Directorbank Press Activity
An expert hand behind the scenes
Financial Times - 30th September 2008
An outstanding chairman is someone who is never afraid to ask what might appear to be a silly question. He - and it is usually a "he" - is quite happy to enjoy his executives being triumphant without ever being in the limelight himself. He is a co-ordinator and a facilitator, but never the fount of all knowledge.
UK boardrooms cannot remove ineffective chairmen
Press release - 30th September 2008
New research highlights that 60 per cent of the UK’s boardrooms have no structures in place to remove an ineffective chairman. The Directorbank Group, the UK’s market leader for boardroom appointments, spoke to 430 directors who sit on more than 900 boards. Almost eight out of ten of these revealed they had worked with an ineffective chairman and that most companies did not know how to fire them.
Please click here to listen to a podcast by the Directorbank Group's Chief Executive, Elizabeth Jackson.
Top Directors Offer Struggling Companies Short Sharp Shock
Press release - Monday 22nd September 2008
The number of struggling firms calling in skilled top directors to deliver fast, targeted results has risen dramatically since the credit crunch hit.
Hat-trick for Directorbank Group
Press release - September 2008
In the face of prevailing market trends, the Directorbank Group, the UK’s leader for boardroom appointments, announces three key appointments: Daniela Romano as International Account Director; Angus Hartley as Account Manager; and Nicola Hall as Group Marketing Manager. The news follows the group’s recent announcement of record results, despite tough economic conditions across the recruitment sector.
Directorbank reports record results in tenth anniversary
Yorkshire Post - August 2008
Leeds and London-based Directorbank, the UK’s market leader for boardroom appointments, is bucking the trend in the recruitment market with record results. Despite the tough economic climate in this sector, turnover is up 40 per cent and operating profits have increased 23 per cent in the last year.
Most bosses survive buy-outs
Financial Times - May 2008
A quarter of chief executives are bought by private equity, suggesting management often survives a buy-out even though only 59 per cent meet expectations, a survey shows today.
Directorbank acquires Hanson Green
May 2008
Directorbank, the UK’s leader in boardroom appointments for private equity backed businesses has acquired Hanson Green, the prestigious non-executive search firm, for an undisclosed sum.
Private equity is a career route that should be taken seriously - but it needs a sharp CV
April 2008
What skills and experience do private equity firms look for in an FD appointment and who is likely to make the grade? The good news is that there are plenty of new opportunities being created every day. Almost without fail, when a private equity firm invests in a business for the first time, they will need to hire a different kind of finance director.
Leisure specialists with an Inn-side view of the sector
Financial Times - March 2008
Industry advisers find buying into a pub changes their outlook, writes Glynn Davis
Jonathan Hick, co-founder and leisure industry specialist at recruitment company Directorbank, became a co-owner at the Spencer Arms in Cawthorne, South Yorkshire, in 2004. He agrees that being close to the coalface has benefits for the day job.
Short term benefits
February 2008
It might sound like a dream job, but interim management is not all long holidays, good pay and the freedom of being your own boss.
Senior executives 'need to readdress CVs'
December 2007
Senior professionals may be underselling their qualities on their CV, it has emerged. According to Directorbank, as many as 20 per cent of senior executives are not selling their skills appropriately on their CVs while four out of five would be unlikely to secure an interview for a top position in a company, Online Recruitment magazine reports.
Directorbank adds private equity investment to its board recruitment
October 2007
Directorbank, the board recruitment company, is to take a stake in growth companies in lieu of part of its search fee.
Yorkshire women are "outstanding"
September 2007
Yorkshire author Joanne Harris and two of Leeds’ leading businesswomen have been invited to join what is described as the most significant gathering of women in the world. Ms Harris, together with Elizabeth Jackson and Deborah Green, have been nominated to join the prestigious Women of the Year Lunch at London’s Savoy Hotel on October 15.
Record results for Directorbank
September 2007
Leeds and London-based executive and non-executive recruitment business Directorbank has achieved record results since its £4.3m management buy-out last year...
Directorbank expects market to carry on growing
September 2007
DIRECTORBANK, the Yorkshire-based executive and non-executive recruitment business, believes it has scope for further growth with bank credit expected to tighten.
Innovative conference will help Scottish directors find non-executive positions
August 2007
Directorbank and the University of Edinburgh Management School are holding a one day conference to help Scottish directors hone their skills for non executive positions.
Innovative partnership plan second director event
August 2007
Directorbank and Bradford University School of Management is to run a second one day conference in September for successful directors looking for non-executive positions.
Power really has been transferred to the people
July 2007
Much has been said of late about private equity’s attempts to acquire household names. Chemist chain Alliance Boots is to be bought by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, while the latest assault on the FTSE 100 index sees Terra Firma ready to snap up music publisher EMI.
Directorbank 100 call on Private Equity fight back
May 2007
Private equity companies need to challenge the public’s perception of them as asset strippers and job destroyers.
Ball sings praises of private equity firms
May 2007
Wholesalers' leader Francis Ball has emerged as a champion of the private equity firms currently eyeing up vast chunks of the UK food and drink industry.
Directorbank appoints new man to key financial role
April 2007
Leeds based boardroom recruitment organisation Directorbank has strengthened its specialist finance director division with the appointment of George Heppenstall as account director.
Charities should make use of business leaders
March 2007
The focus on effective leadership in your February edition highlights the importance of bringing best managerial practice to the voluntary sector.
A breath of fresh air for Directorbank
February 2007
Leading a management buy out (MBO) is an exciting process but if the details of the transaction change in any way during the negotiation stage it can be a challenging time for everyone involved. Good support for the buy out team is essential.
Heavyweight appointment on back of further growth for Directorbank
February 2007
Directorbank, the UK’s fastest growing recruiter of non-executive and executive directors for Plcs and private equity-backed businesses, has appointed Ian Menzies as a director to head up its London office and build the executive search side of the company.
Innovative partnership to run director events
December 2006
Directorbank has agreed a joint venture with Bradford University School of Management to run events for the UK’s top directors.
Yorkshire and Lincolnshire CIPR PRide Awards
1 November 2006
The CIPR PRide Awards showcase the very best work and talent in the communications arena outside of London and the win was in recognition of the campaign for Leeds and London-based Directorbank on helping corporates find non–executive directors.
New Chairman appointed after Directorbank buyout
28 September 2006
A new chairman has been appointed to Directorbank, the UK’s leading provider of directors to private equity backed companies, following the recent £4.3m buyout.
Directorbank completes secondary buyout
17 July 2006
Directorbank, the UK’s leading provider of directors to private equity backed buyouts, has completed a £4.3 million secondary buyout of its own, backed by Nova Capital Management.
The new breed of non-exec takes off
Sunday Times January 2006
Working part-time on the boards of other companies is seen as essential experience in making it to the top, reports Roger Eglin.
Managing buy-outs
British Baker January 2006
Forget looking for a new job in the New Year, it may be easier to buy the company you already work for, says a guide to MBOs.
A management buyout could be the real deal
The Daily Telegraph January 2006
The UK management buyout market has surged by 27pc in value to a record £25billion over the past 12 months and conditions are set for another year of strong investment activity, according to research by KPMG, the professional services firm.
Letters to the editor
Financial Times October 2005
Dear Sir "I was startled to see that FTSE 350 companies are expected to look overseas for non-executive directors ‘because of the lack of available talent in the UK’ (‘Search for non-execs leads companies abroad’, October 3)."
How to land a lion
Real Business October 2005
Think you are too small to attract a dream non-exec? Think again, says Jonathan Hick
Gettting the right board structure
European Venture Capital Journal September 2005
Leeds and London-based Directorbank has achieved its strongest year of growth since it was set up eight years ago, particularly tapping the growing market in appointments of independent, high achieving non-executive directors.
Directorbank appoints Finance Director specialist recruiter
Directorbank Press Release September 2005
London and Leeds-based Directorbank has appointed John Pearce, a well known and senior figure in the finance director recruitment market.
Directorbank taps into growing Non-Executive market
Directorbank Press Release September 2005
Leeds and London-based Directorbank has achieved its strongest year of growth since it was set up eight years ago, particularly tapping the growing market in appointments of independent, high achieving non-executive directors.
Gettting the right board structure
In Business Autumn 2005
Tiny Rowlands famously described non-executive directors as ‘Christmas decorations – pretty but useless’.
Finding an MD
The Acquirer Spring 2005
Finding the right managing director or chief executive for a private equity deal isn’t like any ordinary recruiting task. Lack of time and the likely need for specialist sector knowledge increase the challenge.
Directorbank appointments to strengthen PLC team
Yorkshire Post April 2005
Directorbank – the rapidly expanding niche recruitment business for main board directors – has appointed Samantha Piddington to head up a new operation in the north west and Maggie Lee, former director of Pearsons and current non-executive director of NHS Professionals, to concentrate on the PLC market in its London office.
Headhunter urges governance shake-up
Financial Times January 2005
Institutions are becoming so obsessed with corporate governance issues that they are threatening the future of smaller companies.
There's no let up in the Directorbank success story
Yorkshire Post August 2004
Directorbank has achieved its most spectacular year of growth since it was set up seven years ago.
Who's the boss
EN October 2003
Directorbank has achieved its most spectacular year of growth since it was set up seven years ago.
The old-boys’ club makes room for female intuition
Retail Week July 2003
In a business world dominated by men, female retail executives are big news at the moment. However, given that women have a better intuitive grasp of retail, there is still a lack of diversity on most retail boards. Liz Morrell asks why this is happening.
Mister Chairmen!
Real Deals June 2003
Private Equity investors are demanding more from their chairmen. But how do they find the non-execs who can give them the competitive edge?
Board members wanted - old boys need not apply..
The Daily Telegraph April 2003
WOULD you like to be a director of a FTSE company? It sounds good, doesn't it? A meeting maybe once a month and a nice lunch afterwards. Think you could do it? Well, you might be in with a chance. But beware: there is more to the job than meets the eye - including the risk of litigation if things go wrong.
Turn back the tide of white male accountants
Financial Times March 2003
When Prue Leith, multiple non-executive director, writer and former restaurateur, joined the board of a building society in the early 80's, the chairman introduced her to shareholders thus: "You can see she's very good-looking and I can promise you she won't burn her bra."
Plenty of directors in the bank
The Times January 2003
Jonathan Hick's relationship with his bank started when he was 13. Barclay's lent him £200 to fund his own mobile disco and soon he was providing the music at bank events. Three years later Hick was at it again, importing huge foam "hands" for football matches.
Dad's Army in the boardroom
Insurance Day January 2003
IT seems that while most organisations follow best practice with executive board members, they are only too willing to cut corners with their non-executives.
Sarah Grünewald Joins Directorbank
Press Release August 2002
Sarah Grünewald, one of Yorkshire's foremost businesswomen and the driving force behind a number of major corporate deals with UK-wide implications, is to join Leeds-based executive search company Directorbank.
MBI Survey 2001 (PDF 318kb)
A survey of 70 successful MBI candidates on the process of securing a deal and the future once the deal is completed.
New Signings For Directorbank
Yorkshire Post January 2002
Directorbank, the Leeds-based online recruitment firm which provides senior executives for management buy-ins, has signed up six new venture capital firms. These include Advent International, Electra Partners and Duke Street Capital, bringing the total number of firms which subscribe to the service to 30.
Online Recruitment Firm
The Scotsman November 2001
Online recruitment firm, Directorbank, which provides executive and non-executive directors to the venture capital industry.........
Capital Base For Recruitment Firm
Yorkshire Post November 2001
Directorbank, the Leeds online recruitment firm which provides senior executives for management buy-ins, is to open a London office on Monday.
Simon went clubbing for seven months
Real Deals July/August 2001
After more than a decade of working for leisure industry giants, including Granada, Lee Simon decided it was time to run his own nightclub business. In the middle of last year he walked through the doors at Directorbank, which matches industry experts with businesses they could run. He walked out the next day with a deal to lead the management buy-in team. And in March, after seven months of negotiations and due diligence, Graphite Capital backed a £15m deal in which Simon took control at C-side, a Brighton chain of nightclubs, bars and restaurants.
Old boy network goes by the board
Yorkshire Post July 2001
Non-executive directors have come of age. Jonathan Hick explains how increasing numbers of unquoted companies are discovering the benefits of what has been described as the cheapest form of consultancy.
Wise old heads essential guide to the new economy
Yorkshire Post April 2001
The venture capital community's tougher attitude to dotcom start-ups has transformed the market for potential non-executive directors, who have a huge opportunity in the next few years to help to shape the new economy.
Who wants to be a millionaire?
Real Finance March 2001
You'll need special qualities to cash in as FD at a venture-backed company.
Top Talent in the Net
Financial Mail on Sunday March 2001
Executive hunt is on in cyberspace - a dotcom is using the web as a unique business 'dating agency'.
Directorbank banks on a new Director
Press Release December 2000
Headhunter Ross Monro has been appointed a non-executive director of Directorbank, the Leeds-based online recruitment firm which provides executive and non-executive directors to the venture capital industry for MBIs and start-ups.
Click, Click Directorbank does the trick
Yorkshire Post October 2000
The Internet has revolutionised the market for job seekers and employers. People wanting to change positions, or change careers, are just a click away from thousands of job advertisements, while employers can access a huge database of job hunters.
Wanted: FD with a sense of venture
Financial Director September 2000
Finance directors now have a better chance of becoming a millionaire through work than entering a game show as unparalleled demand for their services soars.
Taking it to the top on the web
Sunday Business July 2000
Corporate hotshots who have spent years climbing the promotional ladder are being encouraged to look at job sites on the internet for their next big money move. Opportunities for senior executives earning top level salaries, however, have been very scarce on the Web - at least until recently.
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