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APD bosses Janet Teo and Vic Sithasanan launch data-led recruitment firm Potentio

Teo

Teo

Sithasanan

Sithasanan

Janet Teo and Vic Sithasanan have left digital marketing firm APD, where they were Malaysia CEO and Asia CEO respectively, to set up their own recruitment firm, which uses data to match companies with potential candidates quickly.

Sithasanan and Teo were behind boutique digital and innovation firm FutureLab, which was acquired by Next Digital, now APD, in 2012. Teo said that during her time at Next Digital her biggest pain point was “finding good people fast.”

“Even with the various recruitment options, we always felt there was still a palpable gap. We both knew then that this was an area ripe for innovation,” she said.

Hence, the duo’s new company, Potentio.

Using a recommendation engine called SCOUT, the KL-based firm says it can find suitable candidates who might not otherwise by looking for jobs in days rather than the months it can typically take to source the right talent.

The firm points to research that finds that three quarters of candidates self-identify as passive candidates. “Potentio seeks to exploit a candidate’s explorative nature,” the company says.

A second product, which is still under development, is a smart search engine.

“We’re working with experts in machine learning and artificial intelligence to bring a second product to market in the next six months. A smart search engine that can recommend candidates based on successful hiring strategies – the same way a financial trader uses different trading strategies. Our goal is to power internal HR teams and managers to find better people. Our technology allows them to do that”, said Sithasanan.

Though based in the Malaysian capital, the firm says it wants to a regional company within the next 12 months.

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