Michael Page is one of the world's leading professional recruitment consultancies, specializing in the placement of candidates in permanent, contract, temporary and interim positions with clients around the world. The Group has established a leading presence in many of the key markets for professional recruitment around the world and has positioned itself in certain other markets, which offer the opportunity for future growth. Within its current largest markets, Michael Page has also built a regional presence, including in the UK, France and Australia. Consequently, the Michael Page brand is among the most widely recognized brands in the professional recruitment industry. The role of a recruitment consultancy is to act as an intermediary, identifying and sourcing suitably qualified candidates on behalf of its clients. Candidates are recruited either for permanent or contract positions (typically for a fixed term) or on a temporary basis. Within the overall recruitment industry, the market for professional recruitment services is a specialist sector which has developed more recently. Michael Page is widely recognized as leading the development of this market around the world.