Two years later!

I remember when I started out my nervousness about whether I really could earn a living from my own business. Two years later this really has been the very best move I could ever had made. I love the fact that through my headhunting I have been able to help some businesses get great people but also know I have materially helped those that I have supplied my management consultancy to, to become better organisations.

So, big thanks to Nicola Parton at Swiss Re for giving me my first opportunity and to Mark Graves for being my first headhunt who has already gone on to bigger and better things within Swiss Re. Also to Jonathan Sargent who became my second hire for Swiss Re. Big thanks also to Jonathan Clark and SCOR who also believed in me and the hires that I brought to them. The same goes to David Miller and Katherine Baron at XLCatlin who have been great to work with.

I always felt that being an ex practitioner, knowing the market, the products and people it would give me an edge in headhunting and by combining that with a lower cost, because to be frank it is easier for me for the foregoing reasons, that I had a great proposition.

My biggest thanks are saved for MDD who believed in my ideas. My business now acts as an outsourced COO supporting their fantastic partners in London. In particular my thanks go to Flemming Jensen who is a consummate professional and work colleague.

Other fun work along the way included helping write the syllabus for a new CII exam, Strategic Claims Management that was a very enjoyable process.

I also want to thank a friend and mentor, Lynn White, who helped me focus on doing the right things. Her insights and advice have been invaluable! And yes thanks to my wife, Karen, for believing in me and trying not to think about the mortgage payments!

So two years later, I am happier, healthier and richer in so many ways. Definitely the best thing I could ever have done....