Movers & Shakers: Joe Reardon, Versique Search and Consulting

Joe Reardon, Versique Search and Consulting

Title: Managing director, finance and accounting division

Age: 57

Seasoned executive recruiter Joe Reardon helps companies fill finance and accounting positions in his new role as director of Minneapolis-based Versique Search and Consulting's finance and accounting division.

Reardon has 12 years of experience in executive recruiting in addition to 20 years of finance and accounting leadership, serving in such roles as controller and chief financial officer.

Reardon said he had known Versique president and CEO Tony Sorenson for some time and was eager to join the firm, formerly known as McKinley Group. Reardon had worked at a small boutique retained search firm.

"I missed working collaboratively with others, and Tony and the rest of the leadership team are creating a very team-centric environment,'' Reardon said. "And their focus on clients was really important."

"I looked at a CFO opportunity through a search firm in town and offered some constructive criticism," said Reardon, who has a master's degree in international management from the University of St. Thomas, where he also is an adjunct instructor. "They called my bluff and said, why don't you do it? Come and show us how to do it better."

Versique offers permanent placement and consulting in human resources, sales, information technology (IT), marketing, interactive, engineering/operations, as well as finance and accounting.

Q: How are you building the finance/accounting practice?

A: I'm reaching out to my contacts to let them know that I'm in a position to provide not just finance and accounting engagements but other areas of expertise as well. I'm also practicing with other practice leaders within Versique and leveraging existing relationships. At some point, we will add additional executive search professionals to our group.

Q: What does your own experience add to your recruiting work?

Q: Why should a company come to you and Versique to recruit finance and accounting executives?