Conor Smyth's move to Allura Partners is less about changing direction and more about building on momentum. With experience spanning tech sales and recruitment across Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand, Conor joins the business with a clear focus: helping organisations deliver change through product and technology.

“I started my career in technology sales,” Conor explains. “It was fast-paced and exciting, but I found it quite transactional. What I felt I was missing was the human side, the relationship building.”

That search for more meaningful, people-focused work led Conor into recruitment in Wellington, New Zealand, his first formal role in the industry. The shift clicked immediately.

“Recruitment felt far more human-centred. You're finding candidates their dream jobs and helping clients secure the right talent. It's much less transactional and much more about long-term relationships, which really resonated with me.”

Building a Career Across Tech, Finance and Transformation

Since then, Conor’s career has spanned multiple markets and disciplines. He has recruited across data, automation, accounting and finance, before returning to technology-focused roles, most recently with a strong emphasis on recruitment within transformation and project environments.

“Product is essentially the conduit between transformation projects and technology,” Conor explains. "I enjoy technology and project-based recruitment, so being able to sit in the middle, supporting both candidates and clients, felt like a great fit.”

Conor will specialise in product-led technology roles, from Product Owners and Product Managers through to Heads of Product and technology programme leadership. His desk is closely aligned with organisations undergoing transformation, whether through digital programmes, data initiatives or platform change.

“Most of the projects I'm seeing are data-driven,” he says. “There's a natural crossoverwith data, AI, and transformation teams, but product is where those ideas actually become real for customers.”

While artificial intelligence is undeniably influencing hiring demand, Conor is keen to emphasise balance. “AI-first products and intelligent UX are definitely trends,” he notes, “but there are real challenges too. Data readiness, user trust, and cost are all major considerations. It’s not just about having the idea, it’s about executing it responsibly and within budget.”

Project-First, Outcomes-Focused

Given the project-led nature of much of this work, Conor expects his desk to be split between day-rate contracts and permanent-focused. Contract roles particularly for the short to medium term, and permanent for the more senior and leadership roles.

“Transformation work often needs people who can come in quickly, hit the ground running and deliver,” he explains.“There's still demand for permanent hires, especially when teams are being built around long-term programmes, but contract talent is critical when speed and expertise matter.”

This mirrors a broader shift he's seeing in the market, with organisations balancing caution with renewed investment in change.

“Over the past few years, clients have been very selective,” Conor says. “But we’re already seeing signs of increased activity. As hiring picks up, there's hopefully a move away from being overly rigid on industry background and more focus on transferable skills.”

Skills That Matter Most

Beyond technical capability, Conor places strong emphasis on softer skills, particularly for professionals working in product and transformation roles.

“Critical thinking is huge,” he says. “Understanding how technology impacts customers and organisations, not just how it works.”

He also highlights communication and adaptability as essential. “Product roles often sit between transformation teams and technology teams, groups that don't always naturally speak the same language. Being able to bridge that gap, collaborate, and adapt as things change is incredibly valuable.”

Looking Ahead

For Conor, Allura Partners' blend of private equity and corporate clients was a major drawcard.

“I love the mix of private equity-backed businesses and broader commercial organisations,” he explains. “In private equity, there's a real drive to transform businesses over a five-to-seven-year horizon, and product plays a huge role in that. But you see the same focus in corporate organisations that are investing heavily in technology and customer experience.”

As Allura Partners continues to expand its technology and transformation capabilities, Conor’s arrival strengthens the firm’s ability to support clients and candidates operating at the cutting edge of change.

“I’m excited to be specialising in this space,” Conor says. “Being able to see ideas turn into products that genuinely change how organisations operate, and how customers experience them, is what really motivates me.”

If you’re building your product or technology team or want to discuss the market, please reach out to Conor here.