References & Testimonials
"Anthony, as a result of your unique and highly innovative Search and Selection process, Peter Beard joined WhiteLight Systems as Managing Director for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) in January 1999. In particular, the Critical Success Factors Presentations that you asked each shortlisted candidate to prepare, made the selection of the right candidate easy for me. Peter has been an outstanding hire and has subsequently been promoted to Senior Vice-President WorldWide Sales and Operations. Anthony, after retaining you on this and other searches, I consider you among the very best executive recruiters I have ever had the pleasure to work with. I am delighted to act as a client reference for you".
 
.....Dennis McGinn,CEO
WhiteLight Systems
November 2000
 
"In particular, I would like to say thank you to Anthony LaFrenais. His skill, dedication and professionalism has enabled me to build an outstanding team here at Lawson. His manner and approach to the task of building my team has certainly made my life a lot easier".
 
.....Terry McNicholas,International. Services Director
Lawson
May 1996
 
"Please allow this to serve as a letter of recommendation for Mr. Anthony LaFrenais and his company, IPO Strategy. I am quite familiar with Anthony's work in recruiting high-calibre Country Managers for the majority of our European subsidiaries. Most recently, Anthony and I worked closely together to identify a Japan Sales Director for MicroStrategy. Finding an ideal person is critical yet most difficult component of entering into the Asian market. Asian countries are characterized by human relationships and unless you are equipped with the respected insiders, it is almost impossible for any foreign companies to excel. At first, I was sceptical of what Anthony can do as a recruiter for this market since he was a foreigner. However, Anthony turned his disadvantage situation to his strength and was able to quickly identify candidates who met our criteria. After gruesome interviews, we chose the right person for this position and we are very happy with his performance so far. MicroStrategy intend to continue with Anthony's service as we expand more aggresively in Asia. Anthony is a star recruiter who will contribute significantly to finding the right people for any organisation. I recommend him with the utmost enthusiasm".
 
.....James Shin,Asia Regional Director
MicroStrategy
March 2001
 
"I wish to thank IPO Strategy for their professionalism, tenacity and skill in recruiting a Chief Financial Officer for us. Marion and Anthony both listened carefully to our needs and demonstrated real understanding of the issues facing a fast-growing technology business such as ours. The Critical Success Factors PowerPoint presentations prepared by the candidates and the Candidate Interview Summaries prepared by IPO Strategy took much of the guesswork and mystery out of this recruitment challenge. Their efforts throughout this process were well beyond our expectations and we will definitely engage IPO Strategy's services again for all important positions".
 
.....Ken Fife,Managing Director and co-founder
Auto-IT www.auto-it.com.au
June 2001
 
"Marion, I want to thank you and IPO Strategy for your outstanding recruitment work for us so far. I knew from our very first phone conversation that you were very different from other recruiters. You were polite and professional. You listened carefully. You knew when I was too busy to talk and you never once wasted my time. I am extremely happy with your service and results for us at TIBCO. I look forward to working closely with you as TIBCO grows further in the region".
 
.....Larry Prowse,Managing Director, Australia and NZ
TIBCO
July 2001
 
Anthony, I am delighted to write this letter of recommendation for you from the perspective of a candidate, a client and (now) a friend. When you initially contacted me about the Australia/NZ Country Manager position at MicroStrategy in March 2000, I was impressed with your professional approach and knowledge about your client. Even though I was not considering a career move, your approach was sufficiently intriguing for me to agree to meet with you. When I met with MicroStrategy’s senior executives in the USA, it was very clear that they respected you and valued your role. These meetings were very successful and enjoyable, in no small part due to your thorough preparation. From a candidate’s perspective, your recruitment and interview process enabled me to gather all the information I needed to make the right decision – which was, of course, to join MicroStrategy! From a client’s perspective, your help in building the highly successful MicroStrategy Australia team, assisting MicroStrategy’s partners and, at all times, being a great ambassador for MicroStrategy, has been invaluable. Anthony, you are the only recruitment professional that I have dealt with that really takes the time to thoroughly understand their candidates and companies. I am familiar with some of your recruitment successes throughout Europe, North America and Asia Pacific (especially in Japan), and I believe you add enormous value to your clients. Thank you for all your great work and look forward to continuing to work closely with you and your company, IPO Strategy.
 
.....John Vrkic,Managing Director, Australia and NZ
MicroStrategy
July 2001
 
"Digital Voodoo engaged IPO Strategy to recruit a Marketing Director for us. We knew that recruiting the right person to take global responsibility for all areas of marketing would be a complicated and extremely challenging task. We selected IPO Strategy to recruit for this critical position because they are the only recruitment organisation that has always exceeded our expectations. Their work on this assignment was simply outstanding. Not only did they short-list four excellent candidates, they provided advanced interview training to our management team and managed the interview process brilliantly. I was able to run the business and did not have to worry about this recruitment process because I knew it was in safe hands. The result is that our new Marketing Director exceeds our expectations and is contributing significantly to our international expansion and increased market share".
 
.....Craige Mott,General Manager
Digital Voodoo
July 2001
 
"The request by IPO Strategy for each Candidate to prepare a Critical Success Factors PowerPoint presentation for their first meeting with IceTech, together with the seclection criteria sheets provided, made interviewing and assessing the candidates very easy. I consider that IPO Strategy has helped us to choose carefully the right people for our business and assisted skilfully in negotiating offers within our original budgets with 100% acceptance. The new staff are proving an asset to IceTech with the skill sets they have brought to the company and their high level of experience. I cannot thank you enough for your assistance over the last few months".
 
.....Linda Matthews,Director and co-founder
ICETech
July 2000
 
"This was the first occasion I had talked to a recruiter who actually understood their client's competitive positioning, pricing and differentiators".
 
.....Horst Hendrich,Senior Account Manager
ASG Software Solutions
February 2001
 
"Marion, I am writing this letter to thank you for the outstanding recruitment service you have provided to me. Every candidate that you and IPO Strategy have put forward to fill vacancies at ASG has been worthy of a position with our organisation. I can think of no higher accolade concerning both your personal capabilities and those of IPO Strategy. I have been impressed with your listening skills, industry expertise and ability to recruit high-calibre individuals that we would otherwise not see as candidates. It has been truly refreshing based on my previous experiences. I look forward to a continued strong relationship between our two companies due, in no small measure, to your personal efforts on our behalf".
 
.....Michael Fowler,Senior Sales Director, Australia and NZ
ASG Software Solutions
February 2001
 
"I write to confirm that Anthony LaFrenais conducted a number of highly successful search and selection assignments for Walker Internnational. The assignments concerned senior level positions within the organisation, and were complicated and demanding, requiring considerable search and selection skill experience. Anthony proved to be exceptional. Without any doubt, Anthony was the primary reason that Walker International was able to fill key positions which were critical to the organisation meeting its business goals and objectives".
 
.....Kevin Lyons,Director, Human Resources
Walker International
Feb 1997
 
"Digital Voodoo engaged IPO Strategy to recruit a senior customer support officer. Within a short turnaround time, IPO Strategy had put forward a number of quality candidates, with one in particular fitting all the required criteria. Digital Voodoo employed the successful candidate and are so pleased with his performance to date, that his duties have been broadened. We have been totally satisfied with the service provided by IPO Strategy".
 
.....Craige Mott ,General Manager
Digital Voodoo
April 2001
 
"I recommend Anthony highly for his unique, professional recruiting skills and proven ability to deliver the right candidates in competitive international markets. Anthony conducted a confidential search for us for a new Director of Sales and Marketing (Worldwide). After interviewing the short-listed candidates, it became clear that one candidate, the North European VP of one our key competitors, was ideal. Anthony then worked closely with us to sell the opportunity to the candidate, intelligently helped us to negotiate the salary and stock package with the candidate and secured his services to start on 1st October, 1996".
 
.....Paul Goossens,CEO
Decision Works
April 1997