SF Partners has appointed former Robert Walters regional CEO Chris Hickey as a Board Advisor, as the business continues its recent growth trajectory.
Hickey previously led Robert Walters plc across the UK & Ireland, Middle East, Africa and North America, overseeing a period of sustained profitable growth. He brings experience in international expansion, scaling recruitment businesses and leading through periods of structural change. He also holds Non-Executive roles and has experience working with private equity-backed businesses, with a focus on innovation across the recruitment sector, including the application of AI.
The appointment follows SF Partners’ recent rebrand from SF Recruitment, reflecting the firm’s evolution towards a more partnership-led model as its client base and service offering have expanded.
Founded in 1998, the business has grown from a Midlands-based finance recruitment firm into a multi-disciplinary recruiter operating across six core areas: Executive Search, Finance, Technology, Transformation, Engineering and Professional Services.
Since 2020, SF Partners has more than doubled revenue, increased headcount by over 200 per cent and opened its first international office in Frankfurt. The firm has also delivered more than 500 private equity-backed mandates and is approaching 60,000 lifetime placements.
“Chris has led at scale and understands how our industry is evolving,” notes Saira Demmer, CEO of SF Partners. “As we continue to grow and broaden our offering, his perspective will be important in helping us make the right decisions.”
Hickey added: “SF Partners has built a strong reputation over many years, underpinned by long-term relationships and a clear understanding of its markets. I’m looking forward to supporting the next stage of its development.”
The firm has also focused on increasing seniority within its consultant base, with average sector experience now at 11 years. SF Partners plans to continue investing in its specialist practices and international footprint, with ambitions to grow revenues by a further 50 per cent over the next three years.
