Our Story

Where Insight, Experience and People Come Together

At Jefferson Locke, we’re more than recruiters, we’re strategic growth partners who help ambitious organisations and leaders unlock their potential with clarity, confidence, and long-term impact.

With a deeply human approach grounded in expertise and trust, we connect exceptional leadership talent with dynamic businesses around the world and guide them through complex organisational change, growth, and transformation.

Built on years of industry experience and a network of seasoned advisors, our work blends strategic insight with relationship-driven execution to deliver tailored solutions that amplify performance today and shape enduring success for tomorrow.

Built on People. Proven by Experience.

We lead by example, placing people at the heart of everything we do. We invest heavily in attracting, developing and retaining exceptional individuals who combine deep expertise with strong values.

Our leadership, advisors and support teams bring diverse skills and industry insight, enabling us to support clients globally. Our reputation is built on the strength of our people, drawing on many years of hands-on industry experience to deliver practical, strategic support..

Tom Howe

Founding Partner

Tom Howe is the Founder and Managing Partner of Jefferson Locke, a strategic search and leadership advisory firm helping ambitious marketing, communications and technology organisations navigate growth and transformation.

With more than two decades of experience advising founders, CEOs and boards, Tom specialises in strategic search, leadership advisory and organisational design, helping clients make critical leadership decisions with confidence.

Combining deep market intelligence with commercial insight, Tom helps organisations identify and develop leaders who can thrive in an increasingly AI-driven and fast-changing business landscape.

Rachel Cooper

Chief Financial Officer

Rachel Cooper is an experienced Chief Financial Officer with over 15 years of cross-sector financial leadership, spanning professional services, digital marketing, consulting, and commercial industries. She currently serves as CFO at Jefferson Locke, where she oversees financial strategy and performance across the firm’s global operations in management consultancy, executive recruitment, leadership development, and M&A advisory. She plays a pivotal role in aligning finance with the wider strategic goals of the business — focusing on commercial growth, operational efficiency, and scaling capability across international markets.

Ivy Farrell

Executive Partner

Ivy Farrell is a seasoned global talent partner and specialist headhunter with over 20 years of experience spanning recruitment, licensing, media, and talent strategy across the UK, EMEA, and the US. She currently serves as Executive Partner at Jefferson Locke, where she leads senior-level search assignments across marketing, technology, FMCG and Healthcare industries. Known for her intuitive matchmaking skills, Ivy has developed a reputation for placing top-tier B2B, ABM, and B2C talent with precision and discretion

Andy Oliver

Head of Growth & Exit Advisory

Head of Growth & Exit Advisory, partnering with agency founders building towards M&A exit. On a fractional basis, I help owners get match fit for acquisition by addressing commercial, operational and leadership foundations that drive valuation and protect earn-out. This spans revenue quality, retainer mix, margin improvement, client concentration, and leadership team depth, alongside pre-exit planning needed to go to market at the right moment and value.

Natasha Kenny

Executive Partner

Natasha Kenny is a seasoned Human Resources executive with over two decades of experience supporting businesses across the advertising, marketing, and creative sectors. As Executive Partner at Jefferson Locke, she leads the People & Culture division for The Jefferson Group and its subsidiaries, where she is responsible for developing and executing people strategies that support organisational growth, enhance culture, and optimise performance at all levels.

Dr Fiona Wilson

Chief Programme Architect

Fiona is a specialist in how emotions impact on performance and behaviour. She has completed her PhD in emotionally informed learning which explores how our environment, prior experiences and the people we engage with all impact on our behaviour, relationship with the world and ultimately our identity. Fiona is a specialist in emotions, organisational culture, team dynamics, creativity and flow.

Ian Kenny

Chief Strategy Advisor

Ian Kenny is a senior advisor at Jefferson Locke, bringing over 25 years of experience helping companies adapt to an evolving digital and industrial landscape. With deep expertise in digital transformation, technology strategy, and commercial innovation, Ian plays a key role in supporting Jefferson Locke and its subsidiaries in becoming a true one-stop global talent management and advisory firm.

Nicola Fish

Head of Brand Intelligence

Nicola Fish is a senior brand and strategy leader with over two decades of experience shaping how businesses define, express and evolve their brands. Having spent her career within independent, ideas-driven agencies, she brings a rare combination of commercial acumen, creative curiosity and human empathy to every engagement. Her approach is rooted in deep listening uncovering the truths that sit beneath the brief and translating them into strategic and creative foundations that move brands and people alike. She thrives at the intersection of strategy, creativity and culture, guiding leadership teams through moments of transformation with clarity, confidence and care.

Joshua Mackenzie

Head of Research & Insights

Josh began his career working within marketing before eventually making the move over to executive search and management consulting. During his time within brand marketing and communications he gained vast experience across a broad spectrum of industries with a particular focus on market research and brand analysis. After completing a recent stint in the UK working as a specialist head hunter for Jefferson Locke, he has returned to the US and now heads up our Research and Insights division with a particular focus on Organisational Design and Merger & Acquisition.

How We Work

Built on trust, experience and long-term relationships

Jefferson Locke operates as a strategic partner, blending honesty, insight and accountability to deliver long-term impact. We work as an extension of your leadership team — challenging thinking, speaking truthfully and focusing on what genuinely drives performance and growth.

Our Principles

One Team: Shared ambition, alignment and accountability.
Truth Over Comfort: Direct, evidence-led advice.
Quality Over Volume: Fewer mandates, deeper focus, better outcomes.
Global Perspective: Leadership without boundaries.
Confidentiality First: Trust and discretion as standard.

Strategic Search

We build world-class leadership and C-Suite capability for ambitious organisations. Our search methodology prioritises impact, cultural alignment and long-term value, delivering senior hires across in-house and agency environments worldwide.

Growth Strategy

We help organisations unlock scale, strengthen positioning and achieve commercial clarity. From brand intelligence and M&A advisory to organisational design and change support, we provide the insight and direction required to accelerate business growth.

Leadership Development

We develop high-performing leaders who inspire, retain talent and drive transformation. Through coaching, behavioural assessment and tailored development programmes, we strengthen the people, culture and capability that power lasting success.