Client Testimonials
"I worked with Hitchenor Wakeford as a candidate during the peak of the recession, one of the most difficult times for senior level recruitment particularly within consumer financial services. Having met many recruitment specialists during this time, it was clear that Hitchenor Wakeford were well ahead of the pack with regards to quality of service, strength of client relationships and their personal approach to candidates.
The strong relationships with their clients was matched by the effort they took in getting to know me, my strengths and my career plans. It is this time and personal approach that, in my experience, results in quality appointments. I have gone on to use Hitchenor Wakeford as a client which has reaffirmed my positive experience of their unique approach to quality service. "
Stephen Rowe
Director of Financial Services Marketing, Shop Direct Group Limited
"We used Hitchenor Wakeford for a couple of senior searches in 2009 and found that they took a very professional but innovative approach to meeting our exacting recruitment needs. Once we had outlined and agreed the brief, the process moved smoothly to a very successful outcome. The quality of candidates that we selected was extremely high."
Charlie White
Managing Director, Pims Group
"We've worked with Hitchenor Wakeford now for a couple of years and have always found them to be responsive to our needs; specifically, they really get clarity over the brief by really understanding our business and culture and then work very hard to find the candidates with best fit – and they do it quickly and efficiently. I would have no hesitation in recommending them."
Andrew Thompson
Director, Sentinel Management Consultants
"Although Hitchenor Wakeford did not have previous experience of our market, I was impressed at how quickly they assimilated and then re presented their understanding of my brief; it was accurate and more importantly they added value to the interpretation of our requirements.
Their initiative, pace and energy in the establishment of a contact list of potential candidates and the resulting final list was impressive as was their provision of constant updates at all stages of the process which included management of our chosen candidate into the business."
Tony O'Neill
CEO, Shieldtech Plc.
I used Hitchenor Wakeford for first time to headhunt two key roles for our business within a tight timeline. The team responded quickly to our request, interpreted our brief accurately demonstrating a thorough understanding of our requirements and our business, were consummate professionals throughout and I was confident in their ability to represent the Society in that all important first meeting with potential candidates."
Linda Williams
HR Director, Cheshire Building Society
"I engaged Hitchenor Wakeford to source a COO for First Direct (HSBC) my previous company, utilising both search and selection methods and benchmarking external applicants with internal applicants.
The exercise was managed with the utmost efficiency and was so effective the successful candidate actually replaced me as CEO! I would have no hesitation in recommending Hitchenor Wakeford and look forward to doing business with them in the future."
Richard Kimber
MD Google, SE Asia, India and Korea
"Hitchenor Wakeford have been an instrumental part of our recruitment strategy in 2007. The success and speed of completing our recent CFO assignment is due to the professionalism and high quality of service that we have received over the past few months.
They were successful in assimilating and understanding our business and provided us with a comprehensive short-list that matched our specifications, and were conscious to keep us informed regularly of their process."
Margaret Weeks
Director of Human Resources, Umbro
"Hitchenor Wakeford has recruited for many of my senior positions for well over 10 years both here at the Derbyshire and in my two previous positions. They have consistently demonstrated a good understanding of the technical requirements of roles across a range of disciplines. Hitchenor Wakeford has also developed a good understanding of our business and they have sourced candidates who were a good cultural fit with the existing team.
Adrian has consistently delivered focused shortlists of high calibre candidates and, in doing so, he has helped me make the best use of my time."
Brian Carney
SpecialistLendingSolutions.co.uk
"Hitchenor Wakeford have recently completed a highly confidential assignment to recruit a Group Finance Director. Despite establishing a tight deadline for the completion of the exercise they produced an excellent shortlist and in the end we could have recruited at least two or three of the candidates!
For many years I have had a very good relationship with the partners of Hitchenor Wakeford and I look forward to the relationship continuing for years to come."
Michael Fort
CEO, Synexus Clinical Research Plc
"We have worked with Hitchenor Wakeford for the last 12 months. Like us they are dynamic and entrepreneurial and we feel Hitchenor Wakeford understand our cultural values and sense of urgency. They have recruited our entire board, including the Finance, Operations and Development Director.
We are now working with the Hitchenor Wakeford on middle management appointments. I would recommend Hitchenor Wakeford as an innovative and responsive Search and Selection firm!"
Gary Fletcher
Chief Exec, Forest Holidays
"I have been impressed with how proactive and disciplined Hitchenor Wakeford have been in the preparation and execution of the brief that we agreed. They quickly developed an insightful understanding of me and my business and used this to position discussions with potential candidates. Hitchenor Wakeford kept me fully informed throughout the entire process, maintain regular/proactive contact and has treated candidates in a similar way.
The quality of the process has been excellent as has been the quality of candidates that they have introduced. I particularly like Hitchenor Wakeford's willingness to make suggestions and generate ideas on how to deal with candidates at the various stages of the process and this is of immense help in interviews, discussions and negotiations.
I would not hesitate to use Hitchenor Wakeford again in the future and would happily recommend them or act as a reference to other people."
Malcolm Buchanan
Regional Director, The Royal Bank of Scotland
