Meet our people

James Caan CBE is Chairman of Ingenia Global Partners, the evolution of the platform he founded in 2014 with Recruitment Entrepreneur. 

With over 40 years of experience in recruitment, James has founded, scaled, and exited multiple global recruitment businesses, including Alexander Mann, sold in 2013 for £260 million.

A former Dragons’ Den investor and serial entrepreneur, he brings deep industry expertise and a powerful global network that continues to support Ingenia’s partners in attracting talent, clients, and opportunities.

Greg Hollis is Chief Executive Officer and the driving force behind the group's transformation over the past eight years. Having initially joined Recruitment Entrepreneur, Greg has since led the evolution of its leading brands to develop Ingenia Global Partners.

With over 30 years of experience within recruitment, Greg brings a rare combination of commercial discipline and entrepreneurial leadership. He has played a central role in shaping the operating model, technology strategy, and global growth roadmap that now define the group.

Working closely with business leaders in the portfolio, Greg leads the group’s strategic direction, ensuring that Ingenia Global Partners continues to expand internationally, operate more efficiently, and build long-term value across its global portfolio.

His leadership is underpinned by a belief in partnership, collaboration, and disciplined growth, empowering businesses to consistently perform better while building a stronger collective future.

Hamish Wright is the Chief Financial Officer of Ingenia Global Partners Group. He brings over a decade of international finance leadership across recruitment, technology, and private equity–backed businesses.

Hamish previously served in senior finance roles at Levin, where he helped scale the business from 30 to over 700 employees, and at Robert Walters, where he managed finance across EMEA and North America.

Hamish brings strong expertise in financial strategy, M&A, and business transformation, supporting Ingenia Global Partners and its portfolio partner businesses' growth and the long-term success of their clients. 

Sam Proctor is the marketing and communications leader within Ingenia Global Partners, with over 20 years’ experience across recruitment, media, entertainment, and telecoms.

She has led high-performing teams and delivered award-winning brand, PR, and digital programmes for major global organisations, with extensive experience creating, launching, and scaling brands internationally.

A creative and collaborative leader, Sam specialises in building compelling brand narratives that connect people and ideas. With a strategic yet human approach to marketing, Sam uses storytelling and engagement to drive growth, alignment, and long-term impact for the portfolio.

Daisy oversees and manages all operational activity within the Ingenia Global Partner group.

She implements best practice business guidelines and strategies and works closely with partners and other department heads to ensure enhanced performance and overall operational efficiency, allowing the portfolio companies to focus on running their businesses.

Daisy oversees all HR, office, and IT systems and platforms, including the CRM across the group. She also manages all compliance and regulatory-related activities.  

Pavlos Paschali is a Legal Director supporting Ingenia Global Partners with legal oversight and strategic advice.

With more than a decade within the wider Hamilton Bradshaw group, Pavlos provides deep expertise in employment and commercial law, working closely with Ingenia Global Partners management teams to navigate complex legal, regulatory, and governance matters.

Prior to joining Hamilton Bradshaw, Pavlos spent over eleven years as a solicitor at Levenes Employment, specialising in employment litigation and commercial matters.

He brings a strategic and practical, solutions-focused approach to legal risk management within the portfolio.

Alexis Lenas is an Investment Director supporting Ingenia Global Partners with financial oversight, strategic input, and portfolio advice. With nearly a decade within the wider Hamilton Bradshaw group, Alexis brings deep experience across investment, finance, and governance.

Before Hamilton Bradshaw, Alexis spent almost seven years at Deloitte UK, specialising in audit across investment management, real estate, and financial services, and began his career at PwC.

Alexis holds a degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Rachel has held leadership roles with Hudson, LevelUP, The Big Search, and TritonExec, building high-performing delivery hubs in London, New York, and Hong Kong. She has partnered with corporates, scale-ups, and venture-backed start-ups to design tailored embedded models.

Our portfolio of businesses draws on Rachel’s knowledge of transforming transactional hiring into embedded partnerships that align with client growth goals and talent strategies.

For over 15 years, Will has worked with chief executives and senior leaders of investor-backed and privately owned companies across the UK, Europe, and the Middle East on talent strategy, organisation design, executive recruitment, and management due diligence. 

Will supports the group as a management consultant and executive search specialist.

Working collaboratively across the group, Will helps make a tangible impact on the portfolio business by creating sustainable, lasting change. 

As Operations Manager at Ingenia Global Partners, Camilla plays a key role in helping Ingenia’s portfolio businesses to expand domestically and overseas, enabling them to grow successfully across international markets. 

She works closely with portfolio founders and leadership teams to translate growth ambitions into practical, executable plans, supporting partners as they expand their offerings and enter new geographies.

With strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities, Camilla designs and implements efficient, cost-effective processes that strengthen operational foundations and support sustainable growth.

Her detail-driven approach helps portfolio businesses navigate complexity, optimise performance, and build scalable platforms that support long-term global expansion.

Olivia supports Ingenia Global Partners' portfolio businesses through her role as an Operations Assistant, bringing a strong operational mindset and people-focused approach to day-to-day execution.

She helps ensure that internal processes run smoothly, enabling leadership teams to stay focused on growth and performance.

With prior experience as Operations and Talent Manager at Aubay UK, Olivia brings hands-on expertise across operations, talent coordination, and organisational support.

Sarah and Lynda lead 360 Search with over 25 years of combined experience across the Financial Services market.

CEO Sarah is a market leader operating at senior and executive levels, trusted for her strategic insight, exceptional negotiation skills, and ability to manage highly confidential mandates. She works closely with leading entrepreneurs and firms across the broker market and wider Financial Services.

CCO Lynda brings over 15 years of experience, including a background as an insurance underwriter, providing deep technical and commercial insight. She has led senior-level recruitment and headhunting globally, supporting high-growth and international businesses in securing top-tier talent.

Together, they deliver a discreet, strategic, end-to-end 360 Search service.

Jon has over 15 years of recruitment experience, with 13 years specialising in the Oil, Gas, and Renewables sector.

Before joining Bow Resources, he was Regional Director for a global manpower and recruitment business specialising in Oil and Gas, where he held responsibility for overall operations, sales, and budget management. Over 10 years, Jon led the company’s largest business unit, managing a team of 25 and overseeing a multi-million-pound profit centre.

He has extensive experience building long-term client relationships and delivering effective recruitment strategies across multiple countries and regions, alongside deep expertise in global tenders, compliance, and operational delivery.

Mark and Niall lead Darwin Hawkins with deep technical expertise and a strong track record across Financial Services and professional services recruitment.

Managing Partner Niall O’Kelly, FCA, began his career at PwC Dublin, qualifying as a Chartered Accountant before building post-qualification experience in credit analysis and investment management. He spent seven years in finance recruitment before co-founding Darwin Hawkins in 2018 and DH Executive Partners in 2025, specialising in executive-level appointments across industry and Financial Services.

Managing Partner Mark Baker, FCA, trained with Deloitte Dublin and qualified as a Chartered Accountant before moving into portfolio and relationship management within the banking sector. He later went on to co-found Darwin Hawkins and DH Executive Partners. Mark specialises in Professional Services and Change & Transformation, including project management, strategy, finance transformation, and data analytics.

Parvyez Salam and Sultan Afzal co-founded ETRA Talent, bringing extensive recruitment expertise and strong international market coverage.

Co-Founder and CEO Parvyez Salam is a people-focused recruitment leader with experience across multiple established firms, supported by a background in financial markets as a former banker. He is known for building long-term relationships and high-performing teams.

Co-Founder and CEO Sultan Afzal brings 18 years of recruitment experience, having worked across three global businesses with a focus on the Middle East markets, delivering international talent solutions.

Lynne has over 16 years of experience in the recruitment industry, with a strong track record in delivering effective talent acquisition solutions.

She has held senior roles with established recruitment firms, including Chase Portland and Salt, before founding Role Recruit in 2017 and later co-founding Fast Forward.

Lynne works closely with clients to strengthen recruitment and retention outcomes, leading a high-performing team focused on exceeding expectations and delivering consistent, long-term value.

Grant Kaveney is the Founding Director of GKR, with a long-standing track record in specialist property recruitment and business growth.

After successfully scaling a recruitment business in South Africa, Grant launched GKR in 2010 with a clear ambition to elevate the property recruitment market. Before founding GKR, he worked within UK and international recruitment divisions, specialising in property recruitment alongside roles in media, financial, and general sales sectors.

Under Grant’s leadership, GKR has continued to evolve, including the successful rebrand from GKR London to GKR International, reflecting the firm’s expanding global footprint and international focus. Grant remains focused on building a high-performing, globally relevant recruitment business that delivers long-term value for clients and candidates.

Andrew Bell and Matt Harrison are the founding partners of Hanami International, a specialist global recruitment firm focused on Audit, Risk, Compliance, and Advisory.

Andrew specialises in international audit and advisory recruitment, delivering single and multi-vacancy mandates from Audit Senior to Partner and Director level in the industry. Matt focuses on internal audit, controls, risk, and investigations recruitment, working with multinational organisations across all geographies while leading the day-to-day operations of the business.

Together, they provide a truly borderless recruitment service, combining global market insight with high-quality talent delivery.

Gemma Murphy is a Director at Hayward Hawk Professional Services, bringing over 10 years of specialist recruitment experience within the accountancy sector.

A highly experienced practice recruitment specialist, Gemma works closely with Big 4, mid-tier, and boutique accountancy firms, delivering appointments from newly qualified level through to strategic Partner roles across all service lines. She is known for her strategic, confidential, and consultative approach, supporting clients in securing high-calibre talent while helping candidates achieve long-term career goals.

Josh Powell is the Managing Director of Joshua Robert, providing strategic leadership across recruitment, property, real estate, construction, and consulting.

He specialises in building high-performing teams and connecting senior talent with growth-focused organisations. Under Josh's leadership, Joshua Robert has scaled significantly, strengthening its leadership capability and expanding its UK and international presence.

Josh is also Co-Founder of Godwin Powell, working with global brands and major property owners, and an active investor in high-growth startups. He holds an MBA from Cranfield University and is a Chartered Manager and Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute.

Michaela Montague is the CEO of Logixs Search, specialising in senior and sales-focused recruitment across the logistics and supply chain sector.

With over 16 years of sales experience, Michaela partners with clients and candidates across the UK and USA, delivering senior and sales appointments within supply chain, logistics, manufacturing, distribution, and retail. She is known for her client-first approach and deep industry knowledge, supporting businesses in securing high-impact commercial talent while helping professionals progress their careers.

Laura is a seasoned international recruitment specialist with over 20 years of experience spanning global markets.

As one of the founding Directors of Meraki Talent, she plays a strategic and hands-on role in driving operational excellence across the business. Laura is responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations, ensuring compliance, enhancing service delivery, and supporting the organisation’s growth and profitability.

In addition, she actively recruits, mentors, and develops both Associates and Specialist Recruiters, fostering high-performing teams aligned with Meraki Talent’s values and ambitions.

Andrew Welsh is the founder and CEO of Meraki Talent, recruiting across the Financial and Professional Services sectors in Scotland since 2001.

Passionate about helping clients grow through smart talent acquisition strategies, Andrew has built Meraki into a trusted partner for top firms.

A 2023 EY Entrepreneur of the Year finalist, he’s recognised for innovation and leadership. Away from work, Andrew is a former international age-group rugby player who enjoyed a long career with Watsonians FC - now mostly found cheering from the sidelines at Murrayfield.

Jack McLane and Louis Singleton are the co-founders of NineTech, a specialist technology recruitment business supporting clients across contract, freelance, and permanent hiring.

Jack focuses on contract and freelance recruitment, bringing 10 years of experience partnering with technical businesses to secure high-level freelance talent across software engineering, infrastructure, product, and business change and transformation. 

Louis leads NineTech’s permanent recruitment offering, with over a decade of experience supporting businesses in securing senior technical and commercial talent across software engineering, sales, and product. He partners with clients to build high-performing, long-term teams that support sustainable growth.

Tom Willis is the Founder and Managing Partner of Placed, a specialist recruitment firm focused on Construction and Real Estate across the US.

With over nine years of recruitment experience across the UK and US markets, Tom provides strategic leadership across Placed’s growth, operations, and team development. Before founding Placed in 2023, he built a strong track record at PageGroup, where he expanded the Construction business into multiple US cities, developed high-performing leaders, and scaled revenue significantly.

Tom is recognised for delivering consistent results, building long-term client relationships, and connecting top-tier talent with leading General Contractors and Developers across the US.

Andrew Kerr is the Founder of Urban Connect, a specialist recruitment consultancy spanning the Build Environment, Infrastructure, Construction & Engineering, and IT.

Urban Connect is a collective of experienced recruiters operating across the built environment, infrastructure, and transportation sectors, as well as management consultancies, systems integrators, digital transformation agencies, and technology start-ups. Andrew leads the business with a focus on delivering multi-disciplinary recruitment solutions that support complex projects from conception through to completion.

His priority is establishing Urban Connect as a trusted, long-term recruitment partner across both traditional and emerging sectors.

Stephen brings over a decade of experience in specialist recruitment, having held senior roles with recognised industry leaders, including Hays and Anson McCade. Before recruitment, he established a successful career at the BBC as a Sports TV Producer, developing strong commercial and stakeholder management skills.

As Director, he now leads the IT division at Urban Connect alongside his brother, Andrew, where he is focused on building a high-performing, market-leading practice defined by quality, credibility, and long-term client partnerships.

With deep expertise across IT Professional Services, Stephen delivers a strategic, consultative search approach, partnering closely with clients and candidates to deliver consistently strong outcomes.

Elaine Tyler is the CEO and Founder of Venatrix, London’s leading specialist SDR recruitment business.

Under Elaine’s leadership, Venatrix has become the number one SDR recruitment partner to high-growth, global companies, supporting sales leaders in building scalable, high-performing sales teams quickly and effectively. 

Elaine is deeply committed to investing in the future of the sales profession in the UK and is an exclusive partner to Sales Confidence, co-launching the UK’s first dedicated SDR community. In recognition of her leadership and impact, Elaine was awarded Entrepreneur of the Year 2025 at The Recruiter Awards.