My name is Peter D'Autry. I am a Belgian Citizen who lives, when I am  not travelling, in Istanbul, Turkey. I work as an Executive Search Consultant for the firm Pedersen & Partners, a fast growing company I joined in 2006, and is specialized in providing Executive Search to Emerging Markets. Previously I worked as Business Development Manager Emerging Markets for a Turkish (which became Swiss and then American) technology company which grew during the 6 year period I was employed, from revenues of 60 Mio USD to 1 Bio USD and 51 subsidiaries across EMEA at the time I left in 1999.

I mainly ventured into markets in Eastern Europe, The Middle East, Africa and Asia building partnerships, sales channels and sourcing products.

Starting in 1999 I managed for outside investors a similar company we started from scratch, and that until 2002.  Afterwards I  worked as independent consultant advising technology companies in the US and Asia, wishing to establish channels in EEMEA, or looking for strategic product sourcing relationships.

I ventured into Executive Search after long thinking and discussions with my collegue Sabit Tapan who manages Pedersen & Partners Turkey and Central Asia, and who today is also a partner in the firm. I have not looked back since, and placed great talent at clients ranging from Multinationals to VC /PE Portfolio Companies to Start-ups barely out of the crib. I worked on assignments in Turkey, Azerbaijan, Austria, Romania, Bulgaria, Georgia, Croatia, Albania, Poland, Czech Republic, United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Russia and Ukraine. Today I head the Technology Practice group in the firm, and assist local consultants when necessary.

Pedersen & Partners is a great way to discover and now live Exective Search, because the company is unique in various ways as, unlike other firms, cross-border assignments are encouraged, (the experience is necessary for promotion). We often work in ad-hoc teams combining practice group experience with local know-how. Furthermore, its focus is on the emerging markets region, today in 36 countries through 37 local offices.

I initially received an education to become an Electronics and Automation expert, but with a change of mind, continued to obtain a Masters Degree in Political Science and International Relations from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel in 1990. I am fluent in Dutch, French, English, German, and manage conversational Turkish. When I do not work or blog, I take the opportunity to read, snowboard and improve on my 1 Dan Karate Black belt.

I look forward hearing from you. Post your comments, send me a mail, if you have requests or questions feel free to link to my articles on your site.