Vickers, a former regional managing director for North America with international recruiter PageGroup, will take up his new role on 23 September.

Caswell, who has been Search’s CEO since the turn of the century, successfully completed a management buy-out of the business while securing new investment from H2 Equity Partners in May 2017. He has presided over the group during a period in which it has delivered more than £200m turnover with 800 staff across 16 offices nationwide.

In a statement to staff yesterday, Caswell, who was also previously UK MD at recruitment giant Kelly Services, said his departure was part of a long-term retirement plan. He added that after a short hand-over period he would continue to remain involved with the business as a shareholder and non-executive board member.

Commenting on his departure, Caswell told Recruiter that he loved Search, adding it had been an honour to work alongside so many talented people and watch the business grow.

“When I reflect on everything we’ve achieved since 2000, I’m really proud not just of the financial growth, but the culture and the values that run through Search. The establishment of the business’s vision and values, and the subsequent culture and identity, demonstrated by our employees across our 17 locations, gives me a great sense of pride. Despite our growth we’ve maintained our focus on being a good, happy place to work, and that’s been so important to me too.”

Turning to his successor, Caswell said it was important the firm found someone that aligned to those values and the culture we have built.

“I truly believe we have that in Richard, and that was a message I was keen to share when we announced my retirement to staff yesterday.

“Richard is a great guy and has the passion, the experience and energy to really make a difference and lead Search in its next phase of growth. He will be relocating with his family from New York to Yorkshire during the summer, and he is relishing the opportunity to get involved and carry on our great work and establishing himself among the Search family.

“When I joined Search, it was a purely Scotland-based company, employing around 150 people across three offices in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dunfermline. I had a vision for growing the business and that led to us launching offices in a range of locations including Manchester, Leicester, Crawley, Leeds, Liverpool, Dundee, Aberdeen, Inverness, Brighton and London, within six key verticals. Most recently with the backing of H2 Equity Partners, we have followed our acquisition strategy, adding Henderson Scott to the Search Group. 

“While the world has moved on and technology has infiltrated nearly everything we do, one thing remains true in recruitment, and that is a people-led industry. People buy from people. It is about relationships and that will never change.”

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