and discretion.

The role – as it turned out – was to support an internationally recognised individual in a highly complex hybrid business and private capacity.