
Taking the Opportunity to Rethink Your Career in 2020 – Insight Welcome Mike Kennedy to FM Team
Insight are delighted to announce our third new hire of 2020, Mike Kennedy. Despite a disjointed year, there has been significant demand for support in the sectors that IEG specialise in. Particularly within healthcare, for both our property and procurement teams.
Mike is joining the FM, Property and Estates Management Team where he is able to apply his industry knowledge to support FM service provider clients within healthcare to fulfil their senior management requirements.
Mike spoke with Marketing Manager, Alex Kassab, about his career change in 2020, and why he felt that Insight Executive Group was the right company for him.
Hi Mike, tell us a bit about your background in recruitment.
I began working in recruitment in 2000 at an executive search company in Manchester. After a year, I moved to London and was offered a job at a Rec2Rec firm. I built my career there learning in detail about the UK construction and property sectors and enjoyed a really successful two decades doing so. It wasn’t until lockdown this year, that I took the opportunity to pause, reflect and rethink my career at this stage.
How did lockdown help you to reappraise your career?
The pandemic allowed me time to stop and think about what I wanted to do moving forward. The Rec2Rec world has looked after me well, there’s always been good money. It has constantly kept me engaged but, having been in this industry for so long, I felt that had hit a wall with learning and development. I was hungry to adapt and learn something new.
How did the move to Insight come about?
I had a frank conversation with my manager about how I felt. She was supportive and, having worked with IEG in recent years, suggested I meet with its co-founders, Nick White and Richard Collins.
Did IEG fit what you were looking for?
Absolutely yes. It appealed to me because it was a mature place to work – it wasn’t just about bashing the phones. Instead, the focus is on building and developing networks and referral-based work.
The interview process also impressed me; Nick and Richard, as well as, division heads, Andrew Pyman and Rob Parker, all felt like likeminded people and I could tell I would benefit from working with recruiters who had so much knowledge to share.
The fact that Insight seemed to be prospering during the pandemic, when so many others unfortunately struggled, made it an even more promising proposition. I was already aware of the company and it was evident to that people genuinely enjoy working at Insight Executive Group.
The FM market is a good, durable sector to work within. The recruiters that I know who work within the FM market confirmed this and highlighted the competitive position IEG holds with the unparalleled experience of their directors. I was keen to join them and get stated!
Has everything lived up to your expectations?
For sure – It’s been a welcoming environment, and everyone has been really committed to making sure I hit the ground running. The team has been helpful, open, supportive and willing to collaborate – there’s no candidate ownership, which I’ve really enjoyed. The mood in the (virtual) office has been buoyant as there have been a glut of placements recently. It’s busy, supportive, fun and engaging – I have already learned so much.
Can you tell us a bit about the sector you will be covering?
I’ll be working in the FM Service Provider sector, mainly into healthcare but potentially local and central government in the future. I specialise in middle – senior management roles both within soft and hard FM.
Director of Property Estates and FM, Nick White commented:
We’ve been looking to expand our FM Service Provider team for a while and Mike was the perfect fit. He brings with him a wealth of experience and has impressed with his eye for detail and methodical working practices. Welcome aboard!
To get in touch with Mike, you can call him directly on 07557 042383 or email him at Mike.Kennedy@insightexecutive.co.uk