Identity
Founded in 2000 and located in several locations in the heart of Europe and on North America’s West Coast, Universal Search Associates is a specialist Global Retained Executive Search firm.
Strategically serving our Clients for more than 20 years from Europe and North America, we provide tailor-made recruitment and closely related services in the Financial & Professional Services, Pharmaceutical & Life Sciences, Chemicals and Industrial sectors including Manufacturing & Logistics as well as Information & New Technologies.
Recognized as market leader, our strength is our specialization in Middle to Senior Management Executives as well as Senior Professionals searches for our local and international Clients.
Values
Our Clients can rely on our dedication to coherence, discretion and consistency that are embedded in our firm’s philosophy. We focus on trust, honesty, commitment, quality and confidentiality rather than volume.
Universal Search Associates believes that a commitment to building long-lasting relationships with Clients and Candidates, a capacity for human understanding and a sound understanding of what it takes to lead trans-national business are the three pillars of Professional Retained Executive Search in the international arena.
Our strategically located Professionals around the globe coupled with our centralized management let Universal Search Associates Professionals blend boutique service levels with global capabilities while providing seamless collaboration and execution in a timely manner.
Ethics
Universal Search Associates Professionals will maintain the highest standards of professional conduct and serve their Clients in a professional manner using procedures and documentation that are standard in the Retained Executive Search and Human Capital Services industries.
Each Professional at Universal Search Associates is committed to abide by the AESC’s code of ethics, some of which is noted below. A Professional at Universal Search Associates will not knowingly accept a consulting engagement without the genuine belief that the fees charged to the Client will be fully earned and justified. Without the written permission of the Client organization, Universal Search Associates Professionals will not recruit or cause to be recruited any person employed by their own Client organizations.
Universal Search Associates will not accept an assignment if we believe that we cannot bring it to a successful completion in a timely manner. Universal Search Associates will not accept an assignment that is contrary to its moral and ethical standards.
Marios Paras
Partner
Marios has over 30 years of experience in Human Resources and Executive Search
One of the Founding Partners of The Taplow Group, Marios Paras served as its Chairman for the past several years. Until recently, Marios was also the Managing Director at Randstad Group Luxembourg, leading the brands of Select, Vedior and Tempo-Team, as well as at Rowlands International for the last 24 years.
Marios Paras has over 30 years of experience in Human Resources and Executive Search. During his career he has lead a number of brand takeovers and implemented these with great success. His experience spans many industries and, in particular, the Financial sector. Along with his Partners, Marios’ goal is to strengthen Universal Search Associates’ local as well as global presence. Marios will not only lead Universal Search Associates’ continuous efforts to remain the leading actor within the Financial sector where he will be assisted by a strong team of financial and marketing specialists in the field but he will also actively develop other sectors pursuing our objective to become the leading Retained Executive Search firm in the Benelux. "Our intention is to strengthen our local as well as global presence and we will be announcing soon some of our initiatives in this area."
His directorships include: Vice Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce, ECCSA, LPRA, B&D Technologies, as well as the M&M Paras foundation. He was educated in the UK & USA.
Chris Brassinne
Partner
In addition to more than 15 years’ experience in Retained Executive Search, Chris’ expertise is in Information Technology, ERP and Logistics across many industries
Chris Brassinne spent most of his career in International Management Consulting. Chris’ expertise is in Information Technology, ERP and Logistics across many industries.
Whilst focusing on the healthcare and cosmetics industry, Chris has led large-scale, multi-national implementation assignments for some of the largest corporations in the world. Chris is a specialist in Customer Relationship Management (CRM) solutions. As an integral part of the Ernst & Young CRM group in Europe, Chris led the CRM Practice for Belgium and Luxemburg. He was also a member of the Senior Executive Team at Ernst & Young exclusively assigned to ExxonMobil and as a Director and Administrator of the Firm, he was responsible for the recruitment of Consultants and led Executive Search assignments for the Firm’s Clients.
Chris previously served The Taplow Group as CEO for a number of years and as the Practice Leader of the Pharmaceutical & Life Sciences practice group for 3 years. Born in Belgium, Chris spent 25 years in the USA and Canada where he completed his studies and spent his early career.
He is fluent in English and French. Chris is leading our work with healthcare, cosmetics, chemical & petrochemical industry Clients as well as Management Consulting Firms.