Sales executives lead hiring drive

COMPANIES are hiring marketing and sales executives in record numbers, according to a new survey. Worldwide demand is up 21 percent for the first quarter of 1994.

``In our experience, this indicates that companies are definitely expansion minded and preparing for an economic upturn,'' says Richard Ferry, chairman and CEO of Korn/Ferry International, the firm conducting the survey.

Europe and North America are leading the way with a 36 percent and 26 percent jump in hiring respectively. Asia, however, declined 2 percent, primarily because of the continuing recession in Japan.

Companies have been galvanized by international trade agreements and visions of new consumer markets, Mr. Ferry says.