Richard studied Accountancy and Finance at Kingston University and initially worked in a Chartered Accountancy practice before moving into financial recruitment.  He has over 30 years of professional recruitment experience, operating and managing businesses recruiting at the most senior level across Commerce and Industry, Sales and Marketing, IT, HR, and Finance.  Richard has previously held Managing Director and Director roles within UK-based international recruitment companies.

Having covered the African market since 2007, he brings specialist experience in the Fintech, Agriculture, Infrastructure, Telecoms, FMCG, Renewable Energy, Business & Professional Services and Oil & Gas sectors.  In the last 15 years, he has been personally involved in a significant number of Executive level searches across the Continent completing numerous Searches for CEO’s and other CXO roles, for example, a CEO for a leading Telecoms provider, Group CFO for a FTSE250 FMCG company in Nigeria, Group CFO for a Mining Services company in Ghana, and COO for a FinTech business in Kenya. He also specialises in the identification of senior leaders required by Private Equity, African-focused funds and Venture Capital investors for their portfolio companies, identifying individuals in both operational and Chair/NED/Advisory positions.  In addition, in 2020, he was responsible for the securing of both the CEO and COO for the AVCA.

Graham Palfery-Smith has been involved in the recruitment industry for over 35 years. He is an accomplished and highly experienced strategic senior manager who has run a wide range of specialist recruitment businesses internationally, including HW Group, Robert Walters, Faro and FiveTen Group. Presently he is working with a small portfolio of businesses in, or allied to, the recruitment sector in the UK, Europe, US and Far East, as a Non-Executive Director or Board Adviser, helping them achieve strategic success.

A highly effective communicator and a team creator, Graham is considered a superior motivator with exceptional leadership skills. He brings an energetic, enthusiastic and passionate approach, international contacts and an excellent market intelligence network.

Kiera graduated from University of Sussex and spent five years working in recruitment before moving into senior executive appointments in early 2007.  Kiera began her career with Executives in Africa in 2010, heading up the In-House Research Team.

Kiera is now responsible for Operations including Research, Business Services, HR and Quality Assurance.  With experience spanning the UK, European and African markets, Kiera’s experience working as a Search Consultant gives her an in-depth understanding of the industry, thus providing relevant support and Quality Assurance which is critical to the success of every mandate.

Adam graduated with a Master’s Degree in Philosophy before working in International Executive Search & Selection for over 5 years in the Construction, Mining and Oil & Gas sectors in Sub-Saharan Africa.  Here, he worked with leading international companies and indigenous SMEs on high-profile Director and C-level mandates.  Adam has since developed his specialist sector knowledge to include the Agribusiness, Financial Services and Manufacturing sectors.

Since joining Executives in Africa in 2016, Adam has delivered on over 50 senior Search Assignments across Africa including an MD for a Manufacturing Business, CFO for an Agribusiness, Global COO for a Technology Company, Head of Remedial for a Pan African Bank, Multiple General Managers for an Agribusiness and a Business Development Manager for a Global Mining Company.  Adam has worked on mandates across multiple African countries including Cameroon, Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda and Zambia.

21William holds a Business Management degree with the University of Surrey and joined the EiA team in 2012.  Since graduation, William has risen quickly through the business, working as a Research Associate, Associate, Search Consultant and now Executive Search Consultant.  He has travelled to Nigeria and Kenya to meet clients and attend conferences, takes an active role in Africa-focused networking events held in London and has worked on over sixty Search Mandates on the continent.

William has expertise within a variety of sectors but has a particular interest in the Agriculture sector, both within Agricultural Development not-for-profits helping small holder farmers across the continent and within Agricultural Cultivation for organisations growing Tea, Avocados and Macadamia Nuts and raising Livestock.  He has also gained experience in Pharmaceuticals across Africa working with one of the world’s largest generic pharmaceutical companies. Working with PE funds has seen him deliver senior leaders in Life Sciences in East Africa as well as the Retail sector where he also worked with a multinational shoe manufacturer and retailer.

Andrea joined Executives in Africa after re-patriating to the UK from South Africa in June 2018 bringing valuable local knowledge of Southern and South African culture and a passion for empowering and uplifting the local African talent.  She has over 25 years’ Sales and Management experience including 10 years in Freight Forwarding and Clearing and 15 years in Recruitment and Executive Search having owned her own recruitment firm in South Africa.

Andrea focused mainly on the Financial Services sector and was awarded a substantial contract with a blue-chip insurance company in Johannesburg as a result of her thorough approach and commitment to delivering results.  She was responsible for all levels of Recruitment throughout their entire Policy Services Division from Call Centre through to Director Level hires.  Since joining Executives in Africa, Andrea has been involved in a number of Director and MD Level Searches within Financial Services and Real Estate.

Ryan holds a Higher National Diploma in Business and Finance and after a short stint working as an accountant, began his twenty-five-year career in recruitment, working firstly in professional Finance recruitment for six years before establishing a Search and Selection business for the UK market.

For the past fifteen years, Ryan’s area of expertise has been within Financial Services internationally, with a particular specialist focus on all areas of Risk and Compliance within this.  He adopted a research methodology to map, track and attract candidates in niche areas across risk within Capital Markets, Retail & Corporate Banking, Wealth and Asset Management.  Ryan’s keen interest in the development of financial inclusion for individuals and microenterprises on the continent of Africa led him to join Executives in Africa, where his specialism remains in Financial Services along with Banking, Wealth Management and Fintech.

Recent examples of completed mandates include: Credit Risk Quant Manager and Digital Transformation Director for a Financial Services organization; Risk Management Consultant for a Management Consultancy; Structural Reform Manager within a Financial Services organisation; Senior Compliance Manager for a Boutique Bank; Legal Analyst for a Fintech and Compliance Manager for an Asset Management organisation.

Anju graduated from Kings College London in 1993 with a Bachelor of Arts in Hispanic Studies.  She started her career in Public Relations in the UK and subsequently moved to India where she specialized in Marketing, Corporate Communications and Investor Relations representing companies across diverse sectors.  Having spent most of her childhood in Nigeria, Anju decided to move back to Lagos in 2009 and in 2010 she joined the Emel Group where she spent ten years working in different capacities including Marketing & Communications, Business Strategy & Management, People & Culture Development.  During the last five years of her tenure at Emel, Anju played a key role in recruitment at all levels and across multiple business divisions.

As a Consultant with Executives in Africa, Anju brings valuable knowledge of the Nigerian market and culture, as well as hands on experience of dealing with local talent and multi-cultural teams.  She is an insightful interviewer with an aptitude for understanding the true requirements of a role and assessing whether an individual has the requisite skills and behaviours to succeed.

Graeme joined Executives in Africa in August 2019 after emigrating to the UK from South Africa in January 2019.  He brings valuable hands on knowledge of not only Southern Africa but Africa as a whole as well as the Middle East.  He has over 40 years’ Financial Management experience including 16 years with a leading Mobile Telecommunications Company in Africa having been based in South Africa and the Middle East.

Most recently Graeme utilised his strong communication skills in a Customer Experience Manager position in a regional role covering Southern and South Eastern Africa.  Besides Telecommunications, Graeme had also had exposure to a number of other sectors including Venture Capital, Hospitality and FMCG.  This extensive corporate experience gives him a unique insight from the “client’s” perspective and enables him to bring first-hand experience of the challenges of operating on the ground across Africa.

In 2010 Paul founded Lightbulb, a training and consultancy business with the mission to reduce the painful bits we often live with when working for organisations and with other people! Lightbulb’s Painless People Management Programme continues to prove popular to organisations of all sizes and its innovative Chinwag approach is ditching the annual performance appraisal and redefining how we manage performance at work.

Paul’s experience spans several blue-chip Companies in operational, HR and at board-level as a COO in the recruitment sector. He is also the author of ‘HR & Other Swear Words: Practical & Credible HR for Beginners’. As a speaker he is reported as being ‘engaging’, ‘memorable’, ‘non-fluffy’, ‘energetic’ and ‘down to earth’. He has trained, coached and worked with hundreds of people across sectors and from SMEs to more well-known brands such as Mulberry, Rank Entertainment, MC Saatchi, BMW, Zenith, Eurostar, Macmillan Publishing, Conde Nast, ITV, Pizza Express, Primark, Citigroup and London School of Economics.

Yared studied Software Engineering at Adama Science and Technology University in Addis Ababa. During his time there, he was involved in a charity group and was also one of the Founders and President of Red Cross Club in the university.

As part of the Executives in Africa team based in Ethiopia, Yared works on Research Projects including database integrity.  In his spare time, he undertakes charity work as well as having a keen interest in photography and graphics work.

Bassam graduated with an LLB from the University of Kent, as well as an LPC from Manchester Metropolitan University.  He brings experience gained in the legal field including working at one of the top law firms in Ghana.  Having subsequently spent time in the recruitment field in the UK, he discovered his passion for this area and joined Executives in Africa as a Researcher in 2022.

Bassam’s training in law helped him develop an eye for detail which he now applies to the research process to ensure he delivers thorough mapping of the relevant market for every Search.  His previous experience dealing with clients allowed him to garner good all-round business knowledge as well as a practical understanding of the operating environment in Africa.  Bassam is an avid reader and is rarely seen without a book in hand, unless it’s to watch football, supporting both his national team, Ghana, and Arsenal in the UK.

Alfred has a Bachelor of Science in Cyber Security from the University of Winchester.  His commitment to excellence and hardworking nature are evident in every project he undertakes and in his academic results.  Alfred is a passionate problem solver, with a drive to dissect complex issues and uncover innovative solutions.  At university, he thoroughly enjoyed researching the ever-changing landscape that is cyberlaw and the difference in approach taken by the UK since leaving the European Union.

Beyond the professional sphere, Alfred is a force to be reckoned with on the rugby field, showcasing his competitive spirit and teamwork.  Off the field, he unwinds through social badminton matches.  Having spent the past 6-7 years within the hospitality industry, where his natural strong communication skills have been complemented by developing excellent organisational abilities.  He brings an excellent work ethic, a spirit of curiosity and determination, traits that seamlessly translate into his research work and which make him a great addition to the Executives in Africa Research Team.

Carla graduated from the University of Scranton (Pennsylvania, USA) with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Secondary Education in 1997. After spending a short time in private banking with Brown Brothers Harriman on Wall Street, New York she moved to the UK where she taught French and Spanish for 9 years at secondary level.

Portuguese by birth, Carla joined Executives in Africa in 2012 to support Consultants specialising in Portuguese-speaking C-Level mandates, assessing Candidates’ language skills in order to deliver to Clients the very best available individuals who best match the target profile. Now a permanent member of the team as a Quality Assurance Manager, she is a critical member of our delivery team ensuring excellence on every Search.