Wilton & Bain Appoints Two Key Executives in U.S. Operations

August 1, 2018 – London-based executive recruitment firm Wilton & Bain has added two key professionals to its operations in the U.S. Lisa Peacock-Edwards, based in New York, will lead the firm’s new global practice. Richard Wilcox, who is in Houston, joins the professional & technology services practice in North America
Ms. Peacock-Edwards, a managing partner, comes to the firm from Marlin Hawk. She is charged with building Wilton & Bain’s corporate markets offering, providing CxO-level talent to drive company transformation, focusing on technology enabled change & digital leadership.
“Lisa’s hire is a significant statement to the industry of both our intent to drive the growth of the firm internationally, and the ability of Wilton & Bain to attract the market’s best talent,” said David Heron, chief executive officer of the Wilton & Bain Group. “We are excited about her arrival, particularly in aligning with our existing WBMS client base, and in leveraging from our deep roots in the consulting sector to offer transformational talent to the corporate market globally.”
Ms. Peacock-Edwards said she is looking forward to her new role. “Wilton & Bain has unique insight and knowledge of how businesses go through transformation and growth from their position as the No.1 executive search firm in consulting,” she said. “Given the changing world of technology, data and digital challenges that global businesses face, this makes Wilton & Bain a very exciting place to join, with a brilliant proposition and insight.”
New Products Coming
She said she was excited about driving the corporate markets business forward globally across financial services, commerce and industry and the VC sectors. “We will also be bringing a number of industry first advisory and assessment products to the market for our clients to have true transparency and digital access to information,” said Ms. Peacock-Edwards.
Ms. Peacock-Edwards served two stints with Marlin Hawk. From 2011 to 2012, she was head of the firm’s commerce and industry practice in London. In 2014, she returned to the firm as an associate partner in New York and later became a partner in San Francisco. She has also been director at both Barracuda Search Limited and Harris Armitage Consulting, among other roles.
Mr. Wilcox, a principal, began his career as a consultant with KPMG and combines this grounding in the industry with six years of executive search experience with both Russell Reynolds Associates and Korn Ferry, focused specifically on professional services.
“Richard brings an impressive, blended background in management consulting and executive search, affording him a unique perspective into this specialized sector,” said Gary Landes, managing partner for Wilton & Bain. “His hire is a further reinforcement of our mission statement to become the leading executive search firm in the world dedicated to the professional & technology services industry, and we are thrilled he is joining the Wilton & Bain family.”
A Growing Firm
Mr. Wilcox said his new role offers unique opportunities. “As a global authority on consulting talent, and the No.1 executive search firm in Europe for professional services, Wilton & Bain has a strategic advantage to accelerate its presence in the U.S. at a time when this industry is achieving overreaching growth,” he said. “The market is primed for a firm that can quickly and effectively leverage deep market insight and influence into placing key strategic leaders.”
Founded in 2001 by Jeremy Mobbs and Ben Latreuille, Wilton & Bain provides executive search, interim management/consulting and technology resourcing services to the technology, professional services and converging digital markets. With offices in London, San Francisco, New York and Frankfurt, the firm has an expertise in technology to focus on digital transformation for clients across TMT, retail, consumer, financial services, insurance and utilities.
Last year, Wilton & Bain secured investment from Beechbrook Capital to fund a management buyout as the firm targeted further domestic and international growth. The amount of funding was not disclosed. Wilton & Bain said it was planning to further expand its global footprint, while also driving growth from its WBMS Interim Management offering and contingent services through its WBRS brand.
Piers Marmion, chairman of Wilton & Bain, said the investment goes beyond mere dollars. “This is a very special company which stands out from the crowd because of its unsurpassed drive and dedication to clients and the longevity of these client relationships,” he said. “This investment is also an important validation of the quality and potential of Wilton & Bain and it will enable the business to accelerate its growth internationally.”
Beechbrook’s financing comes from the firm’s U.K. SME Credit Fund. The fund invests in U.K. SMEs that lack private equity backing. Jon Herbert, Beechbrook managing director of the fund, said: “We are delighted to support this very talented senior management team as they take partial ownership of the business which they have helped develop. Our funding will assist in developing a number of initiatives within the business, including international expansion.”
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor; and Andrew W. Mitchell, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media