Our People

  • Peter Gillingwater

    Peter Gillingwater – Managing Partner

    peter.gillingwater@nexec.com
    +44 (0)20 7038 38 35

    Peter’s career began in EDS as a technology consultant in his native New Zealand and with Citigroup when he came to London in 1987. He moved into Global Technology Executive Search in 1988 and has amassed experience within Europe, North America and Asia Pacific. He was also a Director and Board Member of the AIM listed Corporate Executive Search Group that was instrumental in building the start-up management teams for many leading companies in their European growth plans.

    Since 1999 he has worked extensively with the international VC & Private Equity community in locating key executives for portfolio companies from early build phase and beyond. His network within the TMT sectors is a significant factor in the successful delivery of key assignments and ongoing development of the business. He is also a co-founder of the CEO development initiative the European Leadership Programme.

    He is married with three children and with what little time he has available is committed to improving his unpredictable golf swing and creating culinary delights in the kitchen.

  • Philip Randerson

    Philip Randerson – Partner

    philip.randerson@nexec.com
    +44 (0)20 70 38 38 33

    Philip is a Partner in Nexec Partners with over 10 years experience in TMT executive level searches. He has built a reputation as one of Europe’s leading search professionals, establishing an excellent network within the Executive and Investor communities. 

    His expertise lies in understanding how and what attracts the industries top performers and making sure each hire assists the companies’ growth ambitions.   He has been responsible for the key appointments that have established and grown a number of companies in the TMT sectors.  Prior to Nexec Partners he headed up a TMT executive search practice that built a number of high growth privately funded technology companies. 

    He is also a co-founder of the CEO development initiative the European Leadership Programme.

  • Ashley Ward

    Ashley Ward – Partner

    ashley.ward@nexec.com
    +44 (0)20 70 38 38 30

    Ashley Ward is a Partner in Nexec Partners and also programme head of the European Leadership Programme (ELP), a cutting edge training forum helping CEOs of venture capital and private equity backed businesses sharpen the range of skills required to meet shareholder expectation.

    As a serial CEO for 26 years Ashley led several businesses to sale or IPO including Wharfedale Loudspeakers, Anite Networks and Orchestream which became a FTSE 250 company with a capitalisation of almost £1b. Ashley is passionate about ensuring that search candidates are properly qualified for the role, have a cultural fit and personal chemistry with board colleagues. Using interpersonal skills and industry knowledge he gains a greater understanding of client needs and is able to communicate this clearly and positively to candidates.

    In addition to his role as a head hunter and leader of ELP he sits on the board of various VC backed businesses.   

  • Martin Falch

    Martin Falch – Partner

    martin.falch@nexec.com
    +44 (0)20 7038 38 37

    Martin's career encompasses both Executive Search and commercial roles within the converging ICE area. His early career was in recruiting senior executives into both VC backed enterprises and blue-chip companies such as IBM, Accenture and CA. He subsequently served as Country Manager UK & Ireland for 2 early-mid phase companies in the UK before returning to Executive Search.

    Through his combined experience in Industry and search Martin has an exceptional understanding of finding and attracting the right talent to grow a business. He has a detailed knowledge of high growth markets and has developed an extensive network of contacts.

    A Norwegian national, Martin serves as President of the Norwegian-British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC). His spare time is balanced between family life, socialising and his passion for extreme skiing/snowboarding.

  • Claire Edmonds

    Claire Edmonds

    claire.edmonds@nexec.com
    +44 (0)20 70 38 38 30

    Claire has been a head hunter since her very early career in sales. She was recruited into the executive search market and subsequently set up Alexander Mann’s Technology and Sales department and later ran the London and Watford branches. After a couple of years in search firm Morgan Chase she decided to set up her own company Ashley Coutts which became well known initially as an executive search practice then expanding into a change management consultancy. Here she partnered with Technology companies and effectively running HR and helping companies to evolve and breaking down obstacles to change.

    Claire recently spent an extended sabbatical travelling the world with her family and after such an adventure decided to continue the excitement by joining Nexec upon her return.

  • Damian Bird

    Damian Bird – Partner

    damian.bird@nexec.com
    +44 (0)20 70 38 38 40

    Damian joined Nexec Partners in August 2008.

    After gaining a BA in design from University of Hertfordshire, Damian’s early career started within the creative media space working for some of the world’s largest advertising agencies as account manager, BDM and creative project manager. He then completed an MA in Digital Practices, mainly focusing on emerging technologies and new media software development.

    Before joining Nexec Partners Damian worked as a managing consultant at a London based search firm covering several vertical technology sectors.

    He now has over 7 years Executive search experience, mainly within the Enterprise software, services, consulting and outsourcing arenas. He has focused on business critical/ leadership hires throughout Europe with a particularly strong network throughout the UK, Netherlands, France and Germany with exposure to Eastern Europe, US and Africa.

    As an avid diver, he hopes to spend most of his future holidays under water in warm locations.

  • Chris Reid

    Chris Reid, FCA – Finance Director

    chris.reid@nexec.com
    +44 (0)20 70 38 38 30

    Chris has been qualified as a practising Chartered Accountant for over twenty five years during which time he has built up an extensive knowledge of business.

    Chris has been involved in the development of Nexec Partners Ltd in the last couple of years and advises and looks after all aspects of the financial side of the business.

    Chris has built up several non-executive directorships in different business environments and has an office space in Woburn Sands, Bedfordshire near Milton Keynes.

    He is married and has a keen interest in playing jazz and watching football (sadly too old to play)

  • Oliver Peckham

    Oliver Peckham – Search Consultant

    oliver.peckham@nexec.com
    +44 (0)20 70 38 38 34

    Oliver is a Search Consultant for Nexec with over 5 years experience delivering exceptional results to clients. His passion for technology and ability to attract elite executives has proven critical to the most complex of campaigns. He has worked on senior appointments in Europe, North America, Asia Pac, Middle East and Africa.

    Oliver boasts a premier network of international executives and non-executives within the high growth technology area, sourcing senior executives for clients ranging from VC/PE backed companies to large corporates.

  • Terry Shaw

    Terry Shaw – Senior Researcher

    terry.shaw@nexec.com
    +44 (0)20 70 38 38 38

    Terry is a Senior Researcher for Nexec with 3 years experience delivering exceptional results to clients. His passion for technology and media, combined with an ability to attract elite executives has proven critical to the most complex of campaigns.

    Terry has drawn his experience from working on senior finance assignments for companies in the Retail and FMCG spaces and has developed these enabling him to reach the high standard in senior research that Nexec is proud to provide. His recruitment career was preceded with a post-university stint in the world of Financial Services.

    Terry’s extracurricular activities are deep-seated within the colourful worlds of fashion and music: occasionally spilling over into the office to the delight and amusement of Nexec.

  • Laura Squair

    Laura Squair – Office Manager

    laura.squair@nexec.com
    +44 (0)20 70 38 38 38

    Laura manages the back-office function at Nexec Partners and ensures the smooth running of the administration of the company.

    Laura's expertise was developed during her time in administration management roles in the financial sector as well as in New Zealand managing a hair salon. Since coming to London she has focused on recruitment and has gained a good degree of knowledge and understanding in the sector.

    Laura provides integral support to the Nexec team and like the rest of the team is highly action oriented.