Insight Executive Group
Meet The Team
Our Directors
Richard Collins
Managing Director & Co-Founder
Originally a design engineer, Richard has clocked up over 10 years’ experience as an executive level recruiter within public sector procurement and commercial management. Through his trademark ‘trust-centric’ approach to recruitment, Rich has built a loyal base of clients with whom Insight now work closely.
Career highlights include attending global ‘high flyer’ events in consecutive years, and personally generating over £400k per annum income at two separate companies. In addition, he also thrives on building teams and leading them to success.
Before starting a family, Rich was an avid adventurer and travelled all over Europe rock climbing and riding motorbikes. He loves extreme sports, but now prefers to avoid life-threatening hobbies to ensure he survives long enough to see his daughters grow up!
His gift for making calculated risks pay off translated into his work, and after building his first successful business with a large corporate recruitment company, Rich left it all behind to travel the world with his fiancé.
They spent a year experiencing the wonders of different cultures across Asia, and married in Thailand. While in India, Rich got involved with an Animal Rescue charity and became a founding Trustee of an animal rescue charity supporting Asia’s animals.
Back in England, Rich built a second incredibly successful business from scratch, before setting up a brand new procurement recruitment business for management consultancy Green & Kassab. A born leader who rebels against authority, Rich takes great pride in leading Insight as a consultative and inclusive organisation, which treats all staff equally.
Nick White
Commercial Director & Co-Founder
IEG Director and co-founder Nick specialises in executive recruitment within the property and asset management sectors. In addition to recruiting excellent candidates for our clients, he has also recruited several of Insight’s own team members. His extensive experience spans a range of commercial and public sector organisations in the UK and overseas.
When he’s not busy running the company’s commercial stance, Nick can be found practising Jujitsu, or supporting Brighton and Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium. A keen sportsman, Nick won a soccer scholarship to Tyler Junior College, Texas, and studied sports science before switching focus and becoming a recruiter. His team finished third in the USA’s National Soccer Championships.
Nick’s enthusiasm for competitive team sports has translated into his corporate career, forging him into a dedicated team player who is highly invested in building Insight’s own executive team. He’s passionate about creating the perfect culture within Insight, and cares deeply for each and every member of the IEG team. He’s also driven to help every member of the team reach their goals, and retains a healthy competitive streak!
Gerry Kassab
Chairman & Co-Founder
Having travelled across the globe working as a management and change management consultant, Gerry brings a wealth of business experience to Insight. Drawing upon eight years’ of private and 16 years’ of NHS experience, he takes a holistic approach with clients, utilising his extensive knowledge of performance, efficiency, and process management.
Gerry’s skills and support were instrumental in setting up Insight Executive Group and ensuring it had the culture and environment that we’re so very proud of today. Outside the office, Gerry’s a keen cyclist and practising Buddhist. He’s a truly gentle man with a very calming personality, who brings a great deal of balance and tranquillity to the team. Gerry’s dedication to his meditation practice has shaped him into a highly intuitive business person. His approach is always very calm and considered, and he’s never one to jump to conclusions.
Sue Cooper
Non-Executive Director
Having worked at the top level within large, award-winning recruitment organisations, Sue felt it was time to hang up the corporate boots and put her skills and experience to use assisting ambitious, growing organizations.
Sue joined the IEG board in 2018. Her voice will help shape the strategic focus of the business as well as mentoring individuals to develop their skills at a senior level.
Sue brings over 30-years’ experience and will help the leadership team navigate the challenges of running and growing a successful business – her honest, open and insightful approach is a perfect fit for IEG. In fact, Sue cites the company values, the great recruiters and a committed heart and head leadership team as the key factors that attracted her to the position.
Outside of work, Sue is passionate about helping raise her four grandchildren, painting and baking, walking her dog, Frank, as well as going to the gym while listening to a bit of Ed Sheeran.
Outside of her close family, Sue cites Facebook COO, Sheryl Sandberg, as one of her greatest influences. She has had a huge impact on Sue’s business approach – read Shery Sandberg’s story ‘Lean In’ to find out why!
FM & Property Team
Rob Parker, OLY
Head of Public Sector Property and FM Recruitment
Joining the team in 2016, Rob has over five years of experience in middle and senior FM Recruitment, and heads up the FM and Property team here at Insight. A dedicated member of the family who’s great under pressure, Rob has successfully run multiple exclusively retained campaigns.
Rob’s a people person, and well-respected in the public sector FM and property market. He works closely with our clients, and whether placing people on an interim or permanent basis he works tirelessly, using the extensive expertise he has amassed in the field over the years to match every individual to the perfect role.
Outside the office, Rob is a keen sportsman, and represented Great Britain in the 2012 Olympic Water Polo team. Prior to that he was a professional sportsman in Spain, and got into recruitment through the Dame Kelly Holmes charity as a way of helping athletes find fulfilling work once they reach the end of their professional sports careers.
Adrian Stern
Principal Consultant
A vital part of the Insight team, Adrian specialises in Property, Construction, and Facilities Management recruitment, with a focus on Education and Central Government. He developed a strong record in the Property and Construction Sector prior to joining the Insight team in 2016, and his recent promotion to Principal Consultant will see Adrian assemble a new team to work with him in the education market.
Adrian is an experienced entrepreneur, having previously worked as a hairdresser, and owned his own restaurant, where he was head chef. His experience has granted Adrian unique insights and empathy for employers, as he’s been on both the hiring and firing side of things. Life as an entrepreneur also honed his ambition and drive for success along with a creative approach to business. He’s not lost his love of food, cooking, and fine dining, and away from the office enjoys globetrotting and keeping himself fit and healthy.
Wesley Harcup
Principal Consultant
Wesley joins Insight with over 3 years recruitment experience and sits within our Facilities Management Team, focusing on Public Sector & Property work.
Insight jumped out at Wesley from the rest of the field as growing, dynamic organisation – offering something different in an industry which can often lack variety.
Pre-recruitment, Wesley was a tattoo artist by trade. He has an eclectic range of interests including art, cinema, music, literature and rugby – but above all is a family man.
Paul Harker
Senior Consultant - Healthcare
Paul is a senior consultant with Insight, specialising in Estates and Facilities Management. He joined the team in 2017, prior to which he worked as an Estates and Engineering consultant.
When he’s not in the office, Paul enjoys both football and golf, and relaxing with his friends and family.
George Hutcherson
Senior Consultant - Healthcare
George began his career in Recruitment to Recruitment before moving into a large, public sector agency and focusing on Estates, FM and Capital Projects into the Higher Education sector. During his time at Morgan Hunt, George worked with fellow Insight team member Rob Parker, and learned a great deal. When he heard there was a chance to work at Insight he jumped at the opportunity, attracted by the trust-centric ethos of the company.
George specialises in Property, Construction and Facilities Management in NHS Trusts. When he’s not busy with that, he love seven-a-side football, West Ham Football Club, and socialising with his friends.
Procurement & Commercial Management Team
Andrew Pyman
Manager - Procurement & Commercial Management
As team leader for our procurement and commercial management team Andrew has been with IEG since 2015. With over thirteen years of experience in procurement, he leads the charge in our Public Sector Practice for both permanent and interim assignments.
Away from work, Andrew is a family man with a great enthusiasm for Everton FC, and challenging himself with half marathons, tough mudders, and triathlons.
Taj Singh
Senior Consultant
Taj has worked within Construction, Rail and Civil Engineering recruitment for 15 years, and it is this experience that makes his area of focus within procurement at IEG – Transport, Utilities and Local Government – a perfect fit within the team.
Taj wanted to work for a recruitment company whose ethos matched his own, that of building solid, on-going relationships within a network, and, in IEG, that is exactly what he found.
Outside of work, Taj’s top three passions are family; the countryside and being at one with nature; and following newly crowned European champions, Liverpool FC.
To get in touch with Taj about Procurement roles that he can support you with, please click on his LinkedIn button below to get in touch.
Bobby Cooper
Procurement and Contract Management Consultant
Bobby’s induction at Insight Executive Group was the first of its kind for us, as he joined the company in March 2020, during a nationwide lockdown.
Although he had already met his immediate team during his interview process, Bobby’s induction, and some introductions, have been conducted via video conference calls. The unconventional start hasn’t phased Bobby, who brings his successful recruitment experience and passion for building relationships to the role each day.
Outside of work, Bobby is not only an active football fan, supporting Watford FC, but also a talented footballer who played for Watford’s Academy system for several years. He cites his fondest memory as leading out his U17s team at Vicarage Road as captain, and being able to pick out his season ticket seats from the pitch.
Bobby joins procurement specialists Andrew Pyman and Taj Singh to focus on building the procurement desk for mid-senoir level management positions. To get in touch with Bobby, please click on the LinkedIn button below.
Wayne Farmer
Procurement Consultant
Wayne has been working in recruitment for over fifteen years and became part of the team in 2016. He specialises in procurement and excels at identifying client and candidate values, ensuring he perfectly matches an individual to a role.
Wayne’s second job is that of a devoted father. With his wife’s busy work schedule including far eastern travel, Wayne takes full advantage of Insight’s approach to flexible working and switches seamlessly between his roles as Recruiter and Daddy DayCare, caring for his girls when they need him. He is also a huge football fan, and his season ticket at Old Trafford acts as a well-deserved weekend reward!
Operations Team
Carrie Haywood
Office Administrator & Executive Assistant
Carrie provides a link between Insight’s front-of-house needs and what goes on behind-the-scenes on a day-to-day basis. She’s our chief fire-fighter and the go-to person for getting things done!
Carrie joined IEG to expand on her management skills, utilising our on-going coaching and mentoring programmes, under the guidance of Rich, Nick and Sue. She cites the pure passion of the staff at Insight as a factor in joining the team and is excited to support a business that continues to grow and change by getting the very best out of the people around her. She is also clued up on THE best team events and outings, so if you ever need a bit of inspiration to reward your team, please do get in touch.
On top of her endless abundance of skills and passions, Carrie studied Medicinal & Pharmaceutical Chemistry at Loughborough University. She has 22 years of professional tap and ballet dancing under her belt and is a L’Oréal Colour expert with five years’ hairdressing management experience, managing multiple hair salons across the UK. Oh, and she enjoys the odd Tough Mudder race too.
Alex Kassab
Marketing Manager
Alex has been with Insight since January 2016. While he was initially working as part of the back office team, Alex is a talented writer, and we were keen to utilise his creative streak. To that end, we were quick to transition him into a marketing role and tasked him with producing a lot of the company’s content.
At the start of 2018 Alex began running marketing campaigns for Insight, raising the company’s profile both online and offline. He is now the lead on all marketing output via social media as well as the Insight website and intranet.
Alongside working at Insight, Alex pursues a career as a screenwriter. He recently graduated with a Masters in Script Writing, and is currently working on his third short film.
Shanelle Quamina
Compliance Officer
Shanelle is the first port of call for all things compliance. She handles the majority of our onboarding processes and ensures assignments are compliant with frameworks. Experienced in back office recruitment functions, Shanelle processes CVs and handles compliance and onboarding queries.
Away from work, Shanelle is a very outgoing person with an adventurous nature, always keen to take on new challenges.
Juliette Cooper
Marketing Consultant
With a marketing career that spans consumer lifestyle and B2B publishing, Jules changed direction in 2012. She switched roles to become a marketing contractor with the aim of working more flexibly. Before working with Insight, Jules’ recent contracts have seen her successfully launch new products and platforms for the recruitment division at TES Global. As well as rolling out campaigns at Transport for London such as “Please offer me a seat” and “Travel Kind”.
As a mum of a soon-to-be teen, it was the genuine flexibility that Insight offers alongside the rewarding and entertaining environment that attracted Jules.
Outside of work Jules is passionate about fitness and enjoys running, boxing and hiking in the hills. Travel is also an essential part of her annual itinerary, having travelled across India, Thailand and the east coast of Australia. Her wish list for 2019 includes the hills in Saltzburg, The San Antonio River Walk and a visit to the Ewing Mansion in Southfork, Dallas.
Ben Shipman
Accounts Manager
Ben heads up the transactional side of Insight’s finance team. He’s responsible for ensuring our interim candidates get paid, and our clients pay us. With over a decade of experience providing expert financial services to businesses, Ben is always on-hand to answer any finance-related queries. AAT qualified, he manages the bookkeeping, accounts payable, and accounts receivable.
Kate Takacs
Credit Control
Kate joined the finance team in 2018, coming onboard to assist Ben. She has a strong background in credit control, and brings a high level of professionalism and tenacity to her work. Kate is responsible for ensuring client invoices are paid promptly, working proactively to spot potential blockages and clear them efficiently.
Matt Walsh
Financial Controller
Matt is a chartered management accountant who works in conjunction with the management team on the strategic side of our finances. A great forward-thinker, Matt ensures that the business can grow sustainably, while continually finding more informed ways to consider the numbers!
Sue Sharp
Coach, Trainer, Facilitator
Joining us in 2015, Sue is a coach and trainer with over ten years of recruitment experience. She specialises in a number of areas, including increasing productivity, maximising the effectiveness of individuals in the workplace, encouraging teamwork, and management development.
Sue is an integral member of the Insight family, helping the team to focus, remain motivated throughout sales cycles, raise their emotional intelligence, and increase their productivity. She’s also on hand to develop the senior management team, and enables staff who are new to management to grow into their roles.
When not on duty as a workplace strategist and life coach, Sue is a keen poet and Argentine Tango dancer, who loves to travel.
Samantha Barnes
Recruitment Coordinator
Sam joins the team to head up our onboarding function. She will ensure all elements of our onboarding process are adhered to, allowing contractors to commence work in the timeframe agreed with our clients.
Family is everything to Sam – spending quality time and watching my daughter thrive fills her with the greatest joy. Sam also loves to help others, volunteering for St. John’s Ambulance and spending one-to-one time with a teenager suffering with High Attention Deficit Disorder. She even went as far as hang gliding and parachuting in aid of charity, despite hating heights – dedication!