Having the right people is key to the success of any business. Big 5 Search exists to ensure that companies in Emerging Markets have access to the very best leaders from the global talent pool.

Our Team

James Adair

James Adair

Partner

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James Adair

Partner

James previously worked in commercial shipping as a chartering broker with HSBC and subsequently covering the OSV market in Africa with a specialist brokerage. He lived in Ghana when working as a GM for a shipping agency and later represented local owners in setting up a successful JV with Swire.

Following this he moved into Executive Search, working as a Consultant for an Africa focused boutique. During this time, he completed numerous C-level assignments with success in representing both operating companies and private equity firms.

William McCaw

William McCaw

Partner

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William McCaw

Partner

William began his career in search and, before joining Big 5 Search, headed the Private Equity teams at two leading international boutique search firms in London, Hong Kong and New York. He specialises in Emerging Markets Executive Search in Alternative Investments and represents clients in VC, Growth, Private Equity, Credit, Family Office, Impact Investing, Energy/ Infrastructure and Real Assets.

Will has completed multiple assignments from Partner to Associate level across North and Sub-Saharan Africa, Middle East and Asia, providing confidential advice on team composition, compensation, and competitor analysis.

Tim Harrison

Tim Harrison

Consultant

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Tim Harrison

Consultant

Tim has over 15 years of recruitment experience, with the last decade solely focused on executive and senior management positions in Africa. Tim has executed searches in a variety of sectors including Banking, FMCG, Microfinance, Agribusiness, Fintech, Pharmaceuticals, Insurance, and DFIs.

With a particular interest in the Financial Services sector, Tim has completed searches to for both multinationals and local businesses in key functions including Risk and Compliance, HR, IT Directors, and General Management.

Eleanor Khupe

Eleanor Khupe

Consultant

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Eleanor Khupe

Consultant

Having studied for a BS in Human Bioscience (majoring in Psychology) at the University of Cape Town, Eleanor went on to work for several leading executive search firms covering the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.

Eleanor has a strong track record in Financial Services having run C-level mandates in Asset Management, Banking and Insurance. With Big 5 Search she is based between Zimbabwe and Botswana, retaining her focus on companies operating in the SADC region.

Colleen McIntyre

Colleen McIntyre

Consultant

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Colleen McIntyre

Consultant

Colleen grew up in South Africa and has 20 years' experience of executive search spanning both Africa and Europe. She has delivered on C-level mandates across a variety of sectors including Agribusiness, Healthcare, Education, Insurance, and not-for-profits.

Partnering closely with clients throughout complex searches, Colleen has placed senior executives in both multi-billion dollar organisations and early-stage clean tech companies.

Daniel Owen

Daniel Owen

Consultant

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Daniel Owen

Consultant

Dan has 10 years of search and recruitment experience, with more than half spent covering Emerging Markets, predominantly Africa C-suite. Highlights include placing the CEO of the first Nigerian digital derivatives clearing house and placing the Group CTO for one of East Africa's largest banks, to build a leading Fintech.

Dan has strong focus on tech enabled businesses and strongly believes in the social impact which technology can bring to Africa.

James Stevenson

James Stevenson

Consultant

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James Stevenson

Consultant

James has over 20 years’ experience of senior placements in Africa, Europe and Australasia covering several sectors that include agribusiness, infrastructure services, technology and healthcare. In recent years he has focused on executive level searches in Africa.

On the Continent he has placed exceptional leaders with multinational and indigenous businesses. Highlights include placing a Kenyan MD for a listed, billion-dollar company and building the Pan-African team for an agribusiness across North, West, East and Southern Africa.

Antoinette Kley-Gomez

Antoinette Kley-Gomez

Consultant

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Antoinette Kley-Gomez

Consultant

Antoinette has recruited in a variety of functions for mid-level up to and C-Suite executives for startup, growth, and matured business in Europe and Africa. She has a wealth of experience in recruiting for Tech companies across sub-sectors including FMCG, BPO, Logistics, Micro-Mobility, Transportation, and Hospitality.

Antoinette grew up in Ghana and studied in the UK and Europe. She holds a BA in Sociology as well as an MBA in Human Resources from the EU Business School in Barcelona.

Lucy Deane

Lucy Deane

Head of Research

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Lucy Deane

Head of Research

Lucy has 15 years’ experience in executive search and has headed the research function for several leading boutiques. She has worked on Board level searches for listed companies and SMEs across a number of sectors including Clean Tech, Energy, Infrastructure, Public Sector and FMCG.

Lucy has particular expertise in the infrastructure space in Africa. This includes leading research on senior level mandates for utilities, IPPs, project developers, development banks, funds, investment banks and top tier consulting firms.

Thandiwe Sibanda

Thandiwe Sibanda

Researcher

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Thandiwe Sibanda

Researcher

Thandiwe graduated from the University of Zimbabwe and is a trilingual researcher at Big 5 Search.

She has completed a variety of research assignments ranging from investment professionals to sit in an agri-focused private equity firm to a senior hire for a leading Africa focused strategic consultancy.

Meena Sharma

Meena Sharma

Consultant

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Meena Sharma

Consultant

Meena has over ten years of experience in Human Resources, Talent Acquisition, and Executive Search having worked in leading international organisations including Freshfields, Barclays, EY and a leading Africa focused consultancy, Dalberg.

Meena was a client of Big5’s and worked at an Africa based tech-driven sustainable forestry company, backed by leading international investors where she ran talent acquisition across all levels and functions.