SPEARS 500 – Top Recommended 2020

It’s been another record-breaking year for Stephenson Executive Search. The head-hunting firm’s financial division – focusing on the private banking, private wealth management and family office sectors and CFO roles across businesses – has doubled in size, hired more executives, expanded into the legal market and has won/ been shortlisted for three prestigious awards in the UK and Europe. ‘Our core business continues to be in wealth management,’ says founder Billy Stephenson. ‘We partner with clients and help them across the whole of their business: appointing CEOs, CFOs, heads of tax, chiefs of staff and heads of HR. We also have a member of the team who specialises in junior appointments. ‘Supporting the continued drive for diversity is critical,’ says Stephenson. ‘It is always our policy to present the best possible candidate and we work hard to make sure that our selection pool is representative of the total population.’ Founded by the former Credit Suisse private banker in 2012, the company also provides high level board reviews, advice on governance and non-executive hires. ‘You have to be there for your clients and candidates in good times and bad’ says Stephenson, ‘both have needed support in these difficult Covid times. To make sure we are reaching people effectively we have increased our communication activity. 2020 has highlighted the importance of keeping appraised of our client’s strategy so we can represent them.’