Executive Search Firms in UK
Identifying, attracting, and securing high-performing executives requires a bespoke approach. With over 20 years of experience, we use deep market knowledge, rigorous assessments, and a relationship-driven process to find leaders who align with your organisation’s culture and values.
We specialise in recruiting senior professionals, responsible for an organisation’s reputation and influence, for roles at Board level, executive committees, and functional leadership. Drawing from a diverse candidate pool, we assess skills, experience, knowledge, and behaviours to ensure the best fit. Our services extend beyond placement, with supportive onboarding, leadership development, and ongoing support to help new executives drive your organisation forward.
Tailored Executive Search Solutions
Identifying, attracting, and securing high-performing executives requires a bespoke approach. With over 20 years of experience, we use deep market knowledge, rigorous assessments, and a relationship-driven process to find leaders who align with your organisation’s culture and values.
We specialise in recruiting senior professionals, responsible for an organisation’s reputation and influence, for roles at Board level, executive committees, and functional leadership.
Drawing from a diverse candidate pool, we assess skills, experience, knowledge, and behaviours to ensure the best fit. Our services extend beyond placement, with supportive onboarding, leadership development, and ongoing support to help new executives drive your organisation forward.
The Team
Jules is responsible for the leading the EA team, overseeing the company's financial and operational management and ensuring we deliver an exceptional service to customers. With two decades of experience in the headhunting and corporate affairs space, Jules leads EA's Coaching &Mentoring network and Talent Partnership Programme. She has also completed a course in Counselling and Psychotherapy at Birkbeck.
Gavin has over 25 years of headhunting experience, specialising in executive search for senior leaders. He advises global boards on appointing corporate affairs leaders, trade body CEOs, and communications experts. He is a Past Master and Honorary Court Assistant of the City of London Company of Communicators.
Geraldine has 25+ years' headhunting experience, specialising in C-suite executive search for corporate communications, policy, and public affairs across corporates, charities, and regulators. A qualified solicitor, she has also held COO and HRD roles with global recruitment firms.
Barry is an Associate Director who leads our Membership Practice specialising in the recruitment of senior communications, policy, and public affairs professionals. Previously, he worked in the corporate and public affairs teams for three leading UK trade associations and served as a Political Adviser to a Secretary of State.
Michelle brings a wealth of expertise to her role as Executive Assistant to the CEO and Executive Chair, her background spans corporate and recruitment sectors. With over 12 years' experience supporting C-suite executives, boards, shareholders, and high-profile individuals, she ensures seamless coordination and strategic efficiency for the EA executive leadership team.
Why Choose Us?
Choosing the right executive hiring consultants can make the difference between a successful leadership appointment and a costly misstep.
Specialist Expertise
We are not generalist recruiters. We focus on senior-level leadership hiring across communications, policy, public affairs, sustainability, and corporate leadership functions.
Trusted Relationships
As respected executive recruitment agencies in UK, we have built enduring relationships with both clients and senior candidates across industries.
Bespoke Search Strategy
Every search is tailored. We create customised recruitment plans based on your organisation’s needs, not a standard recruitment template.
Confidential and Professional Delivery
Many senior appointments require discretion. Our executive employment agency model protects confidentiality while ensuring market reach.
Long-Term Partnership
Our support continues beyond placement with onboarding guidance, leadership transition planning, and strategic advisory services.
Our Process
Our executive hiring agency process is designed to deliver accuracy, speed, and leadership alignment.
Discovery and Briefing
We begin by understanding your business strategy, organisational structure, leadership needs, and cultural priorities. This stage helps our consultants define success beyond the job description.
Market Mapping and Talent Identification
Using research, industry intelligence, and established networks, we identify the strongest candidates across active and passive talent pools. This is where our strength as one of the leading executive search firms in UK creates competitive advantage.
Executive Engagement
We approach candidates confidentially and strategically, presenting the opportunity in a compelling and credible way. Our executive recruitment process ensures strong candidate engagement and trust.
Assessment and Evaluation
Candidates are assessed for leadership capability, sector expertise, strategic thinking, stakeholder management, and cultural alignment. This creates stronger executive leadership recruitment outcomes.
Shortlisting and Client Interviews
We present a refined shortlist with detailed insight and support interview planning for confident decision-making.
Offer Management and Onboarding
We support negotiation, offer acceptance, onboarding strategy, and transition planning to ensure successful placement and long-term retention.
Partner With Trusted Executive Recruitment Expe
Working with one of the most experienced executive recruitment agencies in UK ensures your business has access to exceptional leaders who deliver strategy, influence, and sustainable growth. At Ellwood Atfield, our focus is simple: creating important and enduring relationships through exceptional executive recruitment in the UK. Connect with our executive hiring consultants today and discover how expert executive search can transform your organisation.
Our Executive Search Specialisms
As one of the leading executive recruitment agencies in UK, we specialise in senior appointments where leadership quality directly impacts business performance and reputation. Our consultants support recruitment across:
Board-Level Appointments
Board members shape organisational direction and governance. We help businesses secure Non-Executive Directors, Chairs, Trustees, and senior board appointments that strengthen leadership at the highest level.
C-Suite and Executive Committee Roles
From CEOs and COOs to CMOs and Chief Corporate Affairs Officers, our executive recruitment in London, UK supports the appointment of transformational senior leaders.
Functional Leadership Recruitment
We recruit senior professionals across specialist disciplines including:
- Corporate Affairs
- Public Affairs
- Strategic Communications
- Investor Relations
- Sustainability and ESG
- Internal Communications
- Government Relations
- Policy and Regulatory Affairs
- Marketing and Brand Leadership
- HR and People Leadership
As a specialist executive employment agency, we understand how critical these leadership roles are to long-term organisational success.
Creating Important & Enduring Relationships
Please note that not all positions are advertised, so we encourage you to register with us to discover opportunities that match your experience and aspirations.
No Vacancies
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What Our Clients & Candidates Have to Say...
Ellwood Atfield have shone brightly on recruitment for Universities UK. They clearly have excellent networks, work hard to fully understand client needs, and move quickly. In recruiting temporary and permanent positions for us, they put forward strong fields of candidates. Their advice and support throughout the whole recruitment process has been outstanding. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them.
After two unsuccessful processes for an officer-level post due to the lightspeed pace of the market for junior roles, we brought in Ellwood Atfield having seen their impressive work on more senior appointments. Our key requirement was finding the right candidate fast, and Alec and the team delivered this. Every candidate we saw had impressive experience and were well briefed ahead of interviews on what we were looking for. The EA team gave us honest feedback and key insights which helped us appoint even quicker than we expected. We will definitely use Ellwood Atfield again in the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
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