Nanda is responsible for the international practice at Essenta focusing on the consumer industry, as well heading our Purpose agenda. A Dutch national, she has lived and worked in eight countries and has an innate global view on executive talent and a successful track record of sourcing across borders. Nanda has worked in the international consumer markets for 10+ years and she works with clients looking for transformative and holistic solutions and businesses who see talent as a strategic advantage. She is used to working with geographically and culturally diverse teams and she is driven by creating highly diverse senior leaderships teams, underpinned with cognitive diversity dynamics. Nanda has a contemporary and innovative approach to executive search and the Essenta Insights Podcast is one of her impactful initiatives. Outside work, Nanda loves to explore new countries, cultures and cuisines and enjoys yoga, meditation and reading.

Passionate about building lasting relationships and helping clients to hire exceptional talent, James has over 25 years of experience leading executive recruitment businesses. In 2016, James co-founded Essenta, having previously led the MBO and subsequent growth, of a London based search boutique. He has extensive experience hiring C-Suite leaders across consumer, technology and business services organisations with differing and complex ownership structures.

Father to three amazing children, James loves all sports and is actively involved in golf, tennis, cricket, football, the gym and watching Liverpool FC and England Rugby. When he actually gets the chance, James spends downtime socialising with great friends, savouring a good glass of wine and watching movies.

Charlie has 25 years of experience in executive search and talent acquisition, in consultancies and on the client-side.  He co-founded Essenta with James Howells and has a strong track record and particular expertise in business services, consulting and technology sectors.  He heads up Essenta’s Business-to-Business practice as well as leading the sales and commercial practice, which specialises in the appointment of sales and go-to-market leaders.  With particularly strong commercial networks, he has proven success in delivering transformation and growth outcomes into technology-enabled business services companies.  Charlie is proud to have cycled ‘End 2 End’ twice (a few years ago now!), raising awareness and money for rare cancers.  He still loves to cycle in the Chilterns (or on his Peloton if the weather’s poor). With four kids, spare time is scarce, but he loves to ski and play golf, goes to the odd indie rock concert and supports England Rugby and Cricket.

Seb is part of the senior leadership team at Essenta managing our business to consumer client base. He is accountable for all our consumer and consumer technologies practice areas responsible for the integration our technology expertise into product and service lead consumer clients.

With a specific focus on direct to consumer, Seb has helped create value in both multinationals and private equity portfolio brands. Prior to joining Essenta, Seb spent nine years building the international business of a reputable and high growth search firm. Through this he has established diverse executive networks across USA, EMEA & APAC encouraging clients to view the search process through a global lens. Seb has a passion for the outdoors and on occasion has been seen riding motorbikes through the English countryside.

Paula has over 15 years’ experience in connecting venture capital, growth, mid-market and large cap funds to fundraising, investing and portfolio talent. She understands the importance of rigorous search process alongside providing compelling representation in the market and superior quality of assessment. A champion of diversity, she supports her clients in their strategic thinking about how to secure and retain the best people, including accessing new talent pools. Despite having two young children and a healthy appreciation for food and wine, she has managed to complete two half marathons, which she believes pretty much makes a whole. Her other loves are theatre, art and interior design.

David focuses on the business and industrial services market. His client list spans private equity portfolio companies and larger PLCs, encompassing all functions, most commonly CEO, Chair, CFO and divisional leadership. David is passionate about building long term and significant partnerships with his clients, delivering a bespoke process to suit their needs, in the time frame they require. Outside of the office David cycles regularly, is a keen rugby player and (when he has the time) enjoys experimenting with new and delicious recipes in the kitchen.

Annie’s career began in financial services, where she worked in the global family office of Stonehage Fleming, delivering exceptional service to high-net-worth individuals. She works in the private equity practice, across a range of c-suite and leadership roles for both private equity funds and their portfolio companies. Working in the private equity practice allows Annie to nurture her avid interest in the factors that drive successful investing and the dynamics that underpin great businesses. Annie holds a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the University of Exeter. In her spare time, Annie can be found on her travels, attempting to run half marathons and most often with a glass of wine in her hand.

Jon is a Partner within the Consumer and Technology practice. As the first partner hire into the business in 2017 Jon has been integral to building the Essenta Digital & Technology proposition. With over 20 years’ experience of hiring Digital & Technology leaders for some of the world’s most recognisable consumer brands. Jon has completed over 200 successful searches through a focus on customer experience, leveraging his global network and developing a robust assessment methodology. With a background in elite sport Jon has a long-standing interest on how successful teams are built and how great, or bad, leadership can impact teams or organisations. Prior to joining Essenta Jon worked for a global executive search firm, building their EMEA Consumer technology and digital practice. Out of the office Jon is always looking for ways to channel his competitive nature, taking on various challenges such as racing across South America, White Collar Boxing and more recently Crossfit.

Oliver works as a Consultant within our Private Equity practice, working with funds who are looking to make board leadership changes within their portfolio companies. He began his career in finance and accounting recruitment working in Birmingham, London and then Sydney, where he managed the Qualified Finance Commerce and Industry team, with a personal focus on Senior Finance hires across all sectors. Prior to joining Essenta, he worked for a boutique executive search firm focused on the Management Consultancy, Professional Services and Technology sectors. Outside of the office, Oliver attempts to stay fit and active, but only so that he can continue to try all the new Burger restaurants popping up around London and have an excuse to buy more trainers.

As a Consultant within the consumer practice, Harriet focuses on the hospitality, travel and leisure sectors as well as supporting the broader consumer Partners’ on delivery. She has an extensive network across these industries and a strong track record in placing senior executives. Her passion for these industries was honed growing up in a busy family hospitality business, followed by starting her career with The Jockey Club, leading marketing campaigns and hospitality at Huntingdon Racecourse. In her spare time, Harriet loves spending time with friends, family and her dachshund, Bond. In the winter, she will spend as much time as possible on the pistes in the Swiss Alps whilst outside the ski season, Harriet enjoys attending horse racing events at Newmarket, Ascot and Cheltenham.

As an Associate within the consumer practice, Ewan supports end to end delivery of executive search assignments and research projects across multiple functions, with a personal interest in technology and marketing. He began his career in rural property sales and consultancy, working for an independent estate agent based in the Cotswolds. Prior to joining Essenta, he spent 2 years working for a high growth, boutique consumer search firm, specialising in c-suite appointments within digital and marketing. Here he appointed numerous senior leaders which helped to cultivate his interest in the intersection between digital, technology and marketing, and how this effects the modern executive. Ewan is a passionate Glasgow Rangers supporter and keen cricketer and golfer. He is a Whiskey enthusiast and spends his holidays hunting for the best new malts.

Steph has extensive experience working in administrative and delivery support roles in Executive Search. Prior to joining Essenta, Steph worked in both a research and admin support capacity. At Essenta, Steph enjoys managing the Private Equity teams needs and the wider business with office management support. She has been in London for nearly a decade, having packed her bags for what was meant to be a gap year, but fell in love with London and her husband and is now mother to a very energetic daughter. Steph has a love of languages and has taken on learning Mandarin. When she isn’t busy running after her daughter, she enjoys the cinema, theatre or a good book with a glass of red wine.

Liz has worked in executive search business’ for over 20 years. At Essenta Partners, Liz supports the Founding & Senior Partners’ to ensure assignments stay on track, and that the team have the necessary support to meet project milestones. Liz is mum to three young boys and enjoys going to the cinema, reading, swimming and skiing after completing a season in Morzine.

Julie is responsible for the operational efficiency of Essenta Partners, spanning finance, systems and processes, marketing, CSR, people, legal, health & safety and operations. Her early career included finance and general management roles with GE Capital and Marks & Spencer, before moving into the recruitment industry in 2000 where she built industry practices from scratch, and led consulting teams across a range of markets. With a focus on business optimisation and enablement, Julie continually strives to improve the business’s operating capabilities to support scaling and sustainable growth. Mum to two boys, Julie has learnt to embrace Lego, game consoles and weekends standing on a touch line. In her spare time she can be found running on the streets of Surrey or socialising with a glass of wine in her hand!

Tarek is a Consultant focusing on CFO hires into Technology and Consumer businesses. He has a track record of success across publicly and privately owned organisations, as well as private equity and venture capital portfolio companies. He specialises in identifying talent that can move successfully across these ownership structures.

Following a soccer scholarship in the U.S, Tarek began his career in a high growth boutique search firm focusing on Finance transformation. Building on this knowledge, he joined a boutique Consumer search firm where he focussed on Finance and Commercial Operations.

Tarek is an avid sports fan and (unfortunately) is a Tottenham Hotspur season ticket holder. When he is not playing or watching sport, you will find him exploring some of London’s wonderful eateries.

Emma has been with Essenta since the beginning of 2019 and works with the B2B team, and various other projects for the business. Emma grew up in New Zealand and decided to come to England for a couple of years to travel, but has since settled in England.

Outside of work, Emma enjoys travelling, going out for dinners/lunches, spending time with her partner and friends, and enjoying her puppy.

Graham leads the private equity practice at Essenta. Drawing from 25 years in talent management, including 15 years within private equity, Graham has built the Essenta private equity proposition focused on best practice research and assessment methodology. The approach uniquely aligns talent to private equity funds and their portfolio companies. Before Essenta, Graham led the talent function at Livingbridge, a leading mid-market private equity investor. His role included the hiring of over 150 execs and non-execs into portfolio companies and supporting over 40 new transactions by driving investment conviction. Prior to Livingbridge, he built and led an award-winning talent/HR function within a successful private equity backed consumer SME, delivering a significant exit for investors. Graham is fanatical about many things including fishing, golf and Top Gun.