Excellence

Integrity

Results

Since 1991

In 2026, Adderleys Executive Search proudly celebrates 35 years of partnering with ambitious organisations to recruit the leaders and specialists who shape success. Since our founding in 1991, our mission has remained unwavering: to deliver leaders who bring clarity, pace, and measurable commercial impact.

A Legacy Built on Experience and Integrity

Adderleys began life as Adderley Featherstone, founded by Peter Adderley and John Featherstone following successful board-level careers — including leadership of one of Europe’s largest executive search companies. This first-hand experience of leadership and organisational challenge shaped our distinct approach from day one.

Early growth was rapid. By 1995, we had expanded to eight UK offices and were recognised by The Sunday Times as the UK’s largest advertiser of senior-level appointments, a testament to the breadth, quality and trust in our service.

In 1999, we welcomed our 50th employee and extended our presence into Europe with offices in Paris and Geneva - early signs of our international capability and versatility.

Our founders

Peter Adderley & John Featherstone

Innovating Through Change

Over the years, Adderleys has continued to evolve with the market:

In 2007, we launched an online recruitment division as part of our group to offer cost-effective sourcing and media planning solutions.
By 2010, we were delivering ongoing recruitment contracts with major organisations and launching low-cost recruitment technology for the SME market.
In 2018, we built one of the UK’s largest social media job-board networks — more than 250 local boards with over 1.2 million candidate connections.
In 2022, reflecting how clients refer to us, we formally simplified our brand from Adderley Featherstone to Adderleys, launching a fresh logo and identity.
And in 2024, our parent group completed the sale of the online recruitment brand Jobster to Young Capital of the Netherlands.

Throughout, our core values, trust, objectivity, confidentiality, and long-term partnership, have guided everything we do.

Today: Delivering Leaders for Every Stage of Growth

Today, Adderleys specialises in recruiting Directors, Senior Managers, Interims and Technical Specialists for organisations operating across scale-up, mid-market and enterprise environments. Working closely with founders, boards and investors, we support growth, transformation, restructuring and exit planning by placing leaders who are culturally aligned and commercially impactful.

Our retained model blends executive-level quality with agility and clarity of cost, typically supporting roles within the £50,000–£250,000 range across PE-backed, family-owned and corporate businesses.

Leadership Into the Future

In 2021, the next generation of leadership took the helm. Oliver Adderley, son of one of the original founders, was appointed Managing Director to steer the business into a fast-moving digital age — while preserving the family values and recruiting principles that have been central since 1991.

With over two decades of experience across research, executive search and recruitment marketing, Oliver brings deep operational insight and strategic vision to the leadership of Adderleys. Under his guidance, the firm continues to innovate and deliver results that genuinely matter to clients and candidates alike.

Looking Forward

As we celebrate 35 years, our focus remains the same as it was in 1991: finding the right people who transform organisations. Whether you’re leading high-growth change, navigating complex transitions or building tomorrow’s leadership team, Adderleys remains your trusted partner in executive search.

Here’s to the next 35 years of impact, insight and exceptional leadership appointments.

Celebrating 35 years