OUR SUCCESS STORIES

Clients and candidates are of paramount importance; this is reflected in our attention to detail, integrity and discretion. We strive for flexibility and creativity, at all times focusing on each client’s individual requirements and delivering effective, tailor-made solutions. We provide a committed and thorough service, take nothing for granted and be rigorous in our efforts to deliver the highest confidential quality service.

Here are some of our success stories

CEO and NED

We recruited a CEO and NED for a niche UK wide energy sector industry governance organisation.

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR AND HEAD OF COMMERCIAL

We recruited a Production Director and Head of Commercial for this leading South-West based food sector business in the food sector production space.

SENIOR LEADER IN ARCHAEOLOGY

We were successful in recruiting a Northern based senior leader in archaeology to run a regional business division for this fast-growing consultancy.

DIRECTOR AND CHAIR

We have recruited Directors across areas such as landscape architecture, EIA and Land Management as well as a Chair for this environmental and landscape consultancy throughout the UK.

PRIVATE CLIENT SOLICITOR

We recruited an experienced Private Client Solicitor for this established high street practice in Surrey.

TECHNICAL WRITER

During 2021 Novo Executive Search worked again with RSK, the global multidisciplinary consultancy to recruit an experienced Technical Writer for their inhouse communications team. Through running a targeted headhunting search to identify and engage with specialist engineering and environmental sector writers, this role was successfully filled. RSK continue to enjoy very successful growth and this key recruit will make a fantastic difference to the creative and communications team. Novo’s experienced engineering consultancy team undertook an incredibly detailed and comprehensive headhunting search on this assignment for one of our longest standing clients. We look forward to helping RSK with further projects in the future.

URBAN DESIGN DIRECTOR (WEST MIDLANDS)

Novo worked with one of the UK’s leading development consultancies in 2018 to recruit a specialist Urban Design Director from a competitor business. The targeted search assignment was West and East Midlands in focus and entailed identifying and engaging with a broad variety of highly experienced Urban Designers from leading consultancy practices. Having spoken to over 70 professionals with notable levels of urban design and masterplanning experience a strong shortlist of candidates were selected. The client was successful in appointing from this targeted search assignment and the successful candidate has started employment with the practice in March 2019.

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR – OFFICE FURNITURE

We were approached by a leading manufacturer to find a Production Director to lead all aspects of manufacturing during a period of significant growth. In addition, significant investment had been made in new premises and equipment so achievement of ROI was of equal importance. The search covered the office equipment sector nationally as well as other selected companies based on location. A successful appointment was made within the timescale agreed for the project and all parties were delighted with the outcome especially as the successful candidate has already made a significant impact on the business.

CEO – PROFESSIONAL CRICKET

Having recruited Wasim Kham to Leicestershire in 2014, we were retained to find his replacement when he took up his new role with the Pakistan Cricket Board. The chosen methodology was an advertisement combined with a search of our extensive network and this resulted in a diverse shortlist. Karen Rothery was the successful candidate and she joins the club in April 2019.

PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT COMPANY

This family owned development company has a well established supply of investors and projects and needed to strengthen the senior management team to exploit these opportunities to the full. The initial needs identified were a Finance Director and a Contracts Director and these assignments were awarded in December. Following an extensive search, both assignments were completed in early 2019.

INTERIM CEO

With the departure of an incumbent CEO, we were able to ensure a well-established Hospice attracted an Interim COO to secure the ongoing operation and improve safeguarding standards. With a tight deadline, the requirement was critical and highly specific yet the client appointed an individual within 3 weeks.

SITE PRODUCTION MANAGER – CHEMICALS MANUFACTURER, NORTH LONDON

Our client is a FTSE 100 chemicals company. We appointed an excellent Production Manager to take ultimate responsibility for the complex and hazardous production process as well as to implement some much needed improvements to the on-site systems and processes.

PLANT MANAGER – CONSTRUCTION, HAMPSHIRE

We secured the appointment of a highly experienced Plant and Fleet Manager to lead the standalone plant hire business for this leading groundworks contractor.

CORPORATE PARTNER, SOUTH EAST – LEGAL PRACTICE, ON THE SOUTH COAST

We ran a successful Corporate Partner retained headhunting search for a south coast private practice. The firm had been looking to fill the role for some time prior to instructing ourselves. During the assignment we targeted circa 100 practices and identified plus approached over 180 Corporate Commercial solicitors with 10 years + PQE’s. The vast majority of these solicitors were Senior Associates or Salaried Partners, based with firms throughout London, Surrey, Berkshire, Sussex and Hampshire. Over the period we spoke to over 125 target candidates and produced a strong shortlist of 3-4 individuals for our client to interview. The process was a success and we recruited a Corporate Partner for the company, who comes with prior experience of working for a number of large and well known practices. We have significant experience in working on Corporate Commercial legal sector search briefs and this is an excellent example of our recent work.

HEAD OF PRIVATE CLIENT/PARTNER – LEGAL PRACTICE, SUFFOLK/CAMBRIDGESHIRE

We have very recently completed a targeted confidential search for a Suffolk based legal firm. Before instructing us, the company had struggled for circa 12 months to attract an individual. Our search focused on similar size practices and those slightly larger, targeting work winning and technically skilled Private Client Associates and Salaried Partners. During the search assignment we spoke with a significant number of candidates across the Suffolk region. The project was a success and the chosen candidate will start with our client’s company over forthcoming months.

PARTNER, RESTRUCTURING & INSOLVENCY – MID SIZE UK PRIVATE PRACTICE, LONDON

Through continued success and repeat business his law firm instructed us on a targeted search assignment to recruit an experienced Partner within the field of Insolvency to be based in London. Novo conducted a thorough piece of research and spoke with in excess of 120 Partners in London in this area. We were successful in appointing a key Salaried Partner into this role through the process, who has come from a well-known mid-size firm.

PARTNER, REAL ESTATE – LEGAL PRACTICE, LONDON/SURREY

Over the years we have worked for many London and Home Counties practices. A couple of years ago we worked for a firm in the Southern Home Counties on a search assignment to recruit a Salaried Partner in the field of Real Estate. We targeted a wide selection of well-known practices and were successful in attracting a high calibre individual from a global private practice in central London to our client and in relation to one of their Surrey offices as a Senior Associate. The successful individual has since gone on to be promoted to Partnership through a fast track scheme.

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR- PROPERTY SOLUTIONS

We have just successfully concluded a search to appoint an Operations Director for a long standing client of ours that is an established provider of outsourced services to the public and private sector. The Operations Director will be responsible for all operations and activities required to deliver, support and maintain a profitable and fully compliant service to the company’s central and local government customers including the bidding for existing or new contracts.

HEAD OF PRIVATE CLIENT – SOLICITORS, MANCHESTER

An experienced fee earning private client solicitor has just started employment with one of our many clients based in the North West. She will be a tremendous investment for the practice and will head up their experienced private client department.

sales director – capital quipment distributor, central midlands

We have just recently recruited an experienced Sales Director for one of our clients in the East to Central Midlands region. The business is a specialist engineered capital equipment supplier and part of a very German parent company.

HEAD OF TRUSTS – ACCOUNTANCY

We have successfully appointed a new Head of Trusts for a mid-tier accountancy firm in Central London. The new Head of Trusts will oversee a dedicated team of 5 trusts specialists and the lead the strategic expansion of the department in to new areas of law, including but not limited to probate.

Finance Director – UK PLC specialising in Building Products Manufacturing

Our client is a well established UK PLC specialising in building products manufacturing. The Finance Director will play a key part in the strategic and operational development of one of the Group’s fastest growing Divisions. The executive search was successfully concluded within 5 weeks.

Managing Director – Underwater Mapping

A new Managing Director has recently been successfully appointment through executive search for one of our International clients. Our client is an international Danish group with a diverse range of products and services. The new MD will be UK based and grow the business’ underwater mapping products. This was a strategic appointment recruited to rapidly grow the business through the launch of an exciting new range of technologically advanced products.

Corporate Finance – National Advisory Firm

We recently helped a national Advisory firm appoint a Corporate Finance partner to help build a CF offering for the South West region. The new Partner is a leading figure in the region having built a very strong reputation at one of the largest firms in the UK over the past 20 years. His appointment was a big statement to the market for our client, which is exactly what they wanted to achieve.

National Operations Director – Manufacturing

To take them through a period of significant change, we have been able to ensure our client appointed a high quality National Operations Director. This individual will set and deliver the Operational strategy and success for the future.

Managing Director – International Manufacturer of Fabricated Products

Having completed an exhaustive search for specific skills our client, an international manufacturer of fabricated products, has successfully recruited a Managing Director to lead their next stage of growth and development.

General Manager – South East Building Contractor

We have recently successfully completed a critical recruitment project for a growing South East regional building contractor to appoint a General Manager.

CEO – DISTRIUTION

We have recently completed a search for a Chief Executive Officer for a new client. Our client is a well-established privately owned distribution company specialising in third party logistics. The Chief Executive Officer will play a key role in the ongoing growth and development of the business. The successful candidate was appointed within 10 weeks from the date of instruction.

Sales Manager – High Tech Earth Observation Business

We have recently completed a search for a Technical Pre-Sales Manager for a long-standing client.

Our client is a high-tech earth observation business specialising in large data analytics. The Technical Pre-Sales Manager will play an important role in the ongoing growth of the business. The successful candidate was appointed within 6 weeks from the date of instruction.

Company Secretary – Financial Sector

A Company Secretary has recently been appointed by one of key clients in the Financial Sector. They were looking for a fast and efficient service to appoint this key individual to join their Risk Team. Through a combination Executive Advertising and Database Search we were able to deliver them a shortlist in under two weeks.

Commercial Director – Successful Sports Governing Bodies

We have recently completed a search for a Commercial Director for one of the most successful sports governing bodies in the UK. This key role will be responsible for implementing the strategic growth strategy, marketing and communications, making a significant contribution to the overall performance of our client.

Head of Visitor Services – Water Utilities

We have just successfully assisted one of our key clients in appointing a Head of Visitor Services. This client owns and operates a numberof recreational sites located around the UK. They were looking for someone to help develop and deliver the strategy to ensure the ongoing growth, success and sustainability of the sites.

CFO – UK Engineering Company

We have recently recruited a CFO for a large UK engineering company based in Oxfordshire. The assignment ran for 8 weeks and was successfully completed with the appointed on an experienced CFO from a FTSE 250 firm. The CFO will partner the CEO in running the business, growing work and strategically taking the company forwards to future success.

Planning Director – SME Multi-Disciplinary Consultancy

Our client is an SME multi- disciplinary consultancy in the UK. Through running a targeted headhunting search Novo have been successful in engaging with an appointing a Planning Director for the company in Edinburgh. The Director will be a vital part of the company’s future and will sit within the company’s senior management group.

Partner Insolvency – Private Legal Practice

Through running a highly confidential and targeted executive search of the insolvency legal market Novo have been successful in appointing a Partner Insolvency for this private legal practice in Hampshire. The Partner has arrived from a large Legal 100 firm and will become part of the senior partnership within this ever-growing southern region business.

Sales Director- Environmental Consultancy

Novo have appointed a Sales Director for an owner managed SME facilities services company in the West Midlands. Through running a combination of targeted headhunting and online executive advertising Novo interviewed 12 candidates and shortlisted 6 people. The client successfully appointed the Sales Director within 8 weeks from the commencement of the assignment.

Director Health & Safety – Environmental

An in-depth headhunting search of the Irish environmental consultancy marketplace was put in place that led to the appointment of a Director Health & Safety for this niche consultancy business, with a presence in the Dublin area. All candidates were interviewed within a timely and professional manner and the appointment was made in an efficient timeframe.

Civil Design Engineer – Housebuilder in the South East

This privately owned £220m revenue size housebuilder in the south east of the UK has invested in Novo’s retained headhunting search services many times over recent years for highly specific recruitment. This year we ran a rigorous search of the residential engineering design marketplace and have helped secure an experienced Civil Design Engineer for the client company in Surrey. The research was targeted, detailed and communicated to the client throughout. The research was run efficiently and effectively and Novo continue to develop a successful long term relationship with the company.

Commercial Property solicitor – Legal

Our client is a highly regarded legal firm in Surrey. We successfully completed a targeted search for a Commercial Property solicitor who has now become a Partner & Head of Department.

Head of Commercial Property solicitor – Legal

A Head of Commercial Property solicitor has been appointed following a confidential comprehensive search of the East Midlands. The new Head of Department has already helped to significantly increase revenue within the Commercial Property team.