Rachel has 20 years’ experience in executive search and is a Partner in the Chair & Board Practice at Odgers Berndtson, specialising in non-executive appointments. For more than a decade she has advised boards across sectors, size of business and ownership structure and offers experience of working with international clients from FTSE 100 to AIM-listed as well as privately owned businesses.
She joined Odgers Berndtson in 2005 having worked for two nascent search firms where she faced the opportunities and challenges presented by growing a business whilst establishing a recognisable brand and a database. As a career headhunter, Rachel has delivered successfully across the whole project life cycle and arguably learned to research the hard way (see above!).
Following graduation with a degree in economics from Cambridge, Rachel began her career with Arthur Andersen in the private client services practice.
When she is not in the office, Rachel lives alone with her cat (Alfie), which is less tragic than it sounds, in a house which she lovingly restored and is thrilled with. Having rowed and played netball at Cambridge, in recent years, Rachel has taken up running, completing a couple of half marathons whilst remaining unconvinced she has a full one in her, and on a Saturday morning is likely to be found at boot camp, Zumba or Pilates.
Rachel’s executive search career has been neither linear nor straight forward. As a first-generation graduate entering the corporate world, if she’d have known then what she knows now, she’d have done a number of things differently! The opportunity to share those insights, to learn from others and to knowledge-share with peers across our industry are all compelling reasons to become a founding member of SWISH.