As the lines between industries blur, Blackwood brings experience in each and understanding of the whole

Maria leads the Consumer Practice. She has extensive experience advising international clients in all sub-sectors of consumer, including branded fashion and luxury goods.

Prior experience: MBS Group, Korn Ferry, Skill Capital.

Education: Latin American Literature and Politics at University College London.

Daria is a member of the Consumer Practice, working on assignments across all subsectors, with a particular focus on international branded goods and tech-enabled, high-growth consumer businesses.

Prior experience: Founders Keepers, MBS Group.

Education: Modern and Medieval Languages (Spanish and Italian) at the University of Cambridge.

Claudia is a member of the Consumer Practice, working on assignments across all subsectors, with specific experience in international branded goods and media.

Prior experience: The Walt Disney Company, MBS Group.

Education: International Marketing at King’s College London; Political Science and Communication at LUISS Guido Carli.

Charlotte is a member of the Consumer, Retail & Leisure Practice and works on assignments across all practice areas.

Education: Theology and Religion at the University of Oxford.

Katherine is a member of the Consumer Practice and works on assignments across all practice areas.

Education: European Social and Political Studies at University College London and Sciences Po Paris.

Emy is a Senior Executive Assistant in the Corporate Practice and a member of Blackwood’s Finance, Administration and IT Group.

Prior experience: Team Coordinator/Personal Assistant at Teneo.

Richard leads the Business Services Practice and advises listed, private and private equity-backed businesses across the entirety of business services. He has particular expertise in professional services, technology-enabled services and education.

Prior experience: Astbury Marsden.

Education: Geography with International Relations at the University of Plymouth.

Kathryn is a member of the Business Services Practice and works on assignments across all areas, with a focus on Education including Education Provision and Services.

Education: History at the University of Cambridge.

Amanda is the Managing Partner and a member of the Investment Banking, Private Equity, Board and Executive Assessment Practices. She advises on leadership development, team effectiveness and senior appointments across investment banking, private equity and the boardroom. Prior to Blackwood, Amanda worked at Morgan Stanley; she spent ten years in Mergers & Acquisitions in London and New York before becoming COO of the Investment Banking Division EMEA. She is a certified professional executive coach, Meyler Campbell Mastered, AC and WABC accredited and qualified with the British Psychological Society in psychometrics, including Hogan, FIRO-B, NEO PI-R, Wave, G-LJI, LJI, Implicitly®, TKI and MBTI®.

Prior experience: Morgan Stanley.

Education: English and Law at the University of Cambridge.

Martina co-leads the Investment Management Practice and is a member of the Financial Services Practice. She has a particular expertise in moving and building teams and defining the strategy and execution of building new routes to market. She has worked extensively on the firm’s Diversity initiatives and is also an Ambassador for The Diversity Project.

Prior experience: Goldman Sachs.

Education: Politics and Philosophy at the University of Bristol.

Joanne leads the Private Equity Practice and is a member of the Financial Services Practice. She advises clients across the sector on their needs within the investment team, IR and operating functions, with a particular specialisation in senior team leaders across new investment strategies and first-time funds. She has worked extensively on the firm’s Social Mobility initiatives.

Prior experience: Freshminds.

Education: Modern History at the University of St Andrews with a year studying History and Political Science in the US.

Annie co-leads the Investment Management Practice and is a member of the Financial Services Practice. She specialises in advising clients across the liquidity spectrum on their senior leadership needs and strategies. Her diverse client work across asset classes has included senior investment leadership roles as well as CIOs and distribution professionals.

Prior experience: Saxton Bampfylde Hever.

Education: Sociology and Law at Durham University.

Will leads the Private Markets Practice and is a member of the Financial Services Practice. He has considerable experience advising a variety of clients including alternative investment firms, long-only funds, hedge funds, family offices and pension funds. He has particular expertise in private markets, equities and alternatives.

Prior experience: Specialist executive search firm within the equities team

Education: Literature & Philosophy at Leeds University

Nigel leads the Investment Banking and Infrastructure Practices and is a member of the Private Equity and Financial Services Practices. He focuses on recruiting senior Investment Banking professionals across M&A, sector coverage and leveraged finance. Within private equity, he specialises in investor relations appointments.

Prior experience: Global executive search firm; Close Brothers (now DC Advisory).

Education: English Literature at University College London.

Shaneen is a member of the Private Equity Practice with a particular focus on leading senior and mid-level appointments. She is also a member of the Financial Services Practice, advising clients and candidates on the crossover between all forms of investment.

Prior experience: Disaster relief charity.

Education: Politics and International Relation at the University of Warwick with a year studying Economic Globalisation and Development at SOAS University of London.

Jamie leads the Real Estate Practice and is a member of the Financial Services Practice. He advises real estate investors, owners, operators, and consultants on both executive and non-executive leadership hires. He has worked with clients in the sector for over 15 years in both London and Hong Kong, and has successfully conducted assignments across the EMEA, Asia Pacific and North American markets.

Prior experience: Sousou Partners.

Education: History at the University of Leeds.

Alex is a Senior Associate within the Financial Services Practice, working across Real Asset and Private Equity mandates.

Prior experience: Freshminds

Education: Law at King’s College London

Anneka is a member of the Investment Management and Financial Services Practices with a focus on private markets, including assignments across investment teams within credit strategies and investor relations within private equity, private credit and real assets.

Prior Experience: Specialist search firm placing investment professionals across credit strategies, Ernst & Young.

Education: Accounting and Finance at the London School of Economics.

Joel is a member of the Investment Management and Financial Services Practices with a focus on investment management, including advising long-only funds, hedge funds, family offices and pension funds.

Prior experience: Specialised executive search firm focussing on C-level strategy and business development roles within Europe.

Education: Philosophy and Economics at Durham University.

Annabelle is a member of the Private Equity Practice. She advises clients across private equity and broader private markets, with a focus on mid-level and junior hiring.

Education: Classics at the University of Bristol.

Lucia is a member of the Investment Management and Financial Services Practices. She leads assignments for a variety of investment clients across public and private markets. She has a particular expertise in responsible investment and has a CFA Level 4 Certificate in ESG Investing.

Prior experience: Kinnevik.

Education: English Literature at the University of Edinburgh.

Charlie is a member of the Private Equity Practice with a broad remit across senior, mid and junior-level hiring. He is also a member of the Financial Services Practice, advising clients and candidates on the crossover between Private Equity and Growth Equity.

Prior experience: Kea Consultants.

Education: Business at Durham University.

Jayden is a member of the Investment Management and Financial Services Practice with a focus on fund management and distribution mandates, across both public and private markets.

Prior experience: The Omerta Group.

Education: History at Queen Mary University of London.

Ben is a member of the Real Assets Practice and focuses on advising Infrastructure Private Equity clients, as well as spending time with Private Equity funds and Impact / Thematic investment strategies.

Prior Experience: Public policy research and risk intelligence analysis.

Education: Modern European Studies at the University of Nottingham; Economics and Politics at the University of Bristol.

Antonio is a member of the Private Equity Practice. He has worked with a range of fund sizes and strategies across the UK and Western Europe.

Prior experience: Nordbridge Group.

Education: Latin American Development at University College London.

Lati is a member of the Private Equity Practice and works on assignments across all practice areas.

Education: Human, Social and Political Sciences at the University of Cambridge.

Will is a member of the Investment Management Practice and works on assignments across all practice areas.

Prior experience: Drax.

Education: Philosophy, Politics and Economics at the University of Buckingham; International Affairs at the London School of Economics and Peking University.

Ciara is a member of the Investment Management Practice and works on assignments across all practice areas.

Education: Global Business at Trinity College Dublin.

Rupert is a member of the Private Equity Practice and works on assignments across all practice areas.

Prior experience: Fidelio Partners.

Education: Liberal Arts at the University of Exeter.

Molly is a member of the Real Estate Practice and works on assignments across all practice areas.

Prior experience: Events industry organising supercar rallies.

Education: Journalism at the University of Portsmouth.

Charlotte is a member of the Investment Banking and Real Assets Practices and works on assignments across all practice areas.

Education: Health, Medicine and Society at the University of Cambridge.

Olivia is a Senior Executive Assistant in the Financial Services Practice and a member of Blackwood’s Finance, Administration and IT Group.

Prior experience: Executive Assistant for 10 years supporting C-Suite in a range of industries, including Private Healthcare, Internet Engineering and Real Estate.

Jen is an Executive Assistant in the Financial Services Practice and is also a member of Blackwood’s Finance, Administration and IT Group.

Prior experience: Executive Assistant at Platinum Pacific Partners (Sydney).

Education: English Literature and American Studies at the University of Manchester.

Jess is an Executive Assistant in the Investment Management team and a member of Blackwood’s Finance, Administration and IT Group.

Education: PGCE at The University of East Anglia; Ancient History at the University of Reading.

Maria leads the Consumer Practice. She has extensive experience advising international clients in all sub-sectors of consumer, including branded fashion and luxury goods.

Prior experience: MBS Group, Korn Ferry, Skill Capital.

Education: Latin American Literature and Politics at University College London.

Poppy leads the Healthcare Practice and has extensive experience advising internationally listed, private and private equity-backed businesses across pharma services, healthcare services, diagnostics and devices.

Prior experience: The RSA Group.

Education: Social and Political Science with Philosophy at the University of York.

Patrick is a member of the Healthcare Practice and works on assignments across all practice areas.

Education: English Literature and History at the University of Nottingham.

Richard leads the Business Services Practice and advises listed, private and private equity-backed businesses across the entirety of business services. He has particular expertise in professional services, technology-enabled services and education.

Prior experience: Astbury Marsden.

Education: Geography with International Relations at the University of Plymouth.

Chris leads the Financial Officers Practice as well as Blackwood’s regional coverage, with responsibility for the firm's activities in the North and Midlands, advising businesses on board-level succession, management changes and leadership effectiveness.

Education: French and German at the University of Oxford.

Katharine is a member of the Business Services Practice and leads on professional services. Her sub-sector focus includes consulting, legal services, accountancy, testing, inspection and certification, fund administration and corporate services, HCM and recruitment, business process outsourcing and governance, risk and compliance. Prior to joining Blackwood, Katharine worked as an analyst at a business intelligence and risk consulting firm.

Prior experience: S-RM Business Intelligence.

Education: Development Studies at the London School of Economics; Geography at the University of Oxford.

Chris is a member of the Business Services Practice and focuses on the engineering, industrial, property services, environmental services, infrastructure and outsourcing markets within private equity and high-growth companies.

Prior experience: Drax.

Education: Economic and Social History at the University of Liverpool.

Kathryn is a member of the Business Services Practice and works on assignments across all areas, with a focus on Education including Education Provision and Services.

Education: History at the University of Cambridge.

Anna is a member of the Business Services Practice and works on assignments across all practice areas

Education: Management and International Relations at the University of St Andrews.

Olga is a member of the Business Services Practice and works on assignments across all practice areas.

Education: English at the University of Cambridge.

Sydney is a member of the Business Services Practice and works on assignments across all practice areas.

Prior experience: Contingent recruitment focusing on UK insurance and European technology.

Education: English Literature at the University of Birmingham.

Lizzie is a Senior Executive Assistant in the Corporate Practice and a member of Blackwood’s Finance, Administration and IT Group.

Education: Psychology at Northumbria University.

Amanda is the Managing Partner and a member of the Investment Banking, Private Equity, Board and Executive Assessment Practices. She advises on leadership development, team effectiveness and senior appointments across investment banking, private equity and the boardroom. Prior to Blackwood, Amanda worked at Morgan Stanley; she spent ten years in Mergers & Acquisitions in London and New York before becoming COO of the Investment Banking Division EMEA. She is a certified professional executive coach, Meyler Campbell Mastered, AC and WABC accredited and qualified with the British Psychological Society in psychometrics, including Hogan, FIRO-B, NEO PI-R, Wave, G-LJI, LJI, Implicitly®, TKI and MBTI®.

Prior experience: Morgan Stanley.

Education: English and Law at the University of Cambridge.

James co-leads the Leadership Advisory practice. He specialises in leadership assessments and executive coaching, supporting business leaders with decisions as part of Board or Senior Leadership restructuring or development, M&A due diligence, succession planning or culture change processes. James has extensive international experience working with clients across a diverse range of sectors. He is certified in a variety of psychometric assessment tools, has partnered clients to develop and implement a range of leadership and functional competency frameworks and is a valued executive coach.

Prior experience: Mercuri Urval, Frost & Sullivan

Education: Sociology at Durham University; MBA at Warwick Business School

Jay is an Administration and Internal HR Officer, and a member of Blackwood’s Finance, Administration and IT Group.

Prior experience: Prior to joining Blackwood, Jay volunteered as an Administrator at an employment and training charity.

Education: He holds a City & Guilds NVQ in Business & Administration.

Martina co-leads the Investment Management Practice and is a member of the Financial Services Practice. She has a particular expertise in moving and building teams and defining the strategy and execution of building new routes to market. She has worked extensively on the firm’s Diversity initiatives and is also an Ambassador for The Diversity Project.

Prior experience: Goldman Sachs.

Education: Politics and Philosophy at the University of Bristol.

Nigel leads the Investment Banking and Infrastructure Practices and is a member of the Private Equity and Financial Services Practices. He focuses on recruiting senior Investment Banking professionals across M&A, sector coverage and leveraged finance. Within private equity, he specialises in investor relations appointments.

Prior experience: Global executive search firm; Close Brothers (now DC Advisory).

Education: English Literature at University College London.

Jamie leads the Real Estate Practice and is a member of the Financial Services Practice. He advises real estate investors, owners, operators, and consultants on both executive and non-executive leadership hires. He has worked with clients in the sector for over 15 years in both London and Hong Kong, and has successfully conducted assignments across the EMEA, Asia Pacific and North American markets.

Prior experience: Sousou Partners.

Education: History at the University of Leeds.

Alex is a Senior Associate within the Financial Services Practice, working across Real Asset and Private Equity mandates.

Prior experience: Freshminds

Education: Law at King’s College London

Ben is a member of the Real Assets Practice and focuses on advising Infrastructure Private Equity clients, as well as spending time with Private Equity funds and Impact / Thematic investment strategies.

Prior Experience: Public policy research and risk intelligence analysis.

Education: Modern European Studies at the University of Nottingham; Economics and Politics at the University of Bristol.

Molly is a member of the Real Estate Practice and works on assignments across all practice areas.

Prior experience: Events industry organising supercar rallies.

Education: Journalism at the University of Portsmouth.

Charlotte is a member of the Investment Banking and Real Assets Practices and works on assignments across all practice areas.

Education: Health, Medicine and Society at the University of Cambridge.

Olivia is a Senior Executive Assistant in the Financial Services Practice and a member of Blackwood’s Finance, Administration and IT Group.

Prior experience: Executive Assistant for 10 years supporting C-Suite in a range of industries, including Private Healthcare, Internet Engineering and Real Estate.

Jonathan leads the Tech Practice and co-leads the FinTech Practice. He has worked extensively across media, entertainment and technology enablement with a particular focus on the digital optimisation of businesses.

Prior experience: The Zygos Partnership, Russell Reynolds.

Education: Sports Science at Durham University.

Andy is a member of the Tech Practice and works on assignments across sub-sectors, with a focus on B2B software and IT services.

Education: Geography at the University of Oxford.

Grace is a member of the Tech Practice and works on assignments across sub-sectors, with a focus on B2B software and IT services. Prior to joining Blackwood, Grace worked at a specialist recruitment firm with a focus on the life sciences sector.

Prior experience: Meet Recruitment.

Education: Economics at the University of Birmingham.

Tamta is a member of the Tech Practice and works on assignments across the sector.

Education: Business Management at Cardiff University.

Hope is a member of the Tech Practice and works on assignments across sub-sectors, with a focus on high-growth technology assets.

Other experience: Jagex.

Education: History and Politics at the University of Exeter.

Archie is a member of the Tech Practice and works on assignments across all practice areas.

Education: War Studies and History at King’s College London; Contemporary Chinese Studies at the University of Oxford.

Heather is a member of the Technology Practice and works on assignments across all practice areas.

Education: Biological Sciences at Imperial College London.

Rosie is a Senior Executive Assistant in the Corporate Practice and is a member of Blackwood’s Finance, Administration, and IT Group. She is qualified in administering a variety of Psychometric tools.

Education: Psychology at City, University of London.