As Bermuda's business environment develops at a rapid pace, a local firm has begun a headhunter service.

Figures from the Registrar of Companies show that by May 31, there were 1,423 registered international insurers alone, including 30 which had become registered in the first five months of the year.

Newly-incorporated companies, insurers and others, often need to recruit outside executives contributing to the flux of labour through corporate boardrooms.

And now, employment firm Professional Consultants Ltd. is positioning itself to discreetly assist firms in their search for key executives on the Island, and assist top executives who may be looking for greener pastures in corporate Bermuda.

The firm has just hired top recruiter Leslie J. Sanftleben, who worked for seven years in Boston at leading executive search firm Korn-Ferry International.

She said, "They are the world's leading executive search firm. I recruited at the senior management level in all industries. I'm hoping to head up and manage Professional Consultants' executive search and recruitment division.

"We're talking about senior management, including accountants, actuaries, CFOs and presidents. What I did at Korn-Ferry was to recruit at the vice president level and up.'' She sees her new role in Bermuda as that of a "middleman'', discreetly approaching companies on behalf of executives and approaching executives for interested companies.

Ms Sanftleben added, "In the short time I've been here, I've talked to some people socially and my feedback is that they would be happy just to have some one who they can trust, who they can share their career goals with. Someone who would be able to approach other companies for them, without any risk to their current employment. That is the service I would be able to provide.''