Hiring in Digital in 2013: Themes & Lessons Learned - Presentation by Clare Johnston, Founder & Co-CEO of The Up Group at the NOAH 2013 Conference in London, Old Billingsgate on the 13th of November 2013.

1. Hiring in Digital in 2013:
Themes & Lessons Learned
Clare Johnston, Founder & co-CEO, The Up Group
NOAH ’13

2. The Up Group builds
outstanding digital
leadership teams for
the world’s most
innovative companies

3. We place Board and senior executive
talent across functions
• Chairman
• Non Executive Director
• Chief Executive Officer
• Chief Operating Officer
• Managing Director
• VP International / EMEA
• General Manager (by Product / Country /
Division)
• Chief Marketing Officer
• Chief Product Officer
• Chief Technology Officer
• Chief People Officer / Chief Talent Officer
• Chief Financial Officer
• Chief Revenue Officer / Chief Commercial Officer
• Chief Data Officer / Business Intelligence Director
• Chief Strategy Officer
• VP Corporate Development
• VP Business Development
• Operations Director / Customer Services Director

4. We source talent globally with a focus
on building European-based teams

5. 2013
FOUR KEY THEMES

6. 1. THE YEAR OF THE MARKETER

7. 1. Marketing is the most sought
after function
2. Salaries have escalated
3. Brand building is back
4. The demands on a marketer
are high
5. Structure is a key challenge

8. 2. THE ELUSIVE PRODUCT MANAGER

9. 1. Understanding of what makes
a PM is evolving
2. The local hiring pool is
immature
3. The US is a key source of
talent
4. Founders are becoming more
comfortable hiring CPOs

10. 3. GETTING SERIOUS ABOUT VP INT’Ls

11. 1. More US-based venturebacked companies are
launching in Europe
2. Commitment is higher
3. Honest conversations are
now a given
4. Compensation packages are
becoming realistic

12. 4. NEW ROLES, NEW PRIORITIES

13. 1. BI / Analytics / Data is moving
into the C-suite, as is HR
2. Tech roles are becoming more
tailored
3. New roles are emerging as
understanding of key business
drivers deepens

14. 2013
TWO LESSONS LEARNED

15. 1. HIRING FAST

16. 1. Invest the time upfront to
understand what you really
need
2. Better to have a gap than a
bad hire
3. Force yourself to slow down
4. Reference properly

17. 2. SEEKING AN ‘A’ PLAYER WITH A ‘C’ BUDGET

18. 1. Compromise on seniority
2. Expand the role
3. Negotiate creatively

19. 2014: THE YEAR OF CREATIVE
PROBLEM SOLVING

20. Talent Workshop
4.25pm today, upstairs!
Partner, Index Ventures