The recruitment consultancy reported that the number of companies needing to fill such roles in 2010 more than doubled.
Amgon this recruitment, there was a particular focus on finding professionals with experience in compensation and benefits.
Although recruitment in the public sector was far quieter in last year, there was an upsurge in the hiring of HR professionals in the last quarter.
Lynne Hardman, MD at Badenoch and Clark, said: "As employers started to feel more optimistic about the future of their organisations during 2010, we have seen rising numbers of appointments at strategic level, including HR directors.
"In many cases, incoming HR directors have focussed on their reward strategy, to address cost efficiencies and improve retention and attraction rates.
"This seems to have resulted in a renewed demand to hire commercially astute reward professionals with the technical skills and behavioural qualities to perform a truly partnering role to the business."
