Toronto’s Top Executive Recruiter – Executive, PR, Advertising and Marketing

Executive recruiter, dream-maker, headhunter, match-maker, talent broker, career counsellor, dealmaker, talent scout, confidant, insider, lifesaver, friend…

Those are some of the words used by the folks in Canada’s marketing and advertising industry to describe what David Smith does. As impressive a list as it is, it pales in comparison to the one describing his attributes. Brilliant, insightful, trusted, knowledgeable, and savvy, to name a few. That’s because for almost 20 years, David has been one of the best – if not the best – recruiters of talent for Canada’s marketing and advertising industry. Whether the need is for a creative executive, a PR executive, or a new agency president, David is the one to whom the top firms turn.

David is recognized as Toronto’s best executive recruiter by all, from clients to candidates and trade magazines to post-secondary educational institutions. And the proof is in the placements. Over the last 24 months, David has successfully completed more searches for Agency Presidents, General Managers, Chief Creative Officers, Executive Creative Directors and Creative Directors than anyone in Toronto.

David’s productivity is a result of his commitment to always deliver above and beyond. He offers his clients a rare insider’s view – and the insights that go along with it. Those insights were hard earned, resulting from years as an industry leader, headhunter, and agency confidant, and from some 10,000 face-to-face meetings with some 10,000 candidates. Those who work with David quickly come to appreciate the unique place he holds in the industry. Few, if any, can match his ability to find just the right fit: the perfect talent for a given position or the perfect position for a given talent.

David Smith in 140 words or less

David is one of the top – if not the top – executive recruiters for Canada’s Advertising and PR industry. Exceptionally well-credentialed, David started his career on the client side at P&G. He was recruited (appropriately enough) to join a WPP agency. A second WPP agency, one retail agency, and one marketing services agency later, David had worked on some the country’s top brands (Mars, Labatt’s, Ford) and participated in the aquisition of 18 companies across three continents – and even seen one go public on the TSX. Often sought out for his professional counsel by agency leadership, industry publications and institutions such as Marketing Magazine and the Miami Ad School in Toronto, David is simply one of the most knowledgeable and well-respected voices in the Canadian advertising industry.

Get David Smith working for you today.

Call 416-500-4380 or fill out the form at the top right of the page.

Executive Search Practice Areas

The search for a key hire starts long before calls are made to potential candidates. It starts with strategic consultation; in understanding the public and private needs the role requires; in recognizing the nuance that comes with filling a key senior position; in adeptly putting the role into the context of the operational needs and realities of the marketplace. As part of his briefing and discovery process, David ensures the search begins from the right start line. In applying his expertise, David focuses on four key practice areas:

1. Agency Leadership – Over the years, David has become a prized confidant and resource for many in agency management helping them find just the right talent (President, Chief Creative Officer, CEO, Chief Operating Officer, etc.) to take their organization to the next level. David works with agencies of all sizes, from boutique to large scale integrated shops.
2. Creative – Creative positions are a specialty of David’s. There are few top-notch creative people, whether Art Directors, Copywriters, or Designers (from junior to seasoned veteran), who have not had the benefit of David’s expertise. And the agencies in which they ply their craft are better off for it.
3. Public Relations Agencies – As the field of Public Relations has changed in recent years in response to the effect technology has had on journalism, David has played a leading role in searches for Practice Leaders, Vice-Presidents, Account Directors, Account Managers, Consultants, Account Executives and Account Coordinators. David works with a range of small, medium, and large PR firms.
4. Client Side – Harkening back to his days at P&G, David works with a wide variety of marketers to fill roles such in Corporate Communications, External Relations, Government Relations, Internal Communications, Investor Relations, Media Relations and Public Relations.