02 Jun Why Marsden? Anu Malhotra
In the rapidly-changing world of legal and compliance executive search and recruitment, having a market-leading talent delivery and research capability is a vital part of Marsden’s business. Our strength in building long-term relationships with candidates is one of our key differentiators as a business.
Anu is originally from India and was schooled in Dubai. She also spent time living in the UK (her husband is from Manchester) before returning to Dubai following the birth of their daughter, and has lived there for the past 15 years. These early cross-border transitions laid the groundwork for her later professional global outlook.
After graduating from Delhi University she worked for the NHS in the UK, doing governance and privacy work. It was her pivot to business education, working as a programme administrator for the Executive MBA programme at the Dubai branch of the London Business School, that opened the door to a more corporate environment. She joined one of the top five global executive search firms as an executive assistant, where she became intrigued by the vital role of the research function. She proposed a transition―one that had never been done before in the Middle East in the firm―an EA moving into a research role. She spent a year there, gaining broad exposure across industries including real estate and finance, before being headhunted by a international legal recruitment firm.
She spent the next five years in a dedicated legal research role, starting with a regional EMEA mandate and expanding into a global role. It was also here that she first worked with senior in-house recruiter Angela Floydd, who she was later to reunite with at Marsden.
Her next step was to another of the top five executive search firms, where she supported the professional services practice. Working closely with senior partners, she honed her ability to understand the intricacies of client needs, industry nuances, and the delicate balance between speed and precision in the search process. However, she found it impersonal.
“In a company like that, you’re just one of a massive team, and you don’t always know who everyone is.” The chance to work within the collaborative culture at Marsden was attractive. “I already knew several people in the business and knew the culture very well. Here, I feel more valued. I can actively contribute to the business—like helping with database training or advising on using rapidly-evolving technologies such as generative AI—and, most importantly, there’s a real sense of team.”
When tasked with new mandates, Anu says that it can be akin to “finding a needle in a haystack” – a challenge she relishes. “You need to understand the market, the culture, the sector, who the competitors are, who their clients are. What kind of person are they looking for, both culturally and experience-wise? Only then can you begin to map the market for potential candidates.”
The key to her success to effectively partner with the consultants and the clients she works with in order to manage expectations from the very start, and to keep the client up to date with every stage in the process. “It’s very important to keep an open mind and allow the research to continually evolve so that I can ensure that the client has access to the best possible candidates for the role.”
Balancing a demanding global role with family life, Anu works 100% remotely – an arrangement that suits her well. She meets up with colleagues in Marsden’s Dubai office when she can and works with other members of Marden’s global team regularly.
Anu’s work highlights the importance of Marsden’s talent delivery function – especially as we continue to grow in key global markets. Her role demonstrates that success in recruitment isn’t limited to consultancy – it also relies on teamwork, innovative approaches, and practical impact.