Victus Search, Multi-jurisdictional Recruitment Partner for Financial Services 1200 627

Date

30 January 2025

Category

What are the biggest challenges facing family offices in the current business environment? It’s a question that many families are grappling with as they navigate an increasingly complex landscape of regulatory change, technological breakthroughs and geopolitical shifts.

In this article, Shabana Saeed, Senior Consultant at Victus Search, discusses the key issues which will shape 2025 and offers insights and potential solutions for family offices seeking to ensure continued success.

TALENT ACQUISITION

Attracting and retaining top talent is crucial for any organisation, and family offices are no exception, but as we enter a new year, competition for skilled professionals in areas such as investment management, legal and compliance, and operations is fiercer than ever.

Family office roles often require individuals with a very specific blend of skills and experience, including discretion, cultural sensitivity, and values alignment — adding to the recruitment challenge. It’s no surprise that, as a result, more family offices are turning to specialist agencies to identify the most suitable professionals, refine their offer, and connect with promising candidates who may not be actively seeking a career move.

MARKET VOLATILITY

Navigating volatile global markets is another significant challenge which has become more pronounced in the light of recent geopolitical events. In the face of rising inflation, fluctuating interest rates, and global instability, family offices are looking to develop sophisticated investment strategies to protect and grow wealth.

Success depends in part on onboarding and retaining the right talent — with expertise in a range of asset classes and the ability to adapt quickly to changing market conditions.

LEADERSHIP AND SUCCESSION

Managing intergenerational wealth and leadership transitions is a delicate and complex undertaking. Differing values, investment priorities, and philanthropic goals among family members can create challenges. Careful succession planning and reliable leadership are essential to navigate these transitions smoothly.

Recently we’ve seen an increasing number of family offices we work with look to make external appointments for key C-suite roles to ensure the robust governance needed to guide this process — including in markets where family members traditionally dominate senior leadership and executive positions.

ESG INTEGRATION

Increasingly, family offices are incorporating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors into their investment decisions. Aligning investments with these values, particularly with the growing emphasis on sustainability from younger generations, requires specialist knowledge and careful consideration.

Balancing ESG principles with financial returns can be a complex undertaking, and we’ve noticed a growing appetite from family offices to bring the necessary skills in-house — rather than relying on external agencies to tailor ESG strategy to their individual goals.

OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY AND SECURITY

Operational efficiency and technology integration are also key concerns — with the rise of artificial intelligence and automation tools poised to transform the financial and investment landscape. Family offices need to ensure that they have the right expertise onboard to harness the power of new and evolving technology while protecting against associated disruption or emerging threats.

For example, cybersecurity threats are constantly evolving — requiring up-to-date knowledge to safeguard information from increasingly sophisticated attacks. In response, we’re already seeing key technical skills becoming a core rather than an additional component of many job descriptions.

RECRUITING FOR SUCCESS IN 2025

As niche and specialist talent becomes increasingly central to meeting evolving family office challenges, identifying and attracting the right candidates is business-critical. 

At Victus Search, we specialise in connecting family offices with professionals who offer the perfect combination of skills, experience and culture for their unique situation — working across disciplines, specialisms and jurisdictions to find the right match. If you’re looking to strengthen your team in 2025, contact us to discuss your requirements in confidence.

Finding a precise match starts here

Whether you’re looking to fill a specialist role, or seeking the right position to deploy your unique skills and experience, the first step is to get in touch with one of our expert consultants.

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