The Barton Partnership
NICHOLAS BARTON – FOUNDER & MANAGING DIRECTOR
Prior to forming The Barton Partnership Nicholas was a Director at the search firm Astbury Marsden & Partners Ltd. During his time at the firm he was a key part of the senior management team and was specifically responsible for successfully building and leading the Commerce practice. The team focused on placing fast track candidates into Corporate Strategy or 'in-house' Corporate Finance / Development Positions in industry as well as Private Equity and Venture Capital, on either a contingent or retained search basis, nationally and internationally. Throughout his career he has specialised in, and successfully executed, a large number of senior retained and contingent assignments across Commerce, Financial Services and Professional services, globally.
He ultimately exited Astbury Marsden in 2007 after a successful £17.5m MBO of Astbury Marsden realising his equity stake which enabled him to fund the launch of The Barton Partnership in the same year.
In his spare time (when such a thing exists) Nicholas likes to spend time with his family, is an avid film watcher and keeps fit by playing tennis, football and going to the gym.
JOHN ZAFAR – NON EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN
John has 24 years of experience in the recruitment sector, having led a number of businesses across a range of professional disciplines, including Accounting, Investment Banking, Telecoms, Construction and Healthcare. The companies he has been involved with feature some of the most successful in the industry including Michael Page, Robert Half, Empresaria and Blue Group International.
He has also acted as an advisor to private equity on investments related to the recruitment sector and was appointed by a private equity firm to manage an investment in this market. Having completed a business turnaround of this operation he went on to achieve a successful exit for shareholders via separate trade sales to Morson plc and HCL plc.
John has received backing from private equity for his own MBI/MBO projects, one of which is currently ongoing. In addition to this, he is an advisor to a number of recruitment businesses operating across a variety of sectors.
Extra-curricular activities include spending time with his family and friends, skiing as often as he can and following the exploits of Arsenal FC.
RICHARD SANDERS – NON-EXECUTIVE
Richard is a founding partner of Sullivan Street Partners, a small cap investment firm focused on hands on business enhancement. Prior to this Richard worked as Strategy Director for the John Lewis Partnership where he ran the strategy process, managed their financial services division and developed a customer insight platform. Previously Richard worked with both Bain & Company and Burlington Consultants (now part of Deloitte).
He has advised The Barton Partnership since it was founded, leveraging his perspective across strategy, private equity and industry as both a client and someone with experience of being placed.
“Nicholas always makes a positive impression. As a candidate over six years ago I was struck by his interest in my career and knowledge of the market, as an employer two years ago I saw his understanding of what I needed and his reliability in providing highly professional executive recruitment, and now as a non-exec I see his leadership and drive. I strongly recommend The Barton Partnership to candidates, employers and future employees!”
Richard's time away from the office is mostly spent entertaining his two kids, with the occasional opportunity to indulge his enjoyment of cycling, snowboarding and football.
MARK FAGAN – MANAGER, COMMERCE & INDUSTRY
Mark joined The Barton Partnership in 2009 to head up and build out their Commerce Practice. He joined them with over 10 years executive search experience in the strategy, strategic business development and corporate development space gained with two boutique firms, EM Group and latterly Holker Watkin. Mark has conducted search assignments at all levels, predominately in the TMT space, both in the UK and Internationally. He’s a graduate of King’s College London and initially started his career training as a chartered accountant.
In his spare time Mark is an avid armchair sports fan, particularly of rugby and is also a keen live music follower.
WARREN SCHENK – SENIOR CONSULTANT, COMMERCE & INDUSTRY
Warren graduated from Brunel University with a BSc (Hons) in Psychology & Social Anthropology. Initially working in Languages Recruitment, he joined Morgan McKinley in 2003 on the Senior Finance desk and then became a Consultant on the Asset Management temporary desk. In 2005 he joined EM Consulting, working as a Consultant for Strategy & Business Process Engineering.
Warren joined The Barton Partnership in 2007 as the first employee, having gained 7yrs+ experience in executive search. He is part of the Commerce & Industry practice covering Strategy / Corporate Development related mandates across a range of different sectors including Energy/Utilities, Telco, Retail & Pharma/ Healthcare.
When not in the office Warren is a central defender and captain of his local football team. He is also a very keen skier, cook, photographer and mixed-martial-arts enthusiast.
THOMAS RODWELL – CONSULTANT, COMMERCE & INDUSTRY
After gaining a 2:1 in Business of Real Estate from Oxford Brookes University in 2008, Tom entered the gaming industry and set up his own business centered on allowing gamers to wager against each other on different gaming platforms for real money. The business is now run by an external manager. Having joined The Barton Partnership in 2010, Tom’s remit is to support the Commerce & Industry practice across all the sectors by sourcing candidates from Analyst to Partner level for current Corporate Strategy/ Development mandates.
In his spare time, Tom is an avid sportsman with particular regards to football and tennis.
MATHEW PETERS - RESEARCH CONSULTANT, COMMERCE & INDUSTRY
After graduating with a 2:1 from University College London in 2009 where he represented UL in Rowing, Mathew started his recruitment career at Robert Walters sourcing and placing qualified accountants into Investment Management companies. He joined The Barton Partnership in early 2011 to lead Financial Services research within the Commerce and Industry team.
Outside of work Mathew is a keen follower of all levels of rugby, but specifically Leicester Tigers. He is a keen traveller who has traversed the world on numerous occasions, experimental cook and avid reader.
PETER GRANGER – PRINCIPAL, FINANCIAL SERVICES
Peter began his career as a Researcher at EM Finance, a division of The EM Group, London. He sourced candidates with an accounting or strategy consulting background, and provided market research to a team of consultants operating at all levels in the Commerce & Industry market place. In September 2006 he joined Shepherd Little & Associates, London, to lead the company’s research effort in the Investment Banking sector. With a particular focus on M&A and Leveraged Finance, he played a major role in search campaigns at all levels, including a campaign looking for the European Head of a global investment bank.
He joined The Barton Partnership in July 2008 and since June 2009, he has co-led the Private Equity, Venture Capital and M&A Investment Banking division of the firm. Peter graduated from Loughborough University with a first class degree in Social Psychology & Sociology.
In his free time, he plays the guitar and piano, visits the theatre and enjoys keeping fit.
CHRISTINA RHULE – CONSULTANT, FINANCIAL SERVICES
Christina began her career at BBC Worldwide as part of the Employee Development team identifying training needs for staff members across the board. In 2005 she joined Kinsey Allen Executive Search firm as a research consultant, working across the front office investment banking teams providing extensive market maps and assisting with the successful placement of candidates from analyst through to Director level within Corporate Finance and Private Equity. Christina has joined The Barton Partnership to focus on M&A Investment Banking and Private Equity search.
EDMUND THOMSON JONES – CONSULTANT, FINANCIAL SERVICES
Edmund Thomson Jones graduated from Oxford University in July 2010 having studied English Language and Literature at Worcester College. He joined The Barton Partnership in September 2010 to support the Private Equity, Venture Capital and Investment Banking division of the firm by sourcing candidates with Strategy Consulting and M&A backgrounds from Analyst level upwards.
In his spare time Edmund is a keen musician, singing regularly and occasionally finding time to practise the violin, viola and piano. He is also addicted to murder mysteries.
STEVE LUCAS – MANAGER, PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Steve joined The Barton Partnership at the beginning of 2009 having gained more than seven years experience in executive recruitment. Having graduated from The University of Birmingham with a degree in Accounting & Finance with French, Steve spent more than five years with Badenoch & Clark placing permanent commercial and marketing staff within the TMT sectors. He then joined the Futurestep division of Korn Ferry International where he was integral to building the Professional Services / Consulting business.
Outside of work, Steve enjoys most sports apart from golf which he dislikes more every time he plays. Family (especially nephews), friends, movies and the occasional visit to a public house tend to fill the rest of his spare time!
CLAIRE HARRISON – CONSULTANT, PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
After gaining a 2:1 in Philosophy & Sociology, Claire began her career in 2005 as a Consultant with Huxley Associates before joining executive search firm Futurestep a division of Korn/Ferry International as a Service Delivery Consultant. Claire principally focussed on placing mid to senior level candidates within the Financial Services and Consumer sectors. She joined The Barton Partnership in 2009 as a Senior Research Consultant within the Professional Services team where she focuses on placing mid to senior level strategy professionals into Tier One Strategy firms, Global Management Consultancies, the Big 4, and boutique firms.
In her spare time Claire enjoys days out at the Rugby, playing music (piano and cello) and a keen runner having just completed her first and probably last half marathon.
LAURA SMITH – RESEARCH CONSULTANT, PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Having gained a First Class Honours degree in International Business & French and winning various awards at University, Laura joined the Barton Partnership in 2011. She works as a research consultant within the Professional Services team where she focuses on identifying and attracting mid to senior level strategy professionals for a range of strategy & management consultancies. Laura is business fluent in French and spent a year working in the Human Resources & Operations department of Thales Air Systems in France.
Outside of work, Laura enjoys travelling and has backpacked through Europe & the USA. She also loves anything French, having spent time living in Paris and Montreal.
NICOLA HALLETT – OFFICE MANAGER
Nicola joined the team in January 2010 in the newly created role of Office Manager. Her previous experience has given her exposure to a variety of different sectors. Most recently, she supported a team of 25+ architects in a busy office. She enjoys the challenge of a vibrant and fast moving environment.
In her spare time she enjoys going to gigs, tap-dancing and exploring London.