Associates

Mike Best | Principal

Mike has a complimentary mix of finance, marketing, sales and operations experience, gained in a variety of sectors including food, drink, business systems, recruitment and consultancy. This has been gained working for organisations such as Mars Confectionery, Kalamazoo and Michael Page, with clients across all markets including Vodafone, Barclaycard, Longleat Safari Park, TKMaxx, Le Creuset and The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.

With nearly 30 years recruitment, talent development and consultancy to call upon, he is looking forward to helping young professionals, managers and executives to make the most of themselves, when seeking employment.

Outside work, you might find him on the golf course, cooking on the Bar-B-Q, eating out or walking the dog.

Helen Keays | Principal Associate

Helen has considerable marketing and consumer communications experience across a variety of sectors including travel, finance, fashion, retail and food and drink. Helen held a number of senior executive positions working for organisations such as Vodafone, Sears Retail and GE Capital, before deciding to pursue a portfolio career. She is currently a Non-Executive Director of Nichols Plc, owner of the Vimto brand and was previously an NED for Dominos Plc, Majestic Wine Plc, Skin Clinics and Chrysalis Music amongst others. Helen is also a Life Trustee of The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.

Helen has recruited many candidates over the years and also run graduate training programmes. She has always had an interest in mentoring young people and has two young adult children herself. Outside work Helen plays tennis, enjoys most sports, walking the dog and family holidays.

Will Barribal | Associate

Will is a highly experienced human capital consultant, with over 25 years’ experience in start-ups, international corporates and fast turn-around businesses. His specialisms include executive profiling, talent optimisation, workplace transformation and team coaching & mentoring. This has been gained working for organisations such as Michael Page, Korn Ferry and Hewlett Packard. His consultancy clients cover all market sectors and include companies such as Nestle, Roche, Ford and Compass Group. His talent acquisition and development experience spans every level, from entry to boardroom. He loves working to help delegates improve themselves and get the very best out of themselves in the workplace.

Outside of work, he loves most sports, with a visit to Twickenham probably his favourite day out, or spending time with his family and their dogs on a long walk.

Nikki Blackhurst | Associate

Nikki’s early career began with a decade in a global recruitment business. Her area of expertise is in FMCG, Food and Beverage manufacturing, and she focusses on the recruitment of executive appointments across all marketing and commercial functions. Nikki has now established her own consultancy, allowing her to build on the strong foundations of her 26 years’ experience, in talent acquisition. Nikki is passionate about assisting individuals to flourish in their career. Nikki has two sons, aged 16 and 18, and holds a keen interest in assisting the younger generation to see opportunities and to help them present themselves accordingly to achieve their goals.

Outside of work, whether it is sailing, skiing, hiking up a mountain or shivering by the side of a rugby pitch, Nikki loves making the most of the great outdoors. Her family and their joint sense of adventure, has taken them far and wide, across the globe.

Symon Hughes | Associate

Symon started his career in marketing, with The Red Cross and the RAC, before spending 5 years with Michael Page. He then spent the next few years working in European Search, before moving ‘in-house’, as one of the first Talent Acquisition Specialists. He has spent many years completing interim consultancy projects for clients across all sectors. These include iconic brands such as Disney, Vodafone, Barclays, EDF and Thomson Reuters, as well as numerous technology and consumer start-ups.

The above experiences, mean he has reviewed tens of thousands of cvs, conducted countless interviews, managed thousands of hours of interview feedback and helped numerous clients and candidates negotiate successful job offers.

Outside work, you will find him on the golf course, walking the dog with his family or sampling a fine wine!