Senior leadership search in Vietnam & Southeast Asia.
For more than two decades, Erik Vian has advised organisations on mission-critical appointments where market judgement, discretion, and leadership fit matter as much as reach.
A retained executive search boutique for mission-critical mandates in Vietnam.
Vian Bloom was founded by Erik Vian to advise on senior executive and board-level appointments in Vietnam and Southeast Asia.
The firm specialised in high-stakes, hard-to-fill mandates: roles where the appointment carried strategic weight, conventional hiring channels had not produced the right fit, the available talent pool was narrow, or the search required discreet cross-industry and regional market mapping.
That operating chapter is now closing as a standalone firm. The relationships, market knowledge, and advisory approach developed through Vian Bloom now continue through Erik's current practice at contagi Asia.
A long-standing search partner for senior hiring decisions in Vietnam.
Erik Vian’s work centres on close client dialogue, transparent candidate communication, and a practical understanding of the specific business challenge behind each leadership mandate.
His search approach often looks beyond obvious industry lists, mapping adjacent sectors and assessing candidates for fit, judgement, capacity, and the realities of the role.
He has advised on country leadership, functional leadership, C-suite, and board-level appointments across a wide range of sectors, including education, life sciences, logistics, financial services, industrials, professional services, consumer packaging, and technology.
Earlier in his career, Erik held leadership roles with HSBC Vietnam and Wells Fargo Bank in the United States, bringing an operator’s perspective to senior hiring decisions.
Across these platforms, Erik’s search practice has been shaped by global firm discipline, emerging-market complexity, cross-border decision-making, and founder-led advisory work.
Senior search grounded in market judgement, discretion, and fit.
Erik’s work combines clear mandate definition, disciplined market mapping, confidential candidate conversations, and careful stakeholder alignment.
Clarifying the real business challenge behind the hire, then testing the brief against Vietnam market realities, regional talent options, and stakeholder expectations.
Looking beyond obvious industry lists to identify adjacent sectors and non-obvious profiles, then building a discreet shortlist grounded in the mandate.
Building confidential candidate relationships through discretion, transparency, and candid conversations about the real challenges and expectations behind the role.
Helping local leadership teams, regional stakeholders, and global decision-makers evaluate candidates against a shared mandate and align around the right leadership hire.
References from senior leadership searches in Vietnam and Southeast Asia.
The following client testimonials and excerpts reflect assignments led by Erik and his teams across his prior executive search work.
“The recruitment of our Chief Distribution Officer was a highly challenging search given the limited talent pool in Vietnam and our expectations for the role. Our decision to choose Erik Vian and his firm (formerly Odgers Berndtson Vietnam), was the right decision and resulted in us finding the best candidate for the role. We very much valued Erik’s real-life industry experience working in Vietnam, his discretion in seeking qualified candidates, and professional working style.”
“Through thorough stakeholder engagement, locally, regionally and globally they were able to correctly portray the challenging scope of the position, correctly indicating the challenging environment expected of an MNC entering a developing country.”
General Director, ECCO Vietnam
“We had deliberately chosen to search outside the industry with the objective of bringing in a high-potential candidate with a new perspective – preferably with an FMCG background. The choice of a search firm located outside Thailand was based on Erik displaying a solid understanding our objective for the search. A decision we did not regret.”
Managing Director, Maersk Line SEA
“What impressed us about this company was their understanding of our requirements, and their ability to thoroughly and accurately assess a candidate’s suitability for the role. Their robust research methodology ensured no stone was left unturned.”
General Manager, People and Culture, IDP Education
“We wanted to hire a senior level expat for a critical position; Erik and his team ensured that the search as well as recruitment process was thorough & high quality. What’s more, they worked with us like a partner, exceeding our expectations.”
CEO, Vietnam, OPV Pharma
“They provided good insights and recommendations on the talent pool, were extremely responsive and enabled us to find a Country Manager in a short period of time.”
HR Director – Asia Pacific South, SIG Combibloc
“Erik and his team have been a trusted and reliable executive search firm that have assisted us with the recruitment of several senior management roles for our organisation.”
Partner, Advisory Services Leader, PwC
Discuss a leadership hire in Vietnam or Southeast Asia.
For executive search needs, leadership hiring discussions, or Vietnam market advisory conversations, contact Erik through contagi Asia.