Current conditions are different than most of us have experienced, so we all need to adapt to different strategies, offering clients and candidates new initiatives and more effective services. Aston Taylor’s ‘Managing Agency’ concept is not the panacea, nor the only alternative, but it genuinely does provide a channel to generate fees that would otherwise not be possible, while satisfying the demands of both clients and candidates.

Aston Taylor introduced Managing Agency to the rec-to-rec sector just a few months ago. It’s been overwhelmingly supported. Yet, as with any new idea, there’s always a few dinosaurs happy to denigrate it (Opinion, Letters, Recruiter, 18 March). The concept of Managing Agency is already widespread among other sectors and it will flourish in rec-torec. This is simply an idea to generate some extra revenue for all parties — if anyone doesn’t need that, please let the rest of us know what you’re doing!

The rec-to-rec market has turned 180 degrees, from candidate- to client-led. Therefore, Aston Taylor is risking its most valuable commodity in the current market — vacancies. We trust our partners with the names and details of our clients, allowing them access to the widest range of vacancies in the sector.

There’s no way we would ‘steal’ any candidates; imagine if we did, the rec-to-rec calls our client and proves the story — we lose the business. It’s obviously not worth it! From the placements made to date we have gone to great pains to ensure fairness and honesty, even splitting fees when we already had the candidates.

Our website (www.astontaylor.com) makes public the fact that we are vendor neutral - to impress our clients we will submit only the best candidates, whatever the source. Those in discussion with us know we ensure complete transparency by informing the clients of the original supplier anyway. If this was just about putting our own candidates through, then why did we bother to spend tens of thousands forming a dedicated team to set up and manage this function?

Finally, the author also says we’re restricting some candidates from submission to our clients. Correct. Surely the role of a good recruiter is to be very discerning and selective and present only relevant candidates.

We welcome any feedback — good, bad or indifferent. In fact, rather than just ignore the letter, we sent it directly to our partners for their comment. The feedback was outstandingly positive and supportive of Aston Taylor’s efforts, especially from those enlightened partners currently placing their candidates with our clients. I would welcome the opportunity to talk with the anonymous author if he or she has the courage to call!

• Vic Chuntz, chief executive, Aston Taylor