Economic Challenges Drive Increased Demand for Specialised Talent Consulting in Asia Pacific Region

SYDNEY, Nov. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Futurestep, a Korn/Ferry Company (NYSE: KFY) , today announced plans to expand the range of consulting services to be offered in the Asia Pacific region as part of its suite of Strategic Talent Acquisition solutions. These services will be introduced on 18 November 2008 in Sydney, Australia coinciding with a meeting of Robert McNabb, CEO of Futurestep and Executive Vice President of Korn/Ferry International with global clients and business leaders, in direct response to the growing demand from clients facing the current challenges posed by the global economic climate.

Consulting services from Futurestep address the critical opportunities and challenges that affect talent acquisition such as workforce planning, employer value proposition and branding, process and technology optimisation and recruiting strategy development. In addition to its global footprint and industry experience, Futurestep consulting leverages the expertise of The Newman Group, a Futurestep company and leading provider of talent management consulting services to today's global enterprises.

The expanded consulting services come as the company's enterprise clients in the Asia Pacific region and around the world review their talent operations. "The changing economy brings new challenges," said Matt Dale, Director of Consulting for Futurestep Australia. "With resources tight, ensuring you have prepared the best and most experienced talent to ride out a softer economy while being prepared to quickly ramp up as the cycle turns is essential. Our clients rely on Futurestep to provide the strategic expertise and external-objectivity to plan, identify, acquire and develop talent. "

"Regardless of economic conditions, companies cannot compromise on talent," says Sue Tuffley, Managing Director of Futurestep Australia. "Especially in times of volatility, organisations must continuously look for the right approach to their talent management, whether that means optimising existing talent, focusing on new talent, or obtaining the data to measure, manage and improve their talent acquisition model. Our consulting services address all of these facets and enable companies to align people, processes and technology to drive business success."

Tim Nelson, President of Futurestep Asia Pacific added, "Futurestep's Strategic Talent Acquisition solutions emphasise our commitment to ensuring that our clients' talent strategies are aligned to drive and improve business performance. It's what our clients have come to expect from us, and it's the advantage we deliver for enterprises in the region and around the world."

Futurestep is a major global provider of talent acquisition solutions, with key clients in the region including New Zealand-based Fonterra (the world's largest dairy exporter), Australia's St. George Bank, and American Express. Recently, Futurestep was recognised by HRO Today magazine 2008 as one of the top RPO providers in the world.

About Futurestep

Futurestep, a Korn/Ferry Company, is the industry leader in strategic talent acquisition, offering fully customised, flexible solutions to help organisations meet specific workforce needs. Our full-spectrum portfolio of services includes: Strategic Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO), Project-Based Recruitment, Mid-Level Recruitment, Interim Professionals and Consulting Services. With locations on four continents and a record of success in securing top talent around the world, Futurestep provides the experience and global reach to identify, attract and retain the people who drive business success. To learn more, visit futurestep.com.

About Korn/Ferry International

Korn/Ferry International, with more than 90 offices in 40 countries, is a premier global provider of talent management solutions. Based in Los Angeles, the firm delivers an array of solutions that help clients to identify, deploy, develop, retain and reward their talent. For more information on the Korn/Ferry International family of companies, visit kornferry.com.