What we do
Retained search for the roles that carry the licence
Board, executive and senior risk, finance and compliance appointments in UK banking, specialist lending, fintech and financial services. One search, one accountable person, visible at every step.
Retained search
The executive you need, found in the whole market
Retained search is for roles where the wrong hire costs far more than the fee: a CEO, COO, CFO or CRO in a regulated business, or a commercial leader who has to grow the book without growing the risk. Ian maps every credible candidate, approaches them personally, and brings you a shortlist of people who can do the job — with a straight opinion on each. You see the map, the approaches and the assessments as they happen, not in a month-end summary.
- Roles
- CEO, COO, CFO, CRO, Risk, Audit, Compliance and Commercial leadership
- Sectors
- banking, specialist lending, fintech and financial services
Board & NED
Chairs and NEDs who add something in the room
A board appointment in financial services has to work for the regulator, the shareholders and the executive team at the same time — and still bring independent judgement to the table. Ian searches for Chairs and non-executive directors with the sector experience to challenge properly. Board searches are run discreetly.
The process
Six steps, one person, nothing hidden
- 01
Brief
A proper conversation about the role, the board and what has gone wrong before — the initial consultation is 30–45 minutes. The brief comes back in writing, so everyone is hunting the same person.
- 02
Map
Data and technology build a picture of everyone who could do the job, including those not looking. Market feedback and the search strategy are with you within five working days of instruction, and you see the map as it is built.
- 03
Approach
Ian makes every approach himself. Senior people talk to a peer, not a researcher reading a script, and they say things they would not put in an email.
- 04
Assess
Structured conversations against the brief, and an unvarnished view on each candidate. You get a shortlist that can do the job, not one that proves activity.
- 05
Appoint
Offer, negotiation and the awkward resignation conversation handled with care, so the person you chose actually starts.
- 06
Aftercare
Ongoing support throughout notice periods, onboarding and the first few months in role to ensure a successful outcome for both client and candidate. A placement that lasts is the only result that counts.
Sectors
UK financial services, in depth rather than in breadth
Banking, specialist lending, fintech and financial services. Close enough to share a regulator and a candidate pool; different enough that a hire from one does not always land in another. Fifteen-plus years in one industry means Ian knows where the lines are.
- Banking
- Specialist lending
- Fintech
- Financial services
Roles
From the boardroom to the functions that keep the licence
The roles where a wrong appointment is expensive and a good one changes the company.
- Board
- NED
- Chair
- CEO
- COO
- CFO
- CRO
- Risk
- Audit
- Compliance
- Commercial leadership
Book a call
Brief the person who will run the search
A 30–45 minute call on the role, the board and the timing. No pitch team.