A NORTH-EAST recruitment company has signed a major contract with the Qatar government to provide senior executives for a series of real estate projects.

Tribe Search – part of the Newlands Group, which has its headquarters in Darlington – has been tasked by Qatar’s Sovereign Wealth Fund with finding 50 senior executives for developments in Qatar and Egypt.

The deal represents a return to the company’s roots because it was founded after entrepreneur Phil Crowther started working with the Qatar government on multi-billion-dollar real estate contracts in 2006. That led to Phil, along with recruitment specialist Lisa Spark, setting up Tribe Search in Darlington, to provide top-tier recruitment services.

“This new contract is a case of the business turning full circle,” said Phil (pictured below). “The Qatar government was our first client, and the fact that they’ve come back to use us to fill these roles is a clear demonstration of trust in what we do.”

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Lisa, who is now Group Managing Director, added: “It’s such an important contract, delivering quality people for key real estate projects, and it’s exciting to be given such a strong vote of confidence by a major global client.”

Phil and Lisa see the contract as a stepping-stone to further opportunities in the Middle East, and are exploring the possibility of opening an office out there.

“There is a real estate boom in that part of the world, and our connections make us ideally placed to support the recruitment drive that will be needed,” said Phil. “It will also lead to the creation of new jobs at Tribe Search, so we’re looking for the best executive search consultants to come and join us.”

As well as Tribe Search, the other businesses making up the Newlands Group are: Tribe Recruitment, Care Matters, Turn Left Ventures, and The Robin Centre.