Dirk Gnodde has been in recruiting since 1989 and started his own firm in in January, 1991. Prior to moving into recruiting he had careers in public school teaching, commercial banking and corporate treasury. He joined Bankers Trust Company of New York in 1969 as a graduate trainee and left in 1972 as an International Banking Officer. He then joined International Paper Company and through 1977 held various positions in the treasury department, culminating as the Director of Finance for the United Kingdom.

In 1978 Dirk returned to the United States and commercial banking, joining Maryland National Bank, which later was acquired by Nationsbank. From 1984-1988 he opened and managed the Chicago loan production office, where the focus was both on National accounts and Chicago middle market companies. Dirk has a B.A. in Education and an M.B.A. in International Business, both from the George Washington University in Washington, D.C.