Caldwell Expands Financial Services and Real Estate Practices
December 5, 2025 – Toronto-headquartered Caldwell has expanded with the addition of Ben Sturnham as a partner in the firm’s financial services and real estate practices. Based in London, he advises clients on board and C-suite recruitment across the full breadth of the real estate, financial services, and real estate finance sectors in the U.K., Europe, and the Middle East. “Ben is a deeply respected search professional whose insight, credibility, and sector knowledge make him an exceptional advisor to clients across the financial services and real estate capital ecosystem,” said Glenn Buggy and Paul Heller, global managing partners of Caldwell’s financial services practice. “His appointment meaningfully strengthens the connective tissue between our practices and expands our ability to support clients across global markets. We are very pleased to welcome him.”
“This is an important addition to Caldwell as we continue to grow our platform and expand our capability across both financial services and real estate,” said Chris Beck, chief executive officer. “Ben’s understanding of the full real estate lifecycle, capital markets dynamics, and the investment landscape will further enhance our ability to help clients design and build extraordinary leadership teams who change the world.”
With more than two decades of global experience in executive search, leadership assessment, and organizational development, Mr. Sturnham is known for helping investors, lenders, and operators build high-performing leadership teams. His experience spans private equity firms, REITs, sovereign wealth funds, housebuilders, institutional investors, investment banks, and real estate advisory platforms. His work covers the entire real estate value chain, including capital raising, investment management, development, operations, and asset optimization across residential, hospitality, commercial, retail, industrial, and mixed-use sectors.
Prior to joining Caldwell, Mr. Sturnham was a senior client partner in the real estate practice Korn Ferry and earlier helped build the real estate division of an Australian executive search boutique. He began his professional career as a rugby player, representing Saracens, Bath, and England at the international level. Mr. Sturnham is a long-standing member of The King’s Trust Built Environment Leadership Group and actively supports several charitable initiatives.
Caldwell Partners is a retained executive search and leadership advisory firm headquartered in Toronto that recruits board, CEO, and other senior executive leaders for clients across multiple industries in North America and Europe. The firm is publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange.
Recent Growth
Caldwell recently launched a sports & entertainment practice, a new global sector group dedicated to connecting senior leaders with organizations at the intersection of sports, technology, media, entertainment, and investment. “As our clients increase their investments in sports, media, and entertainment, we’re launching this specialty practice to support their expanding portfolios,” said Mr. Beck. “From emerging sports technology platforms and analytics companies to digital media ventures and large-scale venue development, our clients are shaping the future of how the world experiences sports and entertainment.”
Related: Caldwell Appoints CEO; Makes Other Senior Management Changes
The sports & entertainment practice will be structured around Peter Anselmo and Garrick Respress and further leverages the firm’s global network of partners across the technology, media & entertainment, consumer, infrastructure, and investment sectors, ensuring clients have access to cross-industry insights and leadership solutions tailored to the evolving sports economy. “As former collegiate athletes, Peter and Garrick will bring a collaborative, team-oriented approach to executive search, uniquely positioning Caldwell to unite experts across the platform and lead the firm’s expansion into the sports and entertainment market,” the firm said.
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Earlier this fall, Caldwell opened a new office in Dubai. Rob Wilder was appointed managing partner of the office. He will be joined in Dubai by Simon Hall, partner in Caldwell’s financial services practice. The launch marks Caldwell’s entry into the Middle East and North Africa region. “With more than 25 years of experience advising organizations on board and executive succession, leadership assessment and development, and executive search, Rob has established himself as a trusted advisor to clients in the Middle East and globally,” said Mr. Heller and Mr. Buggy. “His deep knowledge of the region, combined with his extensive experience across financial services, fintech, and private equity, will be a tremendous asset to our clients and our practice.”
“This strategic expansion into Dubai is an important milestone for Caldwell as we continue to build a truly global platform,” said Mr. Beck. “Rob’s leadership, regional expertise, and global perspective will enable us to better serve clients in the Middle East and North Africa, and his appointment underscores our commitment to investing in markets that are critical to our clients’ success. With a truly global perspective, Mr. Wilder brings extensive cross-cultural expertise to leadership evaluation, having lived and worked across three continents.”
Related: Caldwell Launches Academic Healthcare Practice
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
