COLUMBUS, Ohio – Mark Sell and Kim Smith are pleased to announce the formation of Retained Search Group.  The comprehensive executive search firm based in Columbus, Ohio, will operate under a distinctive name, “RETAINED”.

Under this new partnership, Smith will serve as managing director and Sell as executive director for RETAINED.  Smith currently operates Confirmed Integrity LLC, which conducts comprehensive background screenings for its clients, and has handled hundreds of successful client searches.  Sell, formerly president of Sell & Associates, has led executive searches for publicly traded Fortune 500 companies to smaller scale family-owned businesses.  Combined the two partners’ client list includes Cardinal Health, Nationwide, Red Capital Group, and Schoedinger Funeral and Cremation Services.

“Mark and I realize how critical recruiting, vetting and retaining top talent is to a company’s success.  Our unique approach which includes multiple touches in our expansive network offers our clients a voice,” said Kim Smith, managing partner.  “The ideal candidate may not be looking for a new opportunity; however, once we identify a match based on our criteria that we have refined over the years, we share the company’s mission and career path to ensure a proper fit into the client’s culture and future vision.” 

RETAINED implements a customized and detailed recruiting method which recognizes that each search and hiring process is unique.  It analyzes and anticipates a company’s current and future needs with an eye towards business growth to establish a profile to source the proper candidates.  This consultative approach leads to the right placement and long-term retention of the candidate.  Operating in an industry increasingly relying upon an online algorithm-based method to source candidates, people are intentionally kept at the center of the process through constant interaction.  The stories of both the client and candidate are fused together producing long-term success for the employer and employee.

”We had never used a recruiting firm before, but we felt the search for the controller position required expert assistance.  That is exactly what we got with RETAINED,” said CEO Randy Schoedinger of Schoedinger Funeral and Cremation Services.  “We are pleased with the results of the search and the hire we made in partnership with Kim (Smith) and Mark (Sell).  Their communication was exceptional.  The quality of candidates presented far exceeded our capabilities, and their understanding of the marketplace was accurate.”

Client and candidate partners may reach RETAINED at info@retainedsearchgroup.com.

Retained Search Group (“RETAINED”) is based in Columbus, Ohio, one of the fastest growing regions in the U.S.  Primarily for clients in the Midwest, the firm conducts executive recruiting searches for companies of all revenue scales encompassing Fortune 500 companies, large private, non-profit and smaller emerging entities.  With more than 30 years of executive recruiting experience, RETAINED’s foundation is built from having hands on expertise in both the industries we serve as well as recruit.  Our niche is using our industry expertise to consult with client partners to ensure their next hire meets their specific needs and goals, and fulfill our candidate partners need for a fulfilling opportunity that offers future growth and challenge. This results in long-term partnerships that RETAINED is known for.  For more information, visit retainedsearchgroup.com or connect with RETAINED on LinkedIn.

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Media Contact:

Steve Bidlack, Media Relations

614.214.6359 or media@retainedsearchgroup.com