Adam Michael Toctan

Founder

Hong Kong, Hong Kong21 yrs experience

Highly Stable

Key Highlights

Founded award-winning recruitment business in Asia.
Successfully exited MCG Talent after nine years.
Expert in talent advisory for creative industries.

Stackforce AI infers this person is a Talent Advisory expert with a focus on creative, digital, and marketing sectors.

Contact

Skills

Core Skills

RecruitingNew Business DevelopmentBusiness DevelopmentClient Relations

Other Skills

New Business GenerationSales ManagementProject ManagementBrand DevelopmentNegotiationClient DevelopmentCandidate GenerationInternational DevelopmentInternational Project ManagementGraphic DesignFMCGPackagingProduct DesignStrategyDesign

About

After two decades in the creative, digital, marketing, and communications industry, I’ve seen it all… the good, the bad, and the ugly. Having built an award-winning recruitment business from the ground up in Asia, and successfully exiting it, to partnering with some of the world’s most ambitious brands and talent, the journey has been nothing short of incredible. Along the way, I’ve been honoured to have placed thousands of candidates, supported hundreds of clients, and built lasting relationships that go far beyond the transaction. What’s stayed consistent throughout is my belief in doing things the right way. Direct, honest, and thorough. No drama. No gimmicks. No BS. Just real conversations, meaningful partnerships, and results that speak for themselves. The lessons learned over the past 20 years have shaped who I am today. That experience, network, and perspective has created HUSTLE.

Experience

21 yrs

Total Experience

4 yrs 1 mo

Average Tenure

5 mos

Current Experience

Hustle

Founder & Director

Nov 2025 – Present · 5 mos · Hong Kong SAR · Hybrid

Founded in 2025, HUSTLE is reshaping talent advisory across global markets. With nearly 20 years of experience there’s little we haven't seen, solved, or had to adapt to.
From New York to London, Hong Kong to Singapore, we’ve helped clients in the creative, digital, marketing, and communications industry identify talent, overcome challenges, and grow their business.
When you work with us, you’re the only one that matters. We obsess over your goals and your trajectory. Every move we make is crafted with precision, side by side, for you alone.
We don’t do noise. We don’t do drama.
We focus on what matters - delivering results that transform careers, teams, and businesses.
While much of the industry chases KPIs, shortcuts, and offshoring its core work, we take a different approach. We keep the expertise close. Because when the most critical parts of the search are handled internally, not diluted or outsourced, the quality remains exact, consistent, and unmistakably better.
From our base in Hong Kong, HUSTLE connects talent and opportunity across borders - providing customised solutions that work wherever you do business.
For a confidential discussion, drop me an email on; adam@we-hustle.com
HUSTLE. We are resilient. We are driven. We are talent.

New Business DevelopmentNew Business GenerationRecruitingSales ManagementProject Management

Mcg talent

3 roles

Executive Partner & Co-Founder

Promoted

Feb 2019 – May 2025 · 6 yrs 3 mos

I built MCG Talent (Asia) from the ground up. In 2016, I landed in Asia with a laptop, a phone, and the belief that we could take an established name and turn it into an award-winning, best-in-class talent business. We did.
Building the brand - and mine - wasn’t easy. I navigated shifting markets, protests, and a global pandemic, yet we grew into a seven-figure talent advisory and consultancy, partnering with leading creative, marketing, digital, and communications teams across Asia and beyond.
After nine incredible years, I felt it was time for a new challenge - to take everything I’d learned and build something that reflects how I believe clients want to work in 2025 and beyond.
I stepped down as Co-Founder in April 2025 and successfully exited the business six months later. I couldn’t be prouder of what we achieved.

Managing Partner

Jul 2018 – Jan 2019 · 6 mos

"MCG&Co. 'Best Recruitment Team (SILVER)' - Asia Recruitment Awards 2019"
"MCG&Co. 'Best Recruitment Growth Agency' (BRONZE) - Asia Recruitment Awards 2019"
"Adam Michael Toctan - 'Recruitment Consultant of The Year' - Asia Recruitment Awards 2019"
"Hopscotch. 'Best Innovation Platform' (SILVER) - Asia Recruitment Awards 2019"
“MCG&Co. ‘Best New Recruitment Agency (GOLD)’ – Asia Recruitment Awards 2018”
“Adam Michael Toctan – ‘Recruitment Consultant of The Year’ - Asia Recruitment Awards 2018”

Managing Director - Hong Kong & Singapore

Jun 2016 – Jun 2018 · 2 yrs

“MCG&Co. ‘Best New Recruitment Agency (GOLD)’ – Asia Recruitment Awards 2018”
“Adam Michael Toctan – ‘Recruitment Consultant of The Year’ - Asia Recruitment Awards 2018”

Twist or stick recruitment

2 roles

Managing Director - APAC

Promoted

May 2015 – Jun 2016 · 1 yr 1 mo · London, Singapore, Hong Kong

In 2015 TWIST went global. I was responsible for developing and nurturing key client relationships across Client Service, Strategy and Business Development within the APAC region (Singapore / Hong Kong & Australasia) without losing focus on helping some of our best clients in the UK.
Developing relationships in the APAC region with key clients was a focus for us since our conception. Singapore & Hong Kong especially provided us with new and exciting markets to add to our London based relationships.

Director / Head of Client Service

Feb 2013 – May 2015 · 2 yrs 3 mos · London, Singapore, Hong Kong

Founded in 2010 by one of the ex-Founders of Purple. Twist was a boutique specialist agency providing recruitment and talent services to the Design, Brand, Marketing, Communications, Digital and Production space in the UK, Europe, US and Asia.
We prided ourselves on providing an exceptional service for our clients, ensuring we stood out as highly respected talent advisors for the creative industry built on a more holistic, hands-on approach to helping talent find the right home.

Purple consultancy (gemini people)

Managing Consultant / Head of Creative Account Management

Apr 2008 – Feb 2013 · 4 yrs 10 mos · London, United Kingdom

Founded in 2000, Purple quickly became THE recruitment agency to go to for all creative, marketing, media, digital and production based roles in the UK.
We worked with both industry giants and small independents. I was very proud to be a part of this incredible recruitment agency, operating at its peak.
I rose through the ranks to become a Managing Consultant where I was responsible for the smooth and efficient running of the Account Management & New Business desk within the Design Team. I worked in conjunction with 7x other specialist recruitment consultants to make sure that both my clients and candidates were receiving the very best service that can be provided across the Design & Brand space.

Khg partners

Consultant / Senior Consultant Magic Circle Law Firms

Jun 2007 – Apr 2008 · 10 mos · London, United Kingdom

KHG Partners were a specialist headhunters situated on Chancery Lane. I was initially employed as a Headhunter to recruit lawyers both at a junior level to Senior Head of General Counsel positions. I was promoted to Senior Consultant where I specialised in working with both Magic Circle Firms and US Firms as well as Investment Banks.