Meet the Team

Unlike the majority of our competitors, Equinox Financial Search & Selection do not generate our assignments via extensive media coverage and high volume indiscriminate sales calling; in fact it will be rare that you see us in any generalist paper or magazine and we guarantee that you will never receive a sales call from us.

Our team encompasses well established, highly focused consultants who understand the frustrations of senior finance professionals and executives when looking for a new role whether it be as a salaried director, equity holding director or general non-executive MBI candidate. “Consultant” synonyms: Expert, Specialist, Professional, Authority, Mentor, Guide.

Ian Wright
Managing Director

Ian started his career with a leading PLC recruitment business before assisting in the founding of a national independent firm in the North West which he successfully grew before leaving to found Equinox Financial Search & Selection Ltd. With extensive experience of recruiting Finance Director level and senior finance appointments, Ian’s portfolio of clients range from entrepreneurial start ups to large SME and FTSE businesses on a national basis yet with a particular geographical focus on the North West. His strong networking style and familiarity with many corporate financiers and professional advisors mean that he attracts work on an exclusive “secondment” basis.

Ian’s particular forte is Management Buy In opportunities which allow his candidates to take a stake in ambitious businesses looking for experienced Managing Directors and Board Members alike.

Dave Jones FCIB
Consultant

Career banker by profession, 35 years with RBS Group.

As Head of RBS UK Business banking, reporting to the Chief Executive, Dave had full responsibility for the design and implementation of the RBS Business Strategy between 1995 and 1999. This involved the recruitment and appointment of c350 Executive/Senior Manager and Managerial positions across the UK in a wide variety of disciplines including Business Development, Sector Specialism, Forensic and Client Relationship. During this period, RBS were the recipient of numerous independent industry awards, including Business Money’s ‘Best UK Business Relationship Bank’.

Latterly, as Director for Commercial Banking, leading the South Lancashire business under both the RBS and Nat West brands, Dave delivered a 55% increase in income and 6% increase in market share through a strategy heavily underpinned by selective high calibre external recruitment blended with the development of the indigenous team. Dave now utilizes his expertise with several Non -Exec appointments across a number of Regional Professional and service based companies as well as running the Financial Services and Banking Headhunting arm of Equinox Financial Search and Selection.

David Mellor FCIB
Consultant

David is a highly skilled business mentor and coach with wide experience of leadership, management and business issues. He is a former senior executive of The Royal Bank of Scotland plc a FTSE 100 global financial services organisation.

In his role as Regional Managing Director for The Royal Bank of Scotland South of England and Wales he successfully lead a team of 3500 through the largest change program in the history of financial services. Since leaving corporate life he has developed a portfolio career drawing on his significant corporate experiences mentoring and coaching senior management in Coutts & Co, Ulster Bank and Nat West Business Banking. His business development and networking skills have linked 2000 Accountants to a Commercial Lending Broker, created fee income from numerous business to business deals and formatted a number of Networking Clubs.

He is a Fellow of The Institute of Bankers and a non executive director of Community Services Volunteers

Daniel Bold
Associate Director

Daniel started his career in manufacturing after graduating from University in Business Information Technology, working for a global manufacturing company. His experience covered analysis of business processes and the streamlining of them throughout the Group.

In 2004 Daniel co-founded a mail order and Internet based business via a MBI, supplying mobility and independent living aids direct to consumers. The business emerged from an existing high street retailer which was used for its long-standing supplier base. Launching a complete new brand with an emphasis on e-commerce the new business saw substantial growth over the following six years. The company grew to become a key player in the market place building up a strong brand recognition and overseas supplier base. Daniel exited the business in 2010 following a successful acquisition by a UK household brand.

Daniel’s experience of steering highly complex and fast growing businesses means that he is ideally placed to assist our clients in the attraction and retention of top performing sales staff across a range of industry sectors.

Harry Baker
Consultant

Harry has assisted numerous professionals, businesses and having been successfully engaged in marketing, accountancy and banking he can offer a qualified view on many key business related decisions. His contacts extend across all business and professional sectors and he has an extensive network of contacts established through trust.

Earlier business activity was banking based having worked in a lending capacity with two major banking institutions. Following a period of consultancy within the private care sector Harry was recruited by Baker Tilly Chartered Accountants – a Top 10 Firm. Initially engaged in a private care specialist capacity, Harry soon also became very active and successful in assisting the business development of various departments including Tax, VAT, Corporate Finance and Business Recovery.

He is a champion of business development, net working and the key area of developing strategic alliances. Harry has recently been very active within the care sector delivering advice on strategic planning, acquisitions, recruitment and business grooming for exit purposes. He was also, by invitation, a presenter on banking at the National Housing Federation Conference in 2006.

Jeff Ziegler
Consultant – Interim Management

Jeff is a highly experienced entrepreneur turned executive and technical recruiter. He brings more than 7 years’ experience recruiting senior level candidates for a wide range of both interim and permanent roles. Primarily focused on technical skill sets, Jeff spent more than 3 years as Managing Director of one of the UK’s premier Interim Management providers before setting up his own practice as a working partner of Equinox. Along with his focus on finance appointments, Jeff specialises in placing senior level IT, Sales, Marketing and general management candidates into both permanent and interim management roles.

He spent several years as an Interim Marketing Manager and board level director prior to moving into interim search and selection. Based in the North West, he is a Chartered Marketeer and graduate of the University of California (Santa Barbara), the London School of Economics and Cambridge University.