In early 2021, we stepped back from Talon to focus solely on GTL Search. Our then business partner decided to call it a day. With my fellow Director and the support of what I consider the best research team in the business, we deliver retained Executive Search in the UK and International Renewable/Clean Energy and Oil & Gas sectors. Our clients will back us up, we get results. They benefit from our advice and guidance, we have a no-nonsense, straight talking, but friendly and professional approach. We back ourselves too, ask us about our warranty / guarantee. We will happily put you on to one or more of our clients for a reference. We are based in Aberdeen, Scotland, delivering assignments globally. Pick up the phone any time, I can't put my mobile number on here, because it gets spammed, but we're on Aberdeen (UK) 600130 if you'd like a chat.

GTL Search joined Talon in 2012 as a 50/50 Shareholder. Despite significant O&G industry headwinds in the first few years, we built a highly respected practice covering renewable energy and oil and gas.

I was, myself, headhunted to build an O&G / Renewable Energy focused retained executive search capability from very shaky foundations. I turned it around within 12 months to become one of the two top performing business units in the Group, delivered year on year growth throughout the six years and at some point became Group Board member and Managing Director of the Energy & Infrastructure Practice. I also helped shape, launch and won new contracts for a sister business that was a cross-industry practice focused on managing multiple position hiring campaigns for mid tier professionals.We started in O&G, and during this time completed our first assignments in Renewable Energy, placing the CEO for the Scottish European Green Energy Sector and the Managing Director for the Intermediate Technology Institute for Energy. I had a great team in Aberdeen, at the time of the GFC I inherited team members in Glasgow and Edinburgh too - a good bunch of people, many of whom I am still in touch with today.

This was my introduction to Executive Search, when I was hired to head up research for Park Brown in 2000 - at the time Park Brown was the market leader in O&G Executive Search. From there, I progressed from Research into winning and delivering my own mandates.

The Contracting sector was undergoing a fundamental change in 1998, which meant that bigger contracts were being awarded to fewer players. I accepted the offer to join a boutique consultancy that specialised in Competence Assurance, and for the next couple of years enjoyed advising lots of different companies on how to tackle what was a complex requirement brought in on the back of the Cullen Report into the Piper Alpha Disaster.

I joined this JV company direct from the Army and was fortunate to be given an opportunity to work in different departments and learn about the O&G industry. I ended up putting in the sector's fist SQA-backed competence assurance system, which was subsequently adopted by the wider industry. Great bunch of people and a great company to work for.

I joined the Royal Army Ordnance Corps in 1988, qualified as an AT in 1990, was dragged kicking and screaming into the Royal Logistics Corps when we merged in 1993 - and decided to rejoin civilian life in 1994. I had a fantastic time meeting new people, learning new things - and although it's a bit cliche, becoming a man. A great grounding for my future career - and it more or less kept me out of bother as I came through my late teens and early twenties!