When many Family Offices first engage Agreus, it is often with a simple brief: to fill this vacancy. But what begins as a recruitment mandate frequently develops into a far broader partnership. That is because the challenges Family Offices face extend beyond hiring. They involve questions of structure, governance, compensation, and culture, areas that determine not only who joins the team, but how effectively the team functions.
Family Offices evolve with every generation. Their needs shift from defining purpose and establishing key roles to enhancing governance, ensuring accountability, and preparing for succession. Supporting that evolution demands more than recruitment expertise. It requires a partner who understands both the technical and family dynamics that underpin every Family Office.
Agreus has spent more than a decade building precisely that understanding, offering holistic consultancy that helps Family Offices mature, adapt, and thrive.
Recruitment as the Entry Point
For most Family Offices, recruitment is the starting point. Identifying and attracting the right people is essential for stability and growth. But our approach goes beyond filling positions. Every search begins with understanding the family’s purpose, values, and long-term vision.
By focusing on cultural fit as well as capability, we ensure each appointment strengthens the Family Office’s future direction. Over time, this relationship often deepens, and we become trusted advisers on broader issues such as compensation strategies and governance structure, helping clients move from hiring reactively to building proactively.
Structural Advice for Every Stage
No two Family Offices are alike, and our guidance evolves with each stage of maturity. (For in depth reading, refer to our Family Office Maturity Model Report.)
Early-stages Family Offices often lack proper governance. We help define their objectives, outline essential roles, and establish the frameworks that will support effective decision-making.
Growing Family Offices face challenges around scale. We advise on reporting lines and responsibilities that maintain control while preserving agility and family influence.
Mature Family Offices require resilience. Our support with succession planning and ensures leadership transitions are smooth and aligned with long-term vision. In one instance, a third-generation Family Office engaged Agreus to redefine leadership roles and governance during a generational handover, ensuring both heritage and future growth remained secure. The expectation was to benchmark the requirements of the role, along with establishing performance measurement structure and short-term as well long-term incentive plans to retain critical talent.
Governance Frameworks
Strong governance brings structure and transparency to decision-making. We help to establish frameworks that balance family input with professional oversight. This includes identifying layers of governance such as investment committees, advisory boards, reporting lines, and protocols that enhance accountability and trust.
In one recent project, Agreus helped a multi-jurisdictional Family Office formalise its investment committee and reporting structure, improving clarity between principals and executives while maintaining flexibility. By enhancing governance that is both robust and adaptable, Agreus helps families make confident, unified decisions.
Compensation Design
Compensation within Family Offices requires sensitivity and precision. Our compensation consulting service offers bespoke advice on executive pay, short-term and long-term incentive structures, and benefits, aligning reward with purpose and performance.
The aim is to design a compensation structure that attracts, motivates, and retains talent. A Family Office preparing for an ambitious expansion recognised the need to review its pay structure. Leadership sought to ensure that compensation for both incumbents and potential hires was competitive. Agreus conducted a comprehensive benchmarking exercise against comparable Family Offices and introduced long-term incentive plans tied to performance and impact.
Cultural Alignment
Organisational culture lies the heart of a Family Office. We take time to understand the traditions, values, and ambitions that shape each family’s identity, ensuring new hires and structures reinforce that culture.
Whether guiding a founder-led Family Office rooted in heritage or a newly formed entity driven by innovation, we help bridge the personal and professional aspects, aligning ethos with operations to foster unity and purpose.
More Than Recruitment – A Partnership for the Future
Recruitment may be Agreus’ foundation, but our value lies in our holistic understanding of Family Offices. We help Family Offices build the structures, frameworks, and relationships that allow them to flourish. We aim to act as a long-term partner, guiding Family Offices through every stage of maturity and every unique challenge.
If you would like to explore how we can support your Family Office, speak to our team today.