Testimonials

Having worked with Boyden many times, I recently partnered with Victoria Stead at Boyden to hire a senior level Supply Chain and Procurement Director.  Victoria took the time to fully understand our brief and our business whilst overlaying this with the available talent in the market.  She didn’t disappoint.  She is clearly passionate about search, she worked with real speed and flexibility and I was immensely impressed with her professionalism and responsiveness.  I would recommend Victoria to anyone who has a senior level role to hire.

Mark Blundell
Head of HR Operations
McDonalds

"Simon Bailey quickly grasped our requirements and the sensitivities surrounding the appointment. A filtered shortlist of four candidates was presented all of whom ticked the job specification boxes - as the client the only difficulty I had was in selecting one candidate from a very credible shortlist. Good communication and accessibility at all times - highly professional approach. "

Peter Rose
CFO
Hunting plc

"I have worked with Boyden on a number of occasions. I have found them to be professional, prompt and responsive. They have a great understanding of the market, and particular expertise when searching for functional heads. I have also recently finalised a project with Boyden where they conducted a search, but also helped determine the suitability of an internal candidate. The process was conducted without bias and with the sensitivity one would expect from a key search firm."

Martin Filippides
Group HR Director
BBA Aviation plc

"Having recently worked for the first time with Simon Bailey at Boyden on an important Executive Search assignment, I have been immensely impressed with his professionalism and responsiveness – Simon listened well to our brief, took the time to understand our business and used this insight to match our needs with first class candidates, as a result of which we have successfully hired a first-class individual.  I would certainly recommend Simon and Boyden to anyone with a senior role to fill.”

Pat Kearney
Business Unit HR Director
Decorative Paints UK, Ireland, South Africa & Building Adhesives Europe
AkzoNobel

"The search was for a Director of Group finance who could succeed the Group Finance director. Simon Bailey rigorously challenged our thinking which enabled  the deliver of a very clear profile and brief. The short listed candidates were a superb fit and the whole process was managed with consummate professionalism. The individual has been in place for 9 months and is a superb hire"

a FTSE 250 HR Director

As Best Buy started its operations in the UK, there was a need to recruit for key positions in a relatively short time frame.  We partnered with Victoria Stead at Boyden to help us identify suitable candidates in the UK market.  Boyden was very successful in presenting quality candidates quickly and the process was executed with high professional standards.

"We partnered with Victoria Stead at Boyden to recruit for a senior level position which culminated in the appointment of an excellent candidate.
The search proved to be challenging for a number of reasons but Boyden remained totally committed to ensuring that we got the right outcome."

"Cathy Holley did a really great job of understanding what made onetel tick and found candidates who really fit our culture, which was very different to the rest of the sector”

“Whenever I have a really complex search I think Boyden. They are bright, focused, tenacious, challenging in getting the spec just right, very pointed in feedback, never afraid to disagree with me, and the outcome here is that we get the very best talent identified and committed. They are in my book under the section: very difficult, almost impossible, call Boyden”

“Thanks to the quality of their listening skills, efficiency and speed, Boyden has positioned itself as a valuable partner within our organization. Boyden has become our partner of choice; not only for recruitment, but also as an advisor and sounding board. Lisa Gerhardt has many strong professional and personal qualities: Professional: speed, efficiency, commitment, knowledge of the market. Personal: sense of humour, charisma, presence and allure. The combination of all of these makes it very difficult for us to do without her!”

“What makes you folks special ?…Flexibility and not afraid of the ‘unconventional’ and situational circumstances adaptation, quick response, cultural awareness, non bureaucratic and uncomplicated to do business with, straight to point ”

“recognised our urgency… bent the rules to deliver at pace… I can trust Boyden to pull out all the stops if things go wrong”

“The two board members who interviewed the shortlist said they’d never enjoyed three back-to-back interviews before. They sent their thanks for making a difficult task memorable, and a surprising pleasure. We can hire any of them and it wouldn’t be wrong”

“Boyden are highly professional… Their determined approach and commitment to deliver is evident throughout the engagement.  Most importantly of all their determination delivers results.”

As a candidate I see the point of difference is the ability to pull out the richness of capabilities and values and the level of depth of the screening process, plus the care and attention.  You saw a match which wasn’t obvious.

"Cathy Holley and her office have been very responsive to our needs and I've found the process of recruiting through them efficient and painless!"

"Professional and effective are taken for granted by me with Boyden. They never disappoint.  Where they really triumph is that they work with such speed and flexibility when the customer or situation needs it. They're fun to work with too. And damn irritating after a vacation, for being so enthusiastic and travelling at mach one".

“You are miles ahead in terms of your professional attitude, your responsiveness and your attention to detail.”

“I have found your approach and energy impressive, ‘infectious’, and a welcome change from  your more ‘established’ peers.”

The team’s knowledge and contacts in the market are first rate. The team have been an absolute pleasure to work with.