Meet our team

Charles Peck
Co-Founder & MD

At a glance

Charles is driven by two things: delivering a positive outcome for his clients and helping to make a positive difference to peoples’ lives. His tenacity and curiosity combined with a natural ability to spot opportunities, enable him to discover talented individuals who are typically hard to access in the market.

Key responsibilities

Charles leads the Investment Professionals practice at March Consultants. Highly organised, with a close attention to detail, he is also responsible for ensuring the smooth running of the firm. Charles combines his experience in executive search with his enviable book of senior industry contacts to introduce exceptional leaders who are unquestionably the right fit.

Specialist areas of expertise

Leadership across –

• Investment Directors
• Operating Partners
• Investor Relations
• CFO
• COO

Previous experience

Charles began his career in high-end fine art and antiques with a respected London dealer before moving into executive search. He then spent 11 years with Taybridge Associates where he set up and led the research function and was also co-lead on all global business development activities. Charles co-founded March Consultants in 2017.

Qualifications

BA in Fine Art Valuation

Three favourite things

Loves live sport, holidays with his family and eating out at restaurants.

Mark Maynard
Co-Founder & MD

At a glance

Mark takes a consultative and advisory approach to all his executive search processes. His astute understanding of the market, together with his resolute tenacity and his exceptional networking skills, enable him to discover talented leaders who are the perfect cultural fit. He is driven by helping clients accelerate their business performance.

Key responsibilities

Mark leads the Operational Leaders practice, where he combines his skill in building long-standing partnerships with his approachable and open nature to deliver a high-level client relationship management. Mark draws on his 20 years’ experience in executive search to provide all his clients with sound advice coupled with astute business thinking.

Specialist areas of expertise

Operational Leaders across –

• Finance
• Operations
• HR
• Data
• Legal
• Compliance
• Tax
• Technology

Previous experience

Before setting up March Consultants in 2017, Mark spent 10 years with the boutique search firm, Taybridge Associates, where he focused on placing senior corporate function specialists into investment banks. After building and running the European desk, he then moved to Hong Kong where he opened their Asia office. Prior to this, he gained valuable experience working for two London-based global recruitment firms.

Qualifications

BA Hons in Business Studies, Portsmouth University

Three favourite things

Loves the outdoors, listening to music and going on mini adventures with his family.

Alex Ford
Managing Director

At a glance

A natural collaborator and team player, Alex relishes the intellectual demands of challenging, hard-to-fill search mandates. With her innate ability to think creatively and her meticulous approach to candidate research, Alex provides both clients and candidates alike with an exceptional level of service.

Key responsibilities

Alex is responsible for creating detailed search strategies which will successfully identify hard-to-access talent. She supports our Partners and Consultants by applying these strategies to building initial long lists of candidates who display all the required skills and expertise. She then approaches these candidates, undertakes rigorous assessments and creates short lists of outstanding individuals – each of whom who she knows will be an ideal fit.

Specialist areas of expertise

• Finance
• Operations
• HR
• Data
• Compliance
• Technology

Previous experience

With experience spanning 24 years, Alex has spent her whole career in executive search. In that time, she has been a junior partner for a global search firm and has set up and run another firm’s New York office. She has also helped to establish a successful boutique search firm, where she was responsible for launching and promoting its market insight product.

Qualifications

BA Hons History, Royal Holloway, University of London

Three favourite things

Loves horse riding, running and Pilates.

Jen Simkins
Managing Director

At a glance

Jen is a highly experienced HR professional with a particular focus on talent management. She brings a wealth of knowledge in the specialist areas of leadership development and performance management. With her positive attitude and supportive nature, Jen’s approach is to build lasting collaborative partnerships with our clients.

Key responsibilities

As Head of our Advisory division, Jen gives expert guidance on a range of C-suite issues, from future proofing people strategies to benchmarking functions, accelerating performance and developing leaders. She also runs our ‘Leaders in Investing’ initiative, curating the latest market insights for our clients as well as organising invaluable Roundtable discussions.

Specialist areas of expertise

• Talent management
• Team development
• Performance management
• Leadership development

Previous experience

Jen joined March Consultants in 2019, after spending 10 years as HR Business Partner at investment firm, Triton. Prior to this, she worked in HR at Constellation Energy and in a client services role for JP Morgan. She has an international focus, having worked with teams from the USA, China, Germany, Scandinavia and Spain.

Qualifications

BA Business Management, Exeter University
MA Personnel and Development, Westminster University
Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development
Certified A and B Assessor for Psychometric Assessments
Trained in Hogan and SHL assessments
Certificate in Coaching, Henley Business School

Three favourite things

Fan of music and dancing; enjoys sunrises and sunsets; loves indulging in water therapy.

Alison Ashton

Head of Project Management

At a glance

Alison has 29 years’ experience as a PA – both within HR departments and for Executive Search firms. Calm, reliable and with a thorough eye for detail, Alison ensures the day-to-day running of March Consultants is as smooth as clockwork. Her strengths lie in her natural ability to communicate clearly and her strong desire to be a diligent team player.

Key responsibilities

As the firm’s Network and Project Manager, Alison is in charge of candidate management and looking after internal projects. Among her other responsibilities are CV and document presentation and database management.

Previous experience

Alison left her home in rural Australia in 1998 and moved to London where she met her husband and settled into UK life having two, now teenage, children. Her PA career spans working in HR for Australian Paper as well as for a number of executive search firms in the UK. She has worked for March Consultants since 2018.

Three favourite things

Listening to a wide range of music, cooking up a storm and watching cheesy sitcoms with her family.

Nicola Morgan
Executive Advisor

At a glance

Nicola is an external Executive Advisor to March Consultants. As a confidential, behind the scenes accountability and thinking partner she brings wisdom, solutions, and enablement to those looking to accelerate and sustain value creation for themselves or for their organisation.  She is a critical thinker with high EQ and is passionate about asking the questions others are afraid to ask, providing candid feedback and recommendations that magnify outcomes and helping leaders to find their own path to develop brave, impactful strategies.

Key responsibilities

Vision and strategy, strategic advice, leadership coaching and thought leadership.

Previous experience

An experienced and trusted HR leader with over 24 years working internally and externally in the Financial Services industry as a Managing Director and as a confidential coach and advisor to C-Suite individuals. Previously Head of HR for EMEA and Head of HR for Corporate Centre at UBS A.G. she has had the opportunity to live in New York and Zurich and work all over the world. Nicola is an ICF Executive Coach and those who work with her appreciate her wisdom and challenge

Three favourite things

Creating art, giving back through volunteering and live music.

Poppy Shadbolt
EA to the joint MDs 

At a glance

Poppy joined March Consultants in 2022 providing Executive support to the two founders. Previously she has worked for C-Suite Executives and Non-Executive Directors across a range of industries including Executive Search firms.

Key responsibilities

Pro-active, calm and reliable, Poppy assists Mark and Charlie with all their administrative tasks alongside managing all client and candidate appointments. Her strengths lie in her ability to thrive under pressure whilst maintaining a calm and positive attitude and a flexible approach to work.

Previous experience

Poppy worked as an EA in London for several years before meeting her husband and moving to Gloucestershire in 2016 and now has two young children. Her EA career has covered working for Executive Search firms, CEOs/ HR Directors and Board directors.

Three favourite things

Morning runs with her energetic spaniel, wild swimming and relaxing in front a film once the children are finally in bed.

Ruby Butler-Bowdon
Head of Marketing 

At a glance

Ruby joined March Consultants in 2023 and creates digital content and marketing strategy

Key responsibilities

Creating digital content and marketing strategy.

Previous experience

Ruby has worked in the art and design world providing marketing and social media consultancy to brands, artists and collectives and now works in tech creating digital content and design.

Three favourite things

Swimming in the sea, going to art exhibitions, reading and spending time with her family.