Client Overview
A fast-growing, six-year-old interior furnishing business supplying show homes, residential developments, and furniture packs for rental properties has scaled rapidly to become a trusted partner across the real estate sector. With growth accelerating, the business recognised the need to strengthen its commercial and marketing leadership simultaneously.
The Challenge
Despite strong momentum, the business had struggled to keep pace with its hiring needs. Two senior appointments were required concurrently: a Head of Marketing with genuine strategic capability and the versatility to operate in a scaling business, and an experienced Business Development Manager with established market contacts and the ability to make an immediate commercial impact. Cultural fit and speed were priorities across both searches.
Our Approach
Led by Suzanne Grundy and Rachel Blight, deverellsmith.
Suzanne and Rachel worked in close collaboration across both appointments, bringing a joined-up approach to the client's hiring needs at a pivotal moment in its growth.
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Executive Search Framework - Targeted searches were conducted in parallel to identify senior marketing and commercial talent with the specific blend of skills each role demanded.
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Talent Mapping - The market was assessed across both disciplines to surface candidates with the right sector experience, relationship networks, and cultural alignment.
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Consultative Process - Throughout both searches, close client collaboration ensured cultural fit remained central to every assessment and recommendation.
Results
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Both roles filled concurrently within a strong timeframe
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Head of Marketing: shortlist of four, three progressed to interview, two reached final stage
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Business Development Manager: shortlist of five candidates across a range of experience levels
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Business Development Manager appointee joined directly from a similar market and was commercially active from day one
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Head of Marketing appointee brought strategic brand experience combined with hands-on capability
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Deverellsmith has now been appointed to build out the teams that report to the Head of Marketing and Business Development Manager
Key Success Factors
Running two senior searches simultaneously without compromising quality required strong coordination and deep market knowledge. Speed, cultural alignment, and a genuinely consultative approach across both briefs ensured the business secured the right people at the right time, enabling it to match its hiring pace to its commercial growth.
Rachel Blight | Lead Researcher
After starting her recruitment career 10 years ago within the Professional and Technical Construction sector, Rachel now focuses on supporting market mapping, candidate sourcing and management for deverellsmith's client base.
Suzanne Grundy | Senior Recruitment Consultant - Estate Agency
Suzanne is a Senior Consultant specialising in Estate Agency recruitment, bringing over 25 years of experience to her role.
Her deep sector knowledge and extensive industry networks enable her to provide strategic recruitment solutions, successfully matching organisations with top talent across all levels of estate agency. Known for her relationship-driven approach, Suzanne has established herself as a trusted advisor in the property sector.
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