Hitchenor Wakeford in the News...
As Hitchenor Wakeford continues its growth in the UK and internationally, working with great brands, we have been keeping clients and candidates up to date with moves in the market via our regular Insight e-shots.
Our continued expansion has not gone unnoticed in the business and trade press, with regular coverage of our new appointments and other developments.
Insights
To view our latest Insight bulletins, click here
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Hitchenor Wakeford waste no time in finding new FD for Augean
The boss of waste management group Augean Plc is predicting a “long term relationship” with Hitchenor Wakeford after their instant success in the hire of an ideally experienced FD.
In their first assignment for Augean, the executive search partnership helped the Wetherby-based firm secure the services of Richard Allen, Acting Group Finance Director at Kelda Holdings, owner of Yorkshire Water and a number of water-related businesses in the UK and US.
Allen, previously FD at Nestlé Ireland, based in Dublin, joins the Augean board as their new Finance Director.
Delighted Augean Chief Executive Paul Blackler described the appointment as “extremely important” for the strategic growth of the Group, which specialises in the management of hazardous waste.
He said: “Hitchenor Wakeford were diligent from the early stages of the process, communication and feedback was thorough and precise, and we worked extremely well with a team who clearly understood our specific brief and delivered against its objectives.
“The result is the appointment of Richard, who comes from a service sector background where his career has provided a depth of knowledge about both the commercial drivers and corporate disciplines necessary for the job.
“We see developing a long term relationship with Hitchenor Wakeford as an important part of our growth as they provide access to the best people, a service that delivers specific business needs and are prepared to challenge the client to ensure that the best person is found for the job.”
Hitchenor Wakeford MD John Wakeford, who managed the assignment, supported by CFO practice consultant Julia Fearn, added: “This superb appointment reinforces our senior finance credentials and we are delighted that Augean are now looking forward to a long term working relationship with us.
“Working at a strategic level with our clients, we can also map out the market and identify the future leaders and innovators who will assist in achieving their key objectives.”
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Hitchenor Wakeford help Aurora get their man
The boss of global fashion retailer Aurora is predicting further ‘bricks and clicks’ growth after Hitchenor Wakeford helped him secure the services of marketing and e-commerce guru Hash Ladha.Ladha, who will take up the role of Group Multichannel Director on June 1st, has extensive experience in marketing and business development in the retail fashion sector. He was Marketing And Operations Director at ASOS from 2007 until last November, while previous roles included Marketing Director at New Look and Commercial Director at Dorothy Perkins.
He was hired after being put forward by Hitchenor Wakeford Partner Spencer Jinks, who was aware that an e-commerce retail marketing expert would help Aurora achieve their ambitious international multichannel growth targets, and was in discussions with Ladha regarding his next challenge.
Ladha’s appointment has led delighted directors of Aurora Fashions - behind the well known international high street fashion brands Coast, Karen Millen, Oasis and Warehouse - to predict further growth after two years which have seen their e-commerce sales more than double.
Chief Executive Mike Shearwood was quick to pay tribute to Hitchenor Wakeford’s role in securing their man.
He said: “Far from acting purely as a traditional headhunter, Hitchenor Wakeford gave consideration to our strategic business development aims and through their extensive industry contacts and commercial appreciation of the Aurora business matched them to a market-leading professional.
“We created a new group-level position for Hash and I am confident that his wealth of experience at the forefront of e-commerce retail will support multichannel growth for all our brands.”
Aurora has seen e-commerce sales more than double over the last two years, now representing 10% of UK sales. Significant further growth is planned for 2010 with the UK e-commerce business increasing market share and a rapidly growing international online business.
The Aurora brands already have a significant international presence, trading from stores and concessions in 45 countries, with e-commerce orders delivered to 27 countries last year.
This year will see the launch of a dedicated US website with local fulfilment for Karen Millen, the first local language websites for all brands, and an integrated multichannel approach to international growth.
Jinks, Director of Hitchenor Wakeford’s Consumer practice, said: “This appointment highlights how an in-depth understanding of a business’s strategic goals and ambitions, married with our extensive contacts in the consumer sector, can result in an exceptional hire.
“Traditional executive search is about identifying candidates to fill vacant positions. A fresh approach is to look at a business’s strategic medium-term plans, map out the pan-European market and identify the future leaders and innovators who will assist in achieving those key objectives.
“Unique roles can then be created which are highly attractive to the candidate and commercially beneficial for the client. It is proving an increasingly popular and impactful way of identifying and hiring leading talent for all our industry contacts.”
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New Partner joins to head Interim practice
Fast growing UK executive search partnership Hitchenor Wakeford has appointed a new Partner to head its Interim practice as the firm continues to attract top talent from its competitors.Tim Paylor joins as Managing Director Executive Interim from Penna Executive Interim, where he was Sector Head Energy and Utilities.
He brings 15 years’ recruitment experience to Hitchenor Wakeford, having previously been MD of UK Open Market Contracts at Spring Group plc and Operations Director at Harvey Nash.
The 42-year-old father-of-two, who hails from East Sussex, will be based at the firm’s London office and, alongside Interim Consultant Julia Collings, will work across the UK regions developing Hitchenor Wakeford’s Executive Interim business.
He said: “My brief is to further develop Hitchenor Wakeford’s Executive Interim business across all functions and disciplines, working with businesses of all sizes in both the UK and overseas. It is a great opportunity, joining the fastest growing executive search firm in the UK with the whole executive interim market to target.”
Hitchenor Wakeford’s Managing Director John Wakeford added: “This is another superb appointment for us - Tim was Penna’s record performer in Executive Interim. He is the ideal person to further develop our Executive Interim business along with Julia and we are excited about the prospects for the year ahead.”
The Hitchenor Wakeford Group was launched by Adrian Hitchenor, John Wakeford and David Tunna in 2006 and is the UK’s fastest growing executive search firm, with offices in Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham and London.
The company’s vision is to build the executive search firm of choice in every sector it operates in, and there are ambitious plans to open new offices in other regions. Last year saw group turnover increase by 40 per cent.
For more information, contact Chris Jennings at Cian creative pr at chris@cian-pr.co.uk or on 0191 340 8422 or 07954 157939.
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Growing partnership takes four executive search specialists from rivals – September 16, 2009
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Russian market expert’s arrival boosts growing international division – November 18, 2009
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2010 will see “buoyant market” for executive search – January 18, 2010
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Foreign demand for UK talent boosts growth – Yorkshire Post January 19, 2010
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Get in touch with us, Wakeford urges best talent – Yorkshire Post September 19, 2009
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Hitchenor Wakeford sponsor Yorkshire Business Awards – Yorkshire Post December 15, 2009
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