As Kernel’s Chief Commercial Officer, James brings a wealth of global recruitment experience, a proven track record of scaling teams, and a people-first approach to growth.
James has spent his career working, managing, and leading in some of the world’s leading FTSE-listed recruitment businesses, before making the move into private equity–backed growth environments. As part of leadership teams, James has successfully navigated two rounds of PE transactions, helping to deliver sustainable growth and long-term value creation.
His career has spanned multiple geographies and business lines – from permanent to interim recruitment, across multi-brand platforms, and into new markets. A particular highlight was building an Interim business from scratch in Switzerland, then stepping up as Country Head in Zurich, where he spent almost five years before returning to London to continue leading high-performing teams.
With a commercial style that blends data-driven decision-making and high-performance culture with a genuine belief that people come first, James is passionate about building environments where individuals and businesses can thrive together.
Beyond work, family comes first: James and his wife are raising two children and keeping up with three energetic dogs. Having grown up in rural Wales, his love of the outdoors has stayed with him, and he can often be found skiing, walking, watching a game of rugby, or enjoying a BBQ or Sunday roast with family. A passionate musician, he is also an accomplished pianist.
