About

More details about Graham

Accomplished and highly experienced strategic senior director
Has run a wide range of specialist recruitment businesses UK & globally
Exceptional leader and motivator
Independent/Non-executive Director/Chairman
Superior market intelligence network
High energy, enthusiastic and passionate approach to the sector
Strong Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) experience in the sector
Principal in 24 transactions (also 20+ as a broker) totalling ~£250m
MBO, MBI, BIMBO, IPO and trade transactions experience
Skilled in dealing internationally and with owner-managers
Almost 30 years of building successful specialist recruitment businesses

Career History

June 2010 to Date
NX ChairNative, Natives Group
www.searchnatives.co.uk

May 2010 to Date
NX Chairman, Brightsparks Recruitment
www.brightsparksuk.com

April 2010 to Date
NX Director, Palfery-Productions
www.palferyproductions.com

August 2008 to Date
Ambassador, APSCo
www.apsco.org/page/ExecutiveCommittee

December 2007 to Date
NX Chairman at Coppergate International
www.coppergateglobal.com

May 2009 to Date
CEO, gjps.net (See below)

In More Depth

Global CEO, Faro Recruitment Group. Executive director, OG International.
CEO, Faro Digital Media
October 2008 to May 2009

Working on behalf of Japanese investors successfully ‘grouped’ this eclectic collection of businesses. 1000+ employees in 18 countries covering a wide range of different staffing, RPO & recruitment products. Turnover >$200m Established a world class management, a team ethos amongst widely disparate businesses and turned the group to profits. Successfully disposed of two loss-making entities.

Global CEO, FiveTen Group Ltd
August 2006 to August 2008

Conceived this business in mid 2006 and as a result of six substantial acquisitions (backed by Private Equity house Englefield Capital) and superior organic growth built a leading global specialist recruitment group.

FiveTen had 650 staff in 29 offices in 21 cities across 12 countries.

Turnover exceeded £150m with NFI greater than £50m and EBITDA of £12m. The group and its brands were regular award winners and FiveTen was the fastest growing recruitment company in the UK in 2008 (#3 2007)

The group operated in all the main infrastructure supply areas (such as Finance, IT, Marketing, HR and Legal) through specialist brands and had a dominant position in Russia through its Antal business. FiveTen was poised to become one of the world’s leading specialist recruiting businesses. The group and its central core functions were built simultaneously with the acquisition programme.

MD, UK & Ireland, Robert Walters
September 2004 to February 2006

Responsible for improving the efficiency and profitability of several under-performing business units in this, largely, financial recruitment specialist business across the UK regions and Ireland. This role resulted from a Corporate Development consultancy assignment run for RW in China.

CEO, gjps.net
February 2001 to September 2004

Specialised in providing Corporate Development consultancy, M&A brokerage and high-end training to all types of recruitment/staffing businesses. Acted as non-executive chairman/director for a small number of businesses.

CEO, HW Group PLC / Senior VP, TMP Worldwide Inc.
1985 to 2001

Over this period, starting as a manager/consultant, grew, largely organically, a 5 man financial recruitment business, Harrison Willis, into an international specialist group of 450 staff with a turnover of £56m, NFI of £28m and EBITDA of £4m+.

The group’s brands had exceptional levels of cross-fertilisation.

Led an MBO (3i), IPO and a trade sale to TMP Worldwide (now Hudson & Monster)
Having sold the business he became an M&A specialist reporting to the head of TMP Worldwide, e-resourcing. Examined 300 targets and effected 12 deals for the group.

Manager, Badenoch & Clark
1982 to 1985

Specialist financial recruitment consultant to Manager, started contract/temps and grew the business from 3 to 30 people.

Consultant, JG Word Processors
1981 to 1982