Travel - International Indian

YoubookHe Hunts For HeadsMahananda Moy Banerji, founder and CEO of Youbook, isdoing much the same as Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook, butwith a difference. A headhunter for the past two decades, heconnects an aspiring candidate to a prospective client sittinganywhere in the world.By: Deepa BallalHe is upfront, outspoken, articulateand doesn’t mince words. A manwho believes in fighting his ownbattles, making his own rules andis now busy re-building his empirefrom scratch. If Mark Zuckerberg createdFacebook to connect people all over the world,here is Mahananda Moy Banerji, founder andCEO of Youbook, who is doing much the samething, but with a difference. A headhunterfor the past two decades, he connects anaspiring candidate to a prospective clientsitting anywhere in the world. He is ready tofly across different time zones,hop between continents, anddine in expensive hotels if atall he finds the right match.To date, he has recruited morethan 6,000 middle and topmanagement professionals inthe Middle East. Youbook is anexecutive search firm targetingC level positions in the rangeof US 10,000 dollar (monthly)and upwards across differentverticals.“If you are an MNC, andyou are looking for a marketing director, cometo me. But if you are looking for a receptionistwith a monthly US $2,000 salary, then don’tcome to me,” he says matter of factly.A risk taker, Banerji takes up eachassignment as a challenge. “I can headhuntany one for you, but of course I won’t do itfor free. I can even reach Madonna if given aMahananda Moy Banerji, CEO of Youbookprofessional challenge. This speaks volumes ofhis connections and the confidence he has inhimself and his team.“How do you reach them? that’sheadhunting,” is the simplest definition heprovides. “We just propose two filtered out CVs.Within 72 hrs I will give exactly what the clientrequires,” is the assurance that comes fromBanerji. Knowing the psychology of the client isof paramount importance to him and his team.“There are lots of unspoken things that have tobe taken care of. We look for candidates whocan run with the client, not just walk with him,”he says stressing the need tofind the right fit. It’s not justthe right person but one withthe right personality who getsinto Banerji’s list. “If you havea CFO drawing a salary of$10 million, but you put himinto a one billion dollar job,he will die of heart attack,”he adds. Hence providingjobs according to how muchone can handle becomesimperative.An Economics Honorsgraduate from Hans Raj College, Delhi, whofought elections every year for the fun ofdefeating his opponent Ajay Maken, UnionMinister for Sports today and who also knewShahrukh Khan as a junior in his college, hehas the Who’s Who across different professionsin his Linked In profile today. Be it celebritiesacross the globe or the top guns in the88The International Indian