For whom do you work?

Blue Line Advisors is retained by corporate clients to assist them in identifying exceptional candidates to join their management teams. Blue Line Advisors never work for individuals, but rather represent the interests of our corporate clients to the broad market.

What is the process?

Blue Line Advisors works as a partner and consultant with our client. We spend a significant amount of time understanding the business, its strategy and vision, and how the selected executive fits into the management team and the business plan. Armed with this data, we are able to develop a search strategy and plan for the assignment, which is communicated to the client. Once this plan is established, a position description and other supporting material is developed to serve as both a checklist and informational document to be shared with selected individuals. Clients can reasonably expect to see candidates within three to four weeks. After that, the pace of the search is more controlled by our client’s and the selected candidates’ calendar of availability. It’s anticipated that a search will take from 8 to 12 weeks. On occasion, searches have been completed more quickly, when a very focused and defined set of candidate requirements are established.

How do you differ from the larger firms?

Blue Line Advisors is the only executive search firm in the United States that focuses exclusively on the senior management sector of the general and business aviation marketplace. The vast majority of our clients are involved in the manufacture, service and support of fixed and rotary wing aircraft, serving this sector of the aerospace marketplace. We work with a handful of industry players, and as a result, are able to give an exceedingly high level of personal service, counsel and advice throughout the search process and beyond. Blue Line Advisors feels that its project is not complete until the selected executive has succeeded in the assigned task, and we work with our client on an ongoing basis to ensure this success. Blue Line Advisors is also not blocked from evaluating talent at a large number of clients. The large national firms often find themselves unable to access the best available talent because of existing relationships throughout their organization. Blue Line Advisors would rather serve a more select and discreet group of clients, ensuring that the best available talent is available for these organizations review.

What are your fees?

Our fees are consistent with other professional firms focusing on the executive search industry. Typically, fees approximate 1/3 of the cash compensation that the successful candidate can reasonably expect to receive during their first year of employment. We do, on occasion, undertake assignments on a fixed-fee basis if this form is in the best interest of our client and Blue Line Advisors. We charge for out-of-pocket expenses, but do not rebill our cost of operation in the form of allocables or other miscellaneous charges. Resultantly, due to our efficiencies, our fees are generally lower than the large national firms.

As a candidate, what can I expect?

Blue Line Advisors is a trusted and knowledgeable firm operating within the general/business aviation sector. As a result, we have a wide and deep knowledge of the issues, opportunities and challenges facing this business. As a candidate, you can expect that we will provide counsel to you regarding the fit and applicability of your credentials to our of our clients’ situations. You can be assured that our objective is to build a successful relationship between the selected candidate and our client. As a candidate, you can also be assured that your confidentiality will be maintained, you will be communicated with promptly, and you will always be apprised of where you stand in the search process.

As a client, what can I expect?

Blue Line Advisors believes that a search is a trust and the basis of a long-term relationship. Our goal as an organization is to maintain and expand our presence in the marketplace by doing outstanding work for a select group of clients. The objective of BLA is not to be the largest firm serving the industrial sector, but rather to be the premier firm serving the aviation sector. As a result of our focus, you can be assured that Blue Line Advisors will provide honest advice and counsel regarding the executive talent you are attempting to bring to your organization. We will provide clear and direct feedback regarding the marketplace, the attractiveness of the opportunity, compensation and relocation issues. As a result of our deep knowledge of the marketplace, we can often share with you issues that may arise in the recruiting process at the front-end, as opposed to having to deal with them as the search progresses. Lastly, as a client, you can be assured that our knowledge and experience in the marketplace will result in your seeing the most qualified candidates meeting your requirements.

What type of clients do you serve?

Blue Line Advisors has had the privilege of serving clients in both the fixed and rotary-wing marketplace. Our clients have included airframers, component, avionics, services and fractional operators. The work that we do is typically at the CEO/COO/ President level and those individuals that report to this function. On occasion, we have undertaken assignments deeper in an organizational structure for existing clients and where the capabilities of BLA are required to ensure success.

Is executive search all that you do?

Generally, yes. However, for established clients we have undertaken other projects including management assessment, referencing and compensation and incentive program review. We have also had the privilege of introducing clients from different subsectors, resulting in profitable business relationships.

How do we get started?

Give us a call. We would be delighted to confidentially review your situation and candidly let you know whether we can help.