Most executive recruitment companies focus on aligning resumes with jobs. However, there are few that tackle the real problem, which is finding culturally agile, crisis-tested leaders in places where the leadership pipeline is still developing. Nowhere is this more pressing than in Asia, where accelerating economic expansion outstrips talent supply. The demand is not just for executives but visionaries who can take businesses across borders. Filling this leadership void demands not only process, but purpose.
It is this purpose that propels Cornerstone Global Partners (CGP), one of the fastest-growing executive search and recruitment firms within the Asia-Pacific region. Established in 2012 by six pioneers in the executive search industry in Greater China, CGP started with the big ambition: to reinvent executive search in a rapidly shifting world.
What began as a local enterprise is now a worldwide firm with offices across Mainland China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, and the United States, and European expansion in the pipeline.
“Having an operating model based on multi-brand and multi region, we have made over 15,000 successful placements and boasted more than 600 team members”, says Sean NG, Co-Founder & Managing Director (APAC), Cornerstone Global Partners. However, its focus is not on numbers, but on people.
The firm’s mission is to liberate talent and empower entrepreneurs to pursue their career, financial and personal objectives. This candidate-first vision implies prioritizing leaders who shape the company's futures and creating meaningful careers for individuals. It also provides its people with the power of ownership, growth and global prospects.
A Full-Spectrum Talent Strategy Engineered for Growth
As the Asian continent continues to face shortage of leaders, especially in Southeast Asia and Singapore, CGP is designed to take on the burgeoning complexity in the market. The need for interim executives in technology, life sciences, ESG, and financial services keeps on increasing. Despite the uncertainty of the economy and rapidly changing global dynamics, organizations demand faster, high-impact hiring. The firm meets this challenge through the deployment of sector-specific teams, the creation of executive talent communities, and through bespoke, strategic support.
Also to mention, CGP is a perfect blend of local understanding and international capability which allows customers to tap into local and international expertise.
It has developed a highly innovative talent intelligence platform that combines features of predictive hiring tools, compensation analytics and real-time market mapping capabilities. Furthermore, they use AI-based search to help their recruitment process become efficient without sacrificing the high-touch, consultative experience that defines their services.
In addition to executive search, CGP provides the full cycle of talent services through contracting, RPO, inbound/outbound hiring strategy and talent consultancy. The company provides its recruitment services across 20 industries, which includes AI, financial services, semiconductors, retail, and real estate, spanning functional roles in sales, marketing, finance, operations, supply chain, IT, and HR. Each of the engagement is supported by a strong proprietary database and research capacity.
Technology is central to CGP’s innovation. Its hybrid recruitment platform provides over 1,500 curated positions, backed by offline consultants and one-on-one career guidance. This combination of AI-based capabilities and human intelligence enables candidates to make more intelligent, timely, and informed decisions about their career pathways and provides better results to clients.
CGP’s leadership exemplifies the firm’s entrepreneurial approach. Sean brings over 21 years of executive search experience across industrial, construction, property, FMCG, and life sciences. Chris Watkins, Co-founder & CEO, has more than 27 years of leadership experience in the U.S. and China, advising both multinational and Chinese firms at the board level. Adding further, the foundingteam, consisting of Alfred Chu, Jillian Wu, Sally Li, and Sophie Wong, each contribute over two decades of expertise in executive search and talent consulting. “Together, we have built a leadership culture grounded in deep industry knowledge and entrepreneurial spirit”, mentions Sean.
Awards, Accolades, & a Vision That Scales
CGP’s approach has earned widespread recognition. It was awarded Best Executive Search Firm in Singapore in the year 2022 and 2023, and Best Mid-Management Recruitment Firm 2023. It holds Great Place to Work certification across Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Japan (2024–2025), and has won China’s Shanghai “Bo Le” Award five years running, along with LinkedIn’s Global Excellence Talent Management Award in 2021 and 2022.
Having an operating model based on multi-brand and multi region, we have made over 15,000 successful placements and boasted more than 600 team members
Clients have repeatedly acknowledged CGP for its strategic advisory, responsiveness and accuracy in hiring executives. One HR Transformation Project Lead at A Regional Telco credited the firm with helping them access “high-caliber candidates that wouldn’t have reached otherwise.” HR Director at a fast-growing Technology Start-up noted, “The process was seamless, consultative, and tailored, a true extension of our internal team.” Candidates, too, speak highly of the firm's role in shaping career pivots and long-term success. These testimonials are a reflection of the trust it has earned over time, by showing up, staying curious and delivering consistently. For CGP, success is not just about placements; it’s about impact.
Looking ahead, CGP’s ‘Going Global’ initiative is focused on entering new markets, including the U.S., Europe, Indonesia, and the Philippines. The firm is building a million-level cross-border talent database, positioning itself as the only HR provider with a global pool across multiple sectors. In doing so, CGP is not just filling leadership roles, it’s helping companies build the future, one visionary hire at a time.
SeanNG, Co-Founder and Managing Director (APAC), Cornerstone Global Partners
Sean NG is the Co-Founder and Managing Director (APAC) at Cornerstone Global Partners (CGP), a leading recruitment and HR tech firm with 20 global offices. With over two decades of executive search experience across Asia, he has played a pivotal role in scaling CGP into a multi-award-winning talent solutions provider. A strategic advisor and active community volunteer, Sean is known for his people-first leadership and vision for building agile, future-ready workforce across the region.
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