About Damhurst
Reimagining Best in Class
Damhurst was founded by James Cooper, an accomplished specialist from the insurance Executive Search sector, who was determined to evolve the way headhunting was conducted by reimagining the concept of best in class.
Our core mission has always been to help broaden our clients’ horizons by not only presenting the most qualified and dynamic leaders within their market but also by going further to uncover exceptional candidates from non-traditional talent pools.
By leveraging lateral thinking and diverse networks, and incorporating a dedicated Onboarding Coach to equip each new placement with the integration support needed for them to hit the ground running, we provide our clients with the confidence and comprehensive market intelligence needed to make truly extraordinary hires.
Why work with us
Industry Experts, Innovation, Inclusivity and Diversity
Industry Experts
As sector specialists, we understand the nuances of insurance leadership teams, their unique vernacular, the delicate cultural boundaries they navigate, and the distinct challenges they face, which enables us to work at a more strategic level for our clients.
Expansive Thinking
We help boards and senior leadership teams to explore the realms of what’s possible when cultural fit is seen as every bit as important as credentials, when selecting the very best talent from traditional and non-traditional networks and markets.
Innovation
We have the courage to challenge – industry norms, search limitations, recruitment processes, role definitions and assessments to identify top-tier talent to drive our clients’ organisations forward – blending the best of tradition and innovation.
Diversity & Inclusivity
A diverse mindset comes from a diversity of minds, so our team is built from those with a broad spectrum of backgrounds, promoting inclusivity in both our own firm and the individuals we help our clients to hire, while meeting all modern standards and expectations.
Onboarding Coaching
Our work with strategic Partners in the executive coaching field ensures that new hires receive individually tailored onboarding support, to help them with integration, cultural alignment and early-stage goal achievement so their contributions can be more rapidly felt.
AI Integration
We use AI-driven talent analytics exercises to complement traditional evaluations, providing data-driven, science-backed insights into each candidate’s strengths and suitability, to ensure that more informed and qualifiable choices are made.
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
Director
Olivia Collie
Senior Consultant
Guy Fraser
Director
Andrew Darfoor
Chairman
Simon Beale
Director
Joshua Crush
Senior Consultant
Meera Joshi
Consultant
Matthew Gowan
Senior Associate
Senan Karunadhara
Associate
Sophie Long
Associate
Natasha Wills
Business Manager & PA
Freddie Clough
Marketing
Kate Lynam
Finance
Our Partners
Jo Hayes
Executive Coach, D3 Partnership
Stuart Boyne
Executive Coach, D3 Partnership
Chris Clark
Strategic Advisor, CNC8298 Ltd
Michael Sicsic
Strategic Partner, Sicsic Advisory
Our Values
In today’s Executive Search world, we know that our clients are spoilt for choice. There are far more firms in the market than ever before, so beyond the usual expressed expertise and commitment assurances, how can you decide which Search firm to work with, especially when the stakes are so high and the talent you are looking for is vital to the strategic future of your organisation? The answer, in our view, is to give you a little insight into how we align our promises with the effort we invest into achieving your outcomes. In other words, our values.
Creativity
To us, creativity means breaking free from the constraints of traditional thinking to draw influence from a broader spectrum of sources and experience to form bespoke, innovative, stress-tested and highly effective solutions for each client’s needs.
So, if you are looking for top-tier talent to bring the new ideas and fresh perspectives your organisation needs to stay ahead of the curve in a constantly evolving market, you might need an Executive Search partner that takes a more creative approach to finding them.
Authenticity
Easy to state, but so difficult to evidence in words alone, we strive to be authentic in everything we do and say – through our transparency, through genuinely delivering on our promises, and through a culture that fosters honesty and integrity above all else.
Authenticity is also something we seek out and evaluate in others, because we know that at the board and senior talent level, it’s not just a candidate’s credentials and skills but their alignment with your organisational culture and values that are important to a successful placement.
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 connecting the right talent with the right opportunities in the right organisations.
Just like authenticity, passion is a vital element of the make-up of every executive we place, because 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 officially be a Carbon Neutral business with clear sustainability goals, offsetting our 13.78 tCO2e footprint, driving operational improvements, 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, ensure transparency with clients and candidates, while protecting their confidentiality. We also comply with all legal and regulatory requirements.
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We have worked with Damhurst on various projects, with great outcomes every time. The team are adept at understanding a brief, appreciating our strategic aims, whilst ensuring that we consider creative solutions that may not have been within our purview, which added great value.
CEO of a Lloyd’s Managing Agency