Why Work at Acre? - EU

By Grace Coleman

​Acre will be raising a toast this month to celebrate its second anniversary since opening the doors to its Amsterdam office. 

The recruitment and business intelligence agency first launched in the UK in 2003 and has gone from strength to strength due to the team’s considerable expansion over the years. 

Following the success in London, Acre opened a second office in New York three years ago and once business proved to be flourishing across the pond, ambitions were soon stretched for an office in Europe.  

Acre settled on Amsterdam to enhance its presence in Europe and increase global impact. The team is led by Harco Leertouwer, Managing Director Europe, who is an active member of the Climate Reality Project. 

Harco was joined at the Amsterdam office by Caitlin Murrell, an experienced and dedicated consultant from the London office, who was responsible for getting Acre’s Europe base up and running. 

Despite the challenges of the pandemic, the Amsterdam office now has a headcount of nine and is looking to expand further. 

A recruitment company that operates globally and emphasizes that purpose is as important as profit is hard to come by. While most businesses place money-making aspirations at the forefront of all operations, Acre believes that while making a profit is crucial to corporate growth, sourcing the right people with the same values is key to honing Acre’s vision for a greater impact. 

Harco said: “The clients we work with and the people we place are fundamentally changing the way in which individuals and organisations think, work, and behave. It is a privilege to work in such as purpose-driven company and have a real impact on the biggest problem of the world. It is also a privilege to lead an organisation where we encourage our team to pursue their passions and build an organisation where we partner with our team, our clients and our candidates alike to foster a more inclusive and sustainable future for the next generation."

The success is largely down to the people who work for Acre. Passion, energy and diligence, combined with team spirit and utmost respect for the environment are vital when hiring the right people to join the team. Building up a strong rapport with clients – and maintaining that relationship – requires transparency, trust and ambition. 

And the good news is we are still hiring for the Amsterdam office, to keep the momentum. Acre is looking for purpose-driven individuals and strong team players who can contribute towards a sustainable future by adding environmental and social value to the business. 

Three members of the Acre Amsterdam team are rather animated about why they joined the market leader in sustainability recruitment and the impact it has had on their careers. 

“Why Acre?”  

Aysen Naylor, Research Consultant – Europe said “I chose to work with Acre initially as an opportunity to gain affinity with the sustainability and corporate environment. I became dedicated and passionate about Acre because of the unique culture they offer: one that fosters collaboration across international offices with diverse cultures and places a strong emphasis on openness, honesty and being welcoming. Coming from a Turkish background, one of my main values is family and giving back, something that Acre also believes in by creating a sense of an extended family and giving back through various foundation activities. The Europe team is a close-knit group of multi-cultural individuals united in their passion for creating a positive impact on the planet and delivering a great service to our clients.” 

Thaddeus Tan, Senior Consultant – Europe said "Coming from a sustainability background, I came across Acre during my search for a company that truly believes and practices what they preach, particularly when it comes to the sustainability agenda. Not only does that mean being an expert within the industry, but Acre is a global company that is also intrinsically motivated and contributes back to the community.  

Knowing that Acre is signatories of the UN Global Compact, supporting Ocean Generation as a Charity Partner and has a history in supporting NGOs and charities meant a lot to me. 

Upon joining the "small" but rapidly growing team in Amsterdam, it has come to my realization that there is a huge emphasis on culture and individual growth within the company with utmost integrity, transparency, and collaboration. The team is highly motivated and clearly driven with purpose in creating a positive impact in the world one placement at a time" 

Dulce Flores, Senior Consultant, - Europe said “I joined Acre soon after the launch of the office in Amsterdam. My goal was to find an organisation where I could continue growing my expertise in executive search while diving into a sector that would make me feel inspired. From the first conversation all the way to my onboarding, I could sense passion and inspiration in every person I spoke to. Today, over a year after, I have found not only what I was looking for, but also a big sense of belonging in a diverse and inclusive family made of brilliant individuals that challenge the status quo and that with boldness and commitment, support the creation of the systemic changes we need to create a sustainable society.” 

If you’re looking to join a hardworking, purpose-led team of individuals and have a passion for tackling some of the world’s biggest issues by creating a positive environmental and social impact, please click here we would love to hear from you.