Our Expertise

At ES8, we are focused on finding and attracting high-performing professionals who aren’t actively on the market.

These are the candidates who are heads-down, delivering results, and not responding to job postings, but who will move for the right opportunity when it’s presented thoughtfully and strategically.

We leverage our deep HR leadership experience and trusted networks to uncover this kind of hidden talent, people who often wouldn’t otherwise come to the table.

As a boutique firm, we operate at the optimum size to maintain a personal approach and ensure that your needs are our top priority.

Our access to the top talent, focus on long-term client relationships and our quality of delivery ensures we achieve outstanding results.

We work in close partnership with clients across the industrials, financial services and digital sectors.

We always go the extra mile to apply thought, understanding, independent rigor and passion to our work.

We offer advice, solutions and provide a personal touch, while maximizing our networks, insights and experience for our clients.

OUR QUALITY COMMITMENT

Every search we take on is managed personally, with a hands-on, high-touch approach that ensures not just technical fit, but lasting cultural alignment.

We take our commitments extremely seriously and our code of conduct is strictly professional.

We ensure that every working relationship is managed with integrity, extreme care and confidentiality.

We are committed to a long-term relationship with clients and candidates alike.

We're people, people

At ES8, we believe people are the most important component of any organization. We also believe people are the most complex component of any organization.

We get the job done

As a boutique firm, our focus is on our clients and meeting their expectations in a timely manner.

Our experience is global

Our experience is truly global with working relationships in counties across North America, Europe and the Middle East.

Meet OUr Managing Director

René Hansen

René was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, and raised in Fairbanks, Alaska, where his journey into HR management first began. Today, he brings more than 25 years of international experience as a senior HR leader, with a career spanning multiple industries and continents.

Before founding ES8, René served for over a decade as Chief Human Resources Officer at Dubai-based Crescent Group, one of the largest privately owned companies in the region, with diversified operations across North America, Europe, and the Middle East. In this role, he led global HR strategy and execution for businesses ranging from energy to logistics to investment.

From 2012 to 2018, René was a member of the World Economic Forum’s Oil & Gas Future of Human Capital Working Group, contributing alongside some of the industry’s foremost HR thought leaders. He also partnered with the Forum’s Global Shapers Community, supporting its mission to engage the next generation of leaders.

René holds a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Montana State University (USA), a Master of Arts in Middle Eastern Studies from the American University of Beirut (Lebanon), and an MBA from London Business School (UK). He lives in Oregon with his wife and two children.

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