Team - Blair West

meet Blair west.

Our mission is to build and maintain an environment in which the most talented intelligent and aspirational recruitment professionals choose to work

David Blair

Founder and Chief Executive Officer

Simon West

Founder and Chief Operating Officer

Chris Marshall Associate Director

Chris Marshall

Director | Executive Search

Craig Stewart Managing Consultant

Craig Stewart

Associate Director | Finance

Kathryn Davies-McGill - Head of Research

Kathryn McGill

Head of Research and Operations

Will Smith Managing Consultant

Will Smith

Managing Consultant | Sales and Marketing

Chris Beevers

Principal Consultant | Executive Search

Lewis Inkster

Head of Marketing and Technology Implementation

Nigel Spurr

Associate Director | Finance

Katie Hewitt Principle Consultant

Katie Hewitt

Principal Consultant | Finance (Temp)

Camille Thompson Principal Consultant

Camille Thompson

Principal Consultant | Business Support

Duncan Fraser Senior Consultant

Duncan Fraser

Senior Recruitment Consultant | Product

Jason Hogg Recruitment Consultant

Jason Hogg

Recruitment Consultant | Finance

Dimitra Maria

Dimitra Maria Mavroudi

Marketing Insight Analyst

Elise Newbrooke Junior and Transactional Finance Recruitment

Elise Newbrooke

Research Executive | Finance

Sophie Auld Marketing Apprentice

Sophie Auld

Marketing and Events Co-ordinator

David Blair

Founder and Chief Executive Officer

David co-founded Blair West with Simon in 2019 and is CEO. He helps to set strategic direction, oversees the central functions of the business and is an active member of the Executive Search team, spending as much of his time as possible on client and market facing activities. He is a Chartered Accountant, having trained with KPMG, and spent most of his pre-recruitment career in M&A, in advisory, industry and investment roles. That background, alongside running a high growth business, and raising investment, gives him a deep understanding of management and investor perspectives when making board level appointments.

Away from Blair West, David is a busy family man who runs a youth football team and tries to squeeze some time in for playing football or golf when he can. He is never happier than when he is in his Caravan with his wife, three small children and his dog.

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Simon West

Founder and Chief Operating Officer

Simon is Blair West’s Chief Operating Officer and one of our co-founders. Having trained initially at PwC, he has subsequently built an extensive network of senior executives and business owners over the past two decades. His focus is on scaling our delivery teams and improving the efficiency of our customer-facing operations.

Away from work, Simon and his family are actively involved in a broad range of sports and outdoor activities and love travelling. He can often be found at South Northumberland CC (summer), Northern FC (winter), live music gigs, or in the sea. Always reading and seeking learning opportunities, he’s pursuing coaching qualifications.

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Chris Marshall Associate Director

Chris Marshall

Director | Executive Search

Chris leads the Executive Search business within Blair West. Previously a manager in KPMG’s Corporate Finance team, specialising in mid-market M&A and Private Equity led transactions, Chris brings a deep level of deal understanding in addition to the technical know-how of an ACA-qualified Corporate Financier. Chris can hold honest and direct conversations with Investors and Business Leaders and has led many successful Executive and Non-Executive search projects, in multiple sectors, both in the North East and Nationwide.

A family man with two young kids attempting to hang onto his disappearing youth, you can find Chris bustling his way to the front of the crowd at Glastonbury or playing his acoustic guitar in an effort to get on the pyramid stage. When he’s not dreaming of rock stardom, he is a bit of a foodie and spends his spare time seeking out off-the-beaten-track holiday destinations, snowboarding, playing football and golf (terribly – so mainly there for “craic”).

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Craig Stewart Managing Consultant

Craig Stewart

Associate Director | Finance

Craig has over ten years of experience recruiting into fledgling businesses looking to add to their Part Qualified or Newly Qualified Finance offering on both Permanent and Interim contracts. Having led Finance & HR recruitment teams across the North East and Yorkshire for the best part of six years, Craig prides himself on providing best-in-class service to both clients and candidates alike – both through his delivery and that of his team.

When Craig isn’t an all-action recruiter, you can find him hacking around the North East’s finest fairways as a devout amateur golfer, chasing moderate personal bests on the running routes of Strava, or you’ll more than likely see him watching absolutely any sport that happens to be on in the local pub that day, providing the kids allow it.

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Kathryn Davies-McGill - Head of Research

Kathryn McGill

Head of Research and Operations

Kat leads Blair West’s Research team and is also responsible for implementing our compliance processes. Bringing thirteen years of experience sourcing candidates across multiple disciplines and for various businesses, Kat also possesses considerable project management experience, specifically in delivering Executive and Non-Executive projects for VC and PE-backed companies.

When she’s not eating the plethora of snacks available in the office, ensuring she doesn’t starve, Kat loves the challenge of being a Mum and, in her own words, “pretending I look like I know what I’m doing.” Her evenings mainly consist of binge-watching the latest Netflix series. And more recently, she’s taken up paddleboarding, a lover of the outdoors; Kat loves a good camping trip.

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Will Smith Managing Consultant

Will Smith

Managing Consultant | Sales and Marketing

Will leads our Commercial team covering Sales, Marketing, and Operations roles. Before entering recruitment, Will was Head of Sales and Operations for a high-growth, invested financial services business that scaled rapidly and where he was indirectly responsible for 120 members of staff. He now leans on his understanding of the challenges of scaling a business firsthand in a Sales capacity to help and give insight to our clients.

When Will’s not at work, he’s more often than not chasing after his two boys. He loves travelling, the outdoors and keeping fit. He can usually be found on a bike, running or water-skiing and enjoys the odd endurance event. Spending time with his family is most important, whether going on a hike or spending time up the coast.

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Chris Beevers

Principal Consultant | Executive Search

Chris sits within our exec team and brings over seven years of experience delivering search assignments for privately owned and private equity-backed SMEs from the board level down. In his most recent role, Chris led a tech-enabled marketplace start-up through successfully raising a seed round and developing an MVP. He also held a non-exec position in a fast-growing consultancy. As such, he firmly understands the challenges and dynamics facing high-growth businesses.

When not in the office, Chris spends time with his family, getting involved at Alnwick rugby club or walking his spaniel, Ziggy, in the Northumberland countryside.

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Lewis Inkster

Head of Marketing and Technology Implementation

Lewis heads up our Marketing and our Technology implementation, both software and hardware. As a marketer primarily he is responsible for how Blair West communicate both strategically and in physical (or digital) implementation to the outside world. He is also a video and digital design specialist, which allows Blair West to offer a unique flavour to our client’s recruitment campaigns.

When Lewis isn’t working for Blair West, he enjoys honing his photography craft, listening to podcasts and music, and working on his strength and fitness. You’d likely find him hiking a trail, watching some football (preferably at St James’ Park), or in the editing suite.

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Nigel Spurr

Associate Director | Finance

Nigel has supported high-profile North East businesses his whole career, spanning nearly a decade, and is responsible for mid-senior level finance appointments at Blair West. He has built up an extensive network whilst is trusted by the region’s finance leaders, who value his honest, balanced approach and unrivalled knowledge of the North East market.

The UK’s youngest Nigel has finance in his blood and Rainman-Esque powers of recall. Born & bred in Newcastle, he is a big supporter of the region and his local football team. Food fanatic & “unlucky” Golfer.

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Katie Hewitt Principle Consultant

Katie Hewitt

Principal Consultant | Finance (Temp)

Katie sits within our finance team focusing on interim and temporary appointments. During her 7 years in the temporary market, Katie always takes the time to understand the specific challenges before offering a tailored solution and thrives working in her fast-paced market.

Outside of work, you will find Katie wearing her black and white stripes supporting Newcastle or stuck at the top of soft play with her toddler. Katie is quite the foodie and even set up a food Instagram account whilst on maternity leave, but soon realised she was unable to fund or find the time to enjoy the luxury eateries of the North East.

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Duncan Fraser Senior Consultant

Duncan Fraser

Senior Recruitment Consultant | Product

Duncan’s career began in Biological Sciences, took a turn into academic information and publishing, and then evolved into a nearly 20-year spell in Product.  Throughout his career, he’s directed product development and managed product teams across an array of businesses and subjects. A specialist in assembling rapidly scaling, cross-functional Product teams, Duncan has brought his talents to Blair West to solve complex business challenges by matching clients with expert Product talent.

Outside of work, Duncan is kept busy by his pack of dogs, and co-owning a successful bed and breakfast business in Berwick-upon-Tweed.

 

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Jason Hogg Recruitment Consultant

Jason Hogg

Recruitment Consultant | Finance

Having come from a customer service background, Jason joined BlairWest in September 2021 to help support our finance offering before taking control of the Transactional and Part-Qualified market space. Taking this background under the tutelage of Nigel and Craig has meant quick success in his role as he continues to grow his network and reputation. Jason puts honesty and integrity at the forefront of every interaction with candidates and clients alike.

When Jason isn’t working, you can probably find him watching some kind of sport, most likely football, and definitely not at St James’ park, thanks to the fact he’s one of two token Mackems in the office. Failing that, he’ll be sinking time into finding new music to listen to or losing a few hours to a film or Netflix binge.

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Dimitra Maria

Dimitra Maria Mavroudi

Marketing Insight Analyst

Dimitra joined BlairWest as a Research Executive, focusing mainly on supporting the Engineering and, to a lesser extent, the Sales and Marketing team. With an educational background in Sociology and Forensic Science, she is keen to combine her theoretical and practical knowledge while learning from her colleagues and expanding her network.

When Dimitra is not in the office, you will find her on the mat practising yoga, exploring her limits and trying to relieve the day’s stress. If that is not the case, she will wander around the city centre, exploring the restaurants and enjoying nice food with her friends.

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Elise Newbrooke Junior and Transactional Finance Recruitment

Elise Newbrooke

Research Executive | Finance

Elise is part of the research function for our finance team at Blair West. After initially starting her career in Yorkshire focusing on transactional recruitment, she transitioned her skills to become a highly valued member of our research team, using her industry knowledge to source high-calibre talent and assignment-led market mapping for clients.

Elise usually socialises with friends and family when she’s not at work – preferably in the pub or a live music event; she loves attending festivals and gigs. However, only some nights are spent in pubs and with live music. Elise has a quieter side and enjoys curling up on the sofa with a good book.

 

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Sophie Auld Marketing Apprentice

Sophie Auld

Marketing and Events Co-ordinator

Sophie is our first-ever apprentice, bringing fresh ideas to our evolving marketing team. Her interest in marketing allows her to creatively connect with people and understand their needs. The dynamic and progressive nature of marketing appeals to Sophie’s passion for continuous learning and allows her to contribute to the growth and success of the business.

When Sophie isn’t in the office designing, she is planning her next getaway in a much warmer climate, with sea and sangria in mind. Post work Sophie enjoys spending her time at the gym after work. The gym is a place where she can challenge herself and set goals. After the gym, she likes to get creative in the kitchen.

[email protected] Connect on Linkedin
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