Julie Martin

Julie’s early career was spent at M&S and then GE, before she moved into the recruitment industry in 2000. Passionate about people and finding talent that makes a real difference to her clients, Julie has worked across a range of talent segments and led successful teams. As wife to Nick and mum to two young boys, Julie has learnt to embrace Star Wars, games consoles, Lego and weekends standing on a touch line. Outside of family life, Julie has run marathons, completed triathlons and loves skiing. In those rare moments of “me time” she can be found with a glass of wine, perusing the latest Homes and Garden magazine for inspiration for her family’s house renovation project.

Charlie Jaggard

Charlie has over 20 years of experience in executive search and talent acquisition, in consultancies and on the client-side. He has particular expertise in TMT, Business Services and Consumer sectors, specialising in GM and Commercial executive leadership appointments. Passionate about excellence in service delivery and doing the right thing for his clients and candidates, he was most recently EMEA Partner for a successful global leadership advisory firm. Charlie is proud to have cycled ‘End 2 End’ twice, raising awareness and money for rare cancers and still loves to go cycling in the Chilterns. If time permits, outside of a busy family life (with four kids) he loves skiing in the French Alps; enjoys fine wine, Scottish whisky, flat beer & good/spicy food with friends; loves going to indie rock gigs; and supports England Rugby and Cricket.

Liz Reynolds

Liz has worked in the recruitment business for 18 years. At Essenta Partners, Liz supports the Founding Partners, Partners, and the wider team ensuring that assignments stay on track, and that the team have the necessary support to meet project milestones. Liz is mother to two young boys and enjoys going to the cinema, reading, swimming and skiing after having done a season in Morzine.

James Howells

Passionate about building lasting relationships and helping clients to find genuine talent, James has 20 years of experience leading executive recruitment businesses. Most recently, he was Managing Partner of a highly successful international Executive Search boutique. He has extensive experience of C- Suite appointments across Consumer, TMT and Business Services. Father to three amazing children, James loves all sports and is actively involved in golf, tennis, skiing, cricket, football, gym and watching Liverpool FC, Gloucester RFC and England Rugby. When he gets the chance, James spends downtime socialising with great friends and watching movies.

Jenni Murray-Bates

Jenni started her career in Marketing, working for Foxtons before moving into recruitment. Latterly she has been working for Filton, a British manufacturing firm. Jenni has worked with a wide range of clients and companies ranging from SME to large International Corporations, and understands the value and rewards of being a trusted business partner to senior executives. In her spare time, Jenni has recently taken up CrossFit and is enjoying the pain. She can also be found ferrying her children, Will and Claudia, to various sporting and social events, playing tennis, going on long rambles, and practicing her culinary skills on friends. Jenni also volunteers for the Stroke Association, helping young stroke-affected adults.

Jon White

Jon brings 20 years of experience advising some of the world’s most successful companies on talent acquisition and assessment across the digital, data and technology domains and sectors. Prior to joining Essenta, Jon led the EMEA Digital and Technology practice for a leading global boutique search firm, conducting CIO, CTO, CDO, VP Engineering and Product leadership searches for both listed and high-growth, PE-owned businesses. Outside of work, when not being an unpaid Uber to his two daughters, Jon’s interests are focused on various sporting activities including Rugby, CrossFit and whatever challenge he has signed himself up for. Previous challenges have included Learning to juggle, racing across Costa Rica for the Princes Trust, White Collar Boxing and The Royal Parks Half Marathon.

Bibette Thompson

Bibette has spent the past 10 years honing her skills as a Research Associate, initially with Heidrick & Struggles, in Johannesburg before relocating the London. Prior to joining Essenta, Bibette was the Head of Research for a leading global boutique. In this capacity she delivered a number of large scale talent mapping and industry insight projects, with a specific focus on digital and data talent. When she is not running after her two young children and a rescue cat, Bibette enjoys hiking, cooking and dragging her family to museums and galleries.

Graham Butler

After graduating from Loughborough University, Graham began his career in investment banking before moving into executive search within professional services, consumer, retail and hospitality sectors. Transitioning client-side, he built and led an award-winning Talent function within a successful private equity backed SME, before joining a mid-market private equity fund. Here he built a creative approach to talent identification, hiring over 150 executives and non-executives into the fund portfolio over a six-year period. With his best sporting days a long way behind him, he still golfs averagely, skis quite badly, or (very) occasionally ventures back onto the hockey or cricket field. He loves to travel and can often be found on various beaches…mostly fishing in Dorset or occasionally playing ‘keepy-uppy’ in much warmer climes.

Harriet Forbes-Lange

After graduating from Loughborough University, Harriet started her career at The Jockey Club leading marketing campaigns and co-ordinating race-day hospitality and events at Huntingdon Racecourse. Prior to joining Essenta Partners, she was part of a research team at a boutique search firm specialising in Hospitality, Travel, Leisure and Retail appointments. 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.

Ashley Hobkinson

Ash focusses on Essenta’s consumer portfolio, with particular focus on retail, consumer, travel, leisure and hospitality, encompassing all aspects of executive leadership.  Ten of his last twenty years have been spent working in and enjoying Cape Town and New York.  Ash’s experience developing new markets across search allows him to deliver a bespoke client-centric search experience matched to client requirements. This is underpinned with the rigour, process and delivery focus from his time with one of the top-tier global executive search firms. Travel remains a focus for Ash outside of Essenta as well as the occasional bike ride, rugby match and the odd bit of paddle boarding. Finally, don’t get him started on the subject of old Land Rovers!

Oliver Wale

Oliver 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 retained senior assignments across 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.

Steph Gregson

Steph has over 7 years’ 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. She has been in London for 8 years’, 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 6 year old 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.

Tarek Sebiat

Following a soccer scholarship in the U.S, Tarek began his career working for a Berkshire based boutique search firm focussing on IT & Commercial appointments. Prior to joining Essenta, he spent the majority of his career working with a high growth, boutique search firm focusing on commercial appointments with consumer organisations going through major transformation. Outside of work, Tarek is an avid sports fan and has a Tottenham Hotspur season ticket. When not watching or attempting to play sport, you will find him exploring the wonderful eateries London has to offer.

Emma Wightman

Emma has flown in from New Zealand to support the Partners at Essenta.  Prior to Essenta, Emma worked as an Events Coordinator which means she has a great level of organisation. In her sparr time she enjoys travelling to new places and recently did a trip around Europe ticking 22 countries off the list.

David Purcell

David heads up our Business and Industrial Services Practice. Prior to joining Essenta, he led the same practice at a leading European Search Boutique. David’s client list spans both Private Equity backed business’ and larger PLC’s, encompassing all functions of executive 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.

Paula Ford

Paula has recruited into the financial services industry for over 20 years and has focussed on private equity since 2004. Prior to joining Essenta she was a Partner at one of Europe’s leading private equity recruiters. With a track record of over 400 completed searches, Paula’s client list spans venture capital through to large cap private equity (and everything in between) and LPs including pension funds and family offices. Experienced across all levels of investment team, from Associate through to Partner, she also has significant experience recruiting into Investor Relations. Passionate about working in genuine partnership with clients and candidates, Paula brings tenacity and integrity to every mandate. With two young children and a healthy appreciation for food and wine, she is proud to have completed two half marathons. Her other loves are theatre, fashion and interior design.

Hugo Shorten

Hugo leads Essenta’s CFO Practice and has 20 years of experience delivering senior finance mandates across a variety of different sectors, capital structures and geographies. The majority of his career was spent building the CFO offering for the UK’s largest independently owned Executive Search boutique, during which time he became a trusted and valued partner to both his client and candidate network. In his spare time Hugo will be often seen ferrying his young family around West Sussex (think Uber but with no tips), applying some grit and graft to his latest DIY project (often with limited success), or (given half the chance) relaxing in the garden with a cold glass of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc close to hand.

Nanda Veldink

Nanda has worked in the international luxury and consumer markets for 9 years. A Dutch national, she has lived and worked in 8 countries and has an innate global view on executive talent and a successful track record of sourcing across borders. She has a strong focus on Marketing, Digital, General Management, Supply Chain and Transformation assignments and is passionate about working in partnership with her MNC and PE portfolio clients to deliver great cultural alignment and leadership outcomes. Outside work, Nanda loves to explore new countries, cultures and cuisines and enjoys yoga, meditation and reading.

Ewan Peaston

Ewan began his career in rural property sales and consultancy, working for an independent estate agent based in the Cotswolds. Prior to joining Essenta Partners, he spent 2 years working for a high growth, boutique consumer search firm, specialising in Technology and Marketing appointments. Outside of work, Ewan is a passionate Glasgow Rangers supporter and keen cricketer and golfer. In the winter months you’ll find him attempting to Ski and enjoying all the offerings of the alps.

Annie Wilson

After graduating from the University of Exeter, Annie started her career in the financial services industry in the Global Family Office, Stonehage Fleming working in the Wealth Planning team. She supported senior wealth planners with the delivery of exceptional service to high-net-worth individuals.

Annie has joined Essenta Partners as an Associate predominately aligning herself to the Private Equity team, working on a range of leadership roles in portfolio companies. In her spare time, Annie can be found attempting to run half marathons but more often, with a glass of wine and a good book.

Ben McCabe

Ben has a long-established reputation with some of the best-known consumer brands, with a broad functional understanding and a bias towards fashion, food and non-food brands across the United States and EMEA regions. With a very current industry overview, Ben has been able to build relationships through his knowledge and flexibility, thereby allowing his clients access to the best talent globally. This has enabled him to develop an extensive network of CEOs and CHROs built on trust and delivery.

Ben is a father to an energetic two year old boy. He is also an avid Manchester City football fan and a keen cook who enjoys travelling, exploring new cultures and discovering the best in food and drink along the way.