TESTIMONIALS

Oliver Richards -Founder + Director

Martin Soulsby of Jonson Beaumont has been a delight to work with in the selection of a Practice Director/ COO for our expanding architecture practice. He has helped the directors to question and agree on what we want from this new role and has used his vast experience of selecting people for other types of business to create the agreed criteria for an inevitable and obvious selection.

Martin has given excellent advice at all stages, following through and making sure that our chosen candidate is keen and ready to join us and we are excited to discover the potential which this new role will now enable.


Rebecca Patterson – Head of HR

“Working with Anne to recruit a Chief Operating Officer for our business has been a real pleasure. This was the first COO role for our firm and as such we needed advice and guidance on many aspects of the process which Anne was more than happy to help with. Anne’s wealth of experience in recruiting senior leaders for businesses like ours really shone through and her input at all stages of the process was invaluable. Anne took time to really get to understand our business in terms of culture and governance and there was a lot about us that she already knew without us telling her (based on her experience of working with law firms). Her approach is friendly and collaborative and working with her feels like an extension of your own team. The ongoing dialogue with Anne after our new COO has started has also been welcome and shows that she really is passionate about what she does, and genuinely wants for the people that she places to be the right fit for both the firm and the individual. Without doubt, Anne has introduced us to a COO that is the prefect fit for our business and we very much hope that we are the prefect fit for him too! Thank you Anne, I very much looking forward to working with you again.”

 


Kathleen Pearson – CHRO

“Martin led our search for a new senior leader in our London office. He quickly learned about our needs and the type of candidate that would be successful. He worked tirelessly with difficult time differences to make sure our process moved swiftly. He is an amazing recruiter that I wholeheartedly recommend.”

 


Jevine Gwillim – Head of HR

“We worked with Anne and her team to hire a COO to our firm.  Anne’s wealth of understanding and knowledge of hiring at this senior level, made this one of the easiest recruitment processes I have managed.  Anne took time to really understand the culture of our firm, and the key stakeholders, and listened to our needs in terms of skills, experience and personality we needed for this hire.  Anne produced a strong shortlist, and after guiding us through the process, left us with 2 very strong candidates.  What a great position for us to be in!  Anne supported us fully throughout the process for this critical hire and I have no hesitation in recommending her or Jonson Beaumont going forward.”

 


Robert Chambers – COO

“I have worked with Anne for a considerable number of years – probably more that we both want to remember – as a client and a candidate for permanent and interim positions, principally in the legal sector but more recently in the accountancy sector. She has a superb ability to get a real grasp of what is in the best interest of both the client and the candidate and the confidence to advise you if you need to reconsider your initial thoughts. This approach combined with an exceptional set of contacts and knowledge of the areas in which she operates enables her to provide first class candidates, who not only have the required technical skills but, more importantly, are a good cultural fit. The most recent assignment on which I worked with Anne was to recruit a COO for an accountancy firm. She narrowed down an extensive list of applicants to a shortlist of high calibre candidates and we were able to make an appointment within a few weeks. Anne is a class act and always my first choice when asked to recommend a recruiter for professional services. ”

 


Neil Middleton – COO

“I’ve worked with Anne on a couple of senior Finance assignments over the last five years and she has always impressed me with her depth of knowledge and network of contacts in the legal sector. She is keen to find the best solution for us as a client and not afraid to provide challenge where appropriate. I also really appreciate her pragmatic and no nonsense approach, saving us time and helping us secure the best outcome. ”


Steven Allen – Global Head of Legal Service Delivery

“As Anne would do herself, I am going to cut straight to it. As a candidate, Anne is the best recruiter I’ve ever worked with. She’s interested in you (not just your CV) wanting to understand your drives and motivations. Then, with what I can only imagine to be some kind of alchemy, she makes links others would fail to see and introduces you to people and opportunities where there is a genuine meeting of minds/culture. Added to that, she is honest – she will tell you as it is, be prepared; she is great at keeping you in the loop – when there is news she will tell you; and she will work with you to meet your challenges in terms of timing, etc. Having worked with her as a candidate, I would not hesitate to do so when recruiting. I can not commend her highly enough. She is a rare and special thing. As are Jonson Beaumont ”

 


Sue Ball – Director, Employment Law

“Like many organisations, finding the best candidate as our new CEO was of the utmost importance, and therefore the decision to use a specialist recruiter was an easy one. Ditto the decision to use Anne – we approached four agencies, and Anne immediately impressed me with her depth of knowledge, easy to approach attitude and general helpfulness. She guided our Board through the process with expert ability and competence, and excellent care. I have no doubt that our approach to the whole process would have been a great deal more clunky had we not had the benefit of Anne’s expertise! ”

 


Clive Knott – IT Director

“Martin takes the time to really understand his clients and has excellent industry knowledge and contacts putting them to good use at every opportunity. His professional advice and guidance has secured a perfect role in the right firm without compromise. I would not hesitate to recommend Martin to anyone who is seeking a senior IT management role within a professional services environment.”

 


Deborah Stump – Head of HR

“It was a real pleasure to work with Martin recently as part of my job search. He helped enormously, challenging me in a professional and constructive way. I felt Martin genuinely wanted to secure the right outcome for his clients on both sides – and he made a significant contribution to that success through timely and effective communication.”

 


Sue Shale – Partner, Chief Financial Officer

“Anne and I first met many years ago and I have watched her grow Jonson Beaumont from its beginnings. She now has a huge network of contacts in the legal sector and seems to have an innate sense of cultural fit when assessing candidates for senior finance roles in law firms. Certainly she came up trumps for us last year and I would highly recommend her.”

 


Ian Harvey – CEO

“Jonson Beaumont has provided me with an unparalleled level of service and, more importantly, an understanding of my recruitment needs and precisely the kind of person I want to recruit. Over the last year, they have successfully found and placed four…yes four… very senior people in my organisation. They have achieved the impossible by finding exceptionally high calibre candidates in a very fast timescale – I have asked the impossible and they have delivered, every time. They have a very thorough understanding of the professional services market and what makes it different from other types of business. Without doubt the best recruiters and recruiting organisation I have ever dealt with…. and I’ve been around a very long time!!!”

 


Roy Campbell – Senior Partner

“Anne worked on a very senior placement for us. She was highly proactive and resourceful. She gave our firm very good advice when we needed it and was always open, honest and realistic. She is very professional, hardworking and gets results based on her unparalleled market knowledge. We would be more than happy to work with her again.”

 


Nicola Swann – Director of Human Resources

“Fulfilling the role of “trusted advisor” throughout assignments with us, Anne’s knowledge of the demands of the professional services sector and the relative strengths of her candidates allowed her to guide us through the risks and opportunities of the executive appointments process.”

 


CFO – Management Consultancy

“I have known and worked with Anne for over 10 years as both a client and a candidate, permanent and interim. Her level of service is outstanding and is driven by her ability to understand the situation and often to challenge it. When I need any aspect of senior level professional services recruitment, it’s reassuring to know that the best outcome will always be delivered by Anne.”

 


Rob Lewis – Business Analyst

“Martin has been a great help in the process of securing a new job in the Cayman Islands. He has been constantly available and open to my many questions throughout, without complaint, and has dealt with everything in an open, honest and professional manner. I would recommend him to anyone and be happy to work with him again in the future.”

 


Arif Kamal – CFO

“When I decided to make a career move from the Property Sector (where I had been a Group FD for over 10 years), into the Legal Sector a number of people in my network of professional services firms immediately recommended Anne Harnetty of Jonson Beaumont. I found the whole process of Jonson Beaumont’s philosophy extremely professional , balancing my needs and competencies with that of the recruiting firm and the main emphasis being on the ‘right fit’ for both. Anne’s approach is relaxed, with no ambiguity and prime importance is given to relationship building. I was successful in securing a CFO position with a niche international law firm and I attribute this almost entirely to Anne’s honest guidance at every stage and counsel throughout. Anne is rightly regarded as the best in her field for both, employers and candidates and her knowledge of the legal sector is unrivalled.”

 


Michelle McGuinness – Financial Systems

“Martin recently helped me to secure a new role overseas. During that process, he took the time to understand the business requirements and the finer details of the role to ensure that the match would work for both me and the firm. Martin has been in regular contact throughout, offering advice and feedback. In my opinion, he is an excellent example of how recruiters should work and I hope to work with him again in the future.”

 


Derek Brookes, Chief Operating Officer

“Jonson Beaumont were pivotal in my gaining my role. I was looking for a new position with more responsibility and to use a wider range of skills. Anne Harnetty initially met with me to discuss the role and vet me for the client. Anne had a detailed understanding of the client’s requirements and interviewed me with a view of trying to find the best person and skills to fit. As I went through the process, Anne kept in constant touch and offered advice and assistance at each stage. With Anne’s help and feedback, I was offered the role of Chief Operating Officer. I would strongly recommend Anne and Jonson Beaumont.”

 


Mark Jones Finance, IT & Facilities Director

“At last, a recruitment consultant who fully understands the legal profession! Anne Harnetty has a unique ability to keep pace within an industry that is constantly changing and evolving; her understanding of the legal market and individual attention to candidates is second to none. Unlike many consultancies, Jonson Beaumont act as a true business partner for candidates and employers alike and deserve recognition as one of the market leaders in legal recruitment.”

 


Mark Day – COO

“Working with Jonson Beaumont was simplicity itself. Anne Harnetty cut straight to the chase. I liked Anne’s no nonsense communication style. Their service was fast and effective and there was absolute honesty about the suitability of candidates for our Head of Finance role. I only wish they recruited lawyers!

 


Roland Millar FD

“As a candidate, I was very impressed with Anne’s thoroughness and thoughtfulness. She was as concerned to make sure that the role was right for me as she was to fulfil her client’s brief, and I appreciated her frankness as much as I did her evident knowledge of the legal sector. Anne was instrumental in ensuring that I was well prepared for each stage of the recruitment process and was very quick to pass on feedback and update me on progress, making the whole process far less stressful than usual.”

 


William Trower QC

“Anne took immense trouble to understand the way in which our set of chambers functions and the aspirations we have for its future development. She guided us through the unfamiliar process of recruiting a new chief executive with great skill and gained the immediate trust and respect of all involved.”

 


Andy Smeaton – Head of IT Security

“Martin is one of the best executive recruiters that I have worked with. His direct approach, attention to detail, timely and in-depth background information and astute analysis help ensure a good fit between the candidate and the hiring organization both from a skill set as well as cultural perspective. I have no reservations in recommending his very professional and prompt services.”

 

Sanjay Bathija – Chief Operating Officer

I have known Anne for over 20 years and our paths have crossed several times in that period. Most recently, Anne worked with me to find my current COO role which is an absolute perfect match for me by way of challenge, culture and ambition. Anne’s approach is professional and personal. Anne totally gets what excellent service delivery looks like and is appreciative and understanding of both the candidate’s and the client’s respective positions. Anne is very well connected, honest and caring – nothing is forced.

Anne has a unique way of making you feel like you are her most-important client and I’d have no hesitation in recommending her to others  – and I would definitely turn to her again should the need arise. No point in comparing with other recruiters as no one really comes close.

Duncan Edwards – COO

‘I found that the best thing about working with Anne is that you were ‘working with Anne’.

‘Naturally Anne, like many senior level recruiters, was professional, well informed and personable.  What set her apart was her genuine interest in me as a candidate (ensuring that the firm concerned was as much a ‘fit for me’ as I was for them) and her insight into the individuals that I would be meeting – at no point in the process did I feel like I was merely a potential commission for a recruiter solely interested in their immediate relationship with the employer.  Finally, everything that Anne said would happen, did happen – not something I could say about the other recruiters that I was dealing with – reinforcing my view that we were going through the recruitment process together.’

David Burndred -Finance Director

‘Anne provided me with first rate service as a candidate. From our first meeting she clearly understood my career aspirations and was able to highlight the role most likely to achieve these. Throughout the selection process she kept me fully appraised of progress and I really appreciated her guidance, clear briefing, insights on the business and what to expect at each stage. When an offer was made Anne supported me to effect a swift acceptance and conclusion resulting in a contented candidate. With that positive experience I would have no hesitation in recommending Anne for senior appointments from a candidate or employer perspective’.

 

John Raimbach – Director of Finance

“I like working with Anne. She has a through understanding of the professional services market in general, and legal in particular, and that’s important in matching candidates to positions. Further she has a wide network and is well acquainted with an array of senior management and their broader advisers across the City, so is well up to date with current topics and trends. She makes recruitment easy.”

Paul Breakwell -Chief Operating Officer

“I have known and used Anne for a number of years and more recently have got to know and use Martin. Their understanding of the Director level recruitment market in Professional Services and their commitment to high quality service from both the client and candidate perspective is exemplary. Some recruitment professionals specialise only in one discipline. However, Anne and Martin provide a unique combination across Finance, Marketing, HR and more broadly Operational roles. Their depth of knowledge and insight into the real business and their ability to challenge and innovate is outstanding. All in all, they provide huge value to the client and the candidate. I look forward to continuing our relationship and in recommending them to others.”

 

Jean Young -HR Manager

‘I have worked with Anne for more years than I care to remember! The quality of service she offers is second to none – professional, efficient and timely. She knows her clients and candidates and has the experience and instinct to marry the two.”

Mark Dembovsky – Chief Executive, Law Firm

“Anne’s deep industry knowledge combined with her unique people skills put her in a league of her own. She is a breath of fresh air in a crowded market space.”

Sejal Shah – Head of Marketing

“Anne is a different kind of recruitment consultant. The kind I wish I had met much earlier on in my career! She put me completely at ease during our first meeting and really took the time to find out what made me tick not only as a professional, but also as a person. She posesses a unique ability of matching personalities as well as skills and this to me is one of the many things that make her such a stand out consultant. I cannot recommend Anne highly enough to both candidates and recruiters.”

Jonathan Freedman- Chief Executive

“Anne Harnetty has been my preferred recruiter for a dozen years. She combines great service with a professional and commercial approach, she knows my business and is that rare commodity, a totally trustworthy recruitment agent. She even manages to make the process fun”

Nigel Trevelyan- Head of Accounts

“Anne at Jonson Beaumont is much more than just a recruitment consultant. She has a thorough understanding of the legal sector and has been excellent in advising on opportunities in the market that are most appropriate to my career path”

Ian Shaw- Business Manager

“Anne Harnetty is the best recruitment consultant that I have worked with in over 20 years. She has a thoughtful and personal approach, which I find rare in the search and selection business, and a real strength in matching personalities to organisational cultures. Anne moves assignments rapidly to a conclusion, with an honest, no-nonsense style.”

William Wright- Finance Director

“I would, without hesitation, recommend the Jonson Beaumont to both candidates and clients. They actively managed the process on my behalf: professionally presenting my CV to the client and preparing me for interview. Anne Harnetty understands the role of creating a recruitment market place and has the integrity and the credibility to act as an honest broker between the parties. I look forward to working with them again, either as a candidate or as a client”.

Andrew Webb- Finance Director

“As a candidate, I found Anne to be one of the best agents I had ever dealt with. She kept me informed at every point, and moved the process on rapidly. The whole thing from initial meeting, CV review, through three interviews was done and dusted in three weeks, with a contract waiting on the mat within 24 hours of the final meeting. Anne fully briefed me on every aspect of forthcoming interviews and presentations I had to make to my future employers. There was never a feeling of turning up blind, I felt relaxed and able to deal with whatever was thrown at me, and a great deal of this feeling has to do with Anne being totally thorough in researching every aspect of the job for me.”

Finbar White – Data Centre Manager

“I worked with Martin while applying for a post he was advertising during January ’09 and March ’09. He is, without doubt, the most professional and thorough recruitment consultant I have ever worked with. At all times he was attentive and considerate, never making me feel that I was part of the numbers game that so many recruitment consultants play. I only wish I could tick all the attribute boxes above.”

Jonathan Evans – Finance Director

“I have known Anne Harnetty for over 15 years as both a candidate and as a recruiter. So many consultants merely act as a post box between those looking for positions and organisations looking to recruit. Anne is certainly different and genuinely takes the time to find about the needs and requirements of both parties. Anne is also very frank and professional with any feedback, and you can tell that she is interested in long term relationships with both her clients and those she places. I would have no hesitation in recommending Anne to candidates or recruiters.”

Caroline Roberjot- Partner

“We cannot recommend Anne Harnetty highly enough! From the moment that we met Anne in order to discuss our needs for the business she showed incredible insight both into our work and the personalities of the partners and staff. Anne is an extremely good listener and communicator and we felt that within a very short space of time she had determined exactly what we required in a candidate. Anne followed up our meeting almost immediately with three excellent candidates that she presented to us, each of whom would have been perfect for our team and it was clear that she had understood us and the assistance we needed, and also knew her proposed candidates very well. This meant that no time was wasted in seeing unsuitable candidates, and we felt comfortable that Anne had carried out her vetting process meticulously. Anne was happy to guide us in the entire process and we now have an exemplary accounts manager who has happily fitted into the structure of the business and made a huge difference to us. Anne manages to combine utter professionalism with a warm and friendly personality and a brilliant sense of humor. We very much enjoyed working with Anne and would not hesitate to do so again. Anne actually made the entire recruitment process a pleasurable one!”