Our Team
Skilled executive search professionals with a passion for their markets
Since JBS Associates was set up in 2001 we have carefully assembled an experienced and credible, market-focused team of skilled executive search and selection professionals. This team comprises:
Jonathan Stokes, Managing Director, jstokes@jbsa.com
Jonathan founded JBS Associates in 2001, initially setting up an office in London and then expanding the business to its current global status. Jonathan studied Estate Management at the University of Wales before moving to London to run the offices for a chain of surveyors and estate agents. He quickly moved into the recruitment industry and prior to setting up JBS Associates gained 12 years senior search experience. He spent seven years managing international operations for one of the world's largest search and selection companies. Jonathan has overall responsibility for the JBS Associates business and whilst based in London, spends significant time each year in the overseas offices.
Barney Mundell, Director, bmundell@jbsa.com
Barney graduated in European History from the University of East Anglia and immediately joined the executive search arm of a Fortune 500 company, originating and executing mandates across the Professional Services, Legal and Financial Services sectors. Barney joined JBS Associates in 2004 and now has more than 10 years international search experience. He has become one of the leading executive search professionals operating in the Russian and Middle Eastern markets, successfully opening the Moscow office of JBS Associates in 2005, and Dubai in 2006. Barney is a Director of JBS Associates, and Head of the Russian and MENA teams.
Fiona Bargery, Consultant, Legal, fbargery@jbsa.com
Upon graduating with a BSc degree from the University of Kent, Fiona moved to London and worked in sales in a prestigious property company. After a year, wishing to obtain more international exposure, Fiona joined the Russia and CIS division of JBS Associates and subsequently moved to Moscow in summer 2006. She combines an excellent understanding of the market and culture with senior and mid-level legal recruitment experience, within professional and financial services.
Renata Brennemann, Research Analyst, rbrennemann@jbsa.com
Renata graduated in Translation from the Ruprecht Karls University in Heidelberg and commenced her career as a translator with the Ethiopian Consulate General in Frankfurt. Subsequently Renata joined a leading Frankfurt based financial services executive search firm where she gained excellent exposure to the industry during her almost five year tenure. This culminated in Renata overseeing the opening of their Dubai office from an administrative perspective. Renata joined JBS Associates in 2008 and, based in our Dubai office, leads our research across the MENA region. Renata speaks German, Croatian and Spanish.
Dina Chernyshova, Research Analyst, dchernyshova@jbsa.com
Dina graduated from the Plekhanov Academy of Economics in Moscow and initially embarked upon a career within the hospitality industry. Dina subsequently worked within sales and marketing and administration for a Western organisation in Russia. Dina joined JBS Associates in 2007 and co-ordinates the administration and research across our Russia and CIS operations. Dina is bilingual Russian / English.
Matthew Clarke, Consultant, mclarke@jbsa.com
Matthew graduated from Loughborough University in 1999, with a BSc in Geography and International Business. He then embarked on a sales and marketing career within the FMCG sector, successfully launching new brands into UK and International markets, both within start-up and established businesses. Matt subsequently moved into the executive search sector with JBS Associates, utilising his key account management skills and relocating to Dubai to further develop our franchise in the MENA region.
Chris Clay, Head of Executive Interim, cclay@jbsa.com
Chris spent eight years in investment banking prior to and after graduating in History at Hull University. He then moved into recruitment, setting up two contracting desks with small, internationally focused recruitment businesses, before joining Michael Page on the International & Eastern European desk where he expanded the company’s usual remit to work with Country Managers, Sales & Marketing Directors and CFOs, before setting up the Swiss office. He then joined Europe's second largest Interim Executive provider, covering the Technology & Telecoms markets in the UK and all sectors in the international and emerging markets, whilst maintaining a specialist search focus in the Freight & Freight Trading arena. Chris has joined JBS Associates to further develop its global Executive Interim offering.
Gavin Fitzgerald, African Research Analyst, gfitzgerald@jbsa.com
Gavin graduated from Southampton University with a degree in Geophysical Sciences before commencing work in the oil and gas exploration sector. Ten years working overseas in Africa, predominantly Nigeria, Algeria and Egypt, has provided Gavin with a wealth of economic and cultural experience which is an invaluable asset to his research in one of the world's newest emerging markets.
Sarah Fitzgerald, Consultant, Financial Services, sfitzgerald@jbsa.com
Sarah graduated from Oxford University in 1992 and then spent two years with Arthur Andersen training to be an accountant before moving into recruitment in 1994. She has over 13 years experience recruiting across both the financial services and commerce & industry sectors, working with Harrison Willis and Michael Page Finance (where she was the top fee earner in her last year). Sarah began working with JBS Associates in 2003, initially in a training capacity, before returning to consultancy work early in 2007. She has quickly established herself as one of our leading executive search consultants covering emerging markets, primarily across Western Europe.
Clive Green, Consultant, cgreen@jbsa.com
Clive graduated from the University of Durham with a BA in History before moving into financial recruitment, working for one of world's largest recruitment firms for four years. He specialised in financial placements for the UK commerce, and later public practice sectors, before moving into international recruitment based from London . Pioneering the firm's work in Russia & CIS and emerging markets, he was responsible for placing Partners, Directors and senior level finance professionals. Clive joined JBS Associates in 2008 and is now focusing upon senior level appointments within the professional and financial services sectors within Russia & CIS and is based in both our Moscow and London offices.
Susie Hingston, Consultant, Financial Services, shingston@jbsa.com
Susie graduated from University of Wales , Cardiff in 1998 and in 2007 joined JBS Associates Dubai. She covers the Middle East and North Africa region, focusing on senior level hires and further strengthening our Middle Eastern financial services practice. She has eight years experience covering the financial services sector in executive search and recruitment firms in London , Sydney and Dubai . From this she has developed a strong network and in depth knowledge of the GCC markets. Prior to this, Susie worked within global syndicated finance at Chase Manhattan on the private client side at a boutique Australian stockbroker and in trade support at Merrill Lynch.
Jim Mundell, Manager, Commerce & Industry, jmundell@jbsa.com
Jim is the Manager of the Western & Central European business at JBS Associates and works out of both our London and Zurich offices. He has extensive experience of building business partnerships with both Fortune 500 organisations and SME’s around the world. Having joined JBS Associates in 2004, Jim has conducted multi-faceted search assignments across the EMEA region and is now an experienced generalist focusing on the provision of executive talent into commerce and industry in both established and emerging markets. Jim has over ten years recruitment and executive search experience and preceded this with work in both the marketing sector and as an officer in the British Army.
Claire Parfett, Research Analyst, cparfett@jbsa.com
Claire has 15 years experience working for Blue Chip companies as an in-house Resourcing Consultant, and has recruited Senior Executives in the areas of Finance, HR, Strategy, Marketing, Customer Services and Technology. At JBS Associates Claire is a Researcher for with the Western Europe and Africa teams, providing research and mandate execution support. She is qualified with the British Psychological Society to administer and feedback aptitude and psychometric tests for candidate selection processes.
Rob Philpott FCMA, Finance and Administration Director, rphilpott@jbsa.com
Rob is a Chartered Management Accountant with a wealth of financial, operational, and program management experience within rapid growth technology industries, gained in both Western and emerging markets. He has held numerous Board level and Senior Management positions specialising in Financial Services, GGB and Telecommunications. He was the Group Accountant for Ruberoid PLC, and an executive member of the IPO team divesting from Tarmac PLC and subsequently listing on the LSE. During his career, he has raised significant funding through private equity, institutions and major vendors.
Yulia Platova, Consultant, yplatova@jbsa.com
Yulia graduated in Law from the Moscow Institute of International Law and Economy and immediately embarked upon a career within financial services working with CS First Boston and subsequently worked on the trading floor at Renaissance Capital in Moscow. Yulia then joined an executive search organisation and has over six years of experience covering the financial services and oil & gas sectors. Yulia is based in our Moscow office and considerably strengthens our franchise in these sectors. In addition to her native Russian Yulia speaks English and Italian.
Richard Putley, Head of African, Caribbean and South American Practice, rputley@jbsa.com
Richard graduated from Kingston University in accountancy and finance and initially worked in a chartered accountancy practice before moving into financial recruitment. He has 18 years professional recruitment experience, operating and managing businesses recruiting at the most senior level across commerce and industry, sales and marketing, IT, HR and finance. Richard has previously held managing director and director positions within UK based international recruitment companies. He joined JBS Associates in 2007 to head up and develop the African, Caribbean and South American practice.
Joseph Sweeney, Head of Research, Sector Coverage – Generalist, jsweeney@jbsa.com
Joseph graduated in Business & Economics from the University of Northampton and subsequently joined JBS Associates strengthening our capabilities across the Russian and CIS market living in Moscow and adding considerably to our coverage in that region, initially in a research capacity and subsequently consulting. Joseph has now returned to London to manage and further build our global research function across our core international markets.
Kiera Whitmee, Consultant, Financial Services, kwhitmee@jbsa.com
Kiera graduated from Sussex University in 1993 with a degree in Biological Sciences and French, and then took a Postgraduate Certificate in Education. Having grown up in Holland, she speaks Dutch, as well as having a good understanding of French. Kiera has six years’ recruitment experience, prior to joining JBS Associates in 2007, where she now operates as a Consultant, covering Emerging Markets Financial Services roles based in Western Europe.
Andrea Williams, Consultant, Financial Services, awilliams@jbsa.com
Andrea graduated in 1993 from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth and immediately joined JP Morgan where she trained as a Product Controller. Andrea was then approached to join the London office of a mainstream financial services recruiter, where she soon became one of their leading consultants heading up one of the most successful teams in the City. Subsequently Andrea started up the Finance practice at a top-tier London search firm before being head hunted to join JBS Associates where she has pioneered our financial services activities in the Russian market. Andrea works extremely closely with one key client in Russia, whilst also being crucial to expanding our banking franchise into the Middle East.
