A new specialist investment backed executive search firm, Praeva Partners, has launched in the UK. Spearheaded by former Drax chief executive Mark Sherman, Praeva Partners aims to work alongside rapid-growth privately owned businesses in the UK and Europe to strengthen their senior leadership teams.
Praeva Partners has secured the backing of specialist recruitment investors Jigsaw Equity and launches in the UK with an ambition to work alongside the leading privately-owned businesses across numerous sectors.
Mark Sherman, chief executive of Praeva Partners, said: "Praeva Partners takes a new approach to executive search, aiming to become the search partner of choice for ambitious businesses in the UK and Europe. I've got huge aspirations for this company. Praeva will shake off the weights that so often accompany executive search firms and tackle our brief with vigour and passion.
"We want to bring the best consultants and partners on board so that we can deliver the highest quality of work and we'll reward our teams with a fresh incentive model to connect the impact we have for our customers and candidates to our colleagues. Their expertise will be augmented by technology - as a tech-first search firm we are focused on using AI and other systems to streamline the candidate and client experience and to enable our people to spend time where they have the most impact. We will focus unrelentingly on delivering excellence," he added.
Mark led the Drax Executive team in the UK for the last two years and prior to that headed up its consumer and leisure sectors, supporting their growth through to a successful minority investment by private equity. He added: "Executive search plays an incredibly important role in supporting the success of businesses in the UK and Europe. Market conditions are tough - the economy is challenging and competition is fierce, so it's never been more important to have the right leadership team in place.
"Praeva Partners will strive to deliver on this mandate, acting as a consultative partner to clients and candidates alike, better understanding how the entire leadership structure works in harmony to drive growth."
Graham Goodwin, co-founder of Jigsaw Equity, added: "Mark has built an incredible business proposition in Praeva. His experience and connections make him a formidable force in executive search and I've every confidence in his high ambitions for Praeva Partners. Jigsaw Equity is delighted to be working alongside Mark to develop Praeva and make it into the success we all know it can be."
A specialist recruitment investment company, Jigsaw Equity works alongside launching and growing recruitment firms to offer investment and advice. Operated by Graham Goodwin - who founded executive search firm Gatenby Sanderson in 2002, growing it to a £40m business before achieving an eight-figure exit in 2014 - and son Michael, an M&A advisor, the company seeks out driven recruitment ventures and helps them grow.
Graham Goodwin joins Praeva Partners as chairman, while Michael Goodwin takes on the role of financial director. Jigsaw Equity associate advisor, John Toppin, joins the new venture as chief operating officer.
Praeva Partners operates across the UK & Europe and is based out of London.
