We're excited to welcome our first Principal at the start of 2026, as we gear up for a big year ahead! Daria Koren joins Praeva to support the growth of our consumer practice and to help shape Praeva's wider strategic direction in the UK and Europe.
A specialist in the consumer sector, Daria's career has seen her focus on supporting high-growth, privately owned and founder-led businesses, with particular emphasis on growth-stage and direct-to-consumer brands. She's worked across the consumer ecosystem, developing a strong track record partnering with challenger brands and disruptive businesses.
"I'm really excited to be joining Praeva Partners at such an early stage and to have the opportunity to help shape the direction of the firm in its formative years," said Daria. "Praeva is building something genuinely different, with a clear focus on client experience and long-term partnership, rather than transactional hiring.
"I've always wanted to work in a start-up environment and to help create a modern search offering that does things in a new way. I'm also particularly keen to develop our work across Europe; I speak five European languages fluently and have built a strong network across mainland Europe, which I'm excited to build on as part of Praeva's growth," she added.
Praeva Partners launched in November 2025 by Mark Sherman with backing from recruitment specialist investor, Jigsaw Equity, in November 2025.
Mark added: "Daria is an outstanding fit for Praeva. She brings deep sector experience, real energy, and a strong commitment to quality: exactly the mindset we want as we build the business. As we head into our first full year of trading, getting the right people around the table is absolutely critical.
"This is a challenging but exciting time for independent businesses across the UK and Europe. Many are navigating economic and political uncertainty while still pushing for growth. Strong leadership - at board and executive level - is more important than ever, and Daria's appointment strengthens our ability to support clients through that journey."
As Praeva continues to grow, we're keen to speak with experienced executive search professionals who are excited by the opportunity to help build a new platform. With a strong emphasis on career development, we offer the chance to build and lead practice areas within a collaborative, profit-sharing model.
Visit praevapartners.com for more information.
