Case Studies
Human Resources
Water Plus
Water Plus sought a commercially focussed Head of HR to design and implement the HR and people strategy for their business. Water Plus had experienced a lot of transformation as they aimed to become an employer of choice, so this was a key hire to drive change and embed values.
CEO & Board
Ocee International Group
Ocee International Group were in search of a new Managing Director (MD), to run the recently acquired Race Furniture business. The acquisition had brought new investment to Race Furniture and the objective was to significantly grow the business in the next three-to-four years and increase its international presence.
How can organisations effectively support working parents to achieve their career ambitions?
D&IHow to transition to a new role: A recruiter’s guide to starting a new job
Thought Leadership10 considerations for candidates embarking on their next job search
Your CareerAverage number of years’ experience per consultant
Executives placed in last 3 years
Boards/SLT’s have chosen to work with GRG
of executives placed in 2021 were female
Average search campaign length
Success rate on retained assignments
What Our Clients Say
My experience with Helen was excellent from start to finish. I was given an extremely informative briefing prior to my first interview, provided with a thorough briefing pack, as well as insight into the executive team dynamic which proved invaluable. The support I received throughout all four interviews was excellent, better than anything I’ve received previously, and ensured I was fully prepared. Post interview, Helen helped me to gain clarity on why this career move was right for me, and provided insight as to how I might manage various stakeholders at this stage. In summary – a thoroughly supportive and engaging experience.
Finance Director
My experience with Helen was exceptional, she took the time to really understand my journey to date, and how that was influencing my requirements for the next role. I felt that Helen was really invested in me as a candidate and provided amazing support in preparation for the process. She was extremely knowledgeable about the client and the role which helped me understand how I could add value.
Head of Finance
GRG Executive Search is head and shoulders above any other recruitment firm I've worked with, both as a candidate or search client. Their ethos of building long-term relationships and attention to detail really sets them apart, and their approach is truly unique. They will always be my first port of call when I need a role or candidate, or even just a chat about the market. ‘Relationship’ is the key word for them and it shows.
CFO
The service provided by Helen was first class. Really thorough and detailed preparation, not just for the interviews with the prospective employer but also for the communication with my current employer. Helen wanted to ensure that I fully understood the role and the challenge it provided as well as understanding whether I was definitely ready to make the jump. By doing this, Helen made sure that expectations were clear on all sides of the conversation. I would thoroughly recommend Helen and GRG Executive Search to anyone looking for a new role.
Finance Director
Dan took the time to get to know us and our business. He relished the challenge, and after introducing us to Frankie Ashford, the GRG Executive Search team set about identifying, contacting and negotiating with potential recruits to identify a quality shortlist. We felt we were expertly chaperoned throughout the interviewing process and beyond, and are grateful to Dan and his team for all their efforts in making this process so effortless on our part – a brilliant performance.
Finance Director
Technology recruiting is not for the faint of heart. GRG, and Brett in particular, provided exceptional service bringing me into my role as well as helping me augment my team once in place. Brett works collaboratively to find candidates and shepherds them through what can be an overwhelming process. GRG allowed us to build a team in a time of unprecedented competition for technology talent and I cannot recommend them highly enough.
CMO
Emma definitely isn’t your typical recruiter and you instantaneously know this when she doesn’t get the first CV to you in an hour. Her search and selection will be thorough and she will stick with the parameters you’ve laid out, however, she is never shy at showing you the wild card candidate you never knew you wanted. She remains my absolute preferred supplier when hiring any HR professionals and, I have, and always will strongly recommend her to many other businesses now and in the future.
Group HR Director
Helen is an outstanding professional. She possesses an attention to detail, a level of engagement and a clarity and consistency of communication that mark her out as second to none in the Birmingham market. Having worked with a number of other recruiters recently, I can say that whether recruiting or seeking senior finance roles in the West Midlands, working with anyone else would probably be a mistake!
Head of Financial Planning & Analysis
In an industry where there are a lot of very average recruitment professionals, Sarah and the GRG team really stood out. From the first conversation, she had a real focus on honest and clear communication. She took the time to understand cultural fit rather than just matching skillset, both from a client and candidate perspective. This has continued throughout the process, and even when we've had the odd glitch, the honest communication has been superb. It has been a pleasure working with her!
Interim Programme Delivery Director
Dan contacted me regarding a role and we talked through what I was looking for in a role and the business. Dan walked me through what the role and business requirements were and we then chatted through whether this was a good fit for me and the business. This is the quality I look for with a recruitment agency - someone who knows you and what you are looking for, and Dan certainly meets this. Dan had regular contact with me from the initial stages of the role all the way through to the conclusion of the contract - a quality that few others manage to achieve. He is a credit to GRG Executive Search, and has always shown great professionalism and knowledge within the finance sector. I look forward to working with Dan on future contracts.
Interim R2R GPO
Helen provided first-class support to us in recruiting a new European Finance Director. We were consulted throughout the process and all stages were undertaken diligently and methodically. Feedback was continuous, robust and two-way, and we were delighted with the outcome. GRG Executive Search’s facilities are also excellent and well located. I’ve used Helen and her team for many years to support me with numerous senior appointments and recommend them as highly effective and excellent value for money.
Chief Financial Officer
I have worked with a number of recruiters throughout my career, but I was so impressed by my experience with GRG Executive Search. Helen went above and beyond to provide support throughout the process, listening to my concerns and ensuring I had all the information I needed to make the right decisions and be fully prepped for every stage of the application process. I never felt pressured into applying for roles - the support I received made it feel like I was working with a career advisor rather than a recruiter! Huge thank you to GRG Executive Search for supporting me in my next career move.
Divisional Finance Director
Working with Craig and the GRG Executive Search team has been a very positive experience, with a number of successful candidates placed in our finance team in my short time with the company. Craig has a good understanding of our business requirements and is quick to grasp the nuances of each brief, leveraging his extensive network of candidates to provide both considered shortlists that are aligned to our needs but also, where necessary, a broad spectrum of quality candidates at different levels, allowing me to benchmark a range of possible options that meet the demands of the role. Craig and the team's professionalism and dedication have made them a trusted partner and my first port of call for finance recruitment.
Divisional Finance Director
What sets GRG apart is the investment of time to really understand our culture and people. As a result they have an excellent hit rate of candidates submitted who are then offered a position.
Chair
The team did a great job for what was a very challenging brief. The research was comprehensive and the process well managed, with Matt providing the appropriate level of support at the key stages of the recruitment and assessment process. His and the team's commitment to securing a successful outcome could not be faulted.
Partner, Corporate Finance
Dan supported me with an extremely important interim assignment where time was very much against us. The whole process was excellent and I would have hired either of the two candidates shortlisted. GRG Executive Search will always be my first choice for senior finance recruitment, either interim or permanent.
Vice President Global Finance
Helen was an absolute pleasure to work with, and the quality of her approach was far in excess of any other consultant I have worked with. While very robust and consultative, she isn’t afraid to challenge. It felt like she had my back and was happy to go the extra mile for me. She was always available if I needed her and she offered very sound advice throughout the process. She also has a very strong network she has worked with for years. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Helen.
European Financial Director
Helen is well known in the Midlands recruitment market for her wide network, tenacity and knowledge of the finance sector. She has a positive, direct approach and an excellent understanding of how senior finance roles operate, all of which is valuable when making informed career decisions. I'm very happy to recommend Helen to my network.
Finance Director Utilities & Rail
Helen is such a professional and hardworking individual that gives so much to the recruitment process, from understanding the client’s needs and working with the right candidates to ensure the role is correct for all parties involved. Helen has tirelessly supported me personally through the recruitment into my new role, even after the contract was agreed and throughout my 6 month notice, Helen has still been available working with me and the client to ensure that the process is moving forward flawlessly. I cannot recommend Helen enough for what she has done and the level of detail and support provided is a credit to GRG Executive Search.
Financial Controller
GRG Executive Search has recently overseen a significant senior hire for my businesses. In the past I have been extremely sceptical about the value of using a recruitment firm but GRG’s utter professionalism and dedication has completely changed my view. Not only did they head hunt the perfect candidate for the role but refreshingly their involvement has continued post the candidate's acceptance of our offer. This has insured a smooth bedding in process, which has saved us both time and money.
CEO
Helen was an absolute pleasure to work with throughout the search for our new Finance Director. She worked hard to understand our organisation and the journey we were on, and using her deep and broad knowledge of the senior level finance market, was able to deliver against our brief within the agreed timescales. Her professionalism, high levels of engagement and tireless determination to meet our expectations was superb and I would have no hesitation in recommending Helen to others.
Head of HR
I have worked with Emma over a number of years now, being both a candidate and more frequently asking for her support in recruiting for my various HR Teams. Emma has always taken care to understand the business, the role and a good culture fit for the roles being sourced which sets her apart from many other recruiters I have worked with. Emma has always been honest, given good guidance, builds strong relationships and always available at the end of the phone. I recommend her highly and will always have her on my support list.
Head of HR
I have worked with Helen now for almost 10 years and she is my “go to” person.
She takes the time to get to know you and understand what is important to you. She then works relentlessly from there, preparing you for interviews and managing the process. Above all else, I trust Helen.
Head of Accounting
The support from GRG Executive Search and Helen to recruit my number two was excellent. In a challenging market for recruiters, they were able to find excellent candidates and managed the process professionally both from my perspective and from the candidate’s. Unsurprisingly, we continue to use GRG Executive Search for our recruitment needs.
CFO
I have known Helen for a long time and she has always been my go-to person in finance recruitment. When we talked through my interests for my next step it became clear that interim assignments would best suit me and she introduced me to Dan. Within a couple of days of our first conversation I had two live opportunities, one of which I was offered. Dan was proactive throughout the process, engaging and very generous with his time to make sure that I was a good fit for the client and well prepared for my interviews. I will definitely recommend Dan in the future to any contacts looking for contract roles.
Robbie provided a thorough and professional support for me in a new contract candidate sourcing for sales centres based throughout the UK. He is highly personable and a superb communicator, keeping on top of what was an extremely busy recruitment time in the business with a calm and very organised approach. I would happily recommend Robbie to anyone in a similar situation requiring agency support to meet recruitment needs.
Company Director
Emma was supportive throughout the recruitment process for my new role. We had regular check ins and Emma was always available for catch ups. Not only was her support great during my interview stage but also at offer acceptance stage also. I would not hesitate to work with Emma again.
Head of Referrals Business Development
Helen has been exceptional in managing my application. From beginning to end, the experience has been first class. Helen was also extremely proactive and hardworking - never once did I have to chase for requested information. Finally, above all else, I felt Helen cared about my application and personal circumstances.
Head of Treasury
Rhys helped me to gain a senior position in a UK company and supported me every step of the way. Honest and professional, I found him to be realistic in matching the role to me, and encouraging with his ‘go to’ attitude. I would highly recommended Rhys if you want someone who will be open and honest with you. He was a pleasure to work with.
Head of International Trade Compliance
I recently engaged with GRG Executive Search to appoint a Corporate Controller. It is an incredibly important role for us and therefore was essential we got the appointment right first time. The service offered by Helen was excellent, with strong communication and discussion throughout the process. The team invested time up front to truly understand the role and requirement, resulting in an excellent selection of candidates and enabling us to quickly move through the process to offer and acceptance. Helen has continued to be in contact with myself and the candidate through the notice period, ensuring a smooth transition. I have had a similarly positive experience with GRG Executive Search on a number of occasions and would most definitely recommend using Helen and team.
GRG Exec Search were very supportive through the process of recruiting me for my current role. They took time to understand my current professional and personal situation which made the whole process a lot less stressful than it could have been. They also made sure there was regular communication over the first few days of my new role to ensure there were no issues for me or my new employer.
Head of Operations
Robbie helped me transfer my skillset to a more senior role. He was extremely knowledgeable, professional, and transparent about the entire hiring process. I have never worked with a better recruiter. I would highly recommend Robbie.
Director of Sales
I have known and worked with the GRG Executive Search team for almost ten years and without exception they are the first people I pick up the phone to when I have a recruitment need. The focus they place on relationships and understanding your business goes well beyond the normal ‘get your assignment, fill it, move on’ mentality that so many other firms operate. Their ethos is about the long term, building confidence and trust and delivering the goods time and time again so that you don’t need to use anyone else. I value that approach – I only ever need to make one call and I can be sure that things are being taken care of. They are an excellent team, always on hand and always willing to provide support and advice even when there is no benefit to them, that’s what I respect and that’s why I enjoy working with them. I would not hesitate for one moment in recommending them, they genuinely are ‘best in class’.
UK CFO
Dealing with GRG has been an easy process from the outset due to their relaxed and professional manner. By taking the time to learn about our business, our company's culture and our future ambitions, they provided us with an impressive short list of candidates very well matched to the role. The successful candidate was not someone actively looking but they matched our requirements to someone they thought would be a good fit.
UK Managing Director
My experience with Helen was exceptional. She took the time to really understand my journey to date, and how that was influencing my requirements for the next role. I felt that Helen was really invested in me as a candidate and provided amazing support in preparation for the process. Helen was extremely knowledgeable about the client and the role which helped me understand how I could add value.
Head of Finance
Helen was instrumental in placing me into my new role. Her authentic and supportive approach was fantastic, offering coaching along the way to help me prepare and interview well. I always find Helen easy to work with and accessible, so if I had any questions about the role or the process she was always available. She worked incredibly hard for me and was cheerleading me all the way! I can highly recommend Helen.
Operations Finance Director
GRG Executive Search has recently overseen a critical hire into my team, led by Helen Schwarz. From the outset Helen and team have a provided a truly exceptional service from understanding of the requirements, research, shortlisting, managing the interview and offer process. Needless to say, I’m delighted with the outcome as we have secured a strong candidate with requisite skills and experience in what I know is a tough and competitive market.
Chief Financial Officer
Helen has been absolutely flawless throughout the recruitment process.
She is incredibly passionate about what she does, and the level of care she has shown throughout at all interview stages is superior to that of any other recruiter I have dealt with.
I really appreciate all your efforts Helen - Thank You.
Finance Director, Health and Welfare
Dan contacted me with an interim role that was a perfect match for my experience. This was my first placement through GRG Executive Search and Dan clearly spent time to understand both mine and the client’s requirements. He secured an interview and kept me regularly informed all through the process, from initial briefing through to a contract offer which I was very happy to accept. I can definitely recommend GRG Executive Search for making the process of securing a role so effortless.
Interim R2R consultant
We are always impressed with the thorough approach from GRG Executive Search, and Andrew took the time to fully understand the business and the role to create a complete picture of what the business was about, our culture, and what we were looking for. This resulted in finding excellent candidates that matched the brief perfectly. This takes a phenomenal amount of work out of a challenging recruitment process, particularly in current times when there are so many options available to candidates. Having an agency that could pitch our role well was invaluable
Director of People
Helen provided me with excellent support throughout the recruitment process. She was very knowledgeable about the business and the requirements of the role and took the time to make sure it was the right fit for me. She worked tirelessly to ensure everything went smoothly and was a pleasure to work with. Helen’s dedication and passion for providing a first-class recruitment service really shone through and I would not hesitate to recommend her.
Head of FP&A
I was really impressed with the quality of the shortlisted candidates offered, especially given the tight timescales I was working to. This was a product of years of partnership, listening, and their understanding and knowledge of the market. GRG Executive Search enabled me to recruit the right person with the right skills to a key position at a key time in the evolution of my business. Their responsiveness and capability was extremely impressive - rapidly and efficiently helping me to solve a considerable challenge at a critical time.
Managing Director
Working with GRG Exec Search has been a pleasure. Their communication skills are excellent and they really strive to create a great relationship between the candidate and the agency. I felt fully supported throughout the recruitment process and I also felt unique as a person - a skill that not many agents are capable of making their candidates feel.
Transformation Manager
Thank you for all your support and encouragement with helping me obtain a new role with a solid, caring in-house legal team. Your guidance, advice and help through the process has been appreciated, I couldn’t have done it without you.
Commercial Paralegal
All of my interactions with GRG Exec Search have been extremely positive and professional. They are business and client focussed, confident, dynamic, energetic individual - passionate about placing the right people in the right jobs. I would highly recommend them.
Transformation Programme Manager
Dan was diligent in understanding me, my skillset and how that would fit with the end client’s requirements. The fit was good and the process was smooth from screening through to interview, offer and beyond. I highly recommend Dan and GRG Executive Search, and I look forward to future opportunities to work with them.
Interim Disposal Consultant
Like many I have worked with Recruitment Agencies for a number of years, both as a candidate and an employer. It’s fair to say that this isn’t the easiest or most enjoyable of experiences at times and it’s with this in mind that I do not hesitate to recommend Dan Hughes and the IT Team at Gleeson Recruitment. Dan and I met when I applied for a role that Gleeson had been commissioned to place and through my experience I can say that the team expertly strike the balance between acting in the best interest of their client but also seeking out, building a relationship with, and maintaining the interest of candidates.
CTO
Dan is clear, open and transparent with people, this builds trust and confidence in him, and I have seen first-hand during visits to his workplace how he develops ‘followship’ in his team and how this translates to them giving extra discretionary effort to deliver the desired outcomes. Above all people trust him to get the right result. People respect him, and they like to work with him. Everyone who interacts with him is better for the experience, and this includes myself.
Chief Information Officer
Andrew’s team are a pleasure to work with and are true specialists in their area. GRG Executive Search provides thought-out candidate selection in line with our business vision and strategy. They have taken time to understand our business’s personality and only put forward the highest calibre candidates. They are long-term partners for us.
Co-founder
I recently had the pleasure of working with Rhys on a logistics/recruitment project, and my experience was nothing short of exceptional.
Rhys displayed a level of professionalism and expertise that instantly put me at ease. What sets Rhys apart is not just his industry knowledge, but his attention to detail on the specific needs of the project.
Rhys was always a step ahead, anticipating potential hurdles and addressing them before they could become issues. His communication was clear, timely, and constructive, keeping me informed and engaged throughout the entire process.
CEO
Craig took the time to fully understand my perspective and requirements as a candidate coming back into market after several months out. He researched client opportunities well, and was always happy to spend significant time discussing pros and cons, and to give robust answers to my questions. Although you never know exactly what a client organisation or role is going to be truly like until you’ve hit the ground, I very much appreciate the time that Craig was willing to spend on minimising any concerns I had. I would highly recommend Craig as a recruitment partner, and look forward to continuing to work with him on future opportunities.
Interim Finance Transformation Lead
Working with Robbie is tremendous! He was able to approach me in the most warm and professional manner about an opportunity with my current company. The transition was seamless and he continually checks in on me to ensure I have everything I require to be effective in my new role. Working with Robbie has been awesome and I would jump at the opportunity to work with him again.
Enterprise Account Executive
Helen goes over and above anyone's expectations of an executive recruitment partner. From finding you the right role in the right company with the right culture through to contract finalisation, her personal touch in all aspects of the process was phenomenal. She really pushed me to ensure I was making the right decision rather than push me into a role that may not be right. In the end, I secured a fantastic role in a great company with a great contract - none of which would have happened without Helen.
Senior Finance Business Partner
Hayley really invested time and effort in understanding my needs/contextualising the role to those needs. Her insight into the role and company really helped me to understand how it could be a good fit for my skills and experience. This helped me present my best self through the application process and ultimately secure the role. Hayley was in touch every step of the way and took care of every detail. I really felt like I got the VIP treatment and it made a sometimes onerous process really low stress.
Programme Manager
Helen took the time to understand our business, our people and our requirements. She was incredible at collaborating and (where necessary) cajoling all of our tricky stakeholders. I truly admire her perseverance in getting the best possible outcome for us; particularly when our organisation did not make this an easy task. Such was Helen’s diligence and commitment to our project that she really made us feel like we were her only client - I genuinely look forward to working with her again one day.
Finance Director
My experience with Helen and GRG Executive Search has been second to none. Helen’s commitment, dedication and enthusiasm in supporting me to take the right next step in my career has been amazing, and I look forward to being able to work with her as a client in the future. I have already recommended Helen to jobseekers in my network, and would urge anyone looking for their next role to reach out to her - you really will find that essential partner to support you.
Head of Finance
Helen invested the time to get to know me and my circumstances to make sure the opportunity was a great match. Her coaching through the stages of the process gave me confidence to perform at my best when meeting with the employer, and her communication was excellent throughout. Helen worked tirelessly at offer stage to conclude the process quickly by managing communications between both parties effectively.
Finance Director
The candidate screening was very thorough and the interview briefing notes sent to me were so useful and so much more than I would normally expect. I felt fully prepared for my interviews and this helped me secure the perfect role.
Helen’s support throughout the process, her professionalism and genuinely friendly approach was very much appreciated and as a result I have no hesitation in recommending GRG Executive Search.
Head of Finance
I have absolutely loved building a strong relationship with Ryan during my search for my future opportunity. The open dialogue and transparency was very much welcomed. Ryan has been a great ambassador for the organisation and I am keen that we stay in contact with regard to future opportunities both personally and from a business relationship perspective. I have recommended GRG Executive Search and Ryan personally to other contacts and colleagues who are proactively looking for their next career move and I can't speak highly enough of my experience.
Change Manager
GRG Exec Search are a great company who gets to know both the employer and employee to find not only job fit but also character fit for roles.
Project Manager
Rhys is the perfect recruiter. Excellent clear communication, responsive, and fun to deal with. I would 100% recommend.
Interim Procurement / Supply Chain Consultant
The process for recruiting the Director of Financial Control ran smoothly and resulted in some excellent candidates being presented. The level of candidates meant that we had several choices and we secured a highly experienced individual who has settled in well to the business.
CFO