Cook Associates Executive Search, the human resources firm that specializes in top-level management searches, has named Harry Wilson as managing director.

Wilson joins the firm from Freddie Mac where he was director of executive recruiting since 2006. Prior to that, he was senior vice president and managing director of executive recruiting at Wells Fargo and vice president and director of executive recruiting at MNC Financial. He brings some 33 years of experience to the role.

At Cook, Wilson is based in Charlotte, North Carolina, supporting the firm's financial services and insurance practice with a focus on consumer and commercial banking and wealth management. He will work closely with Kevin Parker, the practice managing director. 

The company said that despite the current state of the economy, there has been a significant increase in executive hiring, particularly C-level searches. Cook Associates posted a revenue increase of 65 per cent in the quarter to 30 June 2011, as well as a 37 per cent rise year-on-year for the first six months.