Richard Lawson
Senior Executive Recruiter | Talent Acquisition Specialist
New York
Richard works on executive recruiting mandates where the appointment carries consequence — and stays personally accountable from briefing through the first year in seat.
Background
Richard runs senior recruitment and talent acquisition mandates end to end — from a hard look at what the role actually demands, through disciplined market mapping, to offer and onboarding. He is known for moving quickly without cutting corners, for telling clients plainly when their proposition is the problem, and for shortlists where every name is there on evidence rather than because it was easy to find. Based in New York, Richard works across Technology, Professional Services and Financial Services, and is trusted with mandates where discretion matters as much as reach.
How I work
Every engagement begins with a conversation about the organization, not the vacancy — what the next two years demand, what the last appointment taught you, and what the team around this role can absorb. Richard maps the market before naming a candidate, tests evidence rather than impressions, and puts forward only people whose case can be argued in detail. When the honest answer is that a preferred candidate is not ready, you will hear it early.
What clients can expect
Direct access to Richard throughout — no handover to a junior team after the pitch. Weekly written progress, a documented assessment for each finalist, calibrated market feedback on your proposition, and continued contact through onboarding and the first performance review. Confidentiality is managed as a design constraint, not an afterthought.
For candidates
Richard treats every conversation as a long relationship rather than a transaction. You will be told what the role genuinely is, what the organization is not yet good at, and where the risk sits for you. Feedback is given plainly and promptly, whether or not a process moves forward, and interest is never manufactured to fill a shortlist.
Expertise
Executive Recruiting, Talent Acquisition and Hiring Advisory. Richard contributes to the firm's appointment quality review, where every shortlist is challenged internally before it reaches a client.
“The appointment is only successful if it is still working a year later. That is the standard Richard measures against.”
Boards and chief executives return to Richard because the counsel is candid, the process is documented, and the person who wins the work is the person who does it.
Have a critical appointment ahead?
When the appointment matters, the search should begin with a conversation.