Male banking headhunter described female competitor as "dodgy old bird"
As sexist as the culture in banking can be for women â and it often is â the experience can be even harsher for women working in banking recruitment and headhunting. Female recruiters not only have to navigate potentially sexist male clients, but also contend with an ingrained culture of casual sexism that exists within some recruitment firms themselves.
A case at a London employment tribunal highlighted the issues last week. In comments that were read out in court, Oliver Harrington, founder of search firm Harrington Moore was accused of texting a colleague that, "All the female headhunters that make money are bonkers," and of describing one female rival as a "dodgy old bird," who looked "like a mum and not "like a headhunter."
Sexism in the financial services recruitment industry is nothing new. Eight years ago, women in recruitment told us they faced sexism and harassment "10,000 times worse" than in banking, as young male recruiters with "huge egos" managed teams of even younger women.
Speaking off the record, one senior female headhunter, said Harrington's texts, sent in private, were the "archetype of brash arrogance." "Low tier competitors will always try to undermine you," she added. "When my competitors are strong, I acknowledge that they're good. This is coming from a place of insecurity."
A senior woman at another search firm said sexism in the recruitment industry can still be "horrific" and that it's often the male recruiters who are to blame. "Unfortunately, most recruitment firms are small entities set up by young salesmen and they tend to develop a rugby team culture," she observed.
Harrington didn't respond to a request to comment on this article. His comments emerged during an employment tribunal in which a consultant claiming to have been an employee in the London office, is complaining of unfair dismissal and unpaid wages. The texts were sent by Harrington to the consultant bringing the claim. Harrington Moore denies that the individual was an employee.