Company of the Month: Founded in 1969, Rhodes Associates has long ranked among the leading search firms: “Rhodes is Real Estate”

Steven Littman, president and managing partner of Rhodes Associates, at IRC Global Executive Search Partners Annual Global Conference introducing Mark Stevens.

New York, NY Rhodes is real estate.

Yes, it is the headline across the banner of their website at RhodesAssociates.com, but that is only the tip of the iceberg. For more than three decades, Rhodes, among all of the nation’s premier search firms is, and always has been, dedicated solely to the real estate industry.

Founded in 1969, Rhodes specializes in representing firms in most major sectors and disciplines within the global real estate industry. Throughout their 40+ years of experience in executive search, organizational and strategic consulting, Rhodes has consistently demonstrated their skill at building high performance teams for some of the world’s leading real estate companies. Together, Rhodes’ partners have more than 100 years of real estate and executive search experience and are involved in all aspects of the search/consulting process.

Led by managing partners, Steven Littman and Jane Lyons, and partners, George Yulis and Meg Blakey, the Rhodes team of professionals takes a significantly different approach to the search process than their competitors. Rather than taking the all-too standard approach of screening through potential candidates based on apparent qualifications and experience, Rhodes begins with a highly diagnostic and strategic consulting process. “We do not view ourselves as a firm that fills gaps in organizational charts – rather, we work to enhance a company’s competitive position and, in turn, its profitability,” Littman says.

Taken at the IRC Global Executive Search Partners Annual Global Conference last year.
President, Patrick Westerburger introducing Jane Lyons, managing partner of Rhodes Associates,
as the new Americas regional head of IRC Global Executive Search Partners.

“Far smarter and more rewarding for the client is to begin with a complete understanding of their current organization, business plan, competitive landscape, growth opportunities and challenges,” Lyons said. “Rhodes assesses our client in the same manner a private equity firm would value a business. This piercing analysis enables us to see what is going on behind the organizational chart and make recommendations in line with the company strategy. That drives profits and growth.”

When describing candidates and conducting their search processes, many of Rhodes’ competitors use the word “exceptional,” but they do not really understand what it means. Yes, a candidate may have the appropriate qualifications, experience, and look good on paper, but are they a good a fit within the organization and can they help the client become more successful and profitable?

From Rhodes’ perspective, an “exceptional” candidate means:

• The candidate holds the qualifications and experience relevant to the position Rhodes is retained to manage.

• The candidate is an organizational fit, personally.

• The candidate is an organizational fit, professionally, as it relates to the client’s strategic objectives.

• The candidate is an “exceptional candidate” in and of themselves.

With that said, an exceptional candidate for one client may not be viewed as such by another client.

According to Littman, “as part of a recent assignment representing an overseas family office currently investing about $500 million in equity in the U.S., the client recommended an ‘outstanding’ candidate to Rhodes for inclusion in our research/search process. In assessing the candidate, it became clear that while the candidate had certain excellent skills, they did not fit as well organizationally and their experience was significantly narrower than ideal. We are always looking for the ‘best athlete’ with the best experience and the best organizational fit.”

Rhodes’ search process begins by developing an in-depth and realistic understanding of the client’s organizational structure and business strategy, both culturally and professionally. The result is not only a more successful search, but an industry leading rate of assignment completion and candidate retention, in addition to a greater return on investment in human capital.

A unique aspect of Rhodes’ practice is the firm’s ability to use the above experience and consulting skills to co-found two substantial and successful real estate ventures, Rockwood Realty (brokerage/asset management/investment) and Rohman Development. These businesses were pure startups co-founded with two senior real estate professionals who had been Rhodes’ clients.

Thus demonstrating through all of its endeavors – Rhodes is Real Estate.