Part of Org Group, the ‘Organisational Engineering’ experts, Morgan McKinley provides recruitment, executive search, and managed talent services to over 5,000 clients worldwide. TALiNT Partners asked Global MD for Talent Solutions, Ross Crook, how Morgan McKinley Talent Solutions is adapting its solutions to changing workforce trends and client expectations, and his predictions for 2025.
Alex Evans: What workforce trends are driving transformation, and how are you helping clients to adapt?
Ross Crook: Several trends are reshaping the global workforce landscape, including the ongoing integration of AI and automation, the rise of skills-based hiring, and evolving employee expectations around flexibility, wellbeing, and purpose. Morgan McKinley helps clients navigate this transformation through bespoke talent solutions, integrating cutting-edge technology and human-centred strategies. By embedding AI for efficiency, mapping skills through predictive analytics, and offering tailored change management, we ensure clients remain agile and competitive while fostering a people-first culture.
AE: What is the biggest talent problem that your clients need help with in 2025?
RC: In 2025, skills shortages remain a major challenge across industries, particularly in critical areas like digital transformation, data science, and sustainability. Clients also face the task of balancing technology adoption with maintaining meaningful human connections.
Another significant challenge is deciding when and how to invest in talent. Many organisations are caught between the need to secure critical skills now and the uncertainty of the economic landscape in the coming months and year. Some are hesitant to commit to hiring and upskilling initiatives, opting to wait and see how the market evolves, while others recognise that delaying talent investment could leave them at a competitive disadvantage.
Our role is to help clients navigate this uncertainty by providing agile, data-driven workforce strategies that allow them to remain flexible while ensuring they don’t fall behind. Through skills-based hiring, upskilling and reskilling programmes, and tailored workforce planning, we support businesses in making strategic talent decisions that drive long-term resilience and success.
AE: Where are your top global growth markets, and what trends are driving demand in these geographies?
RC: Our top growth markets include the UK, Ireland, Singapore, and broader Asia-Pacific regions, where demand is driven by digital transformation, regional talent shortages, and evolving market competition. In these regions, clients are seeking specialised technical skills, green skills for sustainability, and adaptable talent to navigate geopolitical uncertainty. Our localised talent solutions and global mobility programmes help address these needs by flexibly deploying resources where they’re needed most.
AE: How do you expect demand to change over the next 12 months, and why?
RC: We anticipate sustained demand for talent in areas like AI, cybersecurity, and sustainability, alongside an increasing focus on employee retention due to continued skills shortages. With geopolitical and economic uncertainty, clients will prioritise efficiency and skills mapping to optimise existing talent. The demand for hybrid and flexible roles will grow, driven by evolving employee expectations. Our clients will rely on us to develop agile strategies to respond quickly to these fluctuations.
AE: Looking ahead, what is your top priority for Morgan McKinley’s Talent Solutions over the next 12 to 18 months?
RC: Our top priority is to expand and refine our Total Talent solutions, enhancing the synergy between RPO, MSP, and contingent workforce management to create holistic strategies. We will also focus on embedding emerging technologies while preserving the human touch that differentiates us. As we grow our global footprint, we’ll continue to adapt regionally, meeting local demands while driving innovation and aligning our solutions with evolving client needs.
AE: How is Morgan McKinley differentiating its RPO and MSP offering to deliver the most value?
RC: Morgan McKinley Talent Solutions sets itself apart by delivering bespoke, human-centred solutions that are designed to fit the unique needs of each client. We have built our value proposition around four key pillars:
- Designed for You: We believe every client is unique and deserves more than a one-size-fits-all strategy so we immerse ourselves in the organisation’s culture, embedding our expertise at every strategic level to deliver solutions tailored specifically to each client’s needs.
- Thinking Ahead: As the world of talent evolves rapidly, we combine creative thinking with innovative technology, helping employers to stay agile and ahead of industry challenges. From AI-powered systems to predictive analytics, our tech-enabled processes optimise efficiency without losing the human touch.
- One Partner, Endless Possibilities: Being part of the global Morgan McKinley team and the wider Org Group means access to a wealth of expertise and services beyond talent acquisition, so we can offer end-to-end support across multiple geographies.
- Today and Tomorrow: We’re not just here for today’s challenges—we are committed to being long-term partners, so we help our clients meet current objectives while laying the foundations for sustained growth.
Our approach blends ambition, reliability, and empathy to deliver structured, personalised solutions that solve complex talent challenges while keeping client relationships at the core of everything we do. With “big enough to deliver, small enough to care” as our ethos, clients trust us to have their backs at every step of their journey.
AE: What is your top prediction for the talent market or recruitment industry in 2025?
RC: In 2025, we expect the balance between AI and human engagement to define recruitment success. Skills-based hiring will become the norm, supported by data-driven workforce planning and predictive analytics. Organisations will increasingly prioritise flexible EVPs and DEI&B initiatives to attract diverse talent. The “human touch” will become a key differentiator as AI automates transactional tasks, and the companies that effectively blend technology with meaningful human connections will emerge as leaders.
AE: How has TALiNT Partners membership supported you and Morgan McKinley?
RC: I value TALiNT Partners because of the invaluable insights it provides on evolving client expectations, market trends from industry peers, and expert guidance that shapes strategic decisions. Partnership with TALiNT Partners also enables us to engage with its TA leader community, which offers a unique perspective that helps us to navigate change and drive success.
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