Sheffield Haworth Partners with Progress Together
January 3, 2024 – Global leadership advisory and executive search firm Sheffield Haworth has formed an alliance with Progress Together, an initiative focused on addressing the socio-economic disparity within the financial services sector. This strategic alliance comes in response to the recent study commissioned by Progress Together and conducted by Bridge Group called Shaping Our Economy, which highlighted socioeconomic background is more likely to impact a person’s route to success in financial services than gender or ethnicity.
This is because of a worrying lack of diversity within the workforce, particularly in senior roles, with 89 percent of senior leaders in these sectors hailing from higher socio-economic backgrounds. Individuals from lower or intermediate socio-economic backgrounds comprise only 11 percent of senior employees.
“At Sheffield Haworth, we firmly believe in the power of diversity and inclusion,” said Frances Denny, managing director and head of the socio-economic diversity group at Sheffield Haworth. “Our partnership with Progress Together underscores our dedication to creating a level playing field for everyone, regardless of their socio-economic background. Together, we are working towards fostering an industry that embraces and celebrates differences, leading to a more vibrant and innovative workforce.”
The collaboration between Progress Together and Sheffield Haworth will include a series of initiatives, including webinars, workshops, and training sessions designed to educate businesses about the significance of socio-economic diversity.
“Embracing socio-economic diversity is not just a moral imperative; it is also a strategic advantage for businesses,” said Sophie Hulm, CEO of Progress Together. “By leveraging socio-economic data, companies can identify areas for improvement and implement targeted initiatives to foster a more inclusive workplace. We are excited to work alongside Sheffield Haworth in this endeavor and drive meaningful transformation in the financial services. The collaboration between Progress Together and Sheffield Haworth brings together their expertise and resources to improve socio-economic diversity and inclusion in financial services.”
Related: Sheffield Haworth Appoints Leader for Retail and Consumer Financial Services Practice
Sheffield Haworth, founded in 1993, is a global executive search, talent advisory, and interim consulting firm. The organization partners with clients around the world to provide tailored solutions for their business and talent needs at the senior management level. The firm has 10 offices throughout the Americas, Europe, Middle East, and Asia-Pacific. It serves clients in the financial services, business and professional services, and technology industries.
Recent Alliance
Sheffield Haworth recently joined the Crypto Valley Association, an independent, non-governmental association established to take full advantage of Switzerland’s strengths to build the world’s leading blockchain and cryptographic technologies ecosystem. The partnership is designed to help Sheffield Haworth’s long-term commitment to supporting the crypto industry from a talent perspective and the development of its fintech practice under the leadership of Philippe Reynier.
Sheffield Haworth Acquires Symbiosis Search
Sheffield Haworth has acquired Symbiosis Search, an executive search consultancy for leadership roles across fast-growth enterprise software and SaaS companies. The acquisition brings together Sheffield Haworth’s existing expertise in the technology sector in EMEA, currently known as SH Gillamor Stephens, with Symbiosis’ experience enabling the international growth of innovative software and SaaS companies. Together the teams will form part of the global technology practice at Sheffield Haworth. Founded in 2002, Symbiosis Search works for organizations across the software industry, specializing in disruptive growth companies supplying high-end enterprise-class solutions. The firm works with VC and other investor-backed start-up and scale-up vendors expanding across Europe, North America, and the Asia-Pacific regions.
Mr. Reynier joined Sheffield Haworth as a managing director in the global functions practice in 2022. He is the firm’s global head of fintech and also works with larger financial institutions to support their digital transformation efforts from a talent perspective. Mr. Reynier is based in Switzerland and responsible for the development of Sheffield Haworth office locally.
Sheffield Haworth also expanded with the addition of former UBS executive Philippe Reynier as a managing director within the technology arm of the global functions practice. “We are thrilled Philippe has decided to join the team at Sheffield Haworth,” said Mark Dixon, managing director – global functions. “His background and experience, having both worked in the industry and in strategy consulting, are unique and we are excited to be able to build further relationships in the fintech space partnering with clients on their most pressing talent challenges and requirements.”
Mr. Reynier most recently served as head of business development and special projects at UBS Switzerland focusing on developing the bank’s digital strategy as well as partnerships and investments across key fintech verticals including digital investing, lending platforms, and digital assets.
Related: Sheffield Haworth Expands in New York
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor; Lily Fauver, Senior Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
