Client Success Stories

The Brief

A boutique investment bank specialising in renewable energy projects partnered with VWA to appoint an Associate to join its London team. The firm had recently lost a number of team members and needed to rebuild capability quickly while maintaining the high standards expected within the business.

This was an existing client relationship and the firm trusted VWA to deliver a highly targeted search for a candidate who could operate effectively within a demanding investment environment.

The Challenge

The brief was extremely specific. The client required a candidate with relevant sector experience, strong language capabilities and the ability to integrate quickly into a small but high performing team.

Cultural alignment and work ethic were critical factors. The firm operates in a fast paced environment with very high expectations and a rigorous interview process that ultimately involved 13 stages.

Given the specialist nature of the role and the limited talent pool, identifying candidates who met both the technical and cultural requirements presented a significant challenge.

Our Approach

VWA recommended a targeted search to identify candidates with the precise experience required.

Working closely with our research team, we mapped the market across relevant investment firms and identified individuals with the appropriate sector exposure and language skills. The research team conducted a highly focused outreach process, identifying and approaching candidates who closely matched the brief.

Through this process, we developed a high quality pool of 45 relevant candidates. From this, we presented a carefully curated shortlist to the client, ensuring each candidate aligned closely with both the technical requirements and the culture of the business.

The Outcome

The successful candidate stood out due to their strong sector background and exceptional work ethic, both of which aligned closely with the culture of the firm.

From instruction to offer acceptance, the process ran from early May to late July. The individual has since integrated well into the team and is performing strongly within the demanding pace of the business.

Following the success of this search, the client has continued to partner with VWA and has since instructed the team on an additional hire within the business support function.

The Brief
Our client was a private real estate investment business operated through a family office supporting an Ultra High Net Worth Individual. The brief was to appoint a senior Chief of Staff who would work directly with the Executive Chairman following a restructure of the existing support model.

This was a new client relationship for VWA, introduced via referral.

The Challenge
This was a highly significant hire. The successful candidate would become the Executive Chairman’s trusted right hand, supporting across both professional and personal responsibilities. The remit included overseeing elements of property management across a portfolio of domestic and international properties, managing household staff, and occasionally representing the Executive Chairman in meetings.

The role required a rare combination of skills and experience. Candidates needed to demonstrate strong knowledge of property management, experience working with Ultra High Net Worth Individuals, and the ability to operate with complete discretion across business and private matters. Cultural and personal fit was equally critical, as the successful candidate would be embedded within both the individual’s business activities and family environment.

The search was further complicated by the evolving nature of the brief. As the client refined their thinking about the structure of the role, the requirements changed several times during the process. This required ongoing recalibration of the search and constant communication with the client to ensure alignment.

Given the private nature of the individual and their family, discretion and sensitivity were essential throughout the entire process.

Our Approach
Due to the highly specific nature of the brief, we recommended a targeted and research led search. Our research team conducted extensive market mapping to identify individuals with the required blend of experience across chief of staff responsibilities, property oversight and Ultra High Net Worth stakeholder management.

We began by briefing a significant number of relevant candidates already registered with VWA. In parallel, our research team conducted a wider market search, identifying and approaching additional professionals who were not actively seeking new opportunities but whose experience aligned with the client’s requirements.

Throughout the process we screened and engaged with hundreds of potential candidates, ensuring that only those with the appropriate experience, discretion and personal style were introduced to the client.

As the brief evolved, we continued to refine the search criteria and respond quickly to each iteration. Following the final revision to the role specification, we were able to introduce the successful candidate almost immediately.

The Outcome
Although the overall search extended over several months due to the evolving brief, the final phase moved swiftly once the brief had been fully defined. Through the targeted search process, VWA identified and introduced a candidate whose experience and approach closely aligned with the client’s requirements.

The appointed candidate brought extensive chief of staff experience and a strong background supporting Ultra High Net Worth Individuals. They demonstrated particular strength in stakeholder management, operational oversight and property related responsibilities. Equally important was their proactive approach and ability to build immediate trust with the Executive Chairman.

Since joining the business, the candidate has played a key role in streamlining the Executive Chairman’s support structure and coordinating both professional and personal priorities. They have quickly become a trusted and highly valued presence within the wider business and family environment.

The Brief

VWA was engaged by an international private equity firm, looking to hire an Executive Assistant and Office Manager in their Dublin office. This was a blended position combining senior EA responsibilities with oversight of the day to day running of the office. The successful candidate would support the senior team while also ensuring the smooth operation of the workplace.

The client was a new relationship, introduced through an existing professional network. Although new to this particular business, VWA had previously completed a successful placement in Dublin and had built a developing understanding of the local market from previous searches and existing clients with offices in the city.

The Challenge

The role had become urgent as the existing Executive Assistant and Office Manager was due to relocate within a short timeframe. The client had initially worked with both a local Dublin agency as well as a London based agency who they regularly partner with for UK hires. However, they were finding that the profiles being presented did not accurately reflect the blended nature of the role or the level of experience required.

Recruiting in Dublin also presented additional complexity. While VWA had prior experience in the market, each search requires a detailed understanding of local dynamics including salary benchmarking, commuting patterns and preferred working locations within the city.

The role itself sat at a challenging level. It required someone senior enough to support a private equity leadership team, yet equally comfortable taking ownership of office management responsibilities in a relatively small team environment. Cultural fit was particularly important, as the successful individual would work closely with a small group and alongside the only other senior EA within the business.

The Approach

Given the specific blend of responsibilities and the need for someone who would thrive in a smaller office environment, VWA recommended a targeted search rather than relying solely on inbound applications.

The search combined several methods. Our research team conducted a proactive search to identify relevant professionals within the Dublin market. At the same time, VWA leveraged its existing network of candidates and contacts from previous Dublin searches, reconnecting with individuals who had previously expressed interest in similar opportunities. Referrals also played an important role, supported by our competitive candidate referral scheme.

Advertising the role generated strong engagement and allowed the team to reach candidates who may not have been actively searching but were open to the right opportunity.

Over the course of the search, around fifty candidates were mapped and approached. More than twenty initial screening conversations were conducted, resulting in a strong shortlist presented to the client within twenty four hours of instruction. Interviews were scheduled that same week, ensuring the process moved forward at pace given the urgency of the hire.

The Outcome

From instruction to offer, the entire process took five weeks.

The successful candidate stood out for their ability to operate confidently across all aspects of the role. They demonstrated strong organisational skills, a proactive approach to supporting senior stakeholders and the flexibility required to manage both executive support and office management responsibilities.

Since joining the business, the candidate has played an important role in maintaining the smooth running of the office while providing reliable support to the leadership team. Their ability to quickly integrate into a close knit team environment ensured continuity during a period of transition.

Following the success of this placement, the client has gone on to partner with VWA on a further recruitment project.