About Damhurst
Reimagining best in class
Damhurst was founded as a specialist executive search firm determined to offer a new solution to the insurance industry by reimagining the concept of best in class.
Since then, the firm has evolved into a broader insurance advisory business, supporting clients across talent, leadership and strategic market insight.
As a trusted partner to our clients and a thought leader within the industry, we provide expert counsel, advanced market insights and a diverse global network. We give our clients the confidence, leadership and oversight needed to transform their businesses.
Why work with us
Industry Experts, Innovation, Inclusivity and Diversity
Industry Embedded
We are deeply embedded in the global insurance market. Our work with boards, executive teams and underwriting leaders helps us understand the unique vernacular of the sector and the distinct strategic, commercial and leadership challenges they face.
Creative Thinking
We help senior leadership to explore what is possible and challenge conventional thinking around strategy, organisational design and leadership, identifying opportunities that may lie beyond traditional structures, markets and talent networks.
Independent Perspective
We have the courage to drive organisations forward. Our advice is objective and commercially grounded. We provide clear, unbiased guidance based upon the combination of traditional evaluations and data-driven insights.
Specialist Expertise
Our team is built from those with a broad spectrum of backgrounds and we combine deep insurance sector knowledge with expertise in strategy, executive search and leadership development to help clients build resilient, high-performing organisations.
Our Team
At Damhurst, we take immense pride in our team, and we are all the stronger for their diversity of thought, gender and commercial background. Our success, like that of our clients, is deeply rooted in the quality and dedication of our people. Explore the profiles below to discover more about the individuals who fuel the innovative solutions and strategic advice we are known for, and who embody the values we hold dear.
Executive Team
James Cooper
Managing Director
Simon Beale
Director, Board
Guy Fraser
Director, Search
Rhiannon Harfoot
Director, Leadership
Joshua Crush
Director, Search
Jennifer Fuller
Director, Operations
Olivia Collie
Advisor, Search
Claire Ashworth
Partner, Leadership
Stephen Horsford
Consultant
Sophie Long
Senior Associate
Malachy Charleton
Associate
Ethan Charlton
Associate
Oliver Hartmann
Associate
Sophie Kemp
Associate
Natasha Wills
Business Manager & PA
Claire O’Donoghue
Marketing
Kate Lynam
Finance
Our Partners
Chris Clark
Strategic Advisor, CNC8298 Ltd
Michael Sicsic
Strategic Partner, Sicsic Advisory
Our Values
Our values are what set us apart, aligning our promises with the effort we invest in achieving your outcomes.
Creativity
To us, creativity means breaking free from the constraints of traditional thinking. We draw on a broad spectrum of sources and experience to form bespoke, innovative, stress-tested and highly effective solutions for each client’s needs.
Authenticity
We strive to be authentic in everything we do and say – through our transparency, through a culture that fosters honesty and integrity above all else, and by delivering on by delivering on our promises.
Authenticity is also something we seek in others, because we know that at board and senior talent levels, it’s not just a candidate’s credentials and skills that are important to a successful placement, but their alignment with your organisational culture and values.
Passion
Passion fuels our dedication to excellence, to reaching beyond tradition and into the realms of innovation. We’re highly motivated to deliver exceptional results, driven by a genuine enthusiasm for helping insurance firms to thrive.
In our search practice, passion is a vital quality for every executive we place. We want them to bring an unwavering commitment to their new position, to relentlessly pursue best outcomes and to inspire a similar passion in others.
Environmental, Social and Governance
Environmental
We are proud to be a carbon-neutral business with clear sustainability goals, offsetting our 13.78 tCO2e footprint, driving operational improvements and initiating policies that shape employee commuting, recycling, and supply chain choices to transform our awareness, behaviour and environmental impact.
Social
We are committed to supporting a number of excellent Lloyd’s and insurance market charities. Each year we donate our board services for free to a different insurance charity. Then there are the sponsored fun runs, kayaking, swims, and even a triathlon to raise funds for a range of great causes.
Governance
We champion diversity in our leadership placements, uphold the highest ethical recruiting standards, and ensure transparency with clients and candidates while protecting their confidentiality. We also comply with all legal and regulatory requirements.
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Damhurst has successfully driven an initiative to improve the diversity of our Board. As a result of their thorough research and thoughtful long list, we concluded the project by appointing not one but two individuals that have changed the face of our non-executive Board group.
Chairman of UK Mutual