Member Stories – Tim Lane and Evan Hecht

I recently completed one of my most rewarding splits with Evan Hecht - placing a Senior AI Agent Developer in New York on a $600k salary, with a 30% fee split evenly! 

 

A great result on paper, but the real value was in how we worked together.

 

From the outset, Evan and I were aligned on one key thing: total transparency. No ego, no posturing - just two experienced recruiters focused on getting it right. We were brutally honest about candidate quality, client expectations, and timing.  

 

At one point, I had what I felt were “strong” candidates…and Evan had equally strong opinions on why they would not be right for his client. 

 

Instead of digging my heels in, we compared notes openly (and yes, occasionally laughed at how attached I’d become to “my” candidates) and I accepted that Evan knew his client really well, and therefore I simply accepted that, no matter how ‘good’ a candidate might be, if they are not what the client wants, then they are not a ‘good’ candidate in this particular case.

 

One challenge was managing the speed of the process - AI talent at that level doesn’t sit still. We had to constantly recalibrate expectations with the client while keeping candidates engaged without overpromising. That balancing act could easily have derailed things, but frequent, direct communication kept us aligned.

 

The key learning? Great splits aren’t just about access - they’re about trust and rhythm. When communication is consistent and honest (even when it’s uncomfortable), decisions get better and faster.

 

Also, a small but important point: ensure you celebrate the win together. Any successful split is a good one. It was brilliant to meet Evan for the first time face-to-face at the recent PowerUp Americas, and to spend some quality time with him.

 

This has further strengthened our bond. Stand by – more splits coming!

 

Name in full: Tim Lane
Firm's name & location: Park Lane Recruitment, Manchester, UK
NPA Member Since: 2016