Redefining executive search

We offer a world-class portfolio of senior-level recruiting services, catering to a diverse range of clients, from multinational corporations to high-growth, investor-backed companies, and SMEs.

Our multi-disciplined recruitment capabilities encompass virtually every industry and commerce. We are highly regarded for our attention to detail, service delivery, and, ultimately, the quality of the candidates we deliver for our clients.

We provide confidential, retained recruitment services for senior-level roles, typically ranging between £50,000 to £250,000 base salary.

Read about our heritage

Excellence through people

Adderleys was founded in Leeds in 1991 by Peter Adderley and John Featherstone. Both had successful careers in industry at board level, which included leadership roles at one of Europe's largest executive search companies, where they served as Managing Director and Chairman, respectively.

Originally operating under the name Adderley Featherstone, the business rapidly grew to become one of the United Kingdom's largest executive search companies, a distinction recognised by The Sunday Times.

We have grown to become a recognised leader in executive search services, thanks to our greatest asset - our employees, and our philosophy of "excellence through people". We help our clients in finding the right people, a task which we fulfil by relying on our exceptional team of expert consultants and dedicated researchers.

Our people are diverse, mirroring the diverse portfolio of clients we work with. From multinational corporations and high-growth investor-backed companies to SMEs, we understand the importance of individuals in driving organisational success. It is this comprehension that allows us to serve an array of industries, markets, and businesses with great effectiveness, whether they operate in B2B or B2C sectors.

At Adderleys, we're committed to excellence through people, both in our internal teams and the candidates we present to our clients. We'd be thrilled to collaborate with you, helping you identify and secure the exceptional talent that will elevate your organisation to new heights.

Principles

  • Trust is at the centre of the relationship between client and consultancy. Confidential, sensitive and important management problems are being entrusted to the consultancy. Fees and expenses are being paid by the client. Time and resources are being committed by the consultancy. For the exchange to be successful and enduring, this trust has to be put above all.

  • In fulfilling the recruitment requirement, we apply a completely objective consulting approach without any pre-conditions or assumptions as to the method. Executive Search, Management Selection using advertising and the Internet, or a combination of the two will be used after appropriate discussions and agreement with the client.

  • We will only introduce a candidate to a client who fits the agreed specification and who is of the highest quality in all respects. We adopt a positive, rather than a passive consulting approach making recommendations regarding individual candidates to clients. Our recommendations are substantive.

  • We work quickly at a commercial pace and commit ourselves to completing the assignment fully and within an agreed timescale that is established at the start of each assignment.

Philosophy

  • We are proud of the high calibre of our consulting and support staff, all of whom have in depth experience of the Recruitment and Human Resource Consulting industry. All of our consultants are graduates or professionally qualified, with significant prior senior management experience, outside executive recruitment

  • We adhere to a strict code of ethics and offer absolute confidentiality to both clients and candidates alike.

  • We are interested in building long term relationships with our clients, as we are motivated to gain their repeat business. All directors and key members are stake holders. All of our staff are rewarded on the basis of the company’s overall success. These factors breed continuity and a team spirit which is advantageous to both our clients and our company.

  • We believe in offering absolute value for money. Our fees are consultancy fees related to the input required by the consultant and the complexity of the work. Fees are agreed and fixed at the start of each assignment so that the client knows exactly how much to budget from the outset in order to complete the task. We do not have a minimum fee. Our fees are very competitive.

Leadership team

Oliver Adderley

Group Managing Director

  • Email: oja@adderleys.com

    Oliver has over twenty years experience in the business Oliver offers a comprehensive understanding of the company's operations. His expertise encompasses every facet of the business, from research and executive search to recruitment marketing, demonstrating his all-encompassing knowledge and skills.

    Oliver's professional journey includes collaborating with a diverse range of businesses. From multinational corporations and eminent brands to small and medium-sized enterprises, his proficiency extends across various sectors. He's proven to be instrumental in consistently driving successful recruitment outcomes for these companies.

    His broad-spectrum experience, coupled with his intimate familiarity with the company's operations, equips him to devise innovative solutions and strategies. This ability allows Oliver to effectively navigate the complexities of the recruitment industry and contribute significantly to the company's ongoing success.

Olga Aleksandrova

Global Talent Director & Legal Counsel

  • Email: oaa@adderleys.com

    Olga serves as the spearhead for our talent acquisition operations, specifically in the realms of project service standards and delivery. With a keen focus on processes and a reputation for her meticulous interview techniques, she ensures the highest standards of selection and candidate reporting. Her attention to detail is unparalleled, making her an invaluable asset to our team.

    Moreover, Olga's impressive credentials extend beyond talent acquisition. She is a dual-qualified solicitor, with legal expertise recognised both in England and Ukraine. Her multilingual capabilities are remarkable, boasting fluency in English, Ukrainian, Russian, and German, showcasing her versatility and ability to bridge cultural and linguistic gaps.

    In addition to her talent acquisition leadership, Olga also holds the dual role of Company Secretary and Legal Counsel. Her multifaceted skills and experiences enhance her strategic insights, making her uniquely equipped to navigate complex business landscapes. This combination of roles showcases Olga's adaptability and extensive capability, enabling her to significantly contribute to the success of the company.

Steve Nicholson

Managing Director International

  • Email: sjn@adderleys.com

    Steve has been an integral part of our business since its establishment in 1991. His extensive expertise lies in handling confidential searches and conducting salary surveys for international clients based in the UK and Europe. His clientele spans a diverse range of sectors including research institutes, applied science and technology, agriculture, and chemicals, demonstrating his versatility and profound industry knowledge.

    Steve's attention to client confidentiality and diligence in conducting surveys are second to none, ensuring the utmost standards of service delivery. His approach is meticulous, with a rigorous commitment to detail that sets him apart as a valuable asset to our team.

    Further enhancing Steve's remarkable credentials is his fluency in French. His linguistic proficiency enables him to seamlessly interact with a broad spectrum of clients, bridging cultural and linguistic barriers with ease.

    Beyond his principal role in handling confidential searches and salary surveys, Steve's diverse experiences and comprehensive understanding of various industries offer unique strategic insights. His ability to navigate complex business landscapes and adapt to the diverse needs of clients are testament to his vast capabilities. This blend of skills significantly contributes to the company's success, underscoring Steve's crucial role within our organisation.

Nick Henderson

Group Finance Director

  • Email: njh@adderleys.com

    Nick is our Finance Director, bringing a wealth of experience and expertise to our executive search business. Having graduated from Durham University, Nick's academic credentials in finance are well-founded and highly respected.

    His responsibilities span the breadth of financial management, including strategic planning, risk management, financial reporting, and budgeting. Nick's proficiency in these areas is rooted in his keen understanding of financial principles and his ability to apply them effectively in a large, dynamic business context.

    With his meticulous eye for detail and an impressive ability to translate complex financial data into strategic insights, Nick ensures our financial operations are robust and that our financial health is secure. His robust methodologies in financial reporting and analysis are invaluable, and his guidance is integral to our strategic financial planning.

    In addition to his financial acumen, Nick's experience in a large executive search business has honed his understanding of the industry's unique financial challenges and opportunities. This experience, combined with his comprehensive financial expertise, equips him to navigate the complex landscape of our business and strategically direct our financial resources.

    Beyond his role as Finance Director, Nick brings a unique blend of industry-specific knowledge and financial acumen that significantly contributes to our overall strategy and success. His leadership and strategic vision have been instrumental in steering our company through various business cycles and maintaining our financial stability. Nick's contributions highlight his indispensable role within our team, and his capabilities continue to drive our company's success.

For over 30 years, we have helped our clients recruit the right people for senior leadership teams.

Tell us about your requirements: