Bo Le Associates, the Chinese executive search firm that specializes in the financial services industry, is taking its service global through a partnership with an international headhunter.

The alliance between Bo Le and Global Sage, both headquartered in Hong Kong, creates a network with a presence in the Europe/Middle East and Africa region, the US and 24 cities in Asia-Pacific. By themselves, Bo Le Associates maintains operations in China, Southeast Asia and India, while Global Sage goes as far as EMEA and the Americas. Both firms will continue to operate as independent entities.

"The alliance provides our clients with unparalleled access to Asia, the dynamo of the global economy. It also creates opportunities for our Asian clients looking to expand into traditional markets, such as Europe and North America or the fast emerging economies of the Middle East, Africa and South America," said John Wright, chief executive of Global Sage. 

The search for top financial services talent continues as international firms pour into Asia in response to weakening markets in the US and Europe. While some major banks like HSBC are scaling back their workforce numbers in the region, the general outlook for Asia is positive. In mid-2011, the United Nations forecast that overall employment will grow by an average of 7 per cent in the likes of China and Japan, compared to the 3.2 per cent rise expected globally.