Executive search · France & international

The best people don’t apply.

I go and find them where they are: already in a job, in France and abroad. For media, creative industries, startups and scale-ups.

Léa Miquet, seated, in an interview
300+ hiresex-Brut.

A job ad attracts people who are looking. The ones you need already have a job, and they’re thriving in it.

My method.

I don’t promise deadlines upfront: we’re hiring human beings, and that always comes with unknowns.

01

The brief

An hour together to challenge the need and define the profile. Then I write the job description and the pitch for candidates.

Brief · example

At 12 months
Two new markets opened, advertiser pipeline doubled
Non-negotiable
Has sold media space or content before
Candidate pitch
Build the team, don’t inherit it
02

The search

Market mapping and direct outreach. I meet every candidate before I introduce them to you.

Search · example

1 person hired

Head of Sales · media agency

  • Identified140
  • Approached62
  • Met12
  • Presented4
03

The shortlist

A few profiles, each with my notes. You only see people I would recommend.

Candidate note · example

B

Candidate B

Sales Director · media group

Strengths
Built a team of 8 from scratch
Watch-outs
Never worked in a startup
Expectations
Package in line, 2-month notice
04

Decision and onboarding

I coordinate the interviews, lead the negotiation, then stay close to the new hire through their probation period.

After the shortlist

Interviews
I coordinate them with you and the candidates
Negotiation
I handle it through to signing
Probation
I stay close to the new hire all the way through
300+hires since 2019: agency-side, in-house and RPO
96%*retention* Percentage of hires who completed their probation period.
100%of W Executive clients came back with another assignment
6regions: France, UK, Germany, United States, Latin America, Africa

Where I work.

Sectors

Media, creative industries, startups, scale-ups

Media, creative and influencer agencies, labels, festivals, digital platforms.

Roles

Business, marketing, content, tech, leadership

From individual contributors to the leadership team. Roles where a mistake shows fast, in the numbers and in the team.

Regions

France and abroad

UK, Germany, United States, Latin America, Africa. Outreach in French and English.

What they say

I’ve worked with Léa on a number of marketing roles at Readly and she’s been brilliant to work with. She really understands marketing and takes the time to get to know the business and what the teams are looking for.

She’s always been great at communicating, takes ownership of the whole recruitment process and generally makes my life a lot easier! We’ve had some excellent candidates through her, particularly with the right mix of marketing experience and a strong focus on data and KPIs, which was really important to us.

I’d happily recommend Léa and look forward to working with her again!

Jamie White, Head of Marketing UK, Readly

I’ve had the pleasure of working with Léa several times at Cercle, both on hiring and on broader HR consulting projects.

Léa excels at what she does. First, she has great intuition and a real feel for people, which means she very quickly understands what the company needs and spots candidates’ strengths and potential.

She has strong social intelligence, and she’s autonomous, organised and highly efficient.

She knows how to put her experience and network to work, and doesn’t hesitate to clarify a brief or challenge it when needed.

On top of that, Léa is genuinely great to work with.

I highly recommend her.

Derek Barbolla, Founder & Artistic Director, CercleTranslated from French

I’ve worked with Léa on several hires and HR advisory projects. She stands out for her ability to quickly grasp what’s at stake for a company, identify the right talent and turn a sometimes complex need into concrete solutions.

She goes well beyond recruitment: she brings real business sense, reads people extremely well and knows how to challenge a brief in the right way. She has also given me plenty of HR advice, which makes working with her genuine, high-quality consulting.

Proactive, committed and remarkably efficient, she builds trust with clients and candidates alike. A brilliant professional who is always a pleasure to work with. I recommend Léa without hesitation!

Henrick Marin, Head of Finance, Le Crayon Groupe & General Manager, Les FinanciersTranslated from French

FAQ

How long does a search take?+

It depends on the role and the market, and we’re hiring human beings: I don’t promise a deadline upfront. What I do promise is regular check-ins, and a heads-up as soon as a risk appears.

How much does it cost?+

A percentage of the hire’s gross annual salary. The terms are in the proposal I send after our first conversation.

Do you hire internationally?+

Yes, it’s a big part of my work: UK, Germany, United States, Latin America and Africa, in French and English.

Do you work outside your sectors?+

Sometimes, if I can genuinely add something. If not, I’ll tell you in our first conversation.

Other ways to work together

Shall we talk?

Write me a few lines about what you need. I’ll tell you honestly whether I’m the right person.