Case studies

We're proud to have worked in the financial markets for over two decades.

Below is just a selection of the work we have completed.

Click below to open a case study.

Case study · Managed Service

Brevan Howard

The challenge

Brevan Howard is one of the world's leading macro hedge funds, with offices in London, Jersey, Geneva, New York, Houston, Hong Kong, Singapore and Abu Dhabi. Hiring was time-sensitive and complex, spread across those locations and across a wide range of technologies and investment asset classes.

The firm needed a dependable talent team that could scale, lift direct sourcing and protect the business from heavy agency fees. The people had to be senior, white-labelled, office-based five days a week and a fit for the existing HR culture.

Our service

We drew on our network to build a bespoke team of talent professionals, including the buy-side investment experience that is hardest to find. The team reports directly to Brevan Howard's Talent Manager and handles global requirements across every discipline.

Knowing that occasional agency support would still be needed, we added an overflow model: specialist hires come to Kite directly, at heavily reduced fees.

The result

Three full-time staff managing global sourcing and talent administration
A flexible team that scales up and down with hiring volumes
Forecast sourcing savings of more than £1.32m a year
Kite-managed tactical hires at half the usual one-off fees

Build a team with Kite

Case study · Managed Service

Global Dairy Trade

The challenge

Headquartered in New Zealand, GDT owns and runs the trading technology behind global dairy commodities. In 2023, backed by investment from Deutsche Börse, its investors chose Berlin for a European head office to drive expansion into EMEA.

GDT had no staff, suppliers or physical presence in the city, and many of the roles called for niche commodities, economic and technical expertise. The service included job descriptions and offer letters, referencing, vetting and right to work, mapping the Berlin talent market and making the hires.

Our service

We ran a full market mapping programme in Berlin so requirements could be set against what the market actually held, flagging both the straightforward roles and the ones likely to prove difficult.

We designed the job descriptions and offer letters, researched the German market on benefits, managed referencing, vetting and onboarding, and worked alongside the EMEA Managing Director as sole agent on all hiring.

The result

Every requirement filled since the service began in January 2024, including EMEA Chief Economist, General Manager and Head of Customer Engagement
End-to-end talent management and market research in a new location
Success-only terms, with research provided at no cost and no committed spend
A director-level point of contact throughout

Over twelve months Nathan and his team have successfully recruited our new trading team, from a Chief Economist with high-end auction and game theory expertise through to experienced trading, customer and technology operations people.
Managing Director, Global Dairy Trade

Talk about your own expansion

Case study · Managed Service

Zodia Markets

The challenge

Zodia Markets is a regulated institutional crypto brokerage operating across London, Dublin, the UAE and Singapore. The firm took the decision to bring its compliance and onboarding function in house, replacing an outsourced provider whose contract carried a fixed end date.

The requirement was for a complete team based in the UAE, across Abu Dhabi and Dubai, operational before the incumbent provider ceased service. Kite was appointed to manage the build in full.

Our service

Kite mapped the UAE market for compliance and onboarding professionals with crypto sector experience, establishing the available talent across the region before any approach was made.

All suitable candidates were approached and headhunted directly. Given the scale of the resulting pool, shortlists were presented through a digital talent room, allowing the client to review recorded interviews and technical assessments before agreeing whom to meet.

Kite managed referencing and employee onboarding through to completion.

The result

Full team appointed and in post within seven weeks
Operational ahead of the incumbent provider's contract end
The UAE market mapped in full, with all suitable candidates approached directly
Recorded interviews and technical assessments provided for every shortlisted candidate
Referencing and onboarding managed alongside the appointments

Build a team with Kite

Case study · Managed Service

GFT Technologies

The challenge

GFT Technologies is a financial markets and technology consultancy. On extending its European operation into London, the firm held no in-house capability for specialist financial markets resourcing or consultant selection.

Growth in the UK depended on the identification and selection of consultants with demonstrable financial markets expertise, at a pace the leadership team could not sustain alongside the demands of establishing the business.

Our service

GFT appointed Kite to deliver consultant selection and talent acquisition as an outsourced function. Kite assumed responsibility for the full process, from market mapping and candidate approach through to selection and offer management.

The arrangement allowed GFT to concentrate on its core proposition and strategic growth rather than on the management of recruitment.

The result

UK headcount increased by more than 800% over the course of the partnership
A business established in single figures now numbering several hundred people in the UK
Specialist financial markets consultants selected without an internal recruitment function
Leadership capacity preserved for client delivery and growth

Build a team with Kite

Case study · Managed Service

Clearmatics

The challenge

Clearmatics is a blockchain and distributed ledger research and technology firm. From launch the business was required to scale rapidly without an internal HR function.

The requirement covered critical leadership appointments and the founding team beneath them, in a market where such candidates are in short supply.

Our service

Clearmatics outsourced its HR and talent function to Kite. Working directly with the chief executive and the firm's investors, Kite assumed responsibility for employer brand as well as for recruitment.

The remit covered the founding leadership team, including the Chief Technology Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Head of HR and Head of Sales, together with the wider founding team.

The result

Founding leadership team appointed, including CTO, COO, Head of HR and Head of Sales
HR and talent function delivered in full by Kite, with no internal team required
Employer brand established and managed alongside the appointments
Candidates in high demand secured in a competitive market
The business able to concentrate on its distributed ledger technology

Build a team with Kite

Case study · Senior Appointments · Chief Technology Officer

Euroclear

The challenge

Euroclear is a provider of financial market infrastructure. Its UK business operates CREST, the central securities depository for the UK market and a component of the country's critical national infrastructure, under the oversight of the Bank of England.

The Chief Technology Officer appointment therefore carried responsibility not only for systems on which the market depends day to day, but also for the programme to rebuild the CREST platform. The role required a candidate with a genuine financial market infrastructure background, and the appointment would be subject to scrutiny by the regulator as well as by the business.

Our service

Euroclear engaged Kite on the strength of an established background in the financial markets and, specifically, in market infrastructure, post-trade and settlement.

Rather than conduct an open search, Kite drew on long-standing relationships across that market. A shortlist of three individuals was presented, each known to the firm and each having worked with Kite previously.

The result

A shortlist of three candidates, all known personally to Kite
The appointment audited by Euroclear and by the Bank of England, and approved
Responsibility for the CREST rebuild programme placed with a proven market infrastructure technologist
The appointee remains in post today

Discuss a mandate

Case study · Senior Appointments · Chief Financial Officer

R.J. O'Brien

The challenge

R.J. O'Brien required a Chief Financial Officer for its London business, at a point when the office was undergoing a period of significant change. The appointment reported directly to the Chief Executive and was a key strategic leadership hire in the UK.

The specification was demanding. Alongside a background in the broking industry, the firm sought substantial experience of system change and financial system implementation, together with a strong grounding in client money and CASS.

Our service

Kite was appointed sole agent for the search and conducted a full market mapping exercise across the relevant candidate population.

A traditional executive search campaign followed. A wide field was approached and long-listed, then reduced to a target shortlist through structured interview and evaluation before presentation to the business.

The result

Chief Financial Officer appointed for the London business
A candidate combining broking sector experience with financial system implementation
Client money and CASS expertise secured alongside the finance remit
The appointee remains in post today

Discuss a mandate

Case study · Senior Appointments · Chief Economist

Global Dairy Trade

The challenge

Global Dairy Trade was establishing its European office in Berlin from scratch and required a Chief Economist. The specification was among the most particular Kite has been asked to meet.

The appointment called for a background not simply in game theory but in auction theory specifically, and applied to a major commodity market. The business also expressed a strong preference for a candidate already resident in Berlin, in order to improve the likelihood of a successful and lasting placement.

Our service

Kite conducted a highly technical senior appointment search, assessing candidates on published academic and applied work in auction theory rather than on job titles alone.

That approach identified an individual established as a published expert in game theory within the electricity commodities market, resident in Berlin and recognised in his field.

The result

Chief Economist appointed to the new Berlin office
A published expert in game theory, applied to commodity markets
Auction theory expertise secured in an exceptionally narrow candidate market
A candidate already resident in Berlin, as the business had requested

Discuss a mandate

Case study · Senior Appointments · Head of Business Analysis

TP ICAP

The challenge

The appointment fell in the middle of the merger between Tullett Prebon and ICAP, and the brief reflected that. The business required a Head of Business Analysis with genuine cross-asset knowledge, together with the management and leadership experience that is comparatively rare within the business analysis discipline.

In addition, the firm sought someone who had worked through integration or merger and acquisition programmes, so that the appointee could support the change management taking place across the two organisations. Given the circumstances, the search had to be conducted confidentially and handled with considerable sensitivity.

Our service

Kite worked closely with the Global Head of Change over a period of several months, rather than running a conventional advertised process.

Discreet meetings were arranged with vetted individuals of proven standing in the industry, allowing the business to assess candidates privately and without disturbance to either organisation during the integration.

The result

Head of Business Analysis appointed during the Tullett Prebon and ICAP merger
A cross-asset candidate with leadership experience and an integration background
The search conducted confidentially throughout, with discreet introductions only
The appointee remains in post today, approaching an eighth year with the firm

Discuss a mandate

Case study · Senior Appointments · Global Director of EHS

London Stock Exchange Group

The challenge

London Stock Exchange Group required a Global Director of Environmental Health and Safety, a critical appointment carrying responsibility across the group and influence over its ESG initiatives worldwide.

The group had grown rapidly through merger and acquisition to a headcount substantially larger than before. The appointee therefore needed genuine experience of the discipline at global scale, within a large and complex organisation, and had to be capable of immediate impact in an environment undergoing significant change.

Our service

Kite ran the assignment as an executive search research campaign, beginning with a full research exercise and market map of businesses of comparable size operating in comparable circumstances.

That produced a talent map, from which a long list was built, evaluated and reduced to a final shortlist. Kite worked closely with senior members of the business to manage the interview process throughout.

Following the appointment, Kite managed a 360-degree feedback process to support the successful embedding of the individual within the organisation.

The result

Global Director of EHS appointed, with group-wide responsibility and ESG influence
A candidate with proven experience of the discipline at global scale
Market mapped against businesses of comparable size and circumstance
A 360-degree feedback process delivered after appointment to support embedding

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Case study · Senior Appointments · Head of Quantitative Development

LCH

The challenge

LCH, the London Clearing House, required a Head of Quantitative Development for its Paris business. The specification was highly technical, combining credit OTC knowledge, in-depth CCP expertise and quantitative development experience.

Each of those disciplines is thinly populated in isolation. The candidate market holding all three in combination is narrower still, and the appointment was initially to be made on a senior interim basis.

Our service

The assignment was managed through Kite's senior interim practice and run as a networking-led campaign rather than an advertised search.

Kite worked the market across Europe, engaging stakeholders within the clearing and quantitative community to secure recommendations and direct introductions to candidates holding the required combination of skills.

The result

Head of Quantitative Development appointed in Paris on a senior interim basis
A candidate combining credit OTC, CCP and quantitative development expertise
The interim appointment converted to a permanent position
The appointee now holds a senior position within the business

Discuss a mandate

Case study · Senior Appointments · European Director, Global Trade Repository

CME Group

The challenge

CME Group required a European Director for its global trade repository business, and the specification called for a combination of skills rarely held by one individual.

The role demanded a background in business development within the regulated OTC markets, technical regulatory expertise in transaction reporting and EMIR specifically, and the standing to carry significant leadership responsibility across the European market.

Our service

Kite had played an active role in the EMIR landscape and in the development of trade repository and transaction reporting services across Europe, and was therefore positioned to assess candidates against all three requirements rather than against job titles.

The search was conducted through Kite's established contact book in that market, with candidates approached and introduced directly rather than through an advertised process.

The result

European Director appointed for the global trade repository business
A candidate combining regulated OTC business development, EMIR reporting expertise and leadership experience
Sourced through Kite's existing network in the transaction reporting market
An appointment made without recourse to an advertised search

Discuss a mandate

Case study · Senior Appointments · Director of Product Management

Pico Global

The challenge

Pico Global required a Director of Product Management, combining exchange connectivity and low latency expertise with a specific background in pricing engines and pricing products.

The position had remained open for several months without success. It had proved sufficiently difficult that the business extended the search across multiple geographies in order to widen the field. The appointment was a critical one: the firm's low latency connectivity products were still maturing, and the absence of a product lead was holding back delivery of its strategy.

Our service

Kite holds an established background in exchange connectivity, exchange technology and the exchange market itself, and was able to network the relevant community quickly. The individual ultimately appointed was already known to Kite.

In order to provide the business with a complete service rather than a single introduction, Kite presented a shortlist of nine candidates, four of whom were interviewed before the appointment was made.

The result

Director of Product Management appointed after months of unsuccessful search
A candidate combining exchange connectivity, low latency and pricing product expertise
A shortlist of nine presented, with four taken to interview
Product leadership restored to a maturing low latency connectivity range

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