Manuel S. Boado speaks a recruiting language that is in high demand. Spanusa, the Mamaroneck, N. Y. concern that he started in 1991, is the only North American search firm that solely places Spanish-speaking executives, industry watchers say.

Many U.S. companies are pursuing Spanish-speaking executives who can help them expand into Latin America and widen their pursuit of Hispanic-Americans here. Hispanics make up 11% of the U.S. population; That figure is expected to reach 22% by 2050...

...Mr. Boado says 20% of candidates in his database are non-Hispanic Americans. Spanusa's four recruiters handled 25 assignments in 1998,up From 18 in 1997.