The Team

Founder and Managing Director

Billy Stephenson F.C.S.I

Billy is Founder and Managing Director of Stephenson Executive Search (SES) and heads up the firm’s financial services practice. He focuses on C suite and senior appointments in the asset management, private wealth management and family office sectors and works across investment, distribution and operational functions. Billy operates at board level and works with FTSE 100, FTSE 250, AIM listed and private companies. He also handles senior appointments in the Fintech sector.

Prior to SES, Billy was an investment advisor at Credit Suisse where he managed the assets of high net worth and ultra-high net worth clients. His client base consisted of charities, financial market professionals, companies, trusts and entrepreneurs.

Billy is a Chartered Fellow of Chartered Institute of Securities and Investments, a Freeman of the City of London and serves on the board of a charity. He is a judge at the WealthBriefing Awards and a judge at the Spears Wealth Management Awards

Chairman

Tim Stephenson

Tim began his career in the Army before working in industry for fifteen years in a range of senior appointments. He co-founded Stephenson Cobbold in 1987 and founded Stephenson & Co in 1994.

He has built a significant headhunting practice specialising in main Board appointments, both executive and non-executive, in the financial services sector and he is highly respected for his insight into Board effectiveness.

Business Consultant

Alex Arnot

Alex is an experienced board advisor – ranked #1 on LinkedIn.  He advises award winning recruitment companies and has helped build a search firm from 8 to more than 120 people across 4 countries in under 4 years.

Alex is an expert in accelerating company growth, revenue, profit and shareholder value and, having chaired in excess of 1,000 board meetings, he is well placed to know what makes a successful recruitment company.

Senior Operations Manager

Jessamy Edwards

Jessamy went to Exeter School and then to London South Bank University where she trained as a Children’s Nurse. In 2019, Jessamy enrolled at Oxford Media & Business School before graduating in 2020.

Jessamy joined Stephenson Executive Search as an Office Manager and Team Assistant in 2020 and is now Senior Operations Manager.

Consultant

Archie Houldsworth

Archie went to Edinburgh Napier University where he graduated with a first-class degree in Business Studies.

Archie previously worked within recruitment, specialising within the life sciences. His role involved supporting biotech and pharmaceutical companies with hiring in North America, a role he held for over two and a half years.

In January 2024 Archie joined Stephenson Executive Search as a Consultant in the financial services division. He focuses on front office appointments in the asset management, wealth management and family office sectors. Archie holds the CISI Level III qualification.

Consultant

Joss Bucknall

Joss started his professional career in the Army where he spent 7 years.

On leaving the Army, he joined Weatherbys Private Bank as a business development manager focussing on attracting new clients and business to the Bank. He later joined Close Brothers Asset Management and as a business development director, worked closely with the bespoke investment management and financial planning teams, introducing new clients via professional intermediaries, and his own network.

In 2025, Joss joined Stephenson Executive Search as a Consultant. He focuses on middle and back office appointments across wealth, asset management, and family office sectors.

Consultant

Dominiki Kraitsik

Dominiki started her professional career in recruitment, specialising within financial services, where she progressed from Associate Consultant through to Senior Consultant over the course of a year and a half.

In 2025, Dominiki joined Stephenson Executive Search as a Consultant. She focuses on front and middle-office appointments across private markets and alternative investment platforms, working with clients ranging from global institutions to entrepreneurial investment firms on investment, capital formation and distribution mandates spanning private credit, private equity, secondaries and special situations strategies, from Analyst through to senior leadership level.

Dominiki is Greek and known for a discreet, relationship-led approach to search, working closely with clients across the UK, Europe, and increasingly the Middle East and United States.

Research Consultant

Sarah Steele

Sarah went to University College London and graduated with a BA in German and History, before studying the History of Design at the University of Oxford, where she graduated with a Master of Studies degree.

Prior to working in executive search, Sarah started her career in the museum sector, working at several institutions including the British Library.

Sarah started her executive search career in the technology sector, specialising in placing Chief Financial Officers and Chief Technology & Product Officers into Venture Capital and Private Equity backed businesses.

In 2025, Sarah joined Stephenson Executive Search and specialises in providing market research across the business.

Personal Assistant

Alison Few Brown

In 2011, Alison began working in executive search and joined Stephenson Executive Search in 2016. She is based in the Hampshire office and works closely with Tim Stephenson; she carries out research relating to board level appointments in the financial services sector, handles administration to ensure smooth operational efficiency and acts as a point of contact for both the firm’s clients and candidates.

Prior to headhunting, Alison has worked in marketing, public relations, an independent preparatory school and at British Satellite Broadcasting.