International executive search firm Pedersen & Partners has opened a new office in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — the fifth office established by the firm in the Middle East & Africa.

Ewan Walton has been appointed principal and country manager for the new office.

Walton has over 13 years’ experience in executive search and recruitment advisory in the EMEA region, with a special focus on Saudi Arabia and the GCC.

Before joining Pedersen & Partners he was a partner and managing director executive search for global audit and advisory firm KPMG based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Before that he co-established one of the first executive search firms in the GCC (Gulf Co-operation Council) region in 2001, ITP Consulting, (now known as McArthur Murray).