Inside Asian Gaming

INSIDE ASIAN GAMING | February 2009 30 Talent Quest As gaming operators are well aware, one of the hardest things about running a successful gaming company is finding (and retaining) the best people. Jonathan Pettemerides, Pentasia Regional Head Asia Pacific, believes strategic partnerships are the way forward, both in gaming operations and executive search and selection I AG : The gaming industry is unlike any other, with few parallels to different business sectors. Does this limit the pool of potential management and executive level candidates? Mr Pettemerides: The skills required to succeed in the gaming industry, especially at an international level, are specialised. While it is possible to transfer skills from other industries, nine times out of ten clients will request somebody who has years of experience in gaming-specific roles. That being said, there is an increasing willingness from clients to review candidates from outside gaming to compare against seasoned industry performers. Likewise, there is a willingness from candidates outside the industry to be considered for roles within gaming. What are the major challenges the industry faces when it comes to gaming recruitment? The difficulty is “selling” the gaming industry to non-industry candidates; many have negative preconceptions about the industry. Pentasia has found that when you mention gaming and gambling, especially in Asia, the phone goes down pretty quickly [laughs]. Our consultants are well-placed to put candidates’ minds at ease. We educate them about the gaming industry and tell them to consider a listed gaming business in the same way they do a listed entertainment business. We’re not dealing with grey-area companies; we’re dealing with companies that are legal, respectable businesses, many of which are floated and are doing very well. The Asian gaming market is distinct from its counterparts in America and Europe. What credentials do employers seek from key gaming hires here? Western businesses that are establishing Asian operations always seek candidates that have local, “street level” knowledge, including an understanding of operational and cultural nuances in those countries. Local knowledge doesn’t exist in some markets and companies will need to bring people in. Macau, for example, is a difficult market; executive level gaming expertise is not always available within the local population. Experienced people are out there, but finding the candidate with the right level of gaming experience is a specialised field of recruitment. The business world is in turmoil, but some people suggest there are areas of the gaming sector that are “recession proof”. What trends has Pentasia observed? Globally, we have seen strong growth in Europe’s gaming industry, which is the most established and mature market Pentasia operates in. There has also been expansion in Asia and South America. The Asia Pacific office has experienced an increase in its workload in Australia due to the shifting legal framework there, and we’re active across Asian markets in Singapore, the Philippines, Malaysia, Korea, Macau, Hong Kong and China. We have been doing some work in India and we’re looking to expand into Japan. We’ve also completed a couple of executive search projects in New Zealand. Of theAsianmarketswe operate in, it’s no secret that gaming technology companies in Macau are rethinking their strategies. The industry is no longer growing at the rate it was before. According to the Statistics and Census Service, Macau’s unemployment rate grew 0.2 per cent to 3.3 per cent between September and November 2008, with the number of unemployed in the construction and gaming sectors rising most notably. But while some markets are slowing down, others are ramping up. Singapore is set to become a very busy market. Las Vegas Sands Corporation has indicated that its Marina Bay Sands project alone intends to employ 10,000 people. Things are also happening in Cambodia and Taiwan. As well as helping western gaming companies with their hiring plans in Asia, Pentasia is assisting some major far eastern operators with their growth plans in Europe. Jonathan Pettemerides relocated from London to Singapore in September 2008 to take up his latest role. A former professional rugby union player, Pettemerides moved into recruitment— first in the general technology sector and later at Pentasia—after injuries slowed his rugby career. “The gaming sector is fast paced and what interests me is getting to know clients at the top level. I enjoy liaising with the people who run these businesses and understanding what they’re trying to do. I get a real buzz when I place a candidate who is really going to add value to a client’s company.” Pentasia