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Why Novo
About Novo
At Novo, we are proud to have operated across three decades as a leading executive search and selection company. We strive to provide our clients with the most innovative executive search and selection methodologies, industry expertise, and networking capabilities.
With successful headhunts across 35 countries, serving more than 1800 clients over 20 years, and with clients’ turnovers up to £30 billion, we are expertly positioned to assist clients in identifying and recruiting the most talented business leaders.
From our beginning in 2003, “our purpose has been to help our clients achieve their growth ambitions by appointing the best possible leaders.” We work with clients ranging from start-ups, SMEs and family-owned businesses to multinationals and we have built a portfolio of over 8,000 CEOs and MDs, forging an outstanding track record in recruiting board and senior executives, spanning a wide range of industries that extends across private, public, and non-profit sectors.
Our purpose has been to help our clients achieve their growth ambitions by appointing the best possible leaders. Dale Perrett, Founding Director, Novo Executive Search
Since then, we have encountered many changes, the greatest being in the areas of technology and automation. “Technology and digital applications have changed the way in which we do a multitude of things within the business. In the main, this has sped up communications and the recruiting process.” Despite predictions that new technologies, including AI, would signal the end of the executive search industry, we believe it has only enhanced it. We have benefited greatly from our substantial investment in technology, and anticipate the influence of AI and other technologies to augment the quality and efficiency of our research, empowering us to provide our clients with superior solutions.
Technology and digital applications have changed the way in which we do a multitude of things within the business. Josephine Watkins, Director, Novo Executive Search
While we predict technology and the incorporation of AI, in particular, to continue shifting the landscape of executive search over the next five to ten years, we also foresee a growing emphasis on diversity and inclusion at the board level, as well as an enhanced drive for diversity in executive-level recruitment. We view both of these possibilities for the future with excitement.
1,800+
Clients over 20 years
Successful Executive Searches
Across 35 Countries
Clients turnovers up to
£30BN
200 Years
Two centuries of combined executive search experience across our senior leadership team
Top repeat client
30
Separate executive searches over 14 years
100%
Director-retention over the last 10 years
Longest serving client:
18 years
Majority of our leadership team have
20+ years
Experience leading successful executive search campaigns across the UK
Our Strengths
With assignments scaling worldwide searches to single target organisations, we look forward to maintaining our role as a trusted partner for clients seeking transformative change, a competitive edge, and the recruitment of exceptional leaders and executive talent from across the globe.
Our executive recruitment consultants consistently take a proactive approach and leverage creative insights in identifying new services and markets. With a majority of the leadership team boasting over 20 years of experience spearheading successful executive searches across the UK, we continually strive to surpass clients’ highest expectations, delivering tangible results to their business.
Commercial success and longevity have been achieved despite the two economic shocks of the financial crisis and Covid. Matthew Searle, Director, Novo Executive Search
Our ability to adapt to the evolving landscape of the executive recruitment sector has enabled our longevity and continued success. It is a source of great pride that our “commercial success and longevity have been achieved despite the two huge economic shocks of the financial crisis and Covid. At these times, it has been very challenging, but rewarding in equal measure.” Despite these challenges, we are proud of our long-standing client relationships – the longest spanning 18 years – with leading national and international companies who repeatedly place their trust in us to assist them in appointing the best people to their boards.
One of Novo’s greatest assets is the depth of experience of its long-serving directors. Dale Perrett, Founding Director, Novo Executive Search
We invest substantially in training and developing our executive recruitment consultants, empowering them to consistently solve clients’ challenges and deliver effective solutions tailored to their unique needs. “One of Novo’s greatest assets is the depth of experience of its long-serving directors.” Our dedication to fostering growth and advancement has resulted in 100% director-level retention over the past ten years.
With our vast industry experience and unparalleled executive recruitment capabilities, we are uniquely positioned and look forward to continuing to add transformative value to the organisations we work with.
Susannah Mallaghan
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Ryan Mills
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Jo Watkins
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Jonathan Shepherd
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Dale Perrett
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Jon Hollier
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Matthew Searle
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George Woodward
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Dale Perrett
Founding Director
Dale is one of the Founding Directors of Novo Executive Search and Selection. He is part of the Novo leadership team that drives the business. He remains passionate about working...
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George Woodward
Director
George is an experienced director and key member of Novo Executive Search’s leadership team and is integral in driving forward its growth into the future. With a breadth of UK...
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Jo Watkins
Director
Now a Director at Novo, Jo has spent over 12 very successful years with the business. Jo has extensive experience recruiting senior management and board-level professionals across a range of...
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Jon Hollier
Founding Director
Jon is a Founding Director of Novo Executive Search & Selection. Beyond establishing and developing Novo, his extensive experience covers a wide range of disciplines across commercial and the third...
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Jonathan Shepherd
Research Director
Jonathan is Research Director for Novo Executive Search and Selection. Overseeing all retained Executive Search assignments, Jonathan ensures that each assignment is effectively managed and delivered to client timescales. He...
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Matthew Searle
Director
Matthew is a Director at Novo Executive Search specialising in helping clients identify and attract the best possible senior management and executive appointments. Matthew’s early career began with 10 years...
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Ryan Mills
Director
Ryan is a Director of Novo Executive Search and Selection, with extensive experience recruiting senior management and board level professionals across a multitude of sectors. His client base ranges from...
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Susannah Mallaghan
Division Manager novoElan
Susannah leads the novoelan division. She has worked with Novo for over 15 years. Prior to Novo, Susannah enjoyed a successful career with the Royal Mail, MM Teleperformance and RAC.
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